Fighting to Fund our Homeland Defenders.

I have never supported a government shutdown, whether full or partial. The current Department of Homeland Security shutdown has been in effect since February 14, now lasting a total of 39 days.

This past Friday, March 20th, I introduced the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act (H.R. 8029). This legislation ensures full funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service, FEMA, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

You can read my press release on the introduction of this legislation HERE and my statement on the bill below.

Delivering for AZ-06 Constituents.

As your Congressman, I am proud to help and support you in any way I can. That is why my office prioritizes Constituent Services.

My office has worked directly with agencies such as the IRS, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Social Security Administration to return more than $17 million to constituents since taking office—with over $7 million directly benefiting veterans.

Most recently, I am proud to share Gary’s experience with our office. Gary is a veteran who proudly served our nation and had challenges with Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Our office stepped in, submitted an inquiry and within one month received a response!

Below, you can read a statement from Gary.

If you have an issue with a federal agency, please visit the Help with a Federal Agency tab on my website for more information and assistance.

VA Advocacy for Veteran Suicide Prevention.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced a $112 million grant for organizations that provide suicide prevention services to Veterans across the country.

Grant funding is available to nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and other community-based organizations that have a demonstrated capacity to serve Veterans. These funds are made available through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and grantees have until June 12, 2026, to apply.

"These grants invest directly in communities that know Veterans best and are often the first to recognize when someone is struggling," said VA Secretary Doug Collins. "They have been successful in connecting Veterans, service members, and their families — especially those not yet engaged with VA — to services that help reduce suicide risk and promote well-being."

For details about eligibility, priorities and application requirements for this year’s Fox grant awards, visit https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/361498. VA also offers technical assistance and application resources, including webinars and guidance materials at MentalHealth.VA.gov/ssgfox-grants.

Important Information for Tax Season.

As we are in the midst of tax season, our office wants to update you on valuable information that can help in your filing!

Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, 91% of Americans are finding it easier than ever to file their taxes.

This legislation streamlines tax filing, with the largest tax refunds in history being project for this season and 210 million hours saved in total on tax preparation. These tax cuts will result in a reduction of $13 billion in compliance costs, and an increase of over $10,000 in annual take-home pay for working families.

Under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, standard deduction levels have been permanently extended. These new levels are $15,750 for single or married filing separately filers, $31,500 for married couples filing jointly, and $23,625 for head of household filers.

Finally, it is now easier for small businesses and workers to file taxes. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act removes unnecessary IRS paperwork and simplifies reporting requirements, including increasing the income reporting threshold to $2,000 before small businesses must send certain tax forms.

Additionally, we’ve heard from many of you, our constituents, regarding issues obtaining your 1099-R form from the Office of Personnel Management. Annuitants who have an email on file with OPM may have received their 1099-Rs electronically.

To access your 1099-R Form online, please visit: https://www.servicesonline.opm.gov/. A new access tool can help you get your current year 1099-R tax form, no login required.

You may also contact OPM Retirement Services online or call 1-888-767-6738 (TTY: 711).

As always, please contact my office for assistance with a federal agency.

In the News.

Ciscomani’s Chiricahua National Park bill passes the House 
Gila Valley Central 
"A fourth national park in Arizona is one step closer to reality. Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s bill to reclassify Chiricahua National Monument to a national park has passed out of the House. During his speech on the House floor in support of HR 6380, Ciscomani said the redesignation would not expand the Chiricahua’s footprint or impact its land use. ‘Just as important, this bill supports economic opportunity in rural Arizona,’ Ciscomani said. ‘The redesignation would help raise Chiricahua’s national profile, attract more visitors and strengthen tourism across Southeastern Arizona.’ The bill now moves to the Senate, where companion legislation has already been introduced by Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego."

Chiricahua National Park Act passes, awaits Senate approval 
KVOA 
"Arizona is moving toward gaining its fourth national park as the Chiricahua National Park Act makes headway. The bipartisan bill, introduced by U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani, aims to elevate the 12,000-acre Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County to national park status, enhancing tourism and economic development. The House has passed the bill, which now heads to the Senate for consideration. Ciscomani emphasized the significance of this redesignation, saying, ‘The Chiricahua National Park Act honors one of southeastern Arizona’s most incredible natural treasures by giving Chiricahua National Monument a national park status,’ Ciscomani said. ‘This redesignation will protect our public lands while also bringing more tourism to our region boosting economic development.’"

Local high school students encouraged to enter Congressional Art Competition 
Eastern Arizona Courier 
"Rep. Juan Ciscomani's office is accepting submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, a tradition aimed at highlighting the creative talents of high school students in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. The annual competition is open to all high school students residing in the district. The winning entry will be sent to Washington, D.C., where it will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. ‘The annual Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to shine a light on the many talented young artists in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District,’ said the Republican congressman, whose territory includes the southern half of Graham County and all of Greenlee County. ‘I look forward to seeing the art, meeting the artists and showing off the winning work in the Capitol Building.’"

AZ-06: Get Involved.

Our office is proud to provide a list of services to our district’s students as a way to help them get involved. These include an annual Congressional Art Competition and Congressional App Challenge, Valentines for Veterans, Military Academy Nominations, and internship opportunities in our Tucson district office.

See below for additional information and deadlines. You can also read more about some of these services on my website HERE.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District.

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Arizona’s Sixth District. The winning artwork of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov's Congressional Art Competition page.

As this July 4th marks the semi quincentennial anniversary of the birth of our nation, students are encouraged but not required to use the 250th theme in their submissions.

The deadline for submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition is Thursday, April 16, 2026.

For more details, click HERE.

Since day one of being in office, I have been a champion of veterans. In the 119th Congress alone, I have introduced and led four veterans-focused bills that have passed the House. AZ-06 is home to nearly 80,000 veterans and supporting each and every one is a high priority for me.

As part of my effort to give back to our veterans here in southeastern Arizona, I have hosted three Veteran Servant Leader Award events. These events honor veterans who have continued to serve their communities after their time spent serving our nation. My office and I have been able to award dozens of veterans through these three events, and we are looking forward to our fourth which will be held this April.

If you know an AZ-06 veteran who is dedicated to giving back to their community and embodies the values of duty, service, and commitment that are at the core of our military, we invite you to nominate them for our fourth Veteran Servant Leader Awards! Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April 17.

You can nominate a veteran HERE.

AZ-06 Highlights: Did You Know?

I would like to give a shoutout to the Pima Community College Women’s Basketball team, who are national champions! They brought home the 2025-2026 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship after defeating Kirkwood 64-58, marking the program’s first national title.

Kiley Sours-Miler scored 27 points and 10 rebounds in the winning game. Melicia Nelson scored 20 points and 11 rebounds. Coach Todd Holthaus, in his 19th season, led the No. 4-seeded Aztecs to victory, closing out the season with an 18-game winning streak.

Congratulations on an incredible season, Aztecs! I am proud of the hard work this team and Coach Holthaus put in to achieve this amazing victory and look forward to the many successful seasons they have ahead of them.

MARCH | Women’s History Month: Honoring Frances Willard Munds.

Frances Willard Munds was a key figure in the women’s suffrage movement here in Arizona. Born in Franklin, California, Frances was one of 12 children. At the age of fifteen, she moved across the country on her own and attended Maine Central Institute, graduating in 1885.

She then moved to Arizona where her mother lived and her brothers ran a cattle ranch. For years she taught school in Payson, Pine, and Jerome before marrying and having a family of her own in Prescott.

Frances became deeply involved with several of Prescott’s civic organizations, including the suffrage association. By 1903, she was serving as secretary of the Arizona Equal Suffrage Association, where she remained involved until 1912.

As Arizona headed towards statehood, Frances worked around the clock to get men who supported women’s suffrage into the 1910 constitutional convention. After celebrating Arizona becoming a state in 1912, Frances continued to work tirelessly to get votes in favor of women’s suffrage.

Then on November 5, 1912, Frances and her team achieved a massive victory, helping win a majority of votes in favor of women’s suffrage. Thanks to the commitment of Frances and those who rallied around her, Arizona became the eighth state to grant women the right to vote.

In 1914, Frances became the third woman to ever in the country to hold a seat in the state Senate, representing Yavapai County. During her political career, she advocated for bills to increase the minimum age to marry and the widow’s tax exemption. She ran for Arizona secretary of state in 1918 but was defeated in the primaries. She retired from politics and spent the rest of her life with her family in Prescott, where she passed away in 1948.

There is no doubt that Frances Munds made a lasting impact, not just on the state of Arizona, but on our nation as a whole. Her efforts led to Arizona women gaining the right to vote and showed women across the nation that they could make lasting political change. The life of Frances Munds will always be remembered as a pivotal point in Arizona’s history.

Profiles of the American Dream.

Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Gregory Sanders and Jacob Montoya are great examples of the critically important role law enforcement plays in our communities.

These two men acted quickly and decisively earlier this year to rescue an 8-year-old boy from a suspected human trafficking and smuggling operation. Thanks to their professionalism, a potentially horrible crime was stopped and we were reminded of just how important it is to remain vigilant.

The case began in Cochise County and the Sheriff’s Office there worked with their counterparts in Pinal County to rescue the boy from a hotel in Eloy. The woman he was with admitted to being paid $500 to transport the child and not knowing the child’s family or his final destination.

"Finding that child and being able to rescue them from that situation is the most rewarding thing any law enforcement officer could ever do," Deputy Sanders said.

Thank you, Deputies Sanders and Montoya. Job well done.

Share Your Story.

Our district encompasses so many incredible people and stories that I want to share both with my colleagues in Washington and through the platforms I have as your Member of Congress, such as speaking on the House floor. You can visit my website and share your story with me and my team. I look forward to hearing from you!

As always, my office and I are here to assist you. If you would like to share a comment or tell us your story, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to serving you!

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