Veterans, Healthcare, and Small Businesses.

Throughout last week, I traveled across AZ-06 meeting directly with veterans, health care providers, small business owners, community leaders, and local families to discuss the issues impacting Southern Arizona.

I hosted productive discussions with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, bringing together local stakeholders to focus on strengthening veteran services, expanding access to health care, and addressing the unique needs of our rural communities. I also visited veteran facilities across the district and spent time at Fort Huachuca meeting with servicemembers and military leaders.

Throughout the week, I connected with veterans across AZ-06 to provide updates on my work in Congress and hear directly from those who have served our nation about how we can continue improving access to the care, benefits, and support they have earned.

I was also honored to speak at the National Day of Prayer event in Oro Valley and spend time with local businesses during Marana Mornings as part of National Small Business Week. Arizona’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and these conversations were invaluable as I continue advocating for policies that support job creators, strengthen local communities, and expand opportunity across Southern Arizona.

From veterans and military families to health care leaders and small business owners, every meeting and conversation reinforced my commitment to delivering results for AZ-06. Keep reading below for highlights from this productive week across our district.

TUCSON: Led Discussion with Local Veterans and VA Secretary Collins.

I had the privilege of hosting a visit and roundtable with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins last Monday. This visit kicked off the district work week with a valuable conversation on what Congress and the VA are doing to directly support our veterans and hear directly from leaders in the AZ-06 veteran community on the unique needs of our veterans here in Arizona.

Before the roundtable, Secretary Collins and I, joined by Rep. Eli Crane, toured the Northwest Tucson VA Clinic, which provides outpatient and specialty health services to local veterans. The clinic’s leadership and staff work hard to support and care for the men and women who made so many sacrifices to serve our nation, and I am grateful for their efforts.

Following the tour, the Secretary and I held a roundtable with leaders in the local veteran community. We had a productive conversation and covered a wide range of topics, including telemedicine, mental health treatment, electronic record keeping, and home loans. We highlighted the VA Home Loan Affordability Act, which I recently introduced alongside Rep. Van Orden and aims to make homeownership more accessible for our veterans.

You can read more about the visit and roundtable with Secretary Collins HERE.

SIERRA VISTA: Visited Critical Veteran-Focused Organizations and Fort Huachuca.

As part of the district work week, I had the opportunity to visit two veteran-serving entities that serve the greater Sierra Vista area and meet with leadership at Fort Huachuca to discuss the new mission I fought to secure.

I had the honor of touring the new Sierra Vista Vet Center Outstation, which I worked closely with the VA to reopen in 2025. This outstation provides mental health care and key resources to veterans at no cost. Additionally, I visited the Warrior Healing Center in Sierra Vista, which seeks to eliminate veteran suicide in Cochise County through community and peer support. It was great to hear directly from our community partners working to help veterans at their point of need.

Following my announcement of securing a new mission at Fort Huachuca, I had the privilege of meeting with military leadership at the Fort to discuss this key win for Sierra Vista, Cochise County and AZ-06. I am proud to have fought for this new mission and look forward to the impacts it will have on our local economy and national security.

MARANA & ORO VALLEY: Small Businesses and National Day of Prayer.

In addition to spending valuable time with veterans last week, I had the opportunity to connect with other community groups during Marana Mornings and Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene’s National Day of Prayer event.

As part of National Small Business Week, I attended and spoke at this month’s Marana Mornings event and had great conversations with local small business leaders, thanking them for how they serve our communities and updating them on how I am supporting their work in Congress. By voting for the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, I have supported lower taxes, expanded investment incentives, and greater workforce stability for small businesses. As a defender of the American Dream, I remain committed to advocating for small businesses right here in AZ-06.

To celebrate National Day of Prayer, I spent Thursday morning at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene to speak on the importance of faith and pray for our community and country. It is a great privilege to have the freedom of gathering together in prayer, and I was honored to join this special event.

CASA GRANDE: Hosted a Visit and Roundtable with CMS Administrator Oz.

Towards the end of the week, I had the pleasure of hosting a visit with Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In October of 2025, I sent a letter alongside Rep. Dan Newhouse to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Administrator Oz advocating for fair distribution funds from the Rural Health Transformation Fund to states with Democrat governors. This letter was to ensure that Governor Katie Hobbs did not shortchange Arizona’s rural communities by pushing for the removal of these funds. I am grateful for continued communication from Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz on delivering these funds for AZ-06.

This visit gave Administrator Oz the opportunity to learn more about the needs and priorities of AZ-06 as we take part in the Rural Health Transformation Program. First, we toured Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and saw firsthand how this facility cares for the Casa Grande Valley and surrounding community. As a rural area, Casa Grande experiences unique health care needs, which this facility strives to meet. It was great to meet with the medical center’s leadership and staff and hear directly from them what the community’s greatest health needs and challenges are.

Following a tour of the facility, we held a productive roundtable with healthcare leaders from across Arizona’s 6th Congressional District — from Safford to Benson to Marana and Casa Grande. I appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with providers and hear firsthand about the unique challenges, priorities, and opportunities facing communities across rural southeastern Arizona. Thank you to Administrator Oz for taking the time to connect with the leaders working every day to strengthen healthcare access across our district.

In the News.

Ciscomani talks about secret military mission, legislation, and politics 
Sierra Vista Herald 
"U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani met with military officials, veterans groups, and local leaders in Sierra Vista on May 6 before sitting down for a special edition of the Cochise County Sunday Roundtable to discuss everything from a classified new mission for Fort Huachuca to the future of Chiricahua National Monument. Ciscomani, the Republican representing Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District, is in the midst of a reelection race that has garnered national attention. But if his demeanor during the Roundtable appearance is an indicator, Ciscomani is confident voters will return him to Washington D.C. in November. Much attention has been focused on Fort Huachuca after the confirmation by Ciscomani a few weeks ago that the installation has been selected for a largely classified new military mission. The mission is part of the U.S. Space Force program, which Fort Huachuca was chosen for based on technical capabilities, existing infrastructure, and its ‘unmatched airspace,’ Ciscomani’s office previously said. But few specifics have yet to be revealed to the community. Ciscomani said he met with Fort Huachuca officials earlier in the day to discuss various issues including the new mission. He declined, however, to make any public comments about operational details due to national security restrictions. He believes the project is moving quickly through the Department of Defense approval process. 'This is a big deal for the community,' Ciscomani said. 'According to what I heard today, things are moving expeditiously through the process.'"
 
VA Home Loan Affordability Act cosponsored by Ciscomani 
The Ripon Advance 
"U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) recently joined several of his Republican colleagues to unveil legislation that aims to remove barriers in the Veterans Administration home loan process for former and current members of the United States military and their spouses. The congressman on April 27 cosponsored the VA Home Loan Affordability Act, H.R. 8532, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and fellow cosponsors including U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-IL) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) to align elements of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Program with requirements of the Federal Housing Administration. If enacted, H.R. 8532 would modernize the system by reducing the time required to become a certified VA appraiser from the current three to five years to align with the 12–18-months timeline for state certification. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to cap closing costs at 1.5 percent and limit seller concessions to 6 percent, aligning VA standards with those of the Federal Housing Administration, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Ciscomani’s staff. To help streamline access for veterans, the measure also would direct the VA to review and update its minimum property requirements and appraisal processes to eliminate outdated regulations, the summary says."

VA Secretary Collins, Representative Ciscomani talk healthcare for veterans  
KVOA 
"Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins visited Tucson to address ongoing issues for veterans receiving healthcare in Southern Arizona. Secretary Collins and Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani met with leaders from across Southern Arizona. The group examined problems ranging from cancelled appointments to staffing shortages and discussed ways to improve care across the area. Secretary Collins says trips like these are crucial when it comes to hearing about the issues and making changes. 'I don't have an amorphous job. I don't have a job that sits in DC in a policy position. I do things that affect people and families and this keeps me grounded in what we do,' Collins said. Representative Ciscomani sits on both the Veterans' Affairs and Appropriations Committees. He says that gives him the unique ability to tackle issues impacting veterans from the policy and the financial sides."

USDA: Support for Rural Communities.

If you looking to grow your business, improve local infrastructure, or find housing solutions in your community, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a wide range of programs that are specifically designed to help rural communities thrive.

USDA Rural Development (RD) is hosting a free webinar to break down the essentials of these programs. Whether you’re a small business owner, public body, federally recognized tribe, a non-profit leader, or a curious resident, this webinar will provide the information you need to access federal resources.

The presentation will go over several USDA programs, including:

• Business Programs
• Water & Environmental Programs
• Community Facilities Programs
• Single Family Housing Programs

The webinar, titled Navigating USDA Rural Development Programs will be held on Thursday, May 14th at 1:00 PM EST and again on Monday, May 18th at 9:00 AM EST. For more information and to register, click HERE.

AZ-06 Highlights: Did You Know? 

The Warrior Healing Center in Sierra Vista is a pillar of the local veteran community, providing community and peer support to Sierra Vista veterans with the goal of eliminating veteran suicide throughout Cochise County and beyond. The center cares for those who have served through three main avenues: crisis intervention, command and control, and a one-stop shop.

The center’s crisis intervention protocol involves having each veteran complete an intake form so staff know what their immediate needs are, followed by the formation of a detailed plan made by the center’s case manager to map out an effective path to give the veteran the resources and tools they need to thrive. They also carry out command and control by communicating closely with VSOs and community providers to provide veterans with the proper resources and contacts that can meet their needs. Lastly, having VSOs in-house makes the center a one-stop shop for veterans who are seeking help. Rather than giving a veteran a long list of phone numbers to call for assistance, they can walk down the hall to meet with a VSO in-person.

Veterans who come to the Warrior Healing Center are met with caring staff who are committed to understanding each veteran’s individual needs to best support them in both the short- and long-term. I am proud of the work this center does to come alongside veterans to give them the support and assistance they need to live well after sacrificing so much for our country.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Warrior Healing Center.

Profiles of the American Dream.

It’s National Police Week and it’s hard to think of a better way to celebrate the American Dream than by honoring the men and women in our community who keep us safe.

Within the nearly 13,700 square miles of Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, we have law enforcement agencies of all sizes and capabilities. The Tucson Police Department is large and urban. The Tombstone Marshal’s Office is small and rural. In between we have many others – Sahuarita, Marana, Oro Valley, Casa Grande and Sierra Vista to name just a few – that are the backbone of law and order in our cities and towns.

CD6 also has five sheriff’s departments, regional offices of the Arizona Department of Public Safety and fully certified peace officers patrolling the campuses of the University of Arizona, Pima Community College and Eastern Arizona College.

All these agencies have one thing in common: they are comprised of individuals who have taken an oath to uphold the law and are willing to risk their lives to achieve that goal.

National Police Week was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. It calls for a week of observances recognizing the officers who given their lives in the line of duty, as well as those who continue to serve and protect our communities with dedication and courage.

We salute them and thank them for making the American Dream possible.

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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