Celebrating 20 Years of U.S. Citizenship.

On September 18, 2006, I took the oath of citizenship and officially became an American citizen. Just 16 years later, I took another oath, now to serve as a member of the United States Congress after being elected as the first immigrant from Mexico to serve in federal office in AZ.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents and the tremendous sacrifices they made for me and my two siblings. After we immigrated to the United States from Mexico, my mom and dad worked tirelessly to provide a better future for us. Their sacrifices helped pave the way for me to attend Pima Community College and the University of Arizona, allowing me to become the first in my family to graduate from college.

My father has often said that the path from immigrating to the United States to now seeing his son serve in Congress was possible because of the opportunities America provided for our family. That very message continues to shape my approach to public service. Serving in Congress has given me the ability to fight to defend and preserve the opportunities that allowed my own family to build a better future while ensuring the American Dream remains within reach for the next generation.

Thank you, mom and dad for all you did to give me a better future. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be celebrating 20 years of American citizenship as a Member of Congress.

Watch a video from me HERE or BELOW.

The Passing of Senator Jon Kyl.

Arizona has lost a giant. Laura and I are deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend Senator Jon Kyl. Not only was he an influential leader, but he also dedicated his years to serving the communities around him, the state of Arizona, and the entire nation. He will be incredibly missed.

To his wife Caryll, their family and friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing Senator Kyl, Laura and I extend our sincerest condolences.

Senator Kyl, thank you for your commitment to your community, state, and country. Your legacy of service will live on through the lives you impacted and the ways in which you helped move Arizona forward.

Read my full statement HERE.

A Productive Week in D.C.

My colleagues and I in the House got a lot done in Washington last week, passing more than 70 pieces of legislation, including the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340). The bill passed with bipartisan support in a vote of 417 to 3, and would ensure large data centers pay their fair share for energy and grid infrastructure their operations require, instead of passing those costs to families and small businesses. It requires state utility regulators to establish rules ensuring large-load customers, including data centers, pay for new power generation, transmission, and other grid upgrades needed to serve their facilities.

I voted for this bill to keep costs down for families across Southern Arizona and remain committed to fighting for affordability where it matters most. Read more about the Ratepayer Protection Act HERE.

We also passed bipartisan legislation to ensure Arizonans’ continued access to AM radio in their cars. This comes after eight out of 20 of the world’s leading carmakers have removed AM radio from their electric vehicles. As automakers innovate and add new features, some traditional technologies are being left behind, raising concerns about losing vital communication channels. Following growing national attention to the issue and mounting public concern about whether the general public can receive emergency information timely and effectively, I am proud to have voted in favor of this legislation.

Read more about this bill HERE.

I am proud of the work my colleagues and I in the House accomplished last week and as I am now back in Arizona, I look forward to connecting with constituents across the district in these coming weeks.

$20 Million Investment in Arizona Mining.

Thanks to the Department of Energy, the University of Arizona’s School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources has received $20 million to help power the future of Arizona mining and American critical minerals andaid the university in training the next generation of the mining workforce.

The Department of Energy has been a longstanding partner in strengthening and advancing Southern Arizona’s role in mining. This investment is a gamechanger for Arizona and the resurgence of domestic mining. As one of Arizona’s Five C’s, copper is integral to our economy, and this investment further strengthens its role.

Throughout my time in office, I have advocated for domestic mining and worked to keep Arizona a leader in America’s mining industry, so our state and nation’s critical mineral supply remains secure.

I am grateful to the Department of Energy for this significant investment and look forward to how it will pave the way for the future of domestic mining and critical minerals.

Read more about the investment HERE.

Milestones at Davis-Monthan.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) is a cornerstone of our community, home to more than 15,000 airmen, families, and civilians who make an incredible impact in Southern Arizona each and every day.

I was honored to join the Davis-Monthan community this past Friday to witness the EC-130H Compass Call make its final taxi.

This aircraft has been an integral part of the United States Air Force since the late 1980s, serving as one of the branch’s most secretive platforms. Alongside their role jamming enemy radar, the Compass Calls at Davis-Monthan hold the record for the service’s longest continuously deployed unit.

Last Friday also marked the U.S. Air Force’s 79th birthday, a milestone I was proud to celebrate alongside everyone at Davis-Monthan.

Congratulations to everyone at Davis-Monthan on decades of successful EC-130H operations. Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate with you all!

Upcoming Veteran Servant Leader Awards.

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 five 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 five events, and we are looking forward to our sixth which will be held next month.

If you know a veteran in AZ-06 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 sixth Veteran Servant Leader Awards! Nominations will be accepted through Monday, October 5.

You can read more about the most recent Veteran Servant Leader Awards HERE and nominate a veteran HERE.

In the News.

Senator Jon Kyl remembered 
KGUN 9 
"The story of modern Arizona is to some degree the story of modern leaders who helped it adapt to the challenge of building a modern world in the harsh environment of the desert. Now one of those leaders has died...Congressman Juan Ciscomani remembers working with Senator Kyl when Senator John Mc Cain died in office and then Governor Doug Ducey brought Kyl back to the Senate to fill part of McCain’s term. Ciscomani was working on border issues as head of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. He says Kyl set the example for getting things done across political lines. 'People still talk about his artful negotiating skills behind the scenes with both sides, just to get results and never bashing the other side. Being respectful, being a gentleman, a statesman,someone that worked hard during his time in office. So all these traits that he has are things that Washington still talks about, and it's amazing.'"

Arizona politicians across the aisle honor Jon Kyl, a political giant who shaped the state for decades 
KTAR News 
"The country knew Jon Kyl as a political heavyweight. Arizonans knew him as one of their own. The Republican represented Arizona in Congress for nearly three decades, first in the U.S. House and later in the Senate. Time Magazine also named Kyl one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2010. Kyl’s family announced his death Thursday, saying, 'We know Jon belonged to all of Arizona, a state he loved with vigor.'...'He was known as a master negotiator,' said Republican U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show. 'It’s a huge loss, not only for the state and his family, of course, but for the country.'"

Local opinion: Veteran credits Ciscomani’s office with protecting his benefits 
Arizona Daily Star 
"As a veteran, I can count on Congressman Juan Ciscomani to fight for me. Last year, I faced the potential loss of my 100% disability rating. Ciscomani’s team stepped in to submit an inquiry to the Department of Veterans Affairs on my behalf. Because of their tireless efforts, I did not lose my rating. Not only did Ciscomani’s team get me the help I needed, they still check in with me periodically to see if there is anything else I might need help with. I also received one of the congressman’s Veteran Servant Leader Awards in May, recognizing my time serving in the U.S. Navy and the years I spent as a firefighter afterward. This truly meant so much to me, and I really appreciate the congressman taking the time to recognize the sacrifice and service of veterans across Southern Arizona. My experience with Congressman Ciscomani and his entire team has been nothing but amazing, and I am beyond grateful to know that my congressman will go to bat for veterans like myself."

Profiles of the American Dream.

Imagine being the only pilot in the sky.

That was Brig. Gen. Ron Shoopman on Sept. 12, 2001, the day after the worst attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor. The nation was in shock, unsure of what would – or could - happen next.

For the first time in history, all commercial and private aircraft had been ordered to remain on the ground. Ron owned the sky. His F-16 was the only aircraft in American air space west of the Mississippi River.

Maybe you know about Ron from the 14 years he spent at the helm of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council or the eight years he spent as a member of the Arizona Board of Regents. His commitment to our community runs deep.

On the fateful day 25 years ago, Ron was serving as Wing Commander for the Tucson-based Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing. He was in San Antonio for meetings when the terrorists struck.

"We sat there and watched in silence as the second tower fell, knowing full well our lives were changing immediately," Ron told the Explorer newspaper recently. "We were going into a war-time footing, one way or another."

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ordered Ron to fly his jet fighter back to Tucson, where the 2,000 men and women under his command were awaiting their orders. The mission assignment Ron gave the pilots of the 162nd was nothing short of unprecedented.

"We were being asked to get airborne with live missiles and get ready to potentially shoot down American airliners, carrying American citizens, in order to protect the symbols of our nation," Ron recalled.

The anniversary of 9/11 has come and gone but the story of what happened that day must never be forgotten. We don’t need an anniversary to be inspired by people like Ron Shoopman. He’s a great example of the American Dream.

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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