Arizona Has a New National Park!

Today marks a significant milestone in Arizona history! Chiricahua is officially our newest national park, following President Trump's signing of the Chiricahua National Park Act this afternoon.

I was joined by U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum today for a dedication ceremony at Chiricahua National Park after the President signed the bill into law. I am incredibly proud to have the 102-year-old Chiricahua National Park join Saguaro, Grand Canyon, and Petrified Forest National Parks to be Arizona's fourth national park, and the United States' 64th. Officially designating Chiricahua as a national park is a hug win for Arizona's 6th Congressional District and our whole state. Not only will it boost local tourism and support local businesses, but it will also create new economic opportunities throughout Cochise County and AZ-06.

Thank you to Secretary Burgum for joining me in today's momentous celebration. Here is to a huge victory for Arizona and to the generations to come who will get to enjoy this beautiful landscape as a national park!

Read more about this win HERE. See local media coverage HERE and HERE.

Honoring Our Veterans.

One of my greatest honors in this job is getting to personally thank the men and women in our district who sacrificed so much to serve in our nation’s armed forces. The primary way I get to do this is through my Veteran Servant Leader Awards.

This past week, I was proud to hold my 6th Veteran Servant Leader Award Ceremony, which recognized the distinguished service of 27 local veterans as well as one civilian who has dedicated decades to advocating for veterans. For the first time, the ceremony included a posthumous award, which I presented to Linda Porter in honor of her father, William Porter.

The honorees represented Cochise, Graham, Pima, and Pinal counties, with a combined 430 years of military service spanning the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

The ceremony awarded the following selfless leaders:

• Ben Buehler-Garcia, Civilian, Veteran Advocate Award
• Frank Antenori, U.S. Army
• Gaeton Briseno, U.S. Army
• Sue Browning, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• David Caballero, U.S. Marine Corps
• William Corner, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam Veteran
• Dan Ferguson, U.S. Marine Corps
• Dale Hadfield, U.S. Army
• Rich Ingleby, U.S. Army
• Mike Jenkins, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam Veteran
• Joseph Kaplan, U.S. Army
• James Kelly, U.S. Army
• Dennis Keys, U.S. Navy
• Ben Knuckles, U.S. Army
• Linda Ludvigson, U.S. Army
• Regina Marlin, U.S. Army
• Phillip McCluskey, U.S. Army
• John Murphy, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• Jim Murphy, U.S. Air Force
• David Reno, U.S. Navy
• David Robinson, U.S. Air Force
• Walter Saeger, U.S. Air Force
• William Sobeck, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam Veteran
• Les South, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• Robert Suhay, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• Christopher David Valdez, U.S. Marine Corps
• Jake Weaver, U.S. Air Force
• William Porter, U.S. Army, Posthumous Award

Following the Veteran Servant Leader Awards, I had the opportunity to meet with my Veterans Advisory Council to provide a legislative update and hear firsthand about the issues impacting them and their families. It is always a pleasure to spend time with this outstanding group of leaders, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them to ensure veterans in Arizona’s 6th District are advocated for.

Read more about last week’s Veteran Servant Leader Awards and Veterans Advisory Council meeting HERE.

ACROSS AZ-06: Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, and Sierra Vista.

Each district work week includes a wide array of events and meetings with constituents across AZ-06, and last week was no exception!

I was proud to attend Marana Mornings, joined by Rep. Brett Guthrie from Kentucky, to give a` legislative update and share how I am continuing to fight for the community of Marana.

Additionally, Kenny and I spent Thursday morning with the Executive Referral Club, which gave me the opportunity to share with local leaders in the small business community how I am working for them in Washington.

I was also honored to spend time in Oro Valley for Mayor Joe Winfield’s State of the Town Address and a business expo, where I joined local leadership to hear an update from Mayor Winfield, discuss the $4.2 million in federal funding I am currently working to secure for the Oro Valley Police Department, and connect with local business leaders.

While in Oro Valley, I stopped by Wow Wow Lemonade to tour the facility and meet owner Jeffrey Laird and his staff. It is always a pleasure to visit new franchises throughout the district to hear their needs and priorities. To support franchises throughout Southern Arizona, I recently cosponsored the American Franchise Act (H.R. 5267), a bipartisan bill that preserves the franchise business model through clarification of the employment practices that are within the franchisor and franchisee relationship.

To round out the week, I joined Buena and Casa Grande High School football teams for their electric Friday night game. Both the Buena Colts and Casa Grande Cougars were energized and gave their all on the field. I enjoyed spending time with these amazing young athletes, and I wish both the Colts and Cougars the best of luck this season.

I’m grateful for the many connections made last week and look forward to continuing to meet and connect with constituents throughout this October district work period!

Named American Energy Champion.

I am a strong advocate for an all-of-the-above energy approach here in Arizona and consistently work to support efforts that strengthen our domestic energy production, enhance grid reliability, and protect consumer choice.

Through efforts including cosponsoring the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699) and co-leading the Streamlining Home Installation of New Energies (SHINE) Act (H.R. 6981), I am working to champion affordable, reliable energy solutions for Southern Arizona.

I am proud to be recognized as an American Energy Champion by the American Energy Alliance (AEA), after achieving a perfect 100% score on the AEA’s American Energy Scorecard for the 119th Congress.

Thank you to the American Energy Alliance for this recognition. I remain committed to ensure that Southern Arizona has a seat at the table in Washington in the discussion of affordable and reliable energy.

Read more about the American Energy Champion recognition HERE.

Honoring Nicholas Quets Two Years After His Passing.

Nicholas Quets, a Tucson native and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was murdered on October 18, 2024, in Mexico during a vicious attack by Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated narcoterrorists. In the wake of this tragic loss, Nicholas’ family has led the charge to transform their grief into action by calling to fortify national security and demanding robust safeguards for Americans who fall victim to violent crime outside the United States.

Now, two years after Nicholas’ passing, I am proud to be leading a bipartisan, bicameral legislative package to honor his life and legacy and strengthen protections for Americans traveling abroad.

Read more about this legislative effort HERE.

In the News.

One signature away: Chiricahua’s national park push reaches Trump 
Arizona’s Family 
"One signature could turn the 102-year-old Chiricahua National Monument into Arizona’s newest national park and the nation’s 64th. The Chiricahua National Park Act cleared the Senate on Sept. 30 and reached President Donald Trump’s desk Thursday, according to Congress.gov. Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani introduced the legislation to redesignate the 102-year-old Cochise County monument. Trump has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action while Congress remains in session, the bill becomes law."

From CID to Cochise County: Army veteran earns Veteran Servant Leader Award 
U.S. Army
"For military veterans, the transition to civilian life often marks the closure of a public service chapter. For Phillip McCluskey, it simply meant changing the uniform. McCluskey, a former U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division investigator and current team member at the U.S. Army Electronic Proving Ground (EPG), received the Veteran Servant Leader Award on Oct. 14 in recognition of his extensive volunteer service with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. The award, presented by U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, recognizes military veterans who continue to demonstrate exceptional leadership, selflessness, and dedication in their local communities after leaving active duty. For McCluskey, the call back to badge and duty came after reading a troubling headline. 'The Lord gave me a pretty strong dose of justice, protection, and a desire to help others in my nature,' McCluskey said. 'Around 2022, I saw a news article about a drug cartel putting out a bounty on one of the sheriff’s deputies, and I wanted to do something to help.' McCluskey contacted Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, outlining his military investigative background and offering to assist in any capacity needed. Dannels directed him to John Black, commander of the Sheriff’s Assist Team (SAT). After learning about the volunteer unit's mission, McCluskey applied and was sworn in."

Trump signs law creating Chiricahua National Park in Arizona 
Arizona Daily Star 
"It's official: The bill to upgrade Chiricahua National Monument to national park status was signed Tuesday afternoon by President Donald Trump. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Rep. Juan Ciscomani are scheduled to be at the Chiricahua Mountains Tuesday afternoon to mark the official designation. The monument 120 miles southeast of Tucson is already managed by the National Park Service, and its current boundaries and land uses remain the same under the new law. Elected officials, business owners, outdoor groups and others in nearby communities hope the national park name will draw more tourists to the region. Nicknamed the “Wonderland of Rocks,” the monument is known for its balanced boulders, rhyolite pinnacles, dark night skies and unique, sky-island wildlife. Throughout its rich history, the area has been home to prehistoric people, Apaches, Buffalo Soldiers, ranchers, homesteaders and laborers from the Civilian Conservation Corps." 

Constituent Services: D.C. Tours.

Are you visiting our nation’s capital in the coming months and interested in taking a tour of landmarks including the U.S. Capitol and the White House?

Our D.C. office is proud to offer guided tours to the following locations:

• U.S. Capitol
• White House
• FBI Headquarters
• Library of Congress
• Supreme Court
• Bureau of Engraving & Printing
• Department of Treasury

So far this year, we have provided a total of 995 constituents with guided tours to one or more of these locations. We would love to provide you with a tour, too!

If you’re interested, please visit the following link on my website.

Profiles of the American Dream.

It was a small but telling gesture, easily missed by most of the 500 people who filled the Turquoise Ballroom at the Hilton El Conquistador last Friday for Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield’s final State of the Town address.

Even for guests seated closest to the stage in the first or second row of tables, few probably noticed the mayor spring up from his seat as soon as the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Ensemble Choir finished the National Anthem. He quickly made his way to the steps the kids were descending and there, out of the spotlight that he would occupy moments later, Mayor Winfield thanked each one of the young singers for the great job they had done.

Moments like that reveal a lot about Joe Winflied, a landscape architect who for the past eight years has shaped the contours of the fast-growing town on the northwest edge of the Tucson metro area. Joe, simply put, is a class act. And judging by the love brimming in that room, he’s leaving office on a high note.

The two-and-a-half square mile municipality that was in incorporated in 1974 occupies more than 36 square miles today, and Mayor Winfield is justifiably proud of the accomplishments that have enhanced the quality of life for Oro Valley’s nearly 50,000 residents. They include the transformation of Naranja Park into a grassy oasis, improvements to town finances and police response times, and the many miles of smooth roads that are the envy of drivers who live in the city to the south.

Mayor Winfield choked back emotion as he thanked his family and the town staff, saying that his two terms as mayor was "a privilege and honor of my public life." He also left the crowd with a bit of the quiet, can-do optimism that has defined his two terms. "There will be difficult decisions ahead," he said, "but I trust this community to face them with the same care and commitment that have brought us this far."

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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