Dear ,

I hope you enjoyed all the Super Bowl and Phoenix Open festivities across the Phoenix-Scottsdale area this weekend. These events allowed us to showcase the beauty of our state, and I want to thank all of the first responders, law enforcement officers, and small businesses for ensuring everything ran smoothly. 

Below are a few updates on my work this past week for the residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District.

Discussing the Real State of America's Economy

Click here or on the image above to view my remarks.

In my speech on the House Floor last week, I rebuffed President Biden's claims made during his State of the Union Address that House Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare. That assertion is completely false. Instead of using his speech to announce policy proposals that would address the shortfall in Medicare and Social Security, the President engaged in partisan rhetoric that will only further divide our country.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that our structural deficit will reach $2.6 trillion in 2034. But if interest rates increase by just one percent, the structural deficit will hit $3.1 trillion in 10 years.

My brothers and sisters on the Left constantly say that raising taxes will balance the budget, but that doesn't even come close to fixing the problem. Unless we have a revolution in the cost of health care through cures, innovation, and competition, our children and grandchildren will suffer the consequences of our mistakes.

Introducing the Debt Explanation Before Taxwriters (DEBT) Act

Last week, I introduced the Debt Explanation Before Taxwriters (DEBT) Act, legislation requiring the United States Treasury Secretary to appear before Congress before the debt limit is reached or when extraordinary measures are taken to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt obligations.

I believe that taxpayers deserve transparency from our government officials. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has the responsibility of deciding what extraordinary steps are necessary to prevent us from defaulting on our debt, which will absolutely never happen. This legislation ensures that Secretary Yellen is transparent with Congress on Treasury's debt management capabilities so that we rein in unsustainable spending and boost financial security for hardworking families.

Laying Out My Oversight Subcommittee Agenda With Bloomberg TV

Click here or on the image above to watch my interview.

On Friday, I joined David Westin on Bloomberg TV's Balance of Power to discuss my priorities as Chairman of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee. Our goal is to have honest conversations with tax experts and open up a direct line of communication with IRS employees to inform us of fraudulent conduct at the agency so we can root out bad actors more efficiently. 

American taxpayers deserve answers on how hundreds of billions in unemployment benefits were stolen during the pandemic, and our Subcommittee is working to ensure the size and scope of this fraud is brought to light. 

Help With Federal Agencies

Our office can work with you if you're ever in need of assistance with federal agencies. Although we cannot override the decisions made by a federal agency, we can intervene on a constituent's behalf to answer questions, find solutions or just cut through the red tape.

Below you will find a list of some of the agencies our office can assist you with. You are encouraged to contact our District Office at (480) 946-2411 in order to have your concerns reviewed. 

List of Agencies & Programs:

Veterans and Active Military

Social Security Administration

U.S. State Department (Foreign Travel)

Passport Service

Postal Service

Office of Personnel Management

U.S. Department of Labor

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

What I’m Reading & Why It Matters

The gap in annual pay between college and high school graduates appears to be closing. According to the New York Federal Reserve, median annual pay was $52,000 in 2022 for Americans with a bachelor's degree — a 7.4 percent decline in inflation-adjusted terms, which was the sharpest reduction since 2004. Meanwhile, wages increased by 6 percent in real terms to $34,320 for those with only a high school diploma, which was the biggest gain in more than two decades. Since December 2020, wages have grown more rapidly for high school-only workers.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update on my latest work in Washington, D.C. and Arizona's First Congressional District! If you have any comments or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to my office.

Sincerely,

David Schweikert