The Year of Obscurity—2021 In Review

It appears that the violence may have been initiated by federal agents or federal informants acting as agents provocateurs.   Darren Beatty at Revolver News has filed several thorough investigative reports on the role of federal informants in instigating violence.

I make no excuses for anyone who broke glass, shoved or hit a police officer, or otherwise behaved irresponsibly.  Nor do I make any excuses or apologies for President Trump, who said and did nothing wrong that day, or myself, Senator Cruz, Representative Biggs and the dozens of others who objected to the certification of electors and sought a remand for purposes of an election audit.  I had a legal basis to submit my objections then, and I have even more now after the Arizona Senate audit.   I will not be intimidated by efforts to stop my free speech to speak up about election integrity.

I voted against Democrats’ massive, jobs-killing land grab legislation, falsely named the Grand Canyon Preservation Act that would grab up more than one million acres and permanently banned mining and other multiple-use activities in my great state of Arizona. Read my Op-Ed previously published in the Kingman Miner HERE.

In response to states that in recent years enacted statutes requiring gun owners to register their handguns, I introduced the Gun-owner Registration Information and Protection (GRIP) Act. This bill prohibits state, localities or any other organization from using federal funding to maintain firearm registry database that list gun-owners who lawfully own or possess firearms.

The Biden Administration doesn’t seem to understand or simply won’t admit that there is a crisis along the southern border, despite it being a crisis he created by his decisions to open our southern border, ignore immigration enforcement laws and halt the completion of construction of the wall. That’s why I have repeatedly invited Mr. Biden to join me in Yuma County in my district that is being pummeled by never-ending waves of illegal migrant crossings. Click HERE to read one of the many invitations I sent to Mr. Biden.  Sadly, he ignored every one the entire year.

I cosponsored real immigration reform legislation throughout the year including H.R. 1883, the Protect America First Act, which halts all immigration for four years, funds the construction and completion of the wall along the southern border, expedites deportations of illegal aliens, cuts off funding for sanctuary cities, rescinds Mr. Biden’s open border executive orders, and rescinds amnesty programs. Incentivizing more illegal aliens to unlawfully enter our country amidst a pandemic is similar to pouring gasoline on a wildfire.  I also cosponsored the End Child Trafficking Now Act, legislation would combat asylum fraud by requiring a DNA test to determine familial relationship between an alien and an accompanying minor. Those refusing a DNA test will be immediately deported and those caught falsifying familial relations would receive a maximum 10-year penalty.

I fought back against the Social Security Administration’s efforts to move the Apache Junction Social Security office.  Unfortunately, earlier this year, the SSA made its intention known that it is considering shuttering the Apache Junction Social Security office and moving more than 20 miles away, to the town of Gilbert. Such a move is entirely unacceptable to citizens of Apache Junction that depend on a conveniently located facility. Click HERE to read an opinion editorial I wrote back in March detailing my concerns.

This past Spring, I was very pleased to share that the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced plans to either relocate or expand its retail facility and carriers facility or move them into one building due to growth in Prescott Valley.  Because of the significant population growth over the past 25 years, the current buildings are too small and expanding in the current location may not be viable. With future population growth expected many citizens in Prescott Valley have rightfully expressed concerns with the existing postal facility including traffic congestion, long wait lines, inability for residents to easily and quickly pick up or drop off packages, and inadequate parking.  The USPS will announce its final decision and the project is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2022.  This was a great win for the residents of Prescott Valley!

Throughout the year, I took action to defend the rights of the unborn. For example, I joined my pro-life colleagues in filing a discharge petition in support of H.R. 619, the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act states that if a child is born alive after surviving an abortion, any health care practitioner present must exercise the same degree of care to preserve the life and health of the child as any other child of the same gestational age would receive. The survivor must then be immediately transported to a hospital.

I also sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protest its decision lifting the in-person dispensing requirement for the abortion pill mifepristone, which is used to cause an abortion within ten-weeks of conception. Because of the risk it poses to women’s health, the FDA previously required states to only dispense mifepristone in a doctor’s office and taken under the supervision of a health care provider.

Each year, Congress sponsors a nationwide high school art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.  Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of announcing the winners of the 2021 Congressional Art Competition. The first-place winner received an $8,000 scholarship to Northern Arizona University and his artwork will be displayed for one year on the wall in the walkway from Cannon House Office Building to the U.S. Capitol where it can be seen by lawmakers, staff and visitors from all over the world.

Unfortunately, Critical Race Theory found its way into government institutions and even the classrooms of our children this year. In response, my Republican colleagues and I introduced the Combatting Racist Teaching in Schools Act and the Stop Critical Race Theory Act. These two bills would prevent CRT from being taught in elementary and secondary schools and universities and would ban it from being taught in the federal workforce. This poisonous ideology seeks to undermine our society by pitting people against each other to justify government control over all Americans.

This year, I also issued a resolution to terminate the COVID-19 emergency declaration issued on March 13, 2020 under the authority of the National Emergencies Act (NEA). My resolution simply requires that Congress do its job and formally debate on terminating the emergency declaration, as required by the law.

This past Summer, I introduced H.R. 3330 the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act, to increase and streamline production of wind, solar, and geothermal energy on public lands while also establishing a cost revenue sharing mechanism that ensures fair return for states, counties, sportsmen, conservation, and taxpayers. For the past eight years, I have led the effort to secure American access to energy while taking care of the people and communities public lands impact the most.

Another bill I introduced was the Making Excellence Replace Identity Traits (MERIT) Act, legislation that would prohibit government sanctioned racial bigotry by ensuring that no federal funds are provided to any entity that has established a hiring program that uses affirmative action employment preferences as a basis for hiring.  Eradicating the scourge of racial hatred is a priority for the country. Interested in learning more about the MERIT Act? Click here!

I also attended a rally in Scottsdale to draw awareness to this issue. These are not unruly or dangerously violent criminals. These are political prisoners who are now being persecuted and bearing the pain of unjust suffering. Individuals arrested for illegal acts on January 6 deserve to be treated fairly.

In spite of evidence to the contrary, Democrat Representative Jayapal filed an ethics complaint against me alleging that my actions on January 6, 2021, particularly in objecting to the seating of electors for Mr. Biden, violated one or more rules of ethics.  As it turns out, Representative Jayapal objected in 2017 to the seating of electors for President Trump yet she ignored this important detail in her bogus complaint against me. In a bit of good news, the House Committee on Ethics dismissed this baseless complaint filed against me this past June.

This year, the Biden administration’s efforts to strip law abiding gun owners of their second amendment rights was never ending.  For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced a new proposed rule to define the use of a pistol with a stabilizing brace as a short-barreled rifle! This would include a burdensome bureaucratic process as well as having to pay a $200 National Firearms Act tax. To address this backdoor handgun regulation, I cosponsored the Protecting Individual Sovereignty Through Our Laws (PISTOL) Act which provides a statutory definition of what constitutes a pistol that is not subject to bureaucratic interpretation.

Afghanistan:  In a humiliating defeat of our country in mid-August,  the Taliban routed Biden’s military and his failed military leadership, and in the process billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment was captured by the Taliban.   To compound the military buffoonery, Biden and his woke generals, including the gay agenda promoting Gen. Milley, left thousands of Americans behind in Afghanistan to fend for themselves behind enemy lines.   This military rout and catastrophe is unprecedented in our history.    Our military used to state that it would leave no one behind.   Under the incompetent Biden military, and the woke generals who focus more on men in dresses rather than training men to kill our enemies, we lost a major war, lost billions in military equipment and abandoned thousands of citizens behind enemy lines.   This is a shameful page in Biden’s history.

This past year, I joined several of my colleagues in cosponsoring a resolution that affirms state’s rights to protect their citizens from the cartel-facilitated invasion along the southern border. Sadly, we are being invaded along the southern border and hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants poured into our country each month this past year. All because Joe Biden purposefully failed to protect or secure our southern border. This resolution is a much-needed step in regaining control of our southern border via the exercise of the sovereign power of the states.

I also pushed a resolution to impeach David Chipman, Mr. Biden’s nominee to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) even before he was confirmed. Thankfully, after months and months of pressure from me and other 2A defenders, Mr. Biden withdrew Mr. Chipman’s nomination to run the ATF. This was a huge win for law abiding gun owners and personal liberty!

Another bill I introduced this year is the Separation of Powers Restoration Act, legislation that restores the Constitution’s basic principle of dividing the federal government into separate branches with independent powers. For too long, the executive branch, regardless of political party, has developed an unbridled concentration of power never envisioned by the Founding Fathers. From forever wars, endless executive orders, to overreaching emergency declarations, the executive has greatly weakened our system of checks and balances.

There is nationwide distrust in our entire voting system, and for good reason.  In response, I introduced the Securing America’s Election Act of 2021, legislation that would require the use of voter-verified paper ballots or a paper ballot backup in federal elections that if needed, can be counted by hand, an optical scanner, or a similar device.

Because of the historic surge of illegal aliens entering the United States through our southern border, I introduced legislation to prohibit the admission of aliens to the United States for 10 years. The fact is, we can’t have legal immigration when we have rampant illegal alien invaders. This is a threat to our national security and our economy and to our citizens. By pausing the admission of aliens to America it will give the United States an opportunity to figure out how to end illegal immigration and put Americans first in line for jobs, education, and other opportunities.

At a time when American college graduates are struggling to find a job and many are saddled with student loans, our government is incentivizing foreign employees over Americans. In response, I introduced the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act,legislation that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the Optional Practice Training (OPT) Program. OPT circumvents the H-1B cap by allowing over 100,000 aliens admitted as foreign students to work for up to three years in the United States after graduation. These foreign workers are exempt from payroll taxes making them at least 10-15 percent cheaper than a comparable American worker.

This Summer, I also introduced two bills to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 50 years ago, NEPA was arguably signed into law to be prevent harmful damage to our environment by requiring the federal government review and analyze the environmental effects prior to permitting or granting approval for a project. Today, however, NEPA has been weaponized by radical environmentalists who want to stop nearly any form of economic development.  Endless delays and lawsuits are used to prevent infrastructure projects and job creation throughout the country.  Click here and here to learn more about these bills.

This year, with the help of my amazing staff, I launched “The Gosar Minute” on the Gosar News Network. My team discusses various current events in a short, one minute video clips and my take or involvement in them.  You can view all Gosar Minutes here!

I also supported three impeachment resolutions against Joe Biden.

His incompetence, corruption and violation of his oath of office to execute our laws faithfully requires his removal from office.  While he remains in office, our country is at serious risk.

This Fall, I had the privilege of joining the good folks from Prescott Meals on Wheels and had a great time helping deliver meals to constituents. Prescott Meals on Wheels provides nutritional meals to the elderly and disabled, enabling them to live independently with safety and dignity.

In response to the undercover investigation by Project Veritas that found that an Arizona hospital was violating federal law and not reporting vaccine injuries, I sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanding a national review to ensure full compliance with vaccine injury reporting laws.  A story about my efforts is found here.

Hoping no one would notice, Congress included what is called a “red flag” law in the annual National Defense Authorization Act.  But they didn’t fool me! This type of law is blatantly unconstitutional under our second amendment.  The law seeks to disarm and prevent gun ownership for any person the government thinks could one day be a criminal, even if that person has no criminal record at all. I was proud to vote against it.

I voted against suspending the debt limit every time Congress tried to raise it. I don’t believe Congress should hike the debt ceiling without first making spending cuts to get our fiscal house in order. We are feeling the impact of record high inflation on everyday goods and services. Simply issuing new debt to pay for existing debt is nonsensical. High level of debt stifles economic opportunity and prosperity, making it difficult for most Americans to live the American Dream. I cannot support this irresponsible policy.

This past Autumn, I cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act, a bill that would restrict the granting of automatic citizenship to newborns who have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. Other than Canada, the United States is the only other industrialized country that grants automatic citizenship to all children born in this country.

I introduced legislation to transfer 232 acres of federal Forest Service land to Gila County for the development of a veterans retreat and community center for the more than 5500 military veterans living in Gila County.  This site is the perfect location for the community center for use as a gathering space for veterans and their families to host retreats, meetings and other events.

In response Mr. Biden’s reckless vaccine mandate, I sent a letter raising grave concerns with these leftist policies further burdening the West.  Mr. Biden is putting our commuting at risk, especially during this intense wildfire season. Almost 6.5 million acres have burned from more than 47,000 fires this year.

A few months ago, I had the privilege to attend and speak at the Arizona Life Coalition monthly meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It was great to be with so many like-minded folks who support Arizona’s pro-life community.  Sadly, many in Congress and this administration want to authorize the killing of more innocent babies. Over 62 million abortions have been performed in the United States. Americans should be outraged and ashamed that we have created and supported a culture that fails to protect life in this country. Every innocent human being has value.

In response to Mr. Biden’s unconstitutional vaccine mandate, I introduced a joint resolution to terminate the vaccine rule. This is radical government overreach. There is nothing in the Constitution or the law granting the federal government the power to force anyone to inject medicine into their body as a condition of employment.  The decision to get jabbed is a choice best made between a physician and the patient.

Earlier this year, Mr. Biden made known his intention to dole out $450,000 to illegal aliens as an apology for President Trump’s decision to enforce our immigration laws. This is outrageous! In response, I cosponsored the Illegal Immigration Payoff Prohibition Act to prevent the Biden administration from making payments to lawbreakers who illegally entered our country.

House Democrats voted to censure me for daring to question their liberal agenda granting amnesty for millions of lawbreakers. I went on the Stew Peters Show to explain to the American people exactly why the Democrats are trying to cancel me. My entire Republican conference was united in support of me and voted against this political stunt.  I am incredibly grateful to Leader McCarthy and everyone who stood up and spoke on my behalf.  President Trump even phoned me to personally thank me for standing up in support of the America First agenda. I will continue to speak out against Mr. Biden’s failures.

At the end of the year, Democrats in Congress voted for Mr. Biden’s massively reckless $4.9 trillion socialist spending plan that I like to refer to as the Build Back Worse Act. This massive spending bill includes free college tuition and amnesty for millions of illegal aliens already in our country.  The legislation doubles the size of the Internal Revenue Service so they can spy on your banking deposits and go after every penny you earn.  It shamefully removes provisions that protect taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortions.  It includes over $1.2 trillion in crushing tax increases on small business and the middle-class while increasing the national debt by nearly 25%.  Also tucked away in this massive bill is a little-known provision to fund and implement gun control measures, depriving law-abiding gun owners of their Second Amendment rights.  Click here to read my press release further explaining why I voted against the Democrats’ socialist legislation.

That’s a wrap!  I look forward to 2022.  Happy New Year!