by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 12, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican Member of Congress in the Arizona delegation is cheering on his bill becoming law.
Last week, U.S. Representative Paul Gosar highlighted that H.R. 7365, the Veterans Expedited TSA Safe Travel Act, was signed into law by outgoing President, Joseph R. Biden.
Gosar said, “Very pleased that my bill, HR 7365 – the VETS Safe Travel Act, has been signed by Mr. Biden and is now the law of the land and will provide TSA’s PreCheck program to severely injured or disabled veterans free of charge.”
A press release from the White House thanked Representative Gosar “for his leadership.”
According to information from Gosar’s office, “under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would certify that a veteran is severely injured and therefore eligible to apply for the TSA PreCheck program free of charge. TSA would process the veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck program provided they successfully pass the necessary background check and interview process.”
Gosar’s office supplied data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, showing that “approximately 325,000 veterans would become eligible for this free PreCheck screening program.”
The VETS Safe Travel Act was supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Operation Second Chance, Inc., Unified Arizona Veterans, Texas Coalition of Veteran Organizations, and Veterans Airlift Command.
When this proposal passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month, Gosar said, “My great state of Arizona is home to over 450,000 veterans and nearly 30% of those live with a disability. Traveling through standard airport checkpoints with severe injuries can present significant challenges for disabled veterans. They often must wait in long and winding lines, remove their shoes, and maintain balance to stand in a security scanner. For many disabled veterans, these can be difficult tasks that can present a fall hazard or require special assistance.”
After the U.S. Senate passed the bill, he added, No American veteran, particularly disabled veterans, should be hassled at our airports. With successful passage in the Senate, the VETS Safe Travel Act is one step closer to becoming law.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Dec 3, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Democrat President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter, despite a very public vow not to, was met with condemnation from Arizona leaders in both parties. Two Arizona Republican congressmen and one congressman-elect were joined by a Democratic Representative in offering a stern rebuke of Biden’s blatant reversal and the clear preferential treatment given to his son.
In a statement released late on Sunday, Biden forwarded the claim that his son’s prosecution for violating federal gun laws and violations of the tax code were selective and that his son was “unfairly prosecuted” and “treated differently.”
He wrote:
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted. Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.
The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election. Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the court room – with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.
No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong. There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.
For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They’ll be fair-minded. Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”
Most controversially, the “Full and Unconditional Pardon” issued for the younger Biden is broad and sweeping. It covers “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” Notably, this period covers time when President Biden was still Vice President under the Obama administration, as well as Hunter’s appointment and tenure on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma according to Reuters. This would handily cover events and serious allegations of corruption probed by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives in the past two years. It would also cover business dealings in China that have been heavily scrutinized as influence peddling and featured the cryptic mention in exposed emails of Hunter securing “10 held by H for the big guy,” as reported by the New York Post.
Appearing to refer to the implication of President Biden in the scandals, Republican Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) wrote in a post to X, “Proxy Pardon,” seeming to suggest Biden is de facto pardoning himself or his brother James Biden.
Congressman-elect Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) wrote, “Joe Biden is leaving his presidency even more disgraced. A two-tiered justice system has no place in America. No more lies. No more special treatment. It’s time to restore law and order.”
Replying to a post from journalist John Harwood, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) wrote, “’…Acting on principle and keeping his word’,” quoting Biden.
Replying to a previous post to X from the President which stated, “No one is above the law,” Crane wrote, “Unless your last name is Biden.”
Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) reposted the Associated Press coverage of the pardon and wrote, “I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong. This wasn’t a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers,” adding a bipartisan character to the Congressional blowback from the pardon of Hunter Biden.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 22, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-2) announced Wednesday that H.R. 3047 which he proposed to transfer Federal Land within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to the northern Arizona communities of Pinedale and Alpine, has made it through the House Committee on Natural Resources. Specifically, the bill addresses the needs for both communities for expanded cemetery space which, being surrounded by federal land, is nearly impossible for the towns or private buyers to acquire.
The bill is cosponsored by Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ-9) and would convey 2.5 acres of National Forest System land to Navajo County for the Pinedale Cemetery expansion and 8.06 acres of National Forest System land to Apache County for the Alpine Cemetery expansion.
The office of Rep. Crane noted that for over a decade both communities have struggle with locating appropriate cemetery space, often needing to lay loved ones to rest in cemeteries over a hundred miles away from the communities in which they lived and died.
Navajo County Supervisor Daryl Seymore wrote, “The community of Pinedale has a long and rich pioneer history, and the residents are proud of that heritage. Pinedale is a community where generations of families live, grow, and raise their families. This bill will allow families to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that their family member loved so much. I’m grateful to Congressman Crane and his staff for their work on this bill and his support of the Pinedale community.”
Crane said in a statement, “I’m pleased to report that my bill passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources and awaits consideration on the House Floor. These communities have storied histories, and they deserve to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that means so much to them.”
The Congressman credited the community of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints adding, “This piece of legislation is one of the first bills I introduced in Congress and is a testament to the strength of the Latter-Day Saints Community in Northern Arizona. I appreciate Supervisors Seymore and Nelson for their leadership, and we will continue to do everything we can to push this bill through the legislative process.”
Apache County Supervisor and Board Vice-Chairman Nelson Davis wrote, “As a County Supervisor and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Apache County, I have seen firsthand the ‘very real needs’ of the communities that I represent. Recently, the effort put forth by you and your staff in securing the conveyance of USFC land immediately adjacent to the Alpine Community Cemetery is representative of meeting that ‘very real need.’”
Following the passage of the bill through the House Committee on Natural Resources, Chairman Bruce Westerman said, “Oftentimes, the smallest solutions can have the most meaning. Congressman Crane’s legislation to convey important parcels of land to the Apache and Navajo counties will help communities properly lay to rest their loved ones. This is the type of thoughtful work that makes Rep. Crane such an important asset to his constituents.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 13, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A series of polls released over the past year have shown that public support for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants represents a majority-driven mandate from the American people which cuts across racial, political, and economic lines. Congressional leaders from Arizona have emerged as the most fervent voices reflecting the widely accepted viewpoint.
As noted by Cronkite News, President-Elect Donald J. Trump drew direct attention to this in remarks he made announcing his victory when he touted “an unprecedented and powerful mandate.”
“They’re coming by the thousands,” Trump warned in a video posted on Truth Social. “We will secure our borders. And we will restore sovereignty.”
A Scripps News/Ipsos survey presented findings that approximately 54% of the American public, including 25% of Democrats, an overwhelming 86% of Republicans, and even a strong majority of 58% of Independents agreed that they “strongly,” or “somewhat” support “Deporting those who are in the country illegally.”
Similarly, an Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll released in April found conclusively that 51% of the American public, with 42% of Democrats, 68% of Republicans, and even a 45% share of Latinos and 40% of Black Americans polled found they “support mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.”
Finally, a Fox News Poll, by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research released in mid-October in the final weeks of the election cycle made it quite clear that “Since 2015, support for deporting those living in the U.S. illegally is up across the board, but most notably among nonwhite voters (+24 points favor), Republicans (+21 points), rural voters (+20), urban voters (+19), and men (+16). Democrats are also more likely to favor this now but by a smaller 8-point margin.” The increase over time in acceptance of mass deportation has been profound.
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ) has consistently criticized the Department of Homeland Security under the Biden administration and frequently sparred with Secretary of the Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. In April, Crane was reported by Forbes as scorching Mayorkas.
Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ) shared a video of Trump explaining his mass deportation policy in a post to X in March 2023 with the caption: “We need mass deportations and NO AMNESTY.”
Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) posted likewise in January 2023 writing, “All illegal aliens must be deported. Period.”
Trump’s selection of former acting director of ICE, Tom Homan, as “border czar,” has further energized the conversation around the mass deportation plan Trump promised during his campaign.
The morale of Border Patrol agents has also improved significantly according to reports. National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez told Fox News in an interview that the agency’s morale is “through the roof,” adding, “We’ve received hundreds of calls, texts, emails, just saying how happy the agents are.”
“There are a lot of agents that had originally said that they would retire if President Trump did not win. And now those same agents are saying they’re going to hold back on their retirement because they want to serve under this administration again, because they know exactly how it was during this first administration, and they know this one’s going to be even better,” he said.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 30, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The ‘Fix Our Forests Act’ introduced by Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), co-sponsored by Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and supported by Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ) passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday in a 268-151 vote. The vote went largely along partisan lines with 55 Democrats joining the Republican Majority to advance it to the Senate. The act as explained by Crane’s office “would improve the health and resiliency of America’s forests.”
Citing the breadth of the designated forests in the United States at 117 million acres and with the stark warning that these forests are “overgrown, prone to fires, and in need of active management,” the Republican measure is designed to expedite the approvals process for forestry management and fire control. Both are imminent and ever-present concerns in the wildfire-prone high-desert grasslands and forests of Northern Arizona.
According to a press release from Crane’s office, the Fix Our Forests Act is designed to:
“Simplify and expedite environmental reviews to reduce costs and planning times for critical forest management projects while maintaining rigorous environmental standards;
End frivolous litigation that delays needed forest management projects;
Utilize state-of-the-art science to prioritize the treatment of forests at the highest risk of wildfire;
Incentivize forest management projects of up to 10,000 acres to increase the pace and scale of active management;
Promote federal, state, tribal, and local collaboration by creating a new Fireshed Center and codifying the Shared Stewardship initiative;
Make communities more resilient to wildfire by coordinating existing grant programs and incentivizing new research;
Give agencies new tools to restore watersheds, protect communities in the wildland-urban interface and prevent forest conversion;
Revitalize rural economies by strengthening tools such as Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting;
Adopt new and innovative technologies to address forest health threats like wildfires, drought, insects and disease;
Harden utility rights-of-way against wildfire by encouraging more active management and removal of dangerous hazard trees.”
The Biden administration reportedly opposes the bill, and it could potentially meet with a veto if it passes the Senate. In a statement from the White House, the Biden-Harris administration wrote, “H.R. 8790, however, also contains a number of provisions that would undermine basic protections for communities, lands, waters, and wildlife; reduce opportunities for public input; and heighten the likelihood for conflict, litigation, and delay on needed forest restoration and resilience work,” the statement continued per the Washington Examiner. “The Administration therefore strongly opposes this bill.”
In a statement published by the Congressional Western Caucus, Rep. Westerman said, “America’s forests are on life support after decades of mismanagement. The clock on these ticking time bombs is down to the final few seconds, and Congress must move swiftly to save our forests from imminent destruction. Today, the House took decisive action on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which will empower local land managers and agencies with tools to enact the most vital forest management projects. The time to fix our forests is now.”
In a post to X, Crane wrote, “Yesterday, I voted proudly in support of the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which would restore forest health and protect our communities in #AZ02. Thanks to @NatResources Chairman @RepWesterman for his leadership on this legislation.”
The bill was cosponsored by 17 Republicans including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and six Democrats and must now be taken up by the Senate.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
