Senate Passes National Defense Authorization Act

This month, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (NDAA) - important legislation that would strengthen Arizona’s vital contributions to U.S. national security and improve the quality of life for our state’s service members and military families. As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I worked for months on this legislation, which would deliver some of the most sweeping reforms to the Defense Department in decades, ensuring that we make the best use of Arizonans’ limited tax dollars while providing our military men and women with the best training and equipment to fulfill their missions. The Senate-passed NDAA now proceeds to conference, where I will work with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry to compromise on a strong bill to send to the President.

Importantly, the Senate-passed NDAA would stop the Obama Administration from retiring any A-10s - many of which are stationed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson - for the next fiscal year. The A-10 is the best close-air support aircraft in our nation’s arsenal and currently plays an important role in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, as well as in NATO’s efforts to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. The NDAA would ensure we do not retire this important aircraft without fielding a suitable replacement, which the Government Accountability Office confirmed last week would not only fail to save the Air Force money, but would also leave us with a serious capability gap that could put the lives of American soldiers in danger.

The NDAA would also enable Arizona’s industrial base to continue to advance critical defense technologies that allow our military to respond to current and future threats. In addition, it includes provisions that would enhance the security of Arizona’s southern border by ensuring American troops can anticipate and prevent attacks by terrorists and transnational criminal organizations.

I have always been proud of the many contributions that Arizona’s service members and industries make to America’s national security, and I am confident that through the provisions included in this bill, our state will continue to play an outsized role in protecting and defending the nation. I look forward to working together with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry to send a bill worthy of soldiers’ service to the President’s desk.

King v. Burwell Supreme Court Decision

I was disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of King v. Burwell last week. As Arizonans well know, Obamacare is a fundamentally flawed law that has only served to increase health care costs for American taxpayers. Despite the President’s repeated assurances, Americans who liked their health care plans were not able to keep them, and taxpayers continue to be burdened with rising costs, decreased quality of care, fewer providers, and less choices.

I have always opposed the sweeping scope of this health care overhaul, which does nothing to bring down health care costs for American families and businesses. According to some estimates, Arizonans enrolled in Obamacare may see their premium rates go up by as much as 78 percent in 2016, and 24 plans in the Obamacare insurance exchanges will experience double-digit premium rate hikes. In addition, Obamacare is forcing businesses to choose between cutting their employees’ hours or laying them off altogether just to comply with the law's onerous employer mandate. The Congressional Budget Office estimates Obamacare will reduce employment by 2.5 million full-time jobs by 2024.

I remain committed to repealing and replacing this fundamentally broken law with patient-centered reforms that work for all Americans. It is long past time for Democrats to come to the negotiating table in good faith to increase competition and choice in the health insurance marketplace, and allow Americans the freedom to choose the health care that works for them and their families – not the federal government. 

Trade Promotion Authority is a Win for Arizona

The Senate’s vote last week to advance Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) is a big win for Arizona’s economy and our nation’s leadership in the world. This bill would ensure that U.S. trade negotiators will have fast-track authority to complete trade agreements that create U.S. jobs and eliminate unfair trade barriers, while requiring full transparency before Congress votes on any trade deal.

These trade agreements hold tremendous potential for Arizona workers and businesses. Our state exported $19.4 billion worth of goods in 2013, constituting more than 7 percent of its GDP. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 1994, Arizona’s exports to Canada and Mexico have increased by $5.7 billion, or 236 percent. More than one-in-five jobs in Arizona is supported by international trade, which pay on average 18 percent higher salaries. In addition, imports to the state have lowered the costs of raw material, allowing Arizona companies to remain competitive and reducing the costs of products for Arizona consumers. Simply put - free trade is good for Arizona, and good for America.

While I’m proud of the Senate’s vote, I have been disappointed that Arizona’s House Democrats have chosen to curry favor with their labor union allies rather than stand up for the people of Arizona, who have so much to gain by opening markets and creating jobs by expanding trade.

America cannot afford to wall itself off from the vast opportunities that lie across our borders. Trade is critical to opening new doors that will grow our economy and solidify our enduring commitment to a secure and prosperous future.

In Case You Missed It This Month

• Designating Major Trade Route in Arizona: Last week, I introduced the Sonoran Corridor Interstate Development Act of 2015 with Senator Jeff Flake and Congresswoman Martha McSally to designate the Sonoran Corridor as a future interstate to connect Interstate 19 to Interstate 10 south of the Tucson International Airport. The Arizona Daily Star and The Arizona Republic editorial boards also applauded our effort this weekend.
• Jobs for American Veterans: The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously approved the Border Jobs for Veterans Act, a bill I introduced with Senators Jeff Flake, Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would help separating service members find much-needed jobs, overcome staffing deficiencies at U.S. ports of entry, and enhance the security of communities in Arizona and across the country on our southern border.
• EPA’s Waters of the U.S. Rule: The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works passed the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, a bill introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) that I cosponsored with Senator Jeff Flake that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from committing another executive overreach by dictating how Arizona farmers, ranchers and business owners use water on their private lands. 
• VA Mismanagement: I was very concerned by reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will request that Congress move funds for the Veterans Choice Program, which was established under the Veterans Access, Choice & Accountability Act signed into law last year, to other VA programs. The VA is clearly unable to manage the taxpayer resources it has been given to meet the needs of our nation's veterans. It is past time that the VA hold officials accountable for wrongdoing and deliver the flexible, quality healthcare that our veterans have earned and deserve.
• Defending the Unborn: I was proud to once again co-sponsor the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that would protect the lives of unborn children after 20 weeks of pregnancy when these lives can feel pain. As a pro-life American, I will always fight for rights of all human life, including the unborn.
• Changes in Hostage Policy: I was honored to meet with the family of Kayla Mueller last week while they were in Washington, D.C. to meet with President Obama about the Administration’s changes in hostage policy. While I appreciate the Administration’s attention to this important issue, I am concerned that these policy changes do not go far enough to address the concerns of the families who have suffered through this nightmare. Kayla Mueller’s life of service continues to be an inspiration to our state and nation, and her family’s strength under the most difficult circumstances imaginable is a testament to the remarkable power of their faith.
• Enhancing Burro Management: I sent a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Director Sally Jewell this month urging the agency to address problems with managing the exploding burro herd population in Mohave County, which are damaging lands from over-grazing, harming other wildlife, and causing numerous car accidents in the area.
• Supreme Court Blocks EPA Regulations: The Supreme Court delivered a victory for Arizona businesses with its ruling in the case of Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency yesterday, affirming that the EPA had failed to take into account whether the benefits of its regulations on environmental emissions would actually outweigh the costs. Over the last two years, the Administration has implemented regulations with wanton disregard for how businesses really operate, threatening to impact just about every opportunity for economic activity in the states. I will continue to do everything I can to fight these burdensome regulations and protect Arizona businesses.
• OPM Hacking: I am very concerned by the recent hacking at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which joins an already lengthy and well-documented record of Chinese intellectual property theft and cyber-espionage against the U.S. government and American companies. Our top priority must be finding ways to deter our enemies from attacking in the first place and ending the ability of hackers to infiltrate, steal, and disrupt with impunity. 
• Stopping NFL’s “Patriotism-for-Profit” Tribute Scheme: The Senate approved an amendment I filed with Senators Jeff Flake and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to the NDAA that prohibits the Department of Defense from spending taxpayer dollars to honor American soldiers at sporting events. The Sports Fans Coalition applauded this effort, along with many of my other efforts to fight for sports fans everywhere, in an op-ed published by The Arizona Republic.
• Recent Trip to Ukraine: I wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about my recent trip to Eastern Ukraine, where it became abundantly clear that the cease-fire with Russia is fiction. During my trip, I met with the brave men and women fighting to keep Ukraine whole and free, and to whom the U.S. ought to be providing arms so they can defend themselves against Russian aggression.

Event Spotlight

I was honored to visit with Carl and Marsha Mueller, parents of Kayla Mueller of Prescott, who will always be remembered for her selfless sacrifice and compassion for all of humanity.

I wished White Cliffs Middle School student Ashley Sahawneh and Kingman Academy of Learning student Paige Lucero luck as they advanced to the finals of the National History Day competition for their impressive project titled, “Winner for All Women: Leader and Living Legacy Billie Jean King.”

I was honored to visit Ukraine this month to meet with the brave men and women fighting to keep their country free, including the volunteers stationed at Dnipro-1 Territorial Defense in Dnipropetrovsk.

Around the Grand Canyon State

• 82nd Annual Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture, Flagstaff, AZ, 7/4/15-7/5/15: The 82nd Annual Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona highlights the life and culture of the Hopi Native American tribe, featuring Hopi masters and emerging artists, Hopi social dances, traditional foods, and more. 
• Arizona Celebration of Freedom, Mesa, AZ, 7/4/15: The Arizona Celebration of Freedom in downtown Mesa includes entertainment, classic cars, motorcycles, art, music, patriotic displays, educational games, and fireworks on Saturday. 
• City of Prescott 4th of July Extravaganza, Prescott, AZ, 7/4/15: The City of Prescott 4th of July Extravaganza at Pioneer Park features arts and crafts, contests, carnival games and rides, a water slide, bungee jumping, zip-lining, live music and plenty of food.