Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a longtime friend, Wendy Baldo, who will soon begin her well-deserved retirement.

Wendy first came to work in Arizona state government in 1988, during the administration of Governor Rose Mofford. In 1993, she began her long and distinguished career with the Arizona State Senate. In 2009, Wendy was hired as chief of staff for the legislative body, a role in which she has now served for more than 12 years.

I came to know Wendy while serving in the Arizona state legislature from 2002 to 2016. My election to the Arizona Senate in 2010 provided me the opportunity to work under Wendy's guidance, and she continued to serve as my chief of staff for the four years I served as Arizona Senate President. Wendy was always a trusted advisor. She staunchly protected the institution of the Senate and was the fierce, loyal ally every leader needs. It is a rare occurrence in the Arizona Senate for a chief of staff to serve multiple Senate presidents. Wendy's service to five presidents is a true testament to her character and caliber.

The knowledge and expertise Wendy has accumulated in her years in the Arizona Senate are an invaluable resource. Her retirement, while well- deserved, will undoubtedly be a loss for the Senate. I thank Wendy for her many years of service to the people of Arizona and wish her well in this next phase of her life.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 256, the repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. For too long, Congress has abrogated its Constitutional obligation to declare war. The founding fathers knew that the executive branch was the most prone to war. That is why they gave Congress the power to declare war. By assigning this power to Congress, our founders ensured that issues of war would be properly debated before our brave service members are sent into harm's way.

We have allowed Presidents of both parties to disregard the proper Constitutional order and engage in forever wars. This AUMF has been in place for nearly 20 years and the situation in Iraq is vastly different than at its onset. Allowing the AUMF to remain in place will not make America safer. However, it will allow for the President to keep us in a state of perpetual war.

Repealing the AUMF will not endanger our troops overseas. However, repealing the AUMF will begin the process of restoring Congress to its proper role of deciding when our country goes to war. This Congress, or any future, must be a part of any decision to reengage in hostilities in Iraq.

In Congress does not find the courage stand up to the President and say, ``No Mr. President, we decided when to go to war,'' then thousands of young lives will be lost in unconstitutional wars. It is time for Congress to reassert itself over war powers and restore the proper Constitutional order.

I urge my colleagues to stand up for the Constitution. To stand up for Congress by supporting H.R. 256. I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, I missed the vote on passage

of H.R. 239. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 160 (H.R. 239).

Madam Speaker, there is no greater love than to lay one's life down for another.

Officer Christopher Farrar of Chandler, Arizona exemplified that love when he was killed in the line of duty on April 30th of this year. Officer Farrar gave his life on behalf of his community and indeed, the entire State of Arizona. By all accounts he was a great police officer who served his community every day.

He leaves behind a grieving family and his fellow officers of the Chandler Police Department. I thank his family and loved ones for their sacrifices and his. Our prayers are with you.

We also join in prayer for Officer Rico Aranda, of the Gilbert, Arizona Police Department who, alongside Officer Farrar, put his life on the line while responding to the same call on April 30. Although he was critically wounded, he was fortunate enough to survive the attempt on his life. We express our hope for a speedy and complete recovery for Officer Farrar.

Both these men and their families will remain in our hearts.

Serving in law enforcement takes a special kind of person. One who leaves the house each day knowing he may not return. Police officers all across this country have been vilified over the last year but I challenge you, Madame Speaker, to find a group of individuals more noble, more selfless, and more interested in serving their fellowman than police officers.

Instead of the hyper-critique they have received of recent times, they deserve the praise and admiration of this body. Police officers routinely face grave threats with great courage.

Madam Speaker, over the last year we have seen Liberal organizations and leftist cities call for the defunding of our police. I urge elected officials and the American public to support those who keep our communities safe. Let's increase our respect to our police force. Let's increase our gratitude by giving a positive comment, a helping hand, or saying a prayer when you see those flashing red and blue lights on the way to an emergency.

I am grateful to be participating in National Police Week so I may pay homage to the brave men and women who run towards danger when most retreat. We may never know the pressure and the courage it takes to wear the badge and don the uniform, but we can always show the respect and honor our police officers deserve.

To those officers who demonstrated the greater love by making the greatest sacrifice we say, ``Thank you.'' We offer our grateful support to those they left behind.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 143 on H.R. 1065, I am not recorded because I had to return home to my district to attend the funeral of a close family friend. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 143.

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Mesa Police Sgt. Brandon Mendoza who was tragically killed by an illegal alien 7 years ago.

In the early morning hours of May 12, 2014, Sgt. Mendoza was driving home from his shift when he encountered an illegal alien driving under the influence of alcohol and meth. The illegal alien drove at high speeds in the wrong direction for 35 miles on four freeways in the Phoenix metro area. Despite law enforcement efforts to catch up to and stop the illegal alien, he ultimately collided head-on with Sgt. Mendoza, killing them both.

Sgt. Mendoza's death was untimely and preventable. But it requires Democrats to get serious about enforcement of our immigration laws and putting American families first.

Sgt. Mendoza's illegal alien killer had previously pled guilty to criminal conspiracy charges in Colorado, but, despite his illegal presence, he was not removed from the United States. Instead, he roamed free in our communities, ultimately choosing to drive without a license and while severely intoxicated.

Today, there are more than 3 million illegal aliens with final orders of removal, many of whom are suspected or convicted criminals, living in American communities. President Biden should prioritize removal of these individuals before they can do any additional harm.

I am enraged by President Biden's nonchalant attitude towards illegal immigration into the United States. In April, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended a near record number of aliens attempting to illegally enter the United States, more than 173,000. President Biden's refusal to acknowledge the crisis at the border is a bold attempt to mislead the American public.

Last week, I traveled to the southwest border with 10 fellow members of Congress to again see firsthand the damage of President Biden's new border policies. Sgt. Mendoza's mother, Mary Ann, joined us for a portion of the tour. Since her son's death, Mary Ann has been a fierce advocate for border security, pleading with the Obama and Biden Administrations to protect other American families from experiencing the same pain and suffering.

During our visit, Mary Ann expressed concern that government leaders have forgotten families like hers and instead placed the interests of illegal aliens ahead of the interests of our nation. Families like Sgt. Mendoza's deserve to have their stories remembered. They deserve a government willing to protect them from the hands of illegal aliens.

I will continue to fight for border security and enforcement of our immigration laws. Sgt. Mendoza and other victims of crime by illegal aliens deserve no less.