Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week, my home state of Arizona turned 105 years old. The Grand Canyon State is an incredible state in which to raise a family and earn a living.

There is so much to love about Arizona. We have over 300 days of sunshine; we enjoy the cool pines of Flagstaff and the rustic and historic towns of Prescott, Show Low, and Tombstone, which give perspective into Arizona's first days as a state; and we greatly benefit from the agriculture city Yuma.

Arizona's lakes, mountains, and skies provide countless activities throughout the year for natives and visitors alike. Arizona also enthusiastically hosts 15 Major League Baseball teams for Spring Training, Super Bowls, College Football playoff games, and the Waste Management Open, which many call the Greatest Show on Grass.

Most of all, I love the people of Arizona. Arizonans are diverse, patriotic, and fiercely independent. They bring so much talent and potential to our communities. I am deeply honored to serve my constituents in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Sun Lakes, and Queen Creek.

After a long week in Washington, I cannot wait to step off the plane into the fresh, free air of Arizona. It is the greatest state in the union, and I will always be proud to called Arizona my home.

Happy Birthday, State 48.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of a young man who would have been my constituent.

Two years ago last week, 21-year-old Grant Ronnebeck was manning the counter at a Mesa, Arizona convenience store. An illegal alien walked into the store and shot Grant in the head, killing him, over a pack of cigarettes that the man did not want to pay for.

The illegal immigrant, Apolinar Altamirano, had been out on bond awaiting deportation due to a violent criminal history. Grant had his whole life ahead of him, but lost it because of the failure of his government to protect him from criminally violent, illegal immigrants.

I have introduced H.R. 486, otherwise known as Grant's Law. This bill would end the practice of releasing illegal aliens guilty of deportable crimes so they are no longer a danger to innocent American citizens.

I was emboldened last week when President Donald Trump invited Grant's father, Steve, to the White House to witness the signing of an executive order administratively ending this dangerous policy. I am thankful for a President that protects Americans and seeks the rule of law. However, if Congress fails to pass H.R. 486, this policy remains a temporary Presidential order and does not carry the permanent force of law.

We must make sure that Grant's fate never again happens to any young man or woman. We must pass Grant's Law.

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate National School Choice Week. Allowing parents to choose the best educational outcomes for their children gives every child a better chance to succeed and prepares students for their futures.

School choice has greatly benefited Arizona--from charter schools to vocational schools, to private school scholarships, to education savings accounts. I am grateful that my State is a national leader in diverse school choice programs.

Arizona's scholarship tax credit program gives taxpayers a dollar- for-dollar tax credit to enable low-income and disabled children to attend private schools. In Arizona, more children per capita attend exemplary charter schools, and, indeed, they are some of the best charter schools in the country. We have significantly expanded the education savings account model so students can receive the best education possible that meets their unique needs, including those of tribal families who live in reservation communities.

Arizona recognizes that all children are unique, that they learn differently, and that each child should have the opportunity to attend the school that will help him learn to love learning and succeed. I hope other States will look at Arizona's example as they expand school choice. I am pleased President Trump has made school choice a priority by nominating Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education.

Mr. Speaker, I have a deep sense of gratitude that I expressed to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his effort in promulgating the bill that we passed today, H.R. 7, and allowing me to speak tonight.

On Sunday, we recognized the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Sadly, almost 60 million American babies have lost their lives because of this ignominious Supreme Court decision. The tide is turning, though.

On Friday, I will have the pleasure of participating in the March for Life rally to stand with the millions of people who are defending life across this country.

I am immensely proud to live in Arizona, a State that prioritizes the protection of the unborn. Since 2009, Arizona has passed 34 provisions to restrict or regulate abortions, and Arizona's abortion rate has concomitantly decreased 12 percent in those same 4 years. I appreciate the efforts of pro-life advocates across my district who have worked tirelessly to help countless women choose life for their unborn babies.

I look forward to working with President Trump and his administration on advancing pro-life legislation like H.R. 7, which we passed out of the House today, and ensuring pro-life candidates for all Supreme Court vacancies and ultimately reversing that ignominious ruling, Roe v. Wade.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding, and I am grateful for this opportunity to introduce myself to this Chamber.

My name is Andy Biggs. I represent Arizona's Fifth Congressional District. I hope to pick up where my good friend and predecessor, former Congressman Matt Salmon, left off. He left me big shoes to fill, but I am blessed to be able to counsel with him, and I am honored to follow his example.

My district covers parts of the southeast metropolitan area of Phoenix, the

cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, and communities like Sun Lakes. Many families have lived there for generations. They are hardworking, patriotic, and faith-driven people.

I am a native Arizonan, one of the few. I live in Gilbert with my wife of 35 years, Cindy. We have six children and four grandchildren. I received my bachelor's degree in Asian Studies from Brigham Young University, my master's degree from Arizona State University, and my law degree from the University of Arizona, and I have pursued additional graduate work.

For the past 14 years, I have had the opportunity to serve in the Arizona State legislature where I served as the senate president for the last 4 years. During that time, we balanced the budget, going from the worst budget situation in the Nation on a per capita basis, and we reduced taxes. We cut government regulations. We asserted Arizona's 10th Amendment rights, and protected life at all stages.

When Congressman Salmon decided to retire last year, he asked me to run for his seat to ensure that his constituents would continue to receive the adherence to conservative principles that Congressman Salmon stood for. After a four-way primary, I won my primary election by 27 votes.

On the campaign trail last year, I promised my constituents that I would fight to achieve six major goals and introduce bills to reflect those goals in this Congress:

Preventing Members of Congress from being paid until a balanced budget is passed. Yahoo.

Reining in bureaucratic rulemaking and restoring Article I authority to Congress.

Ending the ObamaCare loophole that is designed to benefit Members of Congress.

Passing Grant's law to protect innocent U.S. citizens from violent illegal immigrants.

Ensuring that Common Core never becomes a Federal mandate and that States and local officials have authority over the teaching of our Nation's youth.

And my sixth initiative is to remove Arizona from the out-of-control, overburdened, and out-of-whack 9th Federal Circuit Court district and placing it into a newly established district that more accurately reflects Arizona's values and promotes and protects due process rights.

I have worked hard to achieve these goals already, and will continue to pursue those goals.

Last week, Members of this body were filled with great optimism and enthusiasm for the future. I am hopeful that we will continue in that spirit as we await a new administration and strive to do the bidding of our constituents. I will never forget the people who elected me to this high office and the principles that are important to them and my home, Arizona.

Mr. Speaker, ObamaCare has been a disaster for Arizonans. My home State of Arizona has been hit the hardest. Premiums in Arizona for many have increased over 100 percent, and providers have fled the State, leaving some counties with one provider and little options for healthcare insurance.

ObamaCare must be repealed. In fact, there is no constitutional authority given to the Federal Government to take over our healthcare system. These issues are, in fact, best left to the States to manage.

I am advocating for a complete repeal of ObamaCare as soon as possible, with a transition period of no longer than 24 months.

The approach I am suggesting will remove government from between patients and their doctors. Our alternative will encourage competition, which will in turn lead to lower costs to all Americans, but in particular, Arizonans.

I remain committed to seeing this happen.

Amendment V:

``No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; . . .''