Dear Friend,

I hope you and your family are staying healthy and well. I am very pleased to see Arizona is continuing to have a decrease in positive COVID-19 cases. The use of hospital beds and ventilators have also decreased significantly over the last few weeks, and I hope we continue this downward trend to fully flatten the curve.

• Our R-Naught dropped to .76 from .82 on Monday — the lowest in the nation. Any figure below 1.0 means the virus is slowing down. 
• 30% of ventilators are in use down from 50% one month ago. 
• 16% of hospital beds are in use down from 42% a month ago. 

Our efforts to stay safe are paying off, but we need to remember to continue the use of facial coverings and social distancing in order to further mitigate this virus.

This past Thursday, Governor Ducey’s 8-week closure order of specific businesses: Indoor Gyms and Fitness Clubs/Centers, Indoor Theaters, Waters Parks and Tubing Operators, and Bars, officially came to an end. As these businesses begin their reopening process, it is crucial we all adhere to the Arizona Department of Health guidelines when visiting so that they can remain open. Keep up the good work everyone!

Telemedicine Supporting Our Seniors

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine has increased significantly and has worked well to protect the lives of those with pre-existing conditions and our elderly populations. By engaging in healthcare visits from home, more vulnerable individuals are not exposed to COVID-19 and can safely connect with their doctor. 

My bill, the CONNECT for Health Act, introduced last October gave us this access during the start of the pandemic. I have long supported increased access for telemedicine, as I believe it is a part of the future of our healthcare.  I recently proposed bipartisan legislation to make this tool permanently accessible following this pandemic. 

I will continue to fight for solutions that provide more accessible and affordable care for Arizonans. 

Breaking Down Barriers for ALS Patients

Earlier this week, I co-sponsored  H.R. 1407, the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019. This legislation provides timely access to Disability Insurance benefits for individuals diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

I was pleased to join this bipartisan legislation to support patients and eliminate the unnecessary waiting period to receive benefits for those diagnosed with ALS. Patients, families, and caregivers in the ALS community are fighters, these patient deserve compassion from the moment they are diagnosed with this rare condition. This legislation will serve as quality relief for ALS patients as scientists work towards developing a cure.

To read the full text of this legislation, click here. 

The Hydrogen Economy is Here

I had the honor to visit a local Phoenix motor company, Nikola, for a tour this week. At their facility I had the opportunity to see each of their hyrdrogen-powered vehicles and learn more about the disruptions they are bringing to the transportation industry.

Arizona is fortunate to be home to so many innovative companies, and it is always a pleasure to come out and talk to the employees working to expand these technologies while learning about their business model first-hand. Thank you for inviting me to see the great work you all are doing!

Expanding Opportunities for Investors

This week the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted final rules to modernize the definition of an “accredited investor”. With the advancement, more Americans will be able to enter into the private professional world, as the definition is no longer focused on the financial status of the investor. This originally barred the majority of Americans from what may be an attractive investment opportunity.

The SEC’s new rule is a good first step in providing more access to capital for hard-working Americans looking to raise capital or start a business. I will continue to encourage my colleagues in Congress to adopt my bipartisan legislation to expand the definition even further, allowing more Americans the equal opportunity to participate in early growth opportunities. For more information on the modernization of accredited investors, click here.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my weekly E-Newsletter. Feel welcome to share this email with friends so they can subscribe for updates and feel welcome to like and follow my social media accounts for additional updates. If you would like to contact me, please browse my website for the different services our office can help you with.

Sincerely,

David Schweikert