Juan Ciscomani

Local Leaders tout Rep. Ciscomani’s Leadership in Securing New Mission at Fort Huachuca

Sierra Vista, AZ - Congressman Juan Ciscomani recently announced his advocacy with the U.S. Department of War has secured a new mission at Fort Huachuca. Local leaders and stakeholders from across Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District have already voiced strong support for Rep. Ciscomani for his leadership in securing this new mission and his determined advocacy, highlighting his commitment to strengthening the fort’s one-of-a-kind capabilities. Here is what local stakeholders are saying: Dr. Randy Groth, Fort Huachuca 50: "The selection of Fort Huachuca as the primary site for the new mission and squadron is a significant achievement for Sierra Vista and Cochise County, solidifying our community’s leadership in homeland defense and national security. I value Congressman Ciscomani’s dedicated advocacy and ongoing collaboration with the Department of War in securing this vital mission, which will create new opportunities and strengthen our region’s commitment to supporting our active duty servicemembers." Clea McCaa, Mayor of Sierra Vista: "Bringing this new mission to Fort Huachuca is a game-changer for Sierra Vista and our surrounding region. Not only will it further support American interests by strengthening our national defense posture, but it will also create high-quality jobs, bringing in approximately $3 billion in economic impact and reinforcing our city’s strong partnership with the Department of Defense. I appreciate Congressman Ciscomani’s continued advocacy over the past year in securing Fort Huachuca for this important investment in our future." Suresh Garimella, President, University of Arizona: "The establishment of this mission at Fort Huachuca is a historic win for Arizona and a testament to the tireless advocacy of Congressman Juan Ciscomani. The University of Arizona has a long and storied legacy, and we are eager to bring our world-class research and technical prowess to this vital national security priority. We look forward to supporting the Air Force in Southern Arizona to safeguard our nation’s interests." Melany Edwards-Barton, Sky Islands Regional Partnership: "The fact of the matter is, missions don’t come to an area that is not supported by its community. We have a supportive community down here that is willing to support it. Bringing in another mission adds jobs, adds another level of financial security to our region; the economic impact is going to be fabulous." Read the announcement HERE. ###

Reps. Ciscomani and Van Orden Introduce VA Home Loan Affordability Act to Expand Access to Homeownership for Veterans

Position: Representatives Ciscomani and Van Orden support modernizing the VA Home Loan Program by reducing appraiser certification timelines, capping closing costs, and streamlining property requirements to improve homeownership access for veterans.

Washington, D.C. - Reps. Juan Ciscomani and Derrick Van Orden are leading an effort to remove barriers in the Veterans Administration home loan process to make it easier for veterans - especially those in rural communities - to access the benefits they have earned. The Congressmen, both members of the House Veterans Committee, last week introduced H.R. 8532, the VA Home Loan Affordability Act. Since its creation in 1944, the VA Home Loan Program has helped millions of veterans, servicemembers, and surviving spouses achieve homeownership through favorable terms, such as zero-down payments and competitive interest rates. However, the program has not kept pace with today’s housing market. "Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream, especially for our veterans who should not face delays when buying a home because of outdated bureaucracy that has only made it increasingly difficult to access the benefits they have earned," said Rep. Ciscomani. "The VA Home Loan Affordability Act will modernize the home loan process, align it with other federal programs, and ensure that those who served our country can achieve homeownership without unnecessary barriers. I’m proud to have co-led this effort with Rep. Van Orden to further expand opportunities for the men and women who have worn the uniform faithfully serving our nation." H.R. 8532 aims to bring concrete solutions to the ongoing challenges within the Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan Program, including a nationwide shortage of certified appraisers that has led to delays and limited access for veterans seeking to become homeowners. "The VA Home Loan program is one of the most powerful tools we have to expand economic opportunity for veterans and their families and it must keep pace with today’s housing market. The VA Home Loan Affordability Act ensures veterans can access a faster, more efficient path to homeownership. This is a decisive step to strengthen a program that has already helped millions and ensure it continues delivering for the next generation of American heroes," said Rep. Van Orden. The VA Home Loan Affordability Act would modernize the system by reducing the time required to become a certified VA appraiser from the current 3-5 years to align with the 12–18-month timeline for state certification. Additionally, it includes provisions to cap closing costs at 1.5% and limit seller concessions to 6%, aligning VA standards with those of the Federal Housing Administration. The bill also directs the VA to review and update its minimum property requirements and appraisal processes to eliminate outdated regulations, thereby streamlining access for veterans. The legislation is also supported by Reps. Tom Barrett and Jenn Kiggans. By cutting red tape and modernizing the VA Home Loan Program to align with existing federal standards, the VA Home Loan Affordability Act takes a much-needed step forward, ensuring veterans and their beneficiaries have an affordable path to homeownership. The legislation reinforces our shared commitment to our American heroes who have served our country by strengthening one of the most meaningful tools available to support their transition to civilian life. The VA Home Loan Affordability Act is the most recent example of Rep. Ciscomani’s advocacy for veterans in Washington. Since taking office in 2023, he has championed legislation aimed at improving healthcare and benefits for veterans and their families; helping veterans seeking job training in high-tech industries; and developing individualized healthcare plans for disabled veterans. The Congressman's work is not just limited to Capitol Hill. His district office is dedicated to helping veterans navigate federal agencies to ensure they receive the benefits and support their service has earned. Through casework, his team has returned over $7.5 million to veterans in our district. In addition, Congressman Ciscomani recently secured a key NIH and CDC clarification to support individuals who rely on service dogs, following several veterans being denied opportunities due to misinterpreted guidance. He engaged directly with these Agencies to address the issue. This new clarification protects service animals as disability accommodations for scientists and researchers, a field with a high number of veterans, and requires that access decisions for institutions and labs be based on individualized risk assessments, not broad or outdated interpretations that categorically exclude those with a disability. These efforts reflect the Congressman’s commitment to ensuring veterans receive the benefits and accommodations they have faithfully earned. ### Issues: Veterans

Congressman Ciscomani Convenes Roundtable with HUD Secretary Turner

Tucson, AZ - Congressman Juan Ciscomani on Friday convened a community roundtable with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to discuss with local stakeholders housing affordability and federal efforts to drive economic growth and development. "It was an honor to welcome Secretary Turner to Southern Arizona and bring together local leaders focused on expanding opportunity," said Congressman Ciscomani. "We had a productive discussion on strengthening Opportunity Zones, increasing housing affordability, and expanding access to quality housing across AZ-06." Participants spoke about the importance of cutting red tape at every level of government and the need to streamline the approval process for housing projects. Secretary Turner spoke of HUD's mission as a mission to help people. "The federal government is not the answer. The answer is in the private sector," said Secretary Turner. "We want to open up new paths for people to be successful...We're bringing faith-based entities to the table...Faith-based organizations have been helping people long before the government got involved." Participants at the roundtable included: Secretary Scott Turner, HUD Secretary Eric Renaud, President/CEO, Pima Federal Credit Union Kelly Gear, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Brad Lloyd, Lloyd Construction Danielle Bridges, SVP, Vantage West Credit Union Humberto Lopez, Founder, HSL Lisa Chastain, Gospel Rescue Mission Josh Jacobsen, Tucson Crime Free Coalition Joe Snell, Chamber of Southern Arizona Garry Brav, Principal, Brav Holdings Anjela Salyer, Division President, Tucson, Mattamy Homes Ben Buehler-Garcia, Arizona Multihousing Association Image

Rep. Juan Ciscomani Advocates for NIH Change to Support Americans with Disabilities

Position: Rep. Ciscomani advocates for federal guidance changes to permit service dogs in laboratory settings at universities and research facilities, arguing that individuals with disabilities should not face categorical exclusion from STEM work due to outdated or misinterpreted CDC and NIH guidance.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Juan Ciscomani has successfully led the effort to change federal guidance limiting the ability of individuals with disabilities to bring their service dogs into laboratory settings at universities and other research facilities. "After meeting with a constituent and working closely together on this issue, it became clear that individuals who rely on service dogs to study or work in laboratories should not face discrimination because of their disabilities," said Ciscomani. "Whether due to a lifelong condition or a newly acquired need, no one should be forced to put their career on hold because of unclear or overly restrictive guidance. This commonsense change helps expand access and opportunity in the scientific field." This longstanding language has had real consequences for many Americans working in the sciences, preventing extremely qualified and capable individuals from fully participating in scientific work and, in some cases, costing them their jobs. This much-needed change was brought to his attention by his constituent, Joey Ramp-Adams of Tombstone, who is assisted by her faithful service dog Sampson and who has championed efforts nationally on behalf of those with disabilities. Since 2024, Rep. Ciscomani has advocated for these individuals, working to ensure they are not categorically excluded from the STEM field or research environments due to outdated or misinterpreted CDC and NIH guidance. Following his letter and close communication with these agencies, there is now clearer recognition that service animals may be permitted in laboratory settings based on individualized risk assessments. Congressman Ciscomani has urged the CDC to further update its Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) guidance to state: "Animals and plants not associated with the work being performed are not permitted in the laboratory; service dogs may be an exception based on an individualized risk assessment." Importantly, the updated guidance affirms that service animals are protected disability accommodations and that access decisions should be guided by individualized risk assessments, not misinterpretations of prior language. It also reinforces that this guidance is not regulatory and must be applied in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. ###

Ciscomani Joins Oro Valley and U.S. Chambers of Commerce for Roundtable Discussion on Working Families Tax Cuts Act

Position: Congressman Ciscomani supports the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, stating that tax relief enables families to keep more earnings and provides businesses with certainty through provisions like research and development tax credits, which he argues strengthens local economies and supports innovation and job creation.

Oro Valley, AZ - Congressman Juan Ciscomani joined a roundtable in Oro Valley on Wednesday hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce to discuss important tax provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and how small businesses can benefit. The discussion was attended by more than a dozen local leaders who each provided unique ways in which the bill’s tax benefits have impacted them. "This conversation was an important reminder that tax relief is not just policy — it is real relief for working families and small businesses here in Arizona," said Ciscomani. "When families get to keep more of what they earn, and when companies have more certainty through provisions like research and development tax relief, our local economy is stronger. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is helping support innovation, job creation, and long-term growth in communities like ours. That is exactly the kind of commonsense support we should be focused on delivering. I’m grateful to the local leaders who came together for this discussion, and especially to the Oro Valley and U.S. Chambers of Commerce for helping lead such an important conversation." Participants included: Rick Price, Sun City Golf James Piper, Piper Family Painting Mary Schulz, Schulz Financial Group Deanna Miles, Miles Label Co P. J. Miles, Miles Label Co Bruce Barnett, Pima Federal Credit Union Michelle Kroeger, Nonprofit CFO Services Lydia Camarillo, Golder Ranch Fire District Tom Brandhuber, GRFD Fire Chief Emma Reyes, Republic Services Maria Parham, Splendido at Rancho Vistoso Jeff Laird, Wow Wow Lemonade Jeff Artzi, OOROO Auto Josh Bishop, Fork & Fire Eddy Torriente, The Picklr Image