This Week With Gosar

Weekly Newsletter

September 20, 2026

Gosar Seeks the Gavel of the House Natural Resources Committee

Earlier this week, I announced my intention to seek the chairmanship of the House Natural Resources Committee.

I have spent years working my way up through this Committee, and I believe my record and experience have earned me the opportunity to seek its leadership. I am a senior member of the Committee, currently serve as Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and serve on the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee.

The next Congress presents an opportunity for the Natural Resources Committee to become an even more consequential part of the Republican agenda and a strong congressional partner to President Trump and his Administration. American energy dominance, critical-mineral security, domestic manufacturing, resilient supply chains, responsible resource development, economic growth and water policy are all directly connected to the Committee's jurisdiction.

I want to help turn those priorities into lasting congressional policy. As chairman, I would bring my years of legislative experience and my firsthand understanding of Western issues to the committee with a clear mission: put American energy, economic opportunity, responsible resource development and local communities first.

I believe the Natural Resources Committee should focus on five priorities:

• Unleash American energy. Expand responsible production of nuclear energy, coal, natural gas and other domestic resources so America can achieve true energy independence.

• Restore multiple-use management. Federal lands should be managed to support energy production, mining, grazing, recreation, timber and other productive uses-not simply locked away from the American people.

• Protect Western water. Arizona and other Western states cannot thrive without reliable water. Protecting Western water rights and addressing the long-term challenges facing the Colorado River Basin must be a priority.

• Restore congressional oversight. Federal agencies must be held accountable when they abuse their authority, waste taxpayer dollars or impose policies that harm the people and communities they are supposed to serve.

• Respect tribal sovereignty. The federal government must strengthen government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes and respect tribal sovereignty when federal decisions affect tribal communities, natural resources and treaty rights.

Arizona has given me a front-row seat to many of America's resource challenges-water scarcity, the harmful impact of invasive species, mining, federal land management, energy development and tribal sovereignty. But I do not view these as Arizona issues. They are American issues.

I believe my seniority, legislative record, committee experience, leadership and record of oversight have prepared me for this responsibility. My objective is straightforward: A Committee that develops America's resources, strengthens our national security, protects taxpayers, respects state and tribal sovereignty, advances the Republican agenda, and helps President Trump deliver on his commitment to American energy and resource dominance.

Who is Really Paying for Environmental "Lawfare?"

Two weeks ago, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman and I launched an investigation into 19 environmental organizations over their use of federal fee-shifting laws to recover attorney fees from American taxpayers.

This is an issue I have been fighting for years.

Here is the problem: laws such as the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) were created to help ordinary Americans challenge federal overreach-not to create a taxpayer-funded litigation machine for wealthy, politically connected organizations.

Yet our investigation is examining how major environmental nonprofits-including the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council-use litigation to challenge federal decisions involving public lands, energy and natural-resource development and then seek reimbursement for their legal fees from the federal government.

The numbers deserve serious scrutiny.

From fiscal years 2019 through 2024, the Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, NOAA, Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission paid $24.8 million in EAJA awards. Approximately 76%-$18.8 million-went to environmental nonprofits.

That is taxpayer money.

The concern goes beyond the cost of individual lawsuits. When organizations can sue federal agencies, obtain favorable outcomes or settlements and then seek reimbursement for their attorneys' fees, taxpayers can end up funding litigation that challenges energy production, mining, grazing and other lawful uses of our public lands.

At our May oversight hearing, witnesses testified about how the current fee-award system can produce attorney-fee awards substantially above the rates normally paid by private employers. The committee is now investigating whether these provisions are being exploited in ways Congress never intended

I believe the answer is straightforward: taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll an endless cycle of litigation against the federal government.

The Equal Access to Justice Act was intended to give ordinary Americans a way to hold the government accountable. It should not become a blank check for professional environmental litigants.

As Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I intend to follow the money, expose waste and abuse, and determine whether Congress needs to reform these laws.

If taxpayer dollars are funding litigation designed to obstruct responsible energy and natural-resource development, the American people deserve to know about it-and Congress has a responsibility to act.

Defending the Second Amendment Means Defending Our Freedom

The Second Amendment is not a second-class constitutional right. It is not a privilege granted by government. It is not a right that can be rewritten by politicians, bureaucrats or academics. The Constitution is clear: "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

I believe that means exactly what it says.

For too long, law-abiding Americans have been treated as though exercising a constitutional right makes them a suspect. Government has imposed unnecessary restrictions, burdensome regulations and intrusive policies on citizens who have committed no crime other than exercising their Second Amendment rights.

I have fought that type of government overreach throughout my time in Congress.

That record was recognized in the 119th Congress this week, when I was one of just 70 House Republicans named to the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Dean's List for maintaining a perfect pro-Second Amendment voting and co-sponsorship record.

I don't just talk about defending the Second Amendment-I work to protect it.

That includes supporting legislation such as the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would protect the ability of law-abiding citizens who can legally carry a concealed firearm in their home state to exercise that right when traveling across state lines.

The Founders understood something that remains true today: an armed citizenry is an important safeguard against government tyranny and a fundamental part of the liberty secured by our Constitution.

I will continue to stand with Arizona gun owners and every law-abiding American who believes that constitutional rights do not disappear simply because politicians in Washington decide they don't like them.

The Second Amendment says "shall not be infringed." I intend to keep fighting to make sure it stays that way. Read the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Congressional Report Card and see my Second Amendment record for yourself.

Gosar Bill Helps Deliver for Arizona Veterans at Sky Harbor

When I introduced the VETS Safe Travel Act, my goal was simple: make air travel a little easier and more dignified for the veterans who sacrificed so much for our country.

Disabled veterans should not have to struggle through long security lines, remove shoes and navigate difficult screening procedures simply to board an airplane.

That is why I introduced the VETS Safe Travel Act in the 118th Congress to provide free TSA PreCheck to certain severely injured and disabled veterans. The legislation passed the House and Senate and was signed into law on January 4, 2025 by Sleepy Joe Biden (one of the few things he did right).

Now, that effort is delivering real benefits for veterans here in Arizona.

According to news reports this week, Phoenix Sky Harbor is among the airports receiving an expedited military security lane, providing a faster screening option for military personnel and veterans traveling through the airport.

That matters in a state like Arizona, which is home to more than 450,000 veterans.

And the VETS Safe Travel Act is now providing eligible veterans with something even more valuable: free TSA PreCheck enrollment. Veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities can obtain a fee waiver through the VA and enroll in PreCheck at no cost, subject to the program's security requirements.

I am proud that legislation I introduced is now making a difference for Arizona veterans. Our veterans kept their promises to America. We should keep ours to them.

If you are a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability, I encourage you to check your eligibility and apply for your free TSA PreCheck benefits through the VA.

ICE Arrests Two Criminal Illegals in Arizona

Arizona communities are safer when federal immigration laws are enforced-and when individuals who are unlawfully present and have serious criminal convictions are removed from our communities. Phoenix ICE agents announced that they had arrested two illegals near Prescott and Flagstaff.

Norberto Osornio-Gutierrez, a 50-year-old Mexican national, was arrested near Prescott on charges of burglary, traffic violations and drug offenses, including attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Dinesh Sapkota, a 28-year-old Nepalese national, was arrested near Flagstaff for violating U.S. immigration laws. According to ICE, he was previously convicted of kidnapping, sexual abuse, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault involving a physically restrained victim.

These cases demonstrate why enforcing our immigration laws matters. Our immigration system must protect the American people. Individuals who are unlawfully present in our country and have serious criminal convictions should not be allowed to remain in Arizona communities indefinitely.

I commend the men and women of Phoenix ICE for carrying out these targeted enforcement operations and working to remove individuals who have violated our immigration laws and have criminal records.

Secure borders, enforce the law and put the safety of Americans first.

The Border Is Secure Again

Speaking of border security, the results are clear: this week the Trump Administration announced the 16th consecutive month of zero releases at the border. Under President Trump, catch-and-release has been replaced with apprehension, detention and removal. In August, Border Patrol recorded just 8,870 apprehensions along the southwest border-94% below the monthly average during the Biden administration.

The numbers extend beyond illegal crossings. CBP reports that fiscal-year drug seizures are 73% higher than during the same period in FY2024, including 6,724 pounds of cocaine and 773 pounds of fentanyl seized in August alone. CBP and ICE also seized more than 120,000 pounds of drug precursor chemicals.

Secure borders mean a safer America. After years of open-border policies, enforcement is once again focused on knowing who enters our country, stopping illegal crossings and keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities.

The Hyde Amendment Turns 50: Protecting Life and Taxpayers

Fifty years ago this week, pro-life Republican Congressman Henry Hyde took a historic stand for the unborn and the American taxpayer.

In 1976, Rep. Hyde offered an amendment preventing federal taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for elective abortions. That amendment became a cornerstone of the pro-life movement and has been renewed by Congress every year since. The Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in 1980.

As a pro-life American, I believe every human life is precious and worthy of protection. Government should never force hardworking Americans to fund the destruction of innocent unborn life.

And the impact of the Hyde Amendment has been enormous. According to a new analysis by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the Hyde Amendment is estimated to have saved 2,678,274 lives since 1976. That means millions of Americans have had the opportunity to be born, grow up, raise families, pursue their dreams, serve their communities and enjoy the freedoms that make our nation exceptional.

That is a legacy worth defending.

The Hyde Amendment is more than a budget provision. It represents a simple principle: American taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize murdering innocent babies.

As Congress continues the fight to protect innocent life, I will continue standing with the unborn and working to ensure that our federal government respects the sanctity of every human life.

Fifty years later, the Hyde Amendment still saves lives. We must protect it.

District Spotlight: Supporting Arizona's Frontline Health Care Teams

And finally this week, I was in Wickenburg to meet with the dedicated men and women who keep our community's health care system moving - day and night.

I stopped by Wickenburg Medical Center to meet with the staff and hear directly about the needs facing local health care providers. I also visited PHI Air Medical, where an extraordinary team of flight paramedics, pilots, mechanics and communications specialists works 24 hours a day, seven days a week to transport critically ill and injured patients.

The Wickenburg team has completed more than 94,000 flights, providing a lifeline to patients who need urgent medical care. The crew was called out on an emergency during my visit, so I wasn't able to take the planned flight or complete the full tour. That's okay-when Arizona needs them, they go.

This is what district work is about: showing up, listening to Arizonans and seeing firsthand the people who keep our communities strong.

Tweet of the Week:

Photo of the Week:

Elizabeth Brewer from Prescott Valley, AZ sent in this touching photo of the 9/11 Memorial Field in Prescott Valley. Wonderful picture, Elizabeth. Thanks so much for sharing.

Do you want the chance for your photograph to be featured as our "Photo of the Week?" If so, send your best shots along with a brief description to [email protected]. Remember to include your name and where you live.

Gosar in the News and Other Must-Read Stories:

Sportsmen Alliance: House Committee to Investigate Radical Environmental Groups

Punch Bowl News: Gavel Race Heats Up

Surprise Independent: Surprise resident asks Congress to prioritize cancer issues

ABC 15: TSA offers expedited screening at more than 30 airports for our nation's military

⚠ Warning!! The Gosar Weekly Newsletter is meant for discerning readers with above-average intelligence. We link to interesting stories. We get stories a couple different ways: Google alerts, a third-party aggregator and sometimes readers send stuff. We don't vouch for every publication or every author. If we link to a story, it is because of that story. The views expressed in any of the publications do not represent any promotion, endorsement or reflection of Congressman Gosar's views. While we try our best, we cannot guarantee every news organization spouting hatred, animosity or divisiveness will be filtered from appearing in the Gosar Weekly Newsletter. We will endeavor to prevent that from happening by never linking to Fake News organizations including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Rolling Stone, the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Mirror, Media Matters or the New Republic.