This Week With Gosar

Weekly Newsletter

January 11, 2026

Cutting Red Tape to Lower Housing Costs

This week, the House passed the Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards (HOMES) Act, a commonsense bill that takes direct aim at Washington, D.C.'s red tape driving up housing costs.

House Republicans are focused on expanding housing supply and lowering prices, not burdening families with costly, duplicative regulations. The HOMES Act streamlines federal oversight of manufactured housing, one of the most affordable housing options available, by eliminating bureaucratic overlap and speeding delivery to market.

I proudly voted in favor of this legislation to help reduce housing costs, increase supply, and keep the American Dream of homeownership within reach for hardworking families.

Gosar Votes Against Wasteful Earmarks

Also this week, I voted NO on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill because it funds the very lawlessness, waste, and corruption that Americans are fed up with.

This bill refuses to hold sanctuary cities accountable even as local officials openly obstruct federal immigration enforcement. From Minneapolis to Chicago, we've seen city leaders tell ICE to stand down while violent criminals and illegal aliens are protected at taxpayer expense. Congress should be cutting off funding to these cities - not rewarding them.

Worse, the bill is packed with wasteful earmarks and ideological grant programs that are ripe for abuse and fraud. It pours taxpayer dollars into grants for legal aid for illegal aliens, and vague, unaccountable programs labeled "racial justice, restorative justice, and climate justice" - slogans that mask activist spending with little oversight and no measurable public safety benefit.

While I support appropriations bills that fund core government functions and appreciate progress toward regular order, we cannot continue to fund the abuses we publicly condemn. Earmarks have become the currency of corruption in Washington, rewarding political favors while our national debt explodes.

Bottom line: I will not vote to fund sanctuary cities, activist slush funds, or earmarks that fuel fraud and undermine the rule of law. America is drowning in debt - and Congress must stop financing the dysfunction. Again, I support funding core government functions. I do not support pork, backroom deals, or business-as-usual spending. Republicans were sent here to drain the swamp, not feed it - and I will not vote for bills that betray that promise.

Relief at the Pump to Start 2026

American drivers are getting a welcome break as gasoline prices continue to fall nationwide. To start 2026, the national average price dropped to $2.83 per gallon, marking the fifth straight week of declinesand the lowest prices seen in months, according to new data released this week.

Prices still vary by region, but the overall trend is encouraging. Hawaii remains the most expensive state at about $4.42 per gallon, while Oklahoma is the cheapest at roughly $2.24. In several markets, drivers are already seeing prices in the low-$2 range, thanks to increased refinery output and seasonally softer demand.Analysts at GasBuddy expect prices to continue drifting lower into January and February. See state gas price averages here.

For Arizona, lower national fuel prices are especially important for commuters, families, and small businesses. While Arizona gas prices often run slightly above the national average due to supply and fuel-blend requirements, today's prices remain well below the peaks of 2022, when many drivers were paying close to $5 per gallon.

Lower gas prices are not happening by accident. Policies enacted by President Trump and Republicans in Congress have helped restore stability and confidence to America's energy markets. By expanding domestic energy production, rolling back burdensome regulations that restricted refining capacity, and ending policies that discouraged U.S. oil and gas development, Republicans put downward pressure on fuel costs nationwide. At the same time, a renewed focus on energy independence, supply-chain reliability, and pro-growth economic policies has strengthened production while easing inflationary pressures. These actions are not only delivering relief at the pump today - they are laying the groundwork for more affordable and predictable energy prices well into the future.

What impact will Venezuelan oil have on U.S. gas prices? Now that President Trump has removed a Marxist dictator from running the largest oil reserve and oil-producing country in the world, more oil may soon be available and that also means lower prices.

The U.S. and Venezuela announced a roughly $2 billion deal for Venezuelan oil exports this week to U.S. buyers, which may potentially ease fuel supply constraints and support jobs in refining and distribution. More oil production generally means lower gas prices.

It's Mail Time!

Each week, I receive thousands of letters, and I appreciate hearing from everyone, even those who may disagree with me. Here are a few letters I received this week:

Kurt B., from Surprise, AZ shares:

Sir, I reached out to your office last November asking for help getting my Medicare Part B approval from SSA. I applied for it in early September and never received any help or status from the Agency's personnel. Within less than a month I got a letter from SSA (forwarded by your office) saying they "located" my application, and I now have my Part B in place.Thank you very much for your help in shaking things loose! I have no doubt that without your generous involvement, I'd still be waiting. You really came thru for me and my family.

Dear Kurt, thank you so much for taking the time to share this kind note. I'm truly glad our office was able to assist and help resolve your Medicare Part B issue. Navigating federal agencies can be frustrating, and no one should be left waiting for answers - especially when it comes to health care for themselves and their family.

Helping constituents cut through red tape and get timely results is one of the most important parts of my job, and I'm grateful you reached out when you needed help. I appreciate your trust in my office, and I'm pleased we could help move your application forward.

If you or anyone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, please don't hesitate to contact my office at 623-707-0530. My team and I are always here to serve and advocate for you.

Gina S. from Littlefield, AZ writes:

I am counting on you to take a thoughtful calm approach to jumping into a war with Venezuela. What do you intend to do to take back control of decisions to put our country at war?

Gina - President Trump's successful operation to apprehend Maduro marks a decisive victory for American security and leadership in the Western Hemisphere. It sends a clear message that the United States will no longer tolerate narco-regimes, terrorists, and criminal organizations that fuel drug trafficking, cartel violence, and illegal migration into our country.

Maduro is a violent narco-tyrant with American blood on his hands. Holding him accountable is squarely in the national interest of the United States. As President Trump has made clear, protecting America means securing the border, dismantling cartels, confronting terrorists, and holding foreign criminals accountable. Maduro and his wife have been indicted in U.S. federal court for their role in flooding our nation with deadly drugs, and they will face American justice in American courts. This is America First in action-protecting our people by crushing threats at their source.

Tweet of the Week:

Photo of the Week:

Elizabeth Brewer from Prescott Valley, AZ shares this recent photo she snapped of a strange light in the sky. As it turns out, it was not Santa and his sleigh, instead it was the recent SpaceX launch from Vandenberg! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth.

Do you want the chance for your photograph to be featured as our "Picture 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:

The Daily Signal: One Video Blows Up Countless Media Narratives About Minnesota ICE Shooting

Fox News: Democrats turned our treasury into a 'piggy bank for fraudsters'

New York Post: Democrats fan flames of ICE hatred and put everyone at risk

Newsweek: Donald Trump's Support Over Venezuela Suddenly Shifts With Republicans

Newsweek: Donald Trump's Approval Rating Ahead of George W. Bush's and Barack Obama's

⚠ 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.