Mark Kelly on Artemis II Return
As the Artemis II crew made their final approach home today, one of America's most prominent astronaut-turned-lawmakers paused to reflect on what the mission means, not just for space exploration, but for the next generation watching from Earth.
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a former NASA astronaut himself, took to social media as the four-person crew prepared for splashdown off the coast of San Diego, sharing a message that was less about the mission's technical achievements and more about its power to inspire... READ MORE
Senator Mark Kelly: Today is International Day of Human Space Flight, a fitting way to cap off a historic week. This year, we have a lot to celebrate. Four astronauts went further than ever before to help pave the way for future missions to establish a permanent presence on the Moon. You don’t have to be an astronaut to be proud of what just happened. They showed us the best our country has to offer, and all Americans (and Canadians!) should be proud.
Senator Ruben Gallego: Hungary just proved something the whole world needed to see: people will stand up and reject authoritarianism when it matters most. They chose democracy, NATO, and the EU over Putin and illiberalism. This is a humiliating blow to Trump and Vance, who went out of their way to campaign for Orbán. Turns out voters aren’t buying what they’re selling.
Representative Andy Biggs: The United States will be back in space soon, and Arizona will continue to play a major role in these efforts. I'm grateful for everyone in this state who has worked hard to reignite our space exploration dreams.
Representative Eli Crane: Congress is broken.
Representative Greg Stanton: It was great to be out in Tempe with @MayorCoreyWoods, the @TempeGov Council, and the community to celebrate neighborhood leaders and organizations making a positive difference in the city. Thanks for having me!
Representative Yassamin Ansari: Last summer, I introduced the Persian Gulf Act after Trump threatened to rename it. Today, Pete Hegseth referred to it as the Arabian Gulf. The Persian Gulf has been recognized as such by international bodies for centuries. Trump and Hegseth can’t change that now.
Mark Kelly Reflects on Artemis II's Return, Sees a Mission Bigger Than the Moon— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon—
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Janae Shamp Delivers on Child Protection Promise with New Arizona Law— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— A legal gap that once allowed some of Arizona's most serious offenders to walk away from court supervision early has been officially closed, thanks to legislation signed into law Friday.
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Abe Hamadeh Celebrates 11 Months Without Illegal Aliens Released into Country— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) celebrated a recent statistic showing no illegal aliens have been released into the United States for 11 straight months, warning that the policy can be reversed if the "radical left" regains power.
Andy Biggs Demands Answers Over Alleged California Hospice Fraud— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is demanding answers from California Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) as a massive hospice care fraud scandal is being unveiled in his state.
Michael Carbone Isn't Buying Katie Hobbs' 'All of the Above' Energy Plan— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Arizona House Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-AZ) came out strongly against Governor Katie Hobbs' (D-AZ) newly released energy plan this week, arguing it prioritizes the interests of the solar industry over housing, affordability, and everyday Arizonans.
'Children Going Hungry': Adelita Grijalva Sounds Alarm on Historic SNAP Decline— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— No state has felt the impact of recent federal food assistance cuts more than Arizona. A new analysis released Wednesday found that roughly 424,000 Arizonans have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since a sweeping federal spending law took effect last July, the largest decline of any state in the country.
Cruella de Vil on the House Floor: One Lawmaker's Stand for the Mexican Gray Wolf— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— A colorful moment on the Arizona House floor recently captured the tension surrounding one of the state's most debated conservation issues. Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-AZ) showed up dressed as Cruella de Vil to make her point: if lawmakers pass a bill blocking the transport of Mexican gray wolves into Arizona, she argued, they might as well embrace the villain role themselves.
The Snakebite is written by Grayson Bakich and Javier Manjarres
