Independent Citizen Teams: AZparticipate is an independent, non-partisan citizen initiative organized by constituents of Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. It is NOT affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or operated by Representative JoAnna Mendoza, the U.S. House of Representatives, or the United States Government. Never use official seals or represent yourself as congressional staff.
Why Mirroring Office Portfolios Works
Congressional offices do not divide their work by political party or generic ideology; they divide work by statutory committee portfolios. When a citizen calls an office to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), that message goes directly to the defense Legislative Assistant (LA).
By grouping our members into matching Issue Teams, we ensure that every one-page Issue Brief and Action Alert we produce addresses the exact topics, bill numbers, and agency deadlines that the relevant LA or caseworker is tracking that week.
Team 1
Matches: Legislative Assistant (Defense & Veterans) & District Caseworker (Both)
Supporting military families, base vitality (Davis-Monthan & Fort Huachuca), and veterans healthcare access across Southern Arizona.
Key Policy Portfolio Focus Areas:
- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base mission support & transition
- Fort Huachuca defense technology & communications missions
- Veterans healthcare delivery & Southern Arizona VA clinics
- Transition assistance, mental health, and housing for veterans
Team 2
Matches: Legislative Assistant (Homeland Security / Judiciary) & District Field Representative (Both)
Constructive solutions for border security, modern ports of entry (Douglas, Naco), cross-border commerce, and humane immigration administration.
Key Policy Portfolio Focus Areas:
- Commercial port of entry modernization (Douglas & Naco)
- Border patrol staffing, technology, and community safety
- Cross-border economic partnerships with Sonora, Mexico
- Immigration court processing backlogs and legal pathways
Team 3
Matches: Legislative Assistant (Natural Resources, Agriculture & Energy) (DC)
Protecting Arizona’s water security, Colorado River allotments, renewable solar energy expansion, rural farming, and public lands stewardship.
Key Policy Portfolio Focus Areas:
- Colorado River drought contingency and post-2026 guidelines
- Groundwater basin protection in rural Cochise and Pima counties
- Clean solar and battery energy infrastructure investments
- Ranching, farming water efficiencies, and BLM/Forest Service land management
Team 4
Matches: Legislative Assistant (Health, Labor & Economy) & District Caseworker (Both)
Lowering prescription drug costs, protecting Medicare & Social Security, expanding rural health services, and addressing kitchen-table costs.
Key Policy Portfolio Focus Areas:
- Safeguarding Medicare and Social Security benefits for retirees
- Lowering prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket caps
- Rural hospital sustainability and doctor/nurse shortages
- Affordable child care, housing availability, and utility costs
Team 5
Matches: Legislative Director & Counsel (Judiciary & Oversight) (DC)
Safeguarding free and fair elections, protecting constitutional checks and balances, ethics in government, and transparency.
Key Policy Portfolio Focus Areas:
- Voting rights protections and local election worker safety
- Judicial ethics and congressional oversight integrity
- Campaign finance transparency and anti-corruption measures
- Constitutional checks and balances
How Each Team Operates
Team Steward (1–2 per team)
Coordinates the team's monthly focus. Selects pending bills, assigns 1-page briefs to volunteer writers, and drafts action alerts when a committee vote is scheduled.
Fact Reviewer
Guarantees factual integrity. Checks every statutory citation, verifies source URLs, and ensures the tone remains non-partisan, civil, and constructive before anything is published.
Team Members
Constituents who receive the alerts, make personal phone calls or send personalized letters with local Southern Arizona anecdotes, and log their completed contacts.