Arizona CD3’s New Representative, Yassamin Ansari, Describes Her First Week in Congress

Representative Yassamin Ansari on the House Floor with Representatives Sarah McBride and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Photo from Representative Ansari’s social media.

Arizona Congressional District Three House Representative Yassamin Ansari has come to Washington D.C., and it has been a nonstop rollercoaster

Between fully assembling her legislative staff, getting the computers up and running in her congressional office, getting acclimated to the Washington scene, making her first-floor speech on the House floor condemning the inclusion of anti-immigrant measures in the Republican-sponsored rules package, and appearing in her first nationwide interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Congresswoman Ansari, and her team, have been continuously on the move since minute one of her first week as Arizona House District Three’s new representative. 

Representative Ansari graciously took the time to discuss her first week in Congress. 

The questions and the Congresswoman’s responses are below. 

Representative Ansari with her father, President Biden, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Photo from Representative Ansari’s social media.

Please describe your feelings after your first week as a House Representative from Arizona Congressional District Three and as the first Iranian American and currently youngest woman to serve in Congress. 

“I’m very excited. I was officially sworn in on January 3rd and I was surrounded by my parents who immigrated to the United States decades ago. As my dad says, over 50 years now, he’s been in the United States. The rest of my family and constituents from the district also came and it was very uplifting and encouraging. I am the first Iranian American Democrat in Congress and the youngest woman in Congress this session. As the youngest woman, I feel a certain responsibility to the younger generation, that has helped to get me elected. And as a young person throughout this election and really, throughout the last decade, I have felt a profound sense of urgency in these unprecedented times. So, I look forward to representing a new vision, to being a new voice, and intend to lead in a way that will provide a safe and prosperous future for our kids and for future generations.”

“The first week was hectic, but very exciting. I gave my first-floor speech against the Republican’s anti-immigrant bills as part of the rules package. I did my first national TV interview (Please click here to view) but at the same time, we’re also still getting our computers set up in the office and trying to get the tech to work. So, really looking forward to taking my first legislative actions, and my first district work period, which is coming up here at the end of the month.”

Representative Ansari with the Arizona Congressional Delegation. Photo from Representative Ansari’s social media.

What are at least three issues you will fight to move Arizona and the nation forward, lift Arizonans and Americans up, and take care of the planet? Is there anything that the Trump team seems to favor like tax cuts on tip wages that you can support? Please Explain. 

“I’m hyper-focused on delivering results on the issues that matter most to us in my district. Those are lowering costs, housing, affordability, and climate change. I also vowed to stand up to anti-immigrant policies and have been doing that since day one and with my vote on Tuesday against this piece of legislation (The Laken Riley Act) that, would effectively ensure that any person even accused of  a crime like shoplifting could get deported from this country, even if they are a Dreamer or a DACA recipient.”

“As you know, David, I’ve always been a leader on climate change. I believe the climate crisis is the defining issue of our time. And I’ve dedicated my professional career to advancing solutions, that address the climate crisis from my service at the U.N. to The Climate Agreement, to my work, on the city council passing our climate action plan as well as our Transportation Electrification plan. In Congress, there are quite a few things, I hope to accomplish all of which I think will be difficult under a Republican Trifecta, but the hope is to focus more on accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy, increasing investment into building resilience to climate impacts. I also intend to work directly with FEMA to declare heat as a natural disaster to unlock resource management capabilities, to support our district standing up to Big Oil, and create new jobs that will help grow a greener economy and lead efforts for a just transition for the millions of workers who are currently still employed in the fossil fuel industry, and finally leading to a Green New Deal that protects Working Families, invests in high wage union jobs and keeps our cities livable.”

“When it comes to working with Republicans or the Trump Administration, I think myself and other Democrats in the Arizona delegation and in the Freshman Class, frankly, are willing to work on any issues that will make life easier for everyday Americans. What we’ve seen so far, I’ll be honest hasn’t demonstrated that. We’ve seen hour-long, press conferences by Donald Trump focused on Panama and Greenland and, for someone who has said he’s anti-war, quite interventionist policies, put forward. So far, I’m not hopeful but, you know, always here to work on issues if there’s willingness on both sides.”

Photo from Representative Ansari’s social media.

Mr. Trump and Congressional, Republicans seem to be largely holding on to their Project 2025/ Trickle Down agenda with regards to tax policy, immigration, repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, and like you mentioned territorial expansion. Please explain at least two ways, Democrats will fight this far, right/ Manifest Destiny- Imperial agenda? 

“I’m going to do everything in my power to serve Arizona and work tirelessly to provide the relief they need. Whether that’s addressing housing challenges, improving access to health care, creating job opportunities, or fighting against policies that harm them. I am all for lowering prices for Arizona families and creating an overall economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest among us. We will see this conversation come forward in the next couple of months. The tax policies that President Trump and his team are trying to push forward through reconciliation aren’t even widely known at this point. But when Republicans try to do everything in one big bill, harmful legislation will undoubtedly make it in.”

“Like many in Arizona, I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents who came to the United States, seeking a better life and this country welcomed them and gave us the opportunity at the American Dream. And that’s why I requested to speak on the floor, on my very first day to voice my strong opposition to a partisan rules package, that seeks to harm our immigrant, refugee, and mixed-status families. In our district, over 64. languages are spoken, which is a reflection of the incredible diversity that strengthens our community. So, I believe immigrants are an integral part of our culture, our economy, and our shared future.”

On the proposed repeal of The Inflation Reduction Act. If successful, one of the effects would be people’s grandparents’ prescription drugs rising. Would you like to add anything to that? 

“Similarly, I am going to fight tooth and nail with my colleagues in the Democratic Party to stand up to any attempt at rolling back the IRA. The good news is that much of the funding for the climate portions of the bill is already out the door. This week alone, the Department of Transportation announced a number of new initiatives and funding that’s going to cities across the United States, which is great. I think Republicans are in for a rude awakening if they try to make medical expenses and prescription drugs, more expensive for Working Families. Healthcare is a significant challenge for so many in our country and we need to be working to make it more affordable and not less.”

Representative Ansari and her senior leadership team. Photo from Representative Ansari’s social media.

Please explain at least two ways you and your team in Washington or Phoenix will keep in touch with your constituents and keep them informed of events, taking place throughout the Congressional session. 

“Our district office is already equipped with staff that are ready to serve, which is very exciting. We will always be accessible and meeting with our constituents where they are. For the next couple of months, until we get our permanent physical office opened up, we’ll be at community centers, libraries, and nonprofits, where you can talk to our casework team. We are also going to be hosting a series of listening sessions throughout the community, led by members of my transition team so that we can provide the best information to our residents. We have a Spanish-speaking staff which is important in my district and we will be sharing critical information like knowing your rights under the Trump Administration to knowing about local home, ownership and small business resources, and a number of languages. I’m also very proud that we’ve built a team that looks like our district and knows it too. My team is made up of over 50 percent people of color and more than 70 percent with Arizona ties. My senior leadership team is composed entirely of women and finally, Arizonans can follow me on social media. Our handle is @RepYassAnsari on all platforms. We’ll be sharing daily updates, not just about news that’s important to our district but the behind-the-scenes looks at what we are really doing for you and your family here in DC.”  

Representative Ansari and her legislative team. Photo from Representative Ansari’s social media.

Is there anything not covered in the first four questions that you would like to your constituents and people across Arizona? Please explain

“I’ll add that my team and I are not only excited but already hard at work. You can always count on us to be accessible to you. We will be transparent about our positions and not only going to be fighting back against the harmful policies put forward by Trump and Republicans in Congress, but doing everything, we can to deliver tangibly for the district, especially when it comes to constituent services. So, I encourage residents in the district, to reach out to us, come to our events, and find us in the community.”


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2 thoughts on “Arizona CD3’s New Representative, Yassamin Ansari, Describes Her First Week in Congress”

  1. Well, congratulations on (unlike Senator Reuben Gallego) voting against the The Laken Riley Act. While sadly voting for genocide with the sanctioning of any non-U.S. citizens who assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting the Israeli genocidists. Willing to give war criminal Netanyahu a pass.

    https://www.downwithtyranny.com/post/yesterday-the-house-voted-against-law-and-order-and-for-genocide

    Memo for elected Democrats: Stop chasing the bi-partisanship fairy with enabling Felonious Punk and his Repug minions to enact policies that are a slap to the face of what the US supposedly stands for. You are now (allegedly) the opposition party, and it’s past time you started acting like it!

  2. Thank you for covering our young and talented Representative Ansari. She is an impressive, compassionate, sane bulwark against Trumpist cruelty. May she remain strong.

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