Press Releases
Rep. Gallego Announces Raphael Chavez-Fernandez as Chief of Staff
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) announced Raphael Chavez-Fernandez will join his office as Chief of Staff. “Raphael is a proven leader who has done incredible work at all levels of government,” said Rep. Gallego. “His tenure both serving our nation’s veterans by advising Secretary McDonough at the VA and leading Sen. Menendez’s state operations proves he is up to the challenge of helping deliver solutions for Arizonans. Our team is fortunate to have him as our Chief … Continue Reading
October 19, 2022
Gallego Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Water Abuse Amid Historic Drought
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, introduced The Domestic Water Protection Act of 2022, a bill aimed at addressing the abuse of water resources by foreign governments in drought-stricken states like Arizona. The legislation would impose an excise tax on the sale and export of water-intensive crops grown by foreign companies or foreign governments in areas experiencing prolonged drought. "While Arizona experiences the … Continue Reading
October 18, 2022
Ruben Gallego, Planned Parenthood Arizona Discuss the State of Abortion in Arizona
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Planned Parenthood Arizona hosted a roundtable discussion on the status of reproductive healthcare in Arizona. "Nearly four months after the Dobbs decision ripped away reproductive rights, the pain is only continuing to grow for women in Arizona” said Rep. Gallego. “Arizona’s state lawmakers, the attorney general, and the governor have intentionally created legal chaos with confusion over the state’s draconian territorial ban. Hearing … Continue Reading
October 04, 2022
Gallego Visits Nogales and Sierra Vista to Discuss Local Issues
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego travelled to Nogales, and Sierra Vista, Arizona yesterday where he toured the Mariposa Port of Entry, met with the Santa Cruz County Port Authority, hosted a veterans’ roundtable in Sierra Vista, and toured local water projects in Cochise County. “Bolstering Arizona’s economy, funding drought mitigation efforts and infrastructure projects, and passing the PACT Act are just some of the key wins Congress delivered for Arizonans in the past year, and it was … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Gallego Lauds House Passage of His Legislation Improving Ballot Access for Voters with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass S.3969, the PAVA Program Inclusion Act, the Senate’s companion legislation to the PAVA Inclusion Act introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in March. "When I introduced the PAVA Program Inclusion Act back in March, it was with the aim of ensuring that every voter, regardless of where they live or if they have disabilities, has the opportunity to exercise their fundamental democratic right," said Rep. Gallego. "I am … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Gallego Introduces Bill Allowing DACA Recipients to Join the Military
Washington, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) today introduced the “Fight for the American Dream Act,” legislation that creates a pathway for participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program to join and serve in the United States military. “DACA recipients were brought to the U.S. as children. They’ve gone to college, started successful businesses, and raised their families here in the United States-the country they call home,” said … Continue Reading
September 27, 2022
Gallego Travels to Puerto Rico to Survey Recovery and Assess Federal Response to Hurricane Fiona
WASHINGTON, DC - Last night, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) returned from Puerto Rico where he spent the weekend meeting with Puerto Rican officials and federal disaster response workers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona and assess recovery efforts. Rep. Gallego was part of a Congressional Delegation led by Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) that included seven members of Congress. On Sunday, Rep. Gallego and his colleagues joined Governor Pedro Pierluisi for a briefing on Fiona’s impact on … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Gallego Leads Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Tribal Law Enforcement, Protect Public Safety in Indian Country
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) led Tom Cole (OK-04), Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Dan Newhouse (WA-03) in introducing the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to strengthen Tribal law enforcement and increase public safety in Indian Country. The bill addresses federal inefficiencies that hurt Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Gallego Votes to Pass Historic Public Safety Package
WASHINGTON, DC -Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) today voted to pass four bills aimed at taking concrete steps to prevent crime and increase public safety in Arizona. “American families should be able to live safely and peacefully no matter what neighborhood they’re from,” said Rep. Gallego. “Today House Democrats stood up for all communities by passing bills that invest in our public safety, fund violence intervention programs, support community policing and recruitment, and work to improve law … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Gallego Votes to Protect America’s Electoral System
Washington, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) today voted to protect America’s electoral system by supporting the Presidential Election Reform Act. Statement from Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07): “The 2020 election revealed just how far extremist Republicans are willing to go to overthrow our democracy if their candidate doesn’t win. We know they haven’t given up their efforts of causing chaos in our electoral system for future elections, so we must do what we can now to prevent … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
WATCH: Gallego Talks with Arizona’s Family for Hispanic Heritage Month
Phoenix, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) joined Arizona’s Family for a sit-down interview to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month. Click here to watch the interview. Full interview transcript: Ruben Gallego: When I met my first Latino lawyer, I was like, “we make those?” It's like, wow. But that was very inspirational for me because it made me think like, wait, why couldn't I be a lawyer someday? Olivia Fierro: That revelation, a seed of possibility that would grow an even bigger future … Continue Reading
September 06, 2022
Gallego Hosts Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Roundtable at Phoenix College
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego, joined students, educators, and advocates at Phoenix College for a roundtable discussion on President Biden’s recently announced student loan forgiveness plan. “President Biden made the right decision when he announced his plan to cancel student debt for millions of qualified borrowers,” said Rep. Gallego. “I was incredibly excited when the plan was first announced, and I’m just as excited today to meet with the folks that this relief will directly … Continue Reading
August 30, 2022
Gallego Touts IRS Mileage Reimbursement Increase at Roundtable with Lyft
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) today toured the Lyft Driver Center in Phoenix and met with local Lyft drivers to discuss the benefits of the IRS increasing the 2022 optional standard mileage rate—the rate rideshare drivers use to deduct the cost of using their vehicles for work. “Thanks in part to the leadership of Democrats in Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, the price of gas has retreated in recent weeks, but ensuring our small business owners and rideshare … Continue Reading
August 25, 2022
Gallego Statement on President Biden’s Announcement of Student Debt Cancellation
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Biden Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Education will provide $10,000 in student debt cancellation for qualified borrowers making less than $125k per year for individuals or under $250k for married couples or heads of households. Pell Grant recipients will be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt relief. Following this announcement, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement. Statement from Rep. Ruben … Continue Reading
August 15, 2022
Gallego Announces Nearly $600K for Phoenix Community Health Centers to Advance Health Equity through Improved Data
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) today announced $588,904 in American Rescue Plan funding from the Department of Health and Human Services for nine Phoenix community health centers to bolster health equity efforts through better data collection and reporting. "Tragically, the coronavirus pandemic amplified the inequities in our health system that have existed for decades,” said Rep. Gallego. “But now we have a real opportunity to reflect on how to improve access and care to our … Continue Reading
August 12, 2022
Gallego Votes to Support Arizona’s Working Families, Cut Prescription Drug Costs, and Fight Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement after the House passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. Statement from Rep. Ruben Gallego: “The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic win. For Arizona, this bill means cheaper prescription drugs, money saved on health insurance, thousands of climate friendly jobs, and making billionaire corporations finally pay their fair share in taxes. “These priorities are why this Democratic majority was … Continue Reading
August 11, 2022
Rep. Gallego Joins Sec. Buttigieg, Phoenix Leaders, to Announce Funding for Rio Reimagined Bridge
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, along with Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-09) and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, gathered today at the Audubon Center in South Phoenix to announce $25 million in funding for the Rio Reimagined 3rd Street Bicycle-Pedestrian Project, a bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Rio Salado along the 3rd Street alignment between Central Avenue and 40th Street. "Building out infrastructure, especially in South … Continue Reading
August 10, 2022
Gallego and Stanton Announce $16 Million for Valley Metro to Improve Electric Bus Infrastructure
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-09) today announced a $16,362,600 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro to purchase battery-electric buses and construct charging infrastructure. The funding comes after Reps. Gallego and Stanton sent a letter to FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez last November requesting the grant funding. "As the Valley continues to grow, it is vitally important residents have safe, … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
PASSED: Legislation to Address Drought and Protect Americans from Wildfires with Gallego Provisions
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, voted to pass H.R. 5118, The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, a bill to reduce forest fires and help Western communities conserve water. The legislation includes the text of his Roadless Area Conservation Act, which will codify protections for inventoried roadless areas. "With Arizona and other western states experiencing the driest conditions in centuries, the threat of drought … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
Gallego Votes to Lower Costs and Power American Research and Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, DC -Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) voted to pass H.R. 4346, the CHIPS and Science Act. The bold, bipartisan package makes new investments in research, innovation, and American manufacturing. Already passed by the Senate, the CHIPS and Science Act now heads directly to the President’s desk. “The strength of the American economy is our ability to innovate and create, but over the past few decades, we have seen foreign nations catch up,” said Rep. Gallego. “Thanks to the hard work … Continue Reading