Press Releases
Rep. Gallego Seeks to Restrict Program That Provides Military Equipment to Police
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) said he would advance an effort in the House Armed Services Committee to restrict the Pentagon's 1033 Program, which has provided over $6 billion of surplus military gear to over 8,600 federal, state, and local police departments since its inception."Local law enforcement officers shouldn't be confronting civilians with weapons designed for combat," Rep. Gallego said. "A militarized police force makes our communities less safe and heightens the … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Reps. Gallego, Grijalva, Haaland Demand Federal Investigation of IHS Contract Awarded to Trump Crony that Resulted in Unsuitable PPE Delivered to Navajo Nation
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, Chair of the Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Deb Haaland, Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Committee led a letter urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open a federal investigation into possible waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement of an Indian Health Service (IHS) contract that resulted in potentially faulty PPE being distributed to multiple health … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Reps. Gallego, Grijalva, Kirkpatrick, and Stanton Urge Every Nursing Home in Arizona to Voluntarily Release COVID-19 Data
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), joined by Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), and Greg Stanton (AZ-09), sent a letter urging Arizona nursing homes to voluntarily release their COVID-19 data in light of Governor Ducey's refusal to release the names of nursing homes where residents and staff have been killed or fallen ill from COVID-19. Governor Ducey has argued that, among other things, releasing the names of nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaks would hurt … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Rep. Gallego Statement on Arizona Legislature Republican’s Attempt to Disenfranchise Navajo Nation in the Middle of a Pandemic
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego, Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States released the following statement in response to the Arizona legislature's planned consideration of SCR 1018 this week, which would break up the only legislative district in Arizona where a majority of residents are Native American. The Arizona legislature just came back into session this week. "Republicans in the Arizona State legislature have done next to nothing to … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Rep. Gallego Votes to Pass the Heroes Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) voted to pass the Heroes Act to address the needs of those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He released the following statement:"Around 40% of households making less than 40,000 dollars a year have lost their jobs. 36.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past 8 weeks. 87,000 Americans have died. Essential workers without adequate pay and personal protective equipment are putting themselves at risk every day to do … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Rep. Gallego Proposes New Economic Assistance Plan for Small Businesses
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego proposed a new stimulus plan to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Gallego laid out his Small Business Economic Assistance Program, which would immediately provide across-the-board payments to all small businesses."The Paycheck Protection Program is failing our nation's family-owned … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Rep. Gallego Votes Urges the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority to Support Underserved Minority-Owned Businesses
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement after the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority failed to provide financial support to Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC). CPLC is a community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides affordable capital to underserved, minority-owned small businesses throughout Arizona. "Chicanos Por La Causa is a trusted partner in promoting economic development as a community development financial … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Rep. Gallego Votes For More Funding for Small Businesses, Hospitals, and Testing
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) voted for the Interim Coronavirus Relief Package (H.R. 266). The bill includes $310 billion in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion for COVID-19 testing. "This package should have been passed three weeks ago," said Rep. Gallego. "The initial pushback we received from Congressional Republicans about including funding for health care workers, testing, and small businesses that … Continue Reading
April 20, 2020
ICYMI: Reps. Gallego, Mullin Introduce Bill Boosting Resources for Urban Indian Health Organizations
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) introduced H.R. 6535 last week to expand Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage to urban Indian health organizations, giving them a desperately needed boost in resources as they suffer shortages, closures, and financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Indian Health System, commonly referred to as the ITU system, is made up of the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal health programs, and urban Indian … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Gallego & House Dems Urge New PPP Rules Requiring Equitable Lending from Banks
PHOENIX, AZ - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), chair of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations; Oversight and Regulations Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez, and Democratic Members of the House of Representatives in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza urging new rules for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).Congress established the PPP to help small businesses … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Rep. Gallego Announces More than $147 Million in COVID-19 Relief for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced the release of more than $147 million in CARES Act relief funding for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration will award $225 million to airports throughout Arizona under the Coronavirus Aird, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program."Sky Harbor is an economic powerhouse for our district, our state, and our region. But like all airports, … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Rep. Gallego Congratulates Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association on Grant Award to Help Fight COVID-19
PHOENIX, AZ—The Department of Health and Human Services announced it will award $856,230 to the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association to enhance Arizona hospitals' COVID-19 response capacity.Rep. Ruben Gallego released the following statement: "This critical funding will provide necessary resources to Arizona hospitals as they deal with this pandemic. The money will help health care workers who are risking their lives to fight coronavirus and allow them to save more lives and treat more … Continue Reading
April 08, 2020
Rep. Gallego Welcomes $24.4M in CARES Act Supplemental Grant Funding for Arizona Health Centers
WASHINGTON, DC—The Department of Health and Human Services announced it will award more than $24.4 million to Arizona health centers as part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic. The funding was made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that Congress passed on March 27, and will be made available to the receiving health centers immediately. The funding will support health centers' ability to detect, prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19 and help the … Continue Reading
April 08, 2020
Davids, Gallego Lead 38 Bipartisan Members in Effort to Ensure Tribal Small Businesses Can Access Relief During Coronavirus
Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) led a letter signed by 38 bipartisan members of Congress calling for tribal small businesses to have access to critical relief programs that would help them pay their workers and keep their businesses afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.While the CARES Act provides for tribal small businesses to access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, the Small Business Administration released an interim rule last … Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Reps. Gallego and Cisneros Introduce Legislation to Cover All Coronavirus Treatment and Testing Through Medicaid
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) introduced the Emergency Medicaid for Coronavirus Treatment Act, which would ensure that every American is automatically eligible for Medicaid if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or any other illness that rises to the level of a presidential national emergency declaration. Rep. Gallego announced his plan to introduce this legislation on March 3, 2020.Although Congress passed legislation to ensure Americans can … Continue Reading
April 06, 2020
Rep. Gallego Statement on Acting Secretary Modly’s Comments to the USS Theodore Roosevelt Crew
"The speech that Acting Secretary of the Navy Modly gave aboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT today was an outrage. In it, he called CAPT Brett Crozier, the ship's former commanding officer who he removed for "going outside the chain of command" either naïve or stupid for asking the Navy for help within the chain of command. In fact, he criticized CAPT Crozier for not going directly to him, which itself would be highly unusual and outside the chain of command.The Acting Secretary of the Navy also … Continue Reading
March 17, 2020
ICYMI: Reps. Gallego, Mullin Introduce Bill Amid COVID-19 Pandemic to Ensure Timely, Accessible Care for Native American Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) introduced H.R. 6237, the bipartisan Proper and Reimbursed Care (PRC) for Native Veterans Act, last week. The PRC for Native Veterans Act would require the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to reimburse the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribally-run health facilities for purchased and referred care (PRC) used for Native American veterans. H.R. 6237 clarifies that VHA is responsible for reimbursing not only direct … Continue Reading
March 03, 2020
BREAKING: Rep. Gallego to Introduce Bill to Cover Costs of Coronavirus Treatment & Testing
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced that he plans to introduce a bill to cover medical testing and treatment costs associated with the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.Under Rep. Gallego's plan, all Americans will be automatically eligible for emergency Medicaid to cover testing and treatment costs for COVID-19 and any other illness that rises to the level of a national emergency."Coronavirus could spread even more quickly if people avoid testing and treatment … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
Reps. Gallego and DeSaulnier Introduce Bill to Protect Veterans Unfairly Forced to Return Separation Pay
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced the Restore Veterans' Compensation Act, legislation that would prevent the federal government from forcing veterans to return separation pay if they later qualify for VA disability benefits. The bill also makes other changes to the Department of Defense's recoupment policies to make them fairer to veterans.Many service members qualify for separation pay when they depart the military—it's a form of … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Gallego, Haaland, Cole Introduce Bill to Increase Tribal Broadband Access
WASHINGTON, DC - Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Deb Haaland (D-NM), and Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced the Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act of 2020 last week to accelerate the deployment of broadband services to Native communities and bridge the digital divide facing Native communities. The bill would expedite the deployment of affordable broadband service on Tribal lands by coordinating and improving the effectiveness of federal resources.According to the Federal Communications … Continue Reading