Press Releases
Rep. Gallego & Arizona Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Abuse at Residential Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ), Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ), and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act in order to improve quality of care for residents living at Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID).ICFs/IID are long-term care facilities that serve individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities who are often … Continue Reading
February 06, 2020
Rep. Gallego Introduces Bipartisan VA Accountability Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA), Rep. John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) introduced the VA Quality Health Care Accountability and Transparency Act in order to improve the VA's disclosure of the quality of service it is providing to veterans.The bill was introduced in response to a Government Accountability Office report which found that the VA was failing to disclose wait time, patient safety, and quality … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Rep. Gallego Announces State of the Union Guest: Teacher and DACA Recipient Vanessa Mendez
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, announced his guest to this year's State of the Union address: Vanessa Mendez, a second grade teacher at Papago Elementary School. She is one of more than 25,000 Arizonans who have temporary legal status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.Rep. Gallego issued the following statement:"Vanessa's passion for educating children in our community and her commitment … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Gallego, Udall Bill to Protect Tribal Wildlife Corridors Approved by House Natural Resources Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 to support the use of wildlife corridors on Tribal lands. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), chairman of the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples, and U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs."Indigenous communities have long led by example when it comes to responsible and effective stewardship of our land … Continue Reading
January 15, 2020
Rep. Gallego Calls for Major Disaster Declaration in Response to Puerto Rico Earthquakes
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement in response to new reports that the Trump Administration would release their hold on delayed disaster relief funds for Puerto Rico:"President Trump must immediately make a major disaster declaration in response to the recent and ongoing severe earthquakes that have struck Puerto Rico. Continuing to delay this declaration only hurts over 3 million American citizens on the island and exacerbates the crisis the … Continue Reading
January 15, 2020
Gallego, Swalwell Introduce Bill to Provide Student Debt Relief for Young Entrepreneurs
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) introduced the Relief and Investment for Student Entrepreneurs (RISE) Act. The bill will make it easier for millennials to launch new business ventures by offering a 3-year deferment period for federal student loans, interest-free, to entrepreneurs who have recently earned a college degree. The bill also incentivizes job creation in economically-challenged communities by enabling young … Continue Reading
December 20, 2019
Rep. Ruben Gallego Introduces Legislation to Improve Ballot Access for Voters with Disabilities
WASHINGTON DC -Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the PAVA Inclusion Act yesterday to ensure full participation in the electoral process for voters with disabilities.The PAVA program funds measures aimed at increasing access to the polls for voters facing mobility and other challenges, including disability training for poll workers, maintaining voting hotlines, and examining polling places for accessibility. However, when the program was enacted as part of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Rep. Gallego Votes for Impeachment
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) voted in support of the two articles of impeachment against President Trump. Rep. Gallego released the following statement:"Today I voted to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress."These are serious charges, and Congress has a serious duty to defend the rule of law and our democracy. We upheld that duty today and sent a strong message that President Trump and all presidents who follow him will be held … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Reps. Gallego and DeGette Lead 74 Representatives in Letter Opposing Administration Plan to Strip Protections from Tongass National Forest
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) led over 70 of their colleagues in submitting official comments yesterday in opposition to the U.S. Forest Service's plan to exempt Tongass National Forest in Alaska from protections under the Roadless Rule.The letter urges Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue not to proceed with his Department's proposal to open up our nation's largest National Forest - and one of our most critical tools in the fight … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
House Passes 2020 NDAA with Several Gallego Provisions
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives passed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including several provisions introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).Rep. Gallego also served on the House-Senate Conference Committee, responsible for reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.Rep. Gallego is available for interviews following passage of the FY 2020 NDAA."I'm proud to have taken a leadership role in finalizing this year's National … Continue Reading
December 05, 2019
Rep. Gallego Bill to Protect Native American Children Approved in Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the Native American Child Protection Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples and Ranking Member Paul Cook (R-CA).The bipartisan legislation improves and reauthorizes several programs within the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act in order to improve the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family … Continue Reading
December 01, 2019
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on World AIDS Day
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day:"World AIDS Day is both a day of mourning and one of celebration. First, we take the time to honor the memories of those we've lost to HIV/AIDS and to remember the human toll of this devastating illness. Today we also celebrate the major strides that the global health community has made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We recognize these advancements, and renew our commitment to work … Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Rep. Gallego Statement on Impeachment Inquiry Testimony
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement regarding this week's testimony during the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump:"The case is clear: President Trump abused his power and extorted Ukraine by withholding military assistance in exchange for a commitment to interfere in the 2020 elections of the United States to his own political benefit. That is an impeachable offense."Congressional Republicans still defending the President's actions are … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Udall, Gallego Introduce Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples, introduced the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2019 to support the use of wildlife corridors on Tribal lands. The legislation is supported by U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Deb Haaland (D-N.M.). A United Nations report released earlier this year found that one … Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Rep. Ruben Gallego Applauds $24 million Rail Expansion Grant for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) issued a statement following an announcement that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport would receive a $24 million grant from the Department of Transportation for the Northside Rail Expansion project:"Sky Harbor is an economic powerhouse for our district, our state, and our region, and the Northside Rail Extension will help our airport to meet ever-increasing demand. This project will not only allow Sky Harbor to accommodate growing … Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee Chair Ruben Gallego Blasts Trump Move to Undermine Native American History Month
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples, released the following statement in response to a White House announcement that President Trump is proclaiming November "National American History and Founders Month," sidelining the long-celebrated Native American Heritage Month:"It's not surprising that a President who regularly uses Native American slurs and dismisses the concerns of Indigenous people doesn't … Continue Reading
November 01, 2019
Chairman Gallego and Ranking Member Cook Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Native American Children
WASHINGTON, DC - Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples joined with Ranking Member Paul Cook (R-CA) to introduce the Native American Child Protection Act.The bipartisan legislation improves and reauthorizes several programs within the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act in order to improve the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Native American children and … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Rep. Gallego Votes to Move Forward with Impeachment Probe
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) voted to move forward with the impeachment process and establish procedures for open hearings to be conducted by the House Intelligence Committee.Rep. Gallego released the following statement:"As allegations and evidence regarding President Trump's illegal conduct continue to pile up, the House is fulfilling our Constitutional duty by moving forward with the impeachment probe."Time and again, President Trump has endangered our national security … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Rep. Gallego Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Uphold Trust Responsibility to Native American Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples and an Iraq War veteran, introduced the Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today (PACT) Act, which would end the practice of charging American Indian and Alaska Native veterans a copayment for receiving care at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).America's trust and treaty obligations guarantee Native Americans access to health care free of cost and, accordingly, they are not … Continue Reading
October 28, 2019
Rep. Gallego Statement on Al-Baghdadi Raid
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement after reports that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. military operation:"The death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a blow to ISIS, and the world is a safer place without him. I am thankful for the service members who go into harm's way to undertake missions like these."I share the concerns of Speaker Pelosi and Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith that Russian sources were made aware of this operation … Continue Reading