Press Releases
Ruben Gallego Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Background Checks for Sales and Transfers of Firearms
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) announced he will cosponsor H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019. The bill was sponsored by Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05). Rep. Gallego released the following statement:"Since the background check system was established in 1998, the FBI has denied more than 1.3 million illegal firearm purchases, but glaring loopholes at gun shows and over the internet still exist. That is why I am proud to … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
Ruben Gallego Joins the New House Democratic Majority to Introduce Historic Anti-Corruption and Fair Elections Reforms
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego joined the new House Democratic majority to introduce H.R.1, the For the People Act, a sweeping package of pro-democracy and anti-corruption reforms. Rep. Gallego released the following statement:"I am proud that my first action as a Member of the 116th Congress is to cosponsor legislation that will ensure that our voting rights and campaign finance systems reflect our nation's democratic values. As we have seen in Arizona and across the country, the … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Gallego & Gallagher Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Impose Denial Orders on Chinese Telecommunications Companies That Violate US Sanctions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act (H.R. 7255) to direct the President to impose denial orders banning the export of U.S. parts and components to Chinese telecommunications companies that are in violation of U.S. export control or sanctions laws. The legislation follows news that Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, was arrested in Canada at the request of … Continue Reading
December 04, 2018
Reps. Gallego and LaMalfa Lead Bipartisan Call for Appointment of a Native American Affairs Expert at the Congressional Research Service
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee, and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), chair of the subcommittee, led a bipartisan letter to the Director of the Congressional Research Service requesting immediate appointment of a Native American Affairs expert. 29 Members of Congress signed on to the request."It is critical that Members of Congress have access to readily available experts who … Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
Rep. Gallego and Veterans in Congress Call for Full Reimbursement of Underpaid GI Benefits
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) led a group of veterans serving in Congress in sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, calling for full repayment of benefits owed to veterans under the Forever GI Bill.The letter follows troubling reports that Department of Veterans Affairs officials do not intend to reimburse veterans for acknowledged underpayment of benefits required by law. The lawmakers expressed concern about the ongoing and … Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on the Passing of Congressman Ed Pastor
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement:"Today we mourn the passing and honor the legacy of an Arizona legend, Congressman Ed Pastor. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Verma, his daughters, Yvonne and Laura, his sister Eleanor, and the rest of his family during this difficult time."Congressman Pastor was a trailblazer who dedicated his life to fighting for working families. He represented Arizona's 7th district with distinction for 12 terms, … Continue Reading
November 01, 2018
Reps. Gallego and O’Halleran Call for Investigation into Alleged Misconduct of AZ Parks Director Sue Black
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) wrote a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into whistleblower reports that Arizona State Parks and Trails Director Sue Black recklessly disregarded procedures designed to minimize damage to lands identified as containing protected cultural and historical sites. The Congressmen also encouraged Gov. Ducey to request Black's immediate resignation so as to avoid … Continue Reading
October 16, 2018
Dems Ask Trump Administration to Honor Renewable Fuel Standard Commitments
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Danny Davis (D-IL) led a letter signed by 17 of their colleagues to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing concern over the Trump Administration's widespread issuance of waivers to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).With transportation emissions representing the bulk of U.S. greenhouse emissions, the decision to flout RFS standards could have a devastating impact on our climate and public health outcomes and result in higher … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
House Democrats to President Trump: Don’t Kill Protections for America’s Largest National Forest
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and 47 House Democrats signed a public comment letter opposing the Trump administration's proposed rollback of protections for the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.The Trump administration is considering exempting millions of acres of public lands from protections known as the "Roadless Rule," which restricts road construction, logging, and other costly and environmentally-damaging development in old-growth forests and other … Continue Reading
August 29, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Urges Phoenix City Council to Protect the South-Central Light Rail Extension
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement:"Today, the Phoenix City Council will consider redirecting Transportation 2050 revenues to pay for street repairs. While we await details of the proposal, I'm alarmed by the possibility that funds for the South-Central Light Rail extension could be diverted for this purpose. "At this late stage in the process, any such move would send the wrong message to the Department of Transportation and to an administration … Continue Reading
August 03, 2018
ICYMI: Rep. Ruben Gallego Introduces Resolution to Affirm Congressional Support of the Free Press
WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced a resolution on the role of a free press in a democratic society and urging President Trump to cease attacking the media and excluding journalists asking questions critical of the President.The resolution was introduced in response to President Trump's continued, ongoing attacks on both individual members of the press corps, as well as the institution of the press as a whole.Those attacks continued yesterday, after President … Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Demands Investigation into Reports of Physical and Sexual Abuse of Migrant Children
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services' Inspector General, requesting an immediate investigation into reports of widespread physical and sexual abuse of migrant children in federal custody.News reports recently described repeated instances of physical and sexual abuse suffered by a six-year-old girl while detained in an immigration detention facility operated by Southwest Key in Glendale, just outside Phoenix, Arizona. Nationally, … Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on Passage of National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement:"Earlier today, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), after Conference with the Senate. I was pleased and proud to have led several efforts that are in the final bill and should soon become law."First, I'm proud to have led the effort to ensure that American troops remain in South Korea. My amendment, now on the way to the President's desk, ensures that active U.S. troop levels in the … Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Following Trump’s Pardon of Individuals Involved in Oregon Standoff, Republicans Reject Rep. Gallego's “Cliven Bundy” Amendment
Washington, DC - Last night, House Republicans rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) to end taxpayer subsidization of ranchers, like Cliven Bundy, who engage in illegal grazing.Following President Trump's pardon of Oregon ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, the amendment was an effort to reassert that Western ranchers should be required to meet their legal obligations. Experts and environmentalists fear the pardons could encourage more rule-breaking by both unscrupulous … Continue Reading
July 16, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on President Trump’s Meeting with Vladimir Putin
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement:"President Trump's meeting today with Vladimir Putin of Russia was an appalling display of self-serving posturing by both men. Americans should expect such behavior from President Putin. They should not expect, however, to be misrepresented and abandoned by the President of the United States."Today, Americans should have seen their President demand the extradition of Russian military intelligence officers … Continue Reading
July 13, 2018
Trump Should Cancel His Meeting with Putin Until Russia Changes its Behavior or his Administration Condemns Russia
Washington, DC - Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), House Committee on Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) and 13 other Democrats wrote to President Trump requesting that his meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia be canceled until Russia changes its behavior or his Administration condemns Russia's destabilizing actions. Their letter comes as the Department of Justice announces the indictment of 12 Russian … Continue Reading
July 12, 2018
After Disastrous Pompeo Visit to North Korea and with No Sign that Nuclear Program is Slowing, Will Trump Impose New Sanctions or Resume Military Exercises?
Washington, DC - Today, Reps. Gallego (D-AZ), Moulton (D-MA), Hannabusa (D-HI), Speier (D-CA), Panetta (D-CA) and Shea-Porter (D-NH) wrote to President Trump requesting details of the Administration's supposed strategy to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula within the next year, including whether Trump will consider the imposition of new sanctions or the resumption of military exercises with South Korea following reports that the Kim regime's nuclear program has … Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Calls for DHS Inspector General Investigation into Reported Mistreatment of Migrant Children in Phoenix
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) wrote to the Department of Homeland Security's Acting Inspector General, requesting an immediate investigation into reports that minor children detained at the U.S. Mexico border were inappropriately held in an office building in Phoenix.According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, that building was not licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services to provide child care - a possible violation of Arizona state law. In … Continue Reading
June 28, 2018
Intelligence and Armed Services Democrats Demand Access to Report Used to Justify Trump’s Muslim Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, 11 Democrats on the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, led by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), wrote to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats requesting a classified report detailing the analysis the Trump Administration used in issuing its revised travel ban covering nationals of five majority Muslim countries, North Korea and Venezuela.President Trump has claimed that the Muslim ban was based on an "extensive" analysis of every country in the world. … Continue Reading
June 28, 2018
Statement on the Passage of Gallego Amendment to Protect DoD from Huawei and ZTE
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement:"Today, the House passed my amendment barring Defense Appropriations from being used to buy goods or services from ZTE Corporation or Huawei Technologies."ZTE and Huawei are Chinese state-owned companies that have proven themselves to be a chronic and consistent security risk to the Defense Department, high tech industry, and critical infrastructure over the past two decades. It is therefore imperative that U.S. … Continue Reading