Press Releases
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Trump’s Muslim Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in Trump v. Hawaii, upholding President Trump's Muslim ban:"The Supreme Court's decision to uphold President Trump's Muslim ban is a disappointing and dangerous outcome that undermines our core values of religious liberty and inclusion."Trump's Muslim ban casts a wide net of bigotry across an entire region, endangering people who are fleeing terrorism and fueling the recruitment … Continue Reading
June 20, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement Regarding Attempts to Terminate the South-Central Light Rail Extension Project
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement:"The south-central light rail extension will transform our city. "It will connect low-income residents to new jobs and new opportunities. It will make Phoenix a better place to run a business and raise a family. It will help students get to school, seniors get to doctors' appointments, sports fans get to games and breadwinners get to the office. "That's why every Phoenician who cares about the health, … Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Calls on White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to Resign
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement:"The Trump administration's policy of dehumanizing children and unnecessarily separating families for political show is nothing short of cruel, and those who have created, implemented, and defended it must be held accountable."At the very least, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security owe the American people both transparency and honesty. Under the direction of Chief of Staff John Kelly and … Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
El Congresista Ruben Gallego Sobre el Elección Presidencial de Colombia
WASHINGTON, DC -El Congresista Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) hizo las siguientes declaraciones sobre el elección presidencial de Colombia:"Como primer colombiano-estadounidense en el Congreso, me complace felicitar a Iván Duque por su elección como Presidente de Colombia."Colombia, nuestro amigo y aliado cercano, se encuentra en una encrucijada histórica y enfrenta serios desafíos. Pero los Estados Unidos sigue comprometido a apoyar al presidente electo Duque y al pueblo colombiano para superarlos, tal … Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on the Colombian Presidential Election
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement:"As the first Colombian-American in Congress, I am pleased to congratulate Iván Duque on his election as President of Colombia."Colombia, our close friend and ally, is at a historic crossroads and faces serious challenges. The United States remains committed to supporting President-Elect Duque and the Colombian people in overcoming them, just as we have for the past two decades. "Foremost among these challenges … Continue Reading
June 14, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Seeks Answers from Defense Department on Cancelation of Joint Exercises with South Korea
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis demanding clarity and basic facts concerning President Trump's decision to unilaterally cancel military exercises with South Korea."It is distressing to hear that the President made a major decision to cancel exercises without consulting South Korea or even, apparently, leadership at the Pentagon," Rep. Gallego said. "I look forward to learning … Continue Reading
June 13, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego Meets with South Korean Ambassador Cho Yoon-je
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) issued the following statement following a meeting today with South Korean Ambassador Cho Yoon-je:"The situation right now on the Korean peninsula is tenuous and dangerous. In these interesting times, it's important to consult with and benefit from the expertise of our closest friends," said Rep. Gallego. "It was an honor and a privilege to host Ambassador Cho of South Korea this morning. Congress and the American people will continue to stand by our … Continue Reading
June 04, 2018
Natural Resources Democrats Demand Hearing on Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, led by Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Darren Soto (D-FL), called on Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) to hold hearings on the Trump administration's mishandling of the response and recovery effort in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Their letter comes after the release last week of a Harvard study that determined the storm's death total was 70 times … Continue Reading
May 30, 2018
Rep. Ruben Gallego on Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Death Toll Study
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) issued the following statement regarding a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that estimates that at least 4,645 people died in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria. Rep. Gallego serves as the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs."The results of this study - and the fact that the actual … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Democrats Request Hearings on President Trump’s use of his Unsecured Personal Cellphone
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) wrote to House Speaker Paul Ryan requesting hearings to examine President Trump's use of his unsecured personal cellphone to conduct official government business. The letter raises the possibility that the President's conversations may have been incepted by hostile governments, potentially exposing important aspects of American diplomatic and military strategy. It also notes the discrepancy between … Continue Reading
May 18, 2018
Why is the Trump Administration letting ZTE off the hook?
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Congressman Gallego (D-AZ) and Congressman Moulton (D-MA) filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require agencies involved in trade negotiations with China to reveal to Congress any quid pro quo offers made to the Chinese government to ensure that the Trump administration will reduce penalties levied against Chinese phone maker ZTE. FBI Director Christopher Wray and Counterintelligence Director Bill Evanian testified this week … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Rep. Gallego Fights for Smarter Marine Corps Policy on Marijuana-Use
WASHINGTON, DC - Last night, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) offered an amendment to the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act that would encourage the military services to implement policies allowing individuals to reenlist even if they admit to having used marijuana.Currently, the Marine Corps categorically prohibits waivers from being granted to enable an individual to rejoin the Corps if that person attests to cannabis-use, even if it occurred while he or she was separated from the … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
HASC Approves Gallego Amendment Bolstering U.S. Military Presence in South Korea
WASHINGTON, DC - Last night, the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) that would commit the United States to a robust military presence in South Korea for the foreseeable future, in order to maintain peace and stability in the region.Rep. Gallego's amendment would ensure that U.S. active duty forces in the Republic of Korea will not fall below 22,000 troops without a certification by the … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
House Republicans Vote to Give Trump the Green Light to Divert Military Resources for his Border Wall
WASHINGTON, DC - Last night, on a party line vote, Republican Members of the House Armed Services Committee voted in unison to block an effort led by Rep. Ruben Gallego to prevent President Trump from implementing his proposal to divert defense resources to pay for a new wall on the southwest border. A similar amendment was approved by HASC last year. "Trump's border wall is an enormous waste of money that won't make us any safer, especially at a time when unauthorized border crossings are at … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Rep. Gallego Statement on Trump Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) issued the following statement about President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran: "President Trump's reckless decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal is a terrible mistake that will make it easier for Iran to develop nuclear weapons."Let's be clear - a nuclear-armed Iran is an international threat. While the JCPOA was not perfect, President Trump has offered no alternative that … Continue Reading
April 17, 2018
Progressive Congressional Leaders Huddle with National Progressive Organizations; Discuss Coordinated Plan of Action in Response to Potential Firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein
Washington, DC - Today, Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Vice Chair Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) led a discussion among progressive leaders in Congress and national progressive organizations with the goal of developing a coordinated response to the possible firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein by President Trump. Following the FBI raid on the office of his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, President Trump appeared to publicly weigh whether to take … Continue Reading
April 03, 2018
Marine Veteran Rep. Ruben Gallego Blasts Trump’s Plan to Send U.S. Troops to the Border
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's announcement that he plans to deploy U.S. troops to the southern border:"Once again, President Trump wants to use our brave men and women in uniform to send a divisive political message. Now he intends to employ our Armed Forces to advance his extreme anti-immigrant agenda, while wasting time, resources and money and depleting our military strength in areas of real danger. That's … Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
Marine Veteran Rep. Gallego Slams Trump Plan to Pay for Border Wall with Military Funds, Will Reintroduce Amendment to Stop Him
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement in response to President Trump's proposal to pay for his border wall with military funds.Last June, Rep. Gallego introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have blocked the Trump administration from diverting funds from the defense budget to pay for construction of a new border wall. Though the amendment was approved by the House Armed Services Committee, the GOP … Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
Rep. Gallego Announces Acceptance of Congressional Nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy
PHOENIX, AZ - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) announced that his nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy, Ethan S. Thompson, was accepted by the prestigious military university and will join as part of the Class of 2022.Ethan is currently a student at Northern Arizona University studying Mechanical Engineering. He is a graduate of Sunnyslope High School, where he was a valued member of the wrestling team. Ethan is active in his community, where he volunteered at Andre House to serve people … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Iraq War Combat Veteran Rep. Ruben Gallego Calls on Members of Both Parties to Oppose the Selection of John Bolton as National Security Advisor
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine Corps combat veteran of the Iraq War and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to reports that former Bush administration official John Bolton will be tapped to replace General HR McMaster as President Trump's new National Security Advisor:"John Bolton was a leading architect of the Iraq War - a needless conflict that is still costing American lives and American tax dollars 15 … Continue Reading