Raúl Grijalva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raúl Grijalva
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Official portrait, 2021
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| Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Bruce Westerman |
| Succeeded by | Jared Huffman |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Peter DeFazio |
| Succeeded by | Rob Bishop |
| Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Rob Bishop |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Westerman |
| Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Lee |
| Succeeded by | Pramila Jayapal |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona |
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| In office January 3, 2003 – March 13, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Constituency | 7th district (2003–2013) 3rd district (2013–2023) 7th district (2023–2025) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raúl Manuel Grijalva
February 19, 1948 Pima County, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | March 13, 2025 (aged 77) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Raza Unida (before 1974) Democratic (from 1974) |
| Spouse |
Ramona Grijalva
(m. 1971) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Raúl Manuel Grijalva (born February 19, 1948 – died March 13, 2025) was an American politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona from 2003 to 2025. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Grijalva represented different areas of Arizona during his time in Congress. These areas included parts of Tucson, Yuma, Nogales, and some areas near Phoenix. In late 2024, Grijalva announced he would not run for re-election in 2026 due to health issues. He passed away before finishing his last term.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Raúl Grijalva's father was a migrant worker from Mexico. He came to the United States in 1945 through a program called the Bracero Program. His father worked on ranches in southern Arizona. Raúl Grijalva was born on Canoa Ranch, which is about 30 miles south of Tucson.
He graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1967. Later, he was honored in the school's Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. He went on to attend the University of Arizona. There, he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, which is the study of human society.
Early Career in Public Service
Grijalva was an important leader in Arizona for the Raza Unida Party. This party focused on the rights of Mexican Americans. In 1974, Grijalva was elected to the Tucson Unified School District board. He served on the school board until 1986. A school in Tucson, Grijalva Elementary School, was named after him in 1987.
From 1975 to 1986, Grijalva directed the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. In 1987, he worked at the University of Arizona. He helped Hispanic students as an Assistant Dean. Grijalva also served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors from 1989 to 2002. He was the chair of this board from 2000 to 2002. He left this role in 2002 to run for Congress.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Raúl Grijalva was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He represented Arizona's 7th congressional district.
First Actions in Congress
As a new member of Congress, Grijalva sponsored his first bill, H.R. 731. This bill was called the Tohono O'odham Citizenship Act of 2003. It aimed to grant American citizenship to all members of the Tohono Oʼodham. This Native American tribe has land that crosses the U.S.–Mexico border. Because of this, some members were not U.S. citizens. Although the bill did not become law, it showed his focus on tribal rights.
Leading the Natural Resources Committee
From 2019 to 2023, Grijalva served as the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. This committee deals with issues like national parks, forests, and public lands. For his work as chairman, he received a high grade from a group that checks how well Congress oversees government actions.
During the Capitol Attack
Grijalva was at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He was there to confirm the 2020 presidential election results. During this time, the Capitol building was attacked by supporters of Donald Trump. Grijalva called the attack a "dark and shameful day." He described the people involved as "domestic terrorists." He supported efforts to remove President Trump from office and voted to impeach him.
Supporting the American Rescue Plan
In February 2021, Grijalva voted for the American Rescue Plan. This plan aimed to help the country recover from the pandemic. It included a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Even though this part of the bill was removed, Grijalva continued to support it.
Committee Roles
For the 118th Congress, Grijalva was the Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources. This means he was the top Democrat on the committee. He also served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Political Views and Actions
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Grijalva was known for his progressive political views. He was a former co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group of lawmakers supports policies that aim to improve social and economic equality. Many groups that support liberal and progressive causes gave him high scores for his voting record.
Protecting the Environment
Grijalva was a strong supporter of environmental causes. He worked to reform mining laws and protect natural areas. He led efforts to improve oversight of offshore oil drilling. He also introduced a bill to create a permanent National Landscape Conservation System. This system helps protect important public lands.
He criticized changes proposed by the Trump administration to the Endangered Species Act. He said these changes would make it easier to remove species from protection lists. He believed this was done to benefit industries.
Immigration and Border Security
Grijalva was a vocal opponent of Arizona's SB 1070 law. This law allowed police to check people's citizenship documents during stops. He believed it was unfair. He also criticized the deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S.–Mexico border. He called it "political symbolism" that would not solve immigration issues.
He supported the DREAM Act. This act aims to provide a path to legal status for young undocumented immigrants. He also opposed expanding the border fence. He worried about its cost and harm to wildlife.
Budget and Economy
As a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Grijalva helped create "alternative budgets." These budgets offered different ways to manage government spending. In 2011, the caucus introduced the "People's Budget." This plan aimed to balance the budget in 10 years. It was praised by some economists for being responsible and fair.
Oil Rig Safety
Grijalva was a strong critic of how the government oversaw the oil drilling industry. He called for investigations into safety issues on offshore drilling platforms. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, he pushed for stronger rules for the oil industry. He also introduced a bill to remove the limit on how much oil companies could be held responsible for cleanup costs after spills.
Education Initiatives
Grijalva sponsored several bills related to education. These included the Success in the Middle Act and the Graduation for All Act. He had a long history of working in education. He served on the Tucson Unified School District board and the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
Foreign Policy Views
Grijalva often called for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. He supported programs that would help improve economic and educational systems in Afghanistan. He also opposed U.S. military intervention in Libya and Syria.
In 2019, he voted against a House resolution that condemned the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel. In 2021, he was one of eight Democrats who voted against funding the Iron Dome defense system in Israel. However, in 2023, he voted to support Israel after an attack by Hamas.
Climate Change Funding
In 2015, Grijalva sent letters to scientists who disagreed with the common view on human-caused climate change. He asked for information about any funding they received from fossil fuel companies. He also asked for emails about their congressional testimony. Some scientific organizations criticized this action. They said it could threaten academic freedom. Grijalva later said he was willing to remove the request for communications.
Gun Control
Grijalva supported stricter rules on buying and owning guns. He also supported stronger enforcement of existing gun laws. He was a co-sponsor of the 2007 Assault Weapons Ban. He received a low rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund, a group that supports gun rights.
Health Care
Grijalva was a strong supporter of a "public option" in health care. This would allow people to choose a government-run health insurance plan. He supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). He believed it was a big improvement to the healthcare system. He also supported single-payer health care, where the government pays for most healthcare costs.
Native American Rights
Grijalva's congressional district included several sovereign Native American tribes. He strongly supported the independence of Native American governments. He believed that tribal nations should have respect and authority in managing their lands. He also worked to protect their sacred and cultural sites.
In 2010, he introduced the "RESPECT Act." This bill aimed to require the federal government to consult with tribal governments. This consultation would happen before any federal activities or regulations that could affect tribal communities.
Presidential Election Objections
In 2004, Grijalva was one of several representatives who voted not to count Ohio's electoral votes in the presidential election. He was concerned about voting problems. In 2016, he also objected to North Carolina's electoral votes.
Puerto Rico Statehood
In June 2023, Raúl Grijalva visited Puerto Rico. He discussed the possibility of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state. He also talked about energy issues with the Governor of Puerto Rico.
Political Campaigns
After the 2000 U.S. census, Arizona gained new congressional districts. Grijalva won a crowded primary election for the new 7th district. This district was heavily Democratic and had a majority Hispanic population. He was re-elected several times without much opposition.
In 2010, Grijalva faced a tough re-election campaign. This was partly because he called for a boycott of Arizona. This boycott was in response to the state's new immigration law, SB 1070. He won the election, but by a smaller margin than before.
After the 2010 census, his district was renumbered as the 3rd district. This new district was even more Democratic. In 2015, Grijalva supported Bernie Sanders for president. This was different from many of his Democratic colleagues.
Personal Life and Passing
Raúl Grijalva was married to Ramona Grijalva. They had three daughters, including Adelita Grijalva, who is also involved in public service. Grijalva was a Catholic. He enjoyed hiking and was a fan of the University of Arizona's basketball team.
In April 2024, Grijalva announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He began treatment for his condition. On March 13, 2025, Raúl Grijalva passed away in Tucson at the age of 77 due to complications from his cancer treatment.
See also
Images for kids
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Raúl Grijalva's signature
