[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 57 (Monday, March 31, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1369-H1371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF REPRESENTATIVE RAUL GRIJALVA
(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr.
Espaillat of New York was recognized for 30 minutes.)
General Leave
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material into the record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to honor the life and
legacy of Congressman Raul Grijalva.
Raul Grijalva passed away peacefully on March 13 of this year,
surrounded by his wife and three daughters. Born in Tucson, Arizona, on
February 19, 1948, he was raised in a close-knit community with his
sisters, Lydia and Norma.
A proud Sunnyside High graduate, he met and married the love of his
life, Ramona Garduno, in 1971. Together, they raised three daughters:
Adelita, Raquel, and Marisa. They built a life rooted in service and
activism.
His parents instilled in him the value of hard work, perseverance,
and giving back to the community. He dedicated over 50 years to public
service, beginning with the Tucson Unified School Board in 1974, and
later serving on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
As a U.S. Congressman for 22 years, he championed education,
environmental protection, social justice, and Native-American
sovereignty. His leadership helped secure the 2023 designation of the
Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument, protecting nearly 1
million acres of Tribal land.
Known as the most liberal Member of Congress, he never wavered in his
fight for justice and equality. He never shied away from that dignified
title.
A devoted husband, father, and Tata, he cherished his family and
treasured time with his grandchildren. He had a sharp wit about him, a
deep love for music and books, and a knack for doodling during
meetings. Many of us saw him do his artwork in some our committee
meetings.
His staff and volunteers, the Grijalvistas, were like family,
standing by him in his lifelong pursuit of progress.
Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is standing firm with
his family during this time of sorrow and need. I know that they are
watching this proceeding. I want to salute them and tell them we love
them and we stand with them.
Raul Grijalva's unwavering commitment to justice and his community
will continue to inspire generations to come. Since coming to Congress
and joining the Natural Resources Committee, Raul Grijalva was one of
the most outspoken champions for environmental justice, public lands,
indigenous rights, climate change, and corporate accountability.
He was a visionary leader, both on the committee and as co-chair of
the Progressive Caucus, amplifying the voices of historically silenced
communities. From Louisiana's Cancer Alley to Alaskan Native
communities in the Arctic, he fought for those most impacted by
environmental harm.
Under his chairmanship in the 117th Congress, the Natural Resources
Committee signed 149 natural resource bills into law. In the minority,
he proved that aggressive and effective oversight was possible, holding
the Trump administration accountable and exposing corruption.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here tonight
with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and with our
Democratic leader as well, to celebrate and remember a man who made a
difference: Raul Grijalva.
He never forgot where he came from. Just as importantly, he never
forgot why he came. He was somebody who lent a voice to the vulnerable
and to the folks who had been discarded and forgotten.
He was a man of his community. I served 10 years in Austin in the
State legislature and am now in year 13 here. As I meet all the people
that represent and serve the districts that they do, I always wonder
how closely each person represents the average person walking down the
street in their district. Raul Grijalva was that every person. To me,
that is one of the biggest compliments that can be paid not only to the
people who sent him here but also to him.
He left the same way he came in, a man of principle who stood up for
what he believed, who fought for the people that he represented, and
always spoke truth to power. He was a legend of Mexican-American
activism, known across the country for protecting our national parks,
the environment, fighting for early childhood education and higher
education, and uplifting immigrants and marginalized communities.
As all of us know, he was also a kind and brilliant man. He had a
kind heart but a fierce spirit. He was a fearless voice for Arizonans
and all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, Raul will be missed. My condolences go out to his family
and to his community.
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Jeffries).
Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chair of the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, my good friend, Adriano Espaillat, for
his
[[Page H1370]]
leadership and for convening us on the floor today in honor of an
iconic, heroic, and trailblazing Member of Congress, Raul Grijalva.
It was an honor for all of us to have had the opportunity to serve
with Chairman Grijalva. He was a mentor to many. His principled
leadership was a North Star for so many in this Congress. He was a
leading progressive voice throughout the years but a friend to all.
{time} 2120
We know that throughout his time and throughout his journey in public
service it was a journey that led to his working year after year,
decade after decade, century into century, laboring in the vineyards of
his community and ultimately the country to make a difference in the
lives of others who might otherwise have been left behind.
He was an iconic Mexican-American leader and an iconic American
leader. We are also appreciative of his life, of his leadership, and of
the tremendous legacy that Congressman Raul Grijalva leaves behind.
Congressman Grijalva throughout the years did many things, from
community organizer to school board member, from school board member to
county supervisor, from county supervisor to Member of Congress, from
Member of Congress to chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.
Through that journey, year after year, decade after decade, and
century into century, Raul Grijalva held many titles. His North Star
remained the same. He was a defender of the disenfranchised, a voice
for the voiceless, a climate champion, and a powerful, profound,
principled, purposeful, and progressive public servant who made a
difference in the lives of so many people.
We are going to miss Raul Grijalva. We will miss his wisdom, we will
miss his insight, we will miss his idealism, and we will miss his
laughter and his sense of humor, but we are better off for having had
the opportunity to serve with him as individuals.
Most importantly, his community is better off, the State of Arizona
is better off, the Congress is better off, and the country is better
off because of Raul Grijalva and his incredible leadership.
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Garcia).
Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Espaillat for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to a giant who
represented the State of Arizona and all the people of his district but
who also helped advance the well-being of our Nation.
Arizona has lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend. Raul Grijalva and
I both started our careers as community advocates and organizers. We
shared a passion for justice and equality in our communities. We both
came from working-class families, proud of our Mexican roots, and we
both enjoyed a good laugh and a good mariachi. So it was just natural
that we would become friends since I arrived in the House over 6 years
ago.
As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, he fought for strong
environmental protections and authored the Environmental Justice For
All Act to empower people to protect their communities. He wanted a
cleaner, safer, and more just future for all our children. He was also
a staunch defender of Tribal sovereignty and workers' rights.
When he was chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, he asked me
to serve for one term as his vice chair. It was during that time that
Illinois helped facilitate an act in the State of Illinois that
required Federal cooperation in that regard as we helped facilitate the
recognition of Illinois' first Prairie Band of Potawatomi peoples in
the State of Illinois which just last week resulted in the transfer of
over 1,500 acres to those Native Americans, the original inhabitants of
the land in Illinois.
I was honored to work with him to help the people of Puerto Rico
receive the long-promised assistance they needed after Hurricane Maria.
Raul believed that our country's strength is rooted in our immigrant
heritage and worked tirelessly to protect immigrant families and
refugees. Whether trying to pass the American Dream and Promise Act,
treating immigrants with dignity or stopping the construction of an
ineffective and environmentally damaging border wall, Raul never gave
up.
One of Raul's favorite songs was ``El Rey.'' It means the king, and
in particular the line that says: ``It is not only about getting there
first, but about how you get there,'' ``No hay que llegar primero, pero
hay que saber llegar.''
And what you do along the way, if I may add. I think this phrase
perfectly describes the tenacity of everything that Raul Grijalva did
and stood for.
Raul was a loving father, husband, and a loyal friend. His kindness
and dedication will be sorely missed in the Halls of Congress. Tonight
we pay a tribute, and we say: Thank you for everything that you
contributed to advancing the well-being of people across our land.
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California
(Mr. Gomez).
Mr. GOMEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for allowing me to
speak tonight.
I didn't get to go to Congressman Grijalva's funeral last week
because I had to be here for a committee hearing. If he was around, he
would have wanted me to stay here and be at that hearing and give them
hell. That is exactly what I did, and he would have been extremely
proud of that.
I really wanted to talk about whom I meet when I was just out of
graduate school. I was a legislative assistant for Hilda Solis. I was
the lowest ranking staffer on her team, and I got the chance to meet
Raul Grijalva when he was a Member of Congress and I was just a
legislative assistant.
To the extent I walked into the office, I would kind of go wandering
around the halls and go and say hello and try to go just to see whom I
could become friends with. I met his chief of staff at that time. She
said out of the blue: Why don't you come in and say hello to the
Congressman?
They pulled me into the office. I was just a kid who had been here a
few months. Raul sat with me and just had a conversation of who I was,
why I was fighting for my community, and why did I want to be in this
business.
That interaction really did sit with me for a number of years. That
is because I didn't have a title. I was not anybody special, and I
wasn't anybody in particular. I was a kid that wandered into his office
and tried to get a meeting with him because I said: Why not?
He is a Member of Congress, but he comes from a similar background.
His dad was a bracero, and my dad was a bracero. That means that they
worked in the fields here in the United States. I think there were two
or three sons of braceros who became Members of Congress, but it really
shows who he is.
He is a guy who will treat you the same if you are the President or a
Member of Congress or a staffer or to somebody who works in the fields.
That says more about Raul Grijalva than I believe any piece of
legislation he has ever passed.
When I got here, he remembered me as that kid who often was probably
a little bit too arrogant and a little bit in a rush to move ahead but
that he helped get accustomed to the House of Representatives.
I was really bummed and sad when we heard the news that he passed
away, even though we kind of all had a feeling it was a long time
coming. He was pretty sick. He was a guy whom I think a lot of us just
loved as family. I think that is why we see so many people from the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other caucus members who went to his
funeral. It is because he was just a great guy, someone that we can
have a glass of wine with, and somebody that we can just go and hang
out with.
I ended up hiring one of his staffers to be one my first chiefs of
staff, Bertha Guerrero. She loved him to death, and she said that his
office was like a family.
Raul, you will be missed. I know you have done great things, but it
is really the people who you touched over the years that will continue
your legacy, especially your wife and your daughters.
{time} 2130
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, let me just highlight some of the great
accomplishments of Congressman Raul Grijalva.
[[Page H1371]]
He championed full, permanent funding for the Land and Water
Conservation Fund, achieving its passage in the Great American Outdoors
Act of 2020.
He led the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act, the
most comprehensive environmental justice legislation ever.
His Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act laid the foundations for
protecting coastal communities and promoting clean offshore energy.
The RESPECT Act sought to codify Tribal consultation standards and
strengthen our nation-to-nation relationships.
The Puerto Rico Status Act, which he helped pass in the House,
represented a historic step toward self-determination.
I was also proud to work with him on several pieces of legislation,
including legislation to provide student loan relief to teachers who
specialized in teaching English-language learners, like myself as a
kid; legislation to increase funding to English-language learner
preparation programs; and getting the GAO to study how schools identify
English-language learners with disabilities to ensure they have the
right support behind them.
He also secured the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act,
permanently authorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
His leadership helped pass major ocean and climate action provisions
in the Inflation Reduction Act and other landmark legislation.
He held the first congressional hearings on issues like missing and
murdered indigenous women in Indian boarding schools.
His work on the Puerto Rico Status Act helped advance the
conversation on the island's political future.
Raul Grijalva's legacy is one of unwavering advocacy, principled
leadership, and a deep commitment to justice.
``We will never forget you, Raul''; ``Raul, nos vas a ser mucho
falta. Nunca olvidaremos.'' Rest in power, hermano.
His impact will be felt for generations.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honor to recognize
and celebrate the remarkable contributions of Congressman Raul
Grijalva--an advocate, a leader, and a true champion for our
environment, especially the protection of the most endangered species.
From the very beginning of his tenure in public service, Congressman
Grijalva has been a tireless advocate for the preservation of our
planet's most vulnerable creatures. Whether it's a rare desert
butterfly, sea turtle, or a small fish, Congressman Grijalva has
dedicated his career to ensuring that these species--and the ecosystems
they inhabit--are protected for generations to come.
In a time when climate change, habitat destruction, and human
encroachment threaten biodiversity at unprecedented levels, Congressman
Grijalva has consistently fought for policies that safeguard endangered
species. As Chairman and Ranking Member, he has been a leading voice on
the House Natural Resources Committee, pushing for stronger protections
under the Endangered Species Act and advocating for increased funding
to support conservation efforts.
One of his most significant accomplishments has been his leadership
in securing critical protections for species in the Southwestern United
States, where his home state of Arizona sits at the intersection of
diverse and fragile ecosystems. Congressman Grijalva has worked
tirelessly to preserve the habitats of species like the Mexican gray
wolf and the jaguar, whose survival has been threatened by
deforestation, poaching, and illegal hunting. His efforts are a
testament to his deep commitment to preserving not just the species
themselves but also the delicate balance of nature.
In addition to his work on endangered species, Congressman Grijalva
has shown an unwavering commitment to environmental justice. He
understands that the fight to protect our wildlife goes hand in hand
with the fight to protect our communities--particularly those that are
most vulnerable to environmental degradation. He has worked to ensure
that conservation efforts don't just benefit the wildlife we cherish
but also the people who rely on healthy ecosystems for their
livelihoods and well-being.
Congressman Grijalva's advocacy has also extended to the legislative
arena, where he has played a crucial role in shaping and passing key
pieces of legislation aimed at combating the extinction crisis. His
work in advancing the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, a bill that
seeks to fund state-led conservation efforts for atrisk species, has
the potential to change the landscape of wildlife conservation in this
country. His vision was clear: we must act now to preserve
biodiversity, before more species are lost.
Through his leadership, passion, and vision, Congressman Grijalva has
not only safeguarded the lives of endangered species but has also
inspired a new generation of environmental advocates to continue the
fight for the planet's most precious resources.
As we honor Congressman Grijalva, let us reflect on the profound
impact his work has had on the world around us. Let us also renew our
own commitment to protecting endangered species, preserving their
habitats, and ensuring that future generations will have the
opportunity to marvel at the beauty and wonder of our planet's
incredible biodiversity.
I thank Congressman Grijalva, for his tireless dedication to our
environment, for our lands, waters, and wildlife, and for making our
country a cleaner, safer, better place for all Americans. We worked
closely together for many years on Natural Resources on many important
issues, and I will always be thankful for his leadership, partnership,
and friendship. He was a fighter until the end, and his work will
always be remembered by the countless people it has impacted.
Above all, he was my friend. He always had my back and could always
find a way to make me smile when I was down. He inspired hope in all of
us. He fought the good fight. He will be truly missed.
We are deeply grateful for his service and inspired by his example.
His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in the years to come.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I
rise to honor the life, the work and the legacy of Congressman Raul
Grijalva.
While others rush to punch down on people who chase a better life, he
was always a brave, bold voice for Tribes, workers and migrants.
And he always swung straight and hard at the powerful who blocked
their path.
Congressman Grijalva was just as comfortable demanding environmental
justice from a Big Oil lobbyist, as he was striking up conversation
with a bus boy at a restaurant.
He served his district, and this Nation, with a humility and
genuineness that fostered love and respect from anyone who worked with
or for him.
His legacy is long and will not be forgotten.
As a community organizer, local elected official and leader in
Congress, his footprints are all over this nation's march toward
progress.
Countless acres around the Grand Canyon and Bears Ears National
Monuments are federally protected because of him.
He demanded and won the right to clean land and water for indigenous
peoples and all his constituents.
If you heard demands for urgent climate action and immigration
fairness in Congress, it was his voice that often rang out.
As Chairman and the lead Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee,
Rep. Grijalva insisted that historic investments be made in our
environment and public lands, and that they touch all communities, not
just the well-connected ones.
Your grandchildren will benefit from his push to tackle the climate
crisis in the Inflation Reduction Act.
We all know that the prevailing currency of this realm is stoking
divisions, but Raul Grijalva built bridges.
As a cancer survivor, I also know how hard the battle against this
terrible disease can be, and his stoic determination in staring it down
while doing his life's work was inspiring.
He fought that disease, and for the people he represented--with grace
and dignity.
Congressman Grijalva was a mentor to me and so many others. I'm proud
to have been touched by his friendship, and his life of service. May
his memory be for a blessing.
____________________