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Grijalva co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is widely considered one of the most liberal members of Congress -- in 2008, he was among 12 members rated by ''National Journal'' as tied for most liberal overall.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090228_9659.php National Journal Rankings 2008] Retrieved 2010-06-01.</ref> Liberal and progressive activist groups routinely give him high marks for his voting record. For the first session of the [[111th United States Congress|111th Congress]], Grijalva received a 100 percent score from [[Americans for Democratic Action]], [[Peace Action]], the [[League of Conservation Voters]], the [[Leadership Conference on Civil Rights|Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights]] and several other notable groups.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=94&sectiontree=2,94 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Organization Ratings & Scores] Retrieved 2010-06-01.</ref>
Grijalva co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is widely considered one of the most liberal members of Congress -- in 2008, he was among 12 members rated by ''National Journal'' as tied for most liberal overall.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090228_9659.php National Journal Rankings 2008] Retrieved 2010-06-01.</ref> Liberal and progressive activist groups routinely give him high marks for his voting record. For the first session of the [[111th United States Congress|111th Congress]], Grijalva received a 100 percent score from [[Americans for Democratic Action]], [[Peace Action]], the [[League of Conservation Voters]], the [[Leadership Conference on Civil Rights|Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights]] and several other notable groups.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=94&sectiontree=2,94 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Organization Ratings & Scores] Retrieved 2010-06-01.</ref>


Grijalva has been an outspoken advocate of [[General Mining Act of 1872|mining law]] reform and other environmental causes during his time on the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Committee on Natural Resources]], where he chairs the [[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands|Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands]]. He was a leading candidate for [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] when President Obama was elected, but the job eventually went to [[Ken Salazar]].<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/11/21/grijalva_in_running_for_interi.html Grijalva In the Running]</ref> He has been a vocal opponent of the recently enacted [[Arizona immigration law (2010)|Arizona law]] that mandates police checks of citizenship documentation for anyone subjected to a law enforcement stop, detention or arrest. Shortly after the measure was signed by Arizona Governor [[Jan Brewer]], Grijalva called on legal, political, activist and business groups not to hold their conventions or conferences in the state, a position he says has been misconstrued as a call for a general boycott of the state economy.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=105&sectiontree=5,105 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Immigration News and Statements]</ref> He has criticized the recently announced deployment of 1,200 [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] units to the [[Mexico – United States border|U.S.-Mexico border]] as "political symbolism" that he believes will not adequately address the issues of immigration and border security.<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/28/arizona New Deployment of National Guard to US-Mexico Border Is Election-Year "Political Symbolism"] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref>
Grijalva has been an outspoken advocate of [[General Mining Act of 1872|mining law]] reform and other environmental causes during his time on the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Committee on Natural Resources]], where he chairs the [[United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands|Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands]]. He was a leading candidate for [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] when President Obama was elected, but the job eventually went to [[Ken Salazar]].<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/11/21/grijalva_in_running_for_interi.html Grijalva In the Running]</ref> He has been a vocal opponent of the recently enacted [[Arizona immigration law (2010)|Arizona law]] that mandates police checks of citizenship documentation for anyone subjected to a law enforcement stop, detention or arrest. Shortly after the measure was signed by Arizona Governor [[Jan Brewer]], Grijalva called on legal, political, activist and business groups not to hold their conventions or conferences in the state, a position he says has been misconstrued as a call for a general boycott of the state economy.<ref>[http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12370522 Grijalva calls for economic boycott] Retrieved 2010-06-02</ref> He has criticized the recently announced deployment of 1,200 [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] units to the [[Mexico – United States border|U.S.-Mexico border]] as "political symbolism" that he believes will not adequately address the issues of immigration and border security.<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/28/arizona New Deployment of National Guard to US-Mexico Border Is Election-Year "Political Symbolism"] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref>


Grijalva has called for a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, and supports the wider implementation of the [[Afghan National Solidarity Programme|National Solidarity Program]] as a way to improve Afghans' economic and educational infrastructure.<ref>http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article/article.php?id=19354</ref> The group [[Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America]] gave him an "A" rating for the 2007-2008 Congressional session.
Grijalva has called for a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, and supports the wider implementation of the [[Afghan National Solidarity Programme|National Solidarity Program]] as a way to improve Afghans' economic and educational infrastructure.<ref>http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article/article.php?id=19354</ref> The group [[Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America]] gave him an "A" rating for the 2007-2008 Congressional session.
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==== Education ====
==== Education ====
Grijalva has sponsored numerous education bills during his time in Congress, most recently the Success in the Middle Act<ref>[http://www.nmsa.org/Advocacy/MessagesfromNMSA/SuccessintheMiddleAct/tabid/1482/Default.aspx]</ref> and the Graduation for All Act.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=569]</ref> Grijalva has long ties to the educational community from his time on the board of the Tucson Unified School District and his current position on the House Education and Labor Committee.
Grijalva has sponsored numerous education bills during his time in Congress, most recently the Success in the Middle Act<ref>[http://www.nmsa.org/Advocacy/MessagesfromNMSA/SuccessintheMiddleAct/tabid/1482/Default.aspx Success in the Middle Act]</ref> and the Graduation for All Act.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4122 Education for All Act] GovTrack</ref> Grijalva has long ties to the educational community from his time on the board of the Tucson Unified School District and his current position on the House Education and Labor Committee.


==== Deepwater Horizon and oil rig safety ====
==== Deepwater Horizon and oil rig safety ====
On Feb. 24, 2010, Grijalva wrote a letter signed by 18 other Representatives calling for an investigation of the [[BP Atlantis]] [[offshore drilling]] platform due to whistleblower allegations that it was operating without approved safety documents.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&parentid=5&sectiontree=5,13&itemid=519 Grijalva Calls For Investigation of Oil Drilling Safety Records as Whistleblower Suggests BP Is Operating Illegally]</ref> He has called for Atlantis to be shut down.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37232206 Lawmakers to urge BP to idle its Atlantis rig] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref> Since the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]] began April 20, Grijalva has written additional letters to the Minerals Management Service and the Department of the Interior questioning current offshore drilling regulations and calling for stronger oversight of the oil industry.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=107&sectiontree=4,107 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Official Letters and Oversight]</ref>
On Feb. 24, 2010, Grijalva wrote a letter signed by 18 other Representatives calling for an investigation of the [[BP Atlantis]] [[offshore drilling]] platform due to whistleblower allegations that it was operating without approved safety documents.<ref>[http://blogs.chron.com/newswatchenergy/archives/2010/05/lawmakers_seek.html Lawmakers seek halt to production at BP's Atlantis platform] Retrieved 2010-06-02</ref> He has called for Atlantis to be shut down.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37232206 Lawmakers to urge BP to idle its Atlantis rig] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref> Since the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]] began April 20, Grijalva has written additional letters to the Minerals Management Service and the Department of the Interior questioning current offshore drilling regulations and calling for stronger oversight of the oil industry.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=107&sectiontree=4,107 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Official Letters and Oversight]</ref>


==== Environment ====
==== Environment ====
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As co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, Grijalva was a prominent supporter of a public option throughout the debate over the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29079.html Strong public option a cure for system] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref> The House-approved [[Affordable Health Care for America Act]] included a public option -- however, the Senate version did not include a similar provision, and it was ultimately not a part of the final reform package.
As co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, Grijalva was a prominent supporter of a public option throughout the debate over the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29079.html Strong public option a cure for system] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref> The House-approved [[Affordable Health Care for America Act]] included a public option -- however, the Senate version did not include a similar provision, and it was ultimately not a part of the final reform package.


Grijalva has a long history in community health activism as the founder and former director of Tucson's El Rio Community Health Center.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=87&sectiontree=2,87 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva Biography]</ref> He supports single-payer health care, but voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act because he felt it was a major improvement over the status quo.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&parentid=5&sectiontree=5,13&itemid=540 Grijalva statement on historic passage of health care reform] Retrieved 2010-06-01</ref> In a statement on his vote, he vowed to make further health care improvements a priority of his tenure in Congress.
Grijalva has a long history in community health activism as the founder and former director of Tucson's El Rio Community Health Center.<ref>[http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=87&sectiontree=2,87 Rep. Raul M. Grijalva Biography]</ref> He supports single-payer health care, but voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act because he felt it was a major improvement over the status quo.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY8us7FZfbg Rep. Grijalva on Arizona Illustrated April 1] Retrieved 2010-06-02</ref>


==== Immigration ====
==== Immigration ====
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==== Native Americans ====
==== Native Americans ====
Grijalva is a strong supporter of sovereignty and government-to-government relationships. In April 2010 he introduced the RESPECT Act, which mandates that federal agencies consult with Native tribes before taking a variety of major actions.<ref>http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&parentid=5&sectiontree=5,13&itemid=579</ref> The bill would codify a Clinton-era executive order that has never had the force of law.
Grijalva is a strong supporter of sovereignty and government-to-government relationships. In April 2010 he introduced the RESPECT Act, which mandates that federal agencies consult with Native tribes before taking a variety of major actions.<ref>http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5023/show</ref> The bill would codify a Clinton-era executive order that has never had the force of law.


==== 2004 elections ====
==== 2004 elections ====

Revision as of 23:09, 2 June 2010

The Honorable
Raúl Grijalva
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Preceded byDistrict created after 2000 census
Pima County Supervisor
In office
1989–2002
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRamona F. Grijalva
ChildrenAdelita Grijalva
Raquel Grijalva
Marisa Grijalva
ResidenceTucson
Alma materUniversity of Arizona
OccupationCollege Administrator

Raúl M. Grijalva (Template:IPA-es, English: /rɑːˈuːl ɡrɨˈhælvə/; born February 19, 1948) is an American politician from Arizona. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003 and represents Arizona's 7th congressional district. The district includes half of metro Tucson, all of Yuma and Nogales, and some peripheral parts of metro Phoenix.

Biography

Raúl M. Grijalva's father was a migrant worker from Mexico who entered the United States in 1945 through the Bracero Program and labored on southern Arizona ranches.[1] Grijalva was born in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated from Sunnyside Magnet High School in 1967. He is a 2004 inductee to the Sunnyside High School Alumni Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Arizona and earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology. While at the University, he was a member of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA). In 1974, he was elected to the Tucson Unified School District board and served as a school board member until 1986. Grijalva Elementary School in Tucson was named for him in 1987.[2] From 1975 to 1986, Grijalva was the director of the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, and in 1987 he was Assistant Dean for Hispanic Student Affairs at the University of Arizona. Grijalva was a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors from 1989 to 2002, and served as chairman from 2000 to 2002.[3] After the 2000 United States Census, Arizona gained two Congressional districts. The 2nd District, which had long been represented by Democrat Mo Udall, was renumbered as the 7th District. Ed Pastor, a Phoenix Democrat who had succeeded Udall in 1991, had his home drawn into the newly created 4th District and opted to run for election there, making the 7th District an open seat. Grijalva won a crowded seven-way Democratic primary, which was tantamount to election in this heavily Democratic, majority-Hispanic district. He has been reelected three times with no substantial Republican opposition. In 2008, he defeated Republican challenger Joseph Sweeney.

Personal life

He is married to Ramona F. Grijalva. They have three daughters: Adelita, Raquel and Marisa.

Political positions

Grijalva co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is widely considered one of the most liberal members of Congress -- in 2008, he was among 12 members rated by National Journal as tied for most liberal overall.[4] Liberal and progressive activist groups routinely give him high marks for his voting record. For the first session of the 111th Congress, Grijalva received a 100 percent score from Americans for Democratic Action, Peace Action, the League of Conservation Voters, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and several other notable groups.[5]

Grijalva has been an outspoken advocate of mining law reform and other environmental causes during his time on the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he chairs the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. He was a leading candidate for Secretary of the Interior when President Obama was elected, but the job eventually went to Ken Salazar.[6] He has been a vocal opponent of the recently enacted Arizona law that mandates police checks of citizenship documentation for anyone subjected to a law enforcement stop, detention or arrest. Shortly after the measure was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, Grijalva called on legal, political, activist and business groups not to hold their conventions or conferences in the state, a position he says has been misconstrued as a call for a general boycott of the state economy.[7] He has criticized the recently announced deployment of 1,200 National Guard units to the U.S.-Mexico border as "political symbolism" that he believes will not adequately address the issues of immigration and border security.[8]

Grijalva has called for a withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, and supports the wider implementation of the National Solidarity Program as a way to improve Afghans' economic and educational infrastructure.[9] The group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him an "A" rating for the 2007-2008 Congressional session.

Abortion

Grijalva has a pro-choice voting record and voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act [10] He was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which sought to place limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the Affordable Health Care for America Act.[11]

Education

Grijalva has sponsored numerous education bills during his time in Congress, most recently the Success in the Middle Act[12] and the Graduation for All Act.[13] Grijalva has long ties to the educational community from his time on the board of the Tucson Unified School District and his current position on the House Education and Labor Committee.

Deepwater Horizon and oil rig safety

On Feb. 24, 2010, Grijalva wrote a letter signed by 18 other Representatives calling for an investigation of the BP Atlantis offshore drilling platform due to whistleblower allegations that it was operating without approved safety documents.[14] He has called for Atlantis to be shut down.[15] Since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began April 20, Grijalva has written additional letters to the Minerals Management Service and the Department of the Interior questioning current offshore drilling regulations and calling for stronger oversight of the oil industry.[16]

Environment

As a member and chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, Grijalva was widely regarded as a central figure behind the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan,[17] an ambitious and highly regarded County program for planned land-use and biodiversity conservation.[18] He consistently supported endangered species and wilderness conservation on the Board of Supervisors and has continued to do so in Congress, introducing a bill in 2009 to make permanent the National Landscape Conservation System within the Bureau of Land Management. In 2008, Grijalva released a report called The Bush Administration's Assaults on Our National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, which accused the Bush administration of mismanaging public land and reducing barriers to commercial access.[19]

Gun control

Grijalva supports increasing restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns and increasing enforcement of existing restrictions on gun purchase and possession.[20] He was one of the 67 co-sponsors of the 2007 Assault Weapons Ban, HR 1022.[21] Grijalva has an F rating from the NRA.[22]

Health care

As co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, Grijalva was a prominent supporter of a public option throughout the debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[23] The House-approved Affordable Health Care for America Act included a public option -- however, the Senate version did not include a similar provision, and it was ultimately not a part of the final reform package.

Grijalva has a long history in community health activism as the founder and former director of Tucson's El Rio Community Health Center.[24] He supports single-payer health care, but voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act because he felt it was a major improvement over the status quo.[25]

Immigration

Grijalva supports of the DREAM Act and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (CIR ASAP) and has recently come to greater prominence because of his role in promoting immigration reform.[26][27] He has opposed the expansion of a border fence, citing cost effectiveness concerns and potential damage to sensitive wildlife habitats.[28] The CIR ASAP bill includes his Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009, which prioritizes remote cameras and other border monitoring techniques with a relatively slight environmental impact. The Immigrant Justice Advocacy Campaign gave him a 100 percent score for the first session of the 111th Congress. In previous years he voted against H.R. 4437 and the the Secure Fence Act, and opposed Arizona Proposition 200 in 2004.

Native Americans

Grijalva is a strong supporter of sovereignty and government-to-government relationships. In April 2010 he introduced the RESPECT Act, which mandates that federal agencies consult with Native tribes before taking a variety of major actions.[29] The bill would codify a Clinton-era executive order that has never had the force of law.

2004 elections

Concerned about allegations of voting irregularities purportedly leading to disenfranchisement, in 2004 Grijalva joined Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and several other House Democrats in requesting that the United Nations observe and certify elections in the United States.[30]

After the General Election, Grijalva was one of 31 Representatives who voted in the House not to count the electoral votes from Ohio on grounds of unacceptable irregularities.[31]

Committees assignments

Caucuses

Grijalva is a member of several dozen caucuses. A full list is available at his Web site.[32]

Electoral history

Arizona's 7th congressional district: Results 2002–2006[33]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2002 Raúl M. Grijalva 61,256 59% Ross Hieb 38,474 37% John L. Nemeth Libertarian 4,088 4%
2004 Raúl M. Grijalva 108,868 62% Joseph Sweeney 59,066 34% Dave Kaplan Libertarian 7,503 4%
2006 Raúl M. Grijalva 80,354 61% Ron Drake 46,498 35% Joe Cobb Libertarian 4,673 4%
2008 Raúl M. Grijalva 124,304 63% Joseph Sweeney 64,425 33% Raymond Petrulsky Libertarian 7,755 4%

References

  1. ^ Congressman Raul M. Grijalva: Biography
  2. ^ Grijalva Elementary School in TUSD
  3. ^ Rep. Raul M. Grijalva Curriculum Vitae
  4. ^ National Journal Rankings 2008 Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  5. ^ Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Organization Ratings & Scores Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  6. ^ Grijalva In the Running
  7. ^ Grijalva calls for economic boycott Retrieved 2010-06-02
  8. ^ New Deployment of National Guard to US-Mexico Border Is Election-Year "Political Symbolism" Retrieved 2010-06-01
  9. ^ http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article/article.php?id=19354
  10. ^ http://ontheissues.org/House/Raul_Grijalva_Abortion.htm
  11. ^ Grijalva Vows To Fight Trigger, Opt-Out, Stupak Amendment
  12. ^ Success in the Middle Act
  13. ^ Education for All Act GovTrack
  14. ^ Lawmakers seek halt to production at BP's Atlantis platform Retrieved 2010-06-02
  15. ^ Lawmakers to urge BP to idle its Atlantis rig Retrieved 2010-06-01
  16. ^ Rep. Raul M. Grijalva: Official Letters and Oversight
  17. ^ Tucson Weekly : Currents : Beating Raúl
  18. ^ Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
  19. ^ A Legacy of Failure
  20. ^ Gun Issues from Project Vote Smart
  21. ^ H.R.1022 THOMAS (Library of Congress)
  22. ^ http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=4229
  23. ^ Strong public option a cure for system Retrieved 2010-06-01
  24. ^ Rep. Raul M. Grijalva Biography
  25. ^ Rep. Grijalva on Arizona Illustrated April 1 Retrieved 2010-06-02
  26. ^ Grijalva Supports Comprehensive House Immigration Reform Effort, Hails Economic Benefits
  27. ^ Arizona Law Controversy Raises Grijalva's Profile Along With Immigration Issue Retrieved 2010-06-01
  28. ^ Why environmental groups have been slow to fight the border wall Retrieved 2010-06-01
  29. ^ http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h5023/show
  30. ^ "House members will discuss request to United Nations to monitor election". Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  31. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml
  32. ^ http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=44&sectiontree=2,44 Caucus and Task Force Membership
  33. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10.; for 2008 see United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2008
U.S. House of Representatives

Template:USRSB

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