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Rep. Raúl Grijalva dies at 77

Rep. Raúl Grijalva dies at 77

The Hill13-03-2025

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), 77, died Thursday after a long battle with lung cancer.
The longtime leader of the House Progressive Caucus, Grijalva was a well-known figure in Congress, recognized nationally for his appearances in committee rooms and on cable television spots, and locally for more more informal interactions on Capitol Hill.
'The Office of the 7th District of Arizona is saddened to announce the passing of Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva. Rep. Grijalva fought a long and brave battle,' his office shared in a statement.
'He passed away this morning due to complications of his cancer treatments.'
Grijalva was the longest-serving member of Arizona's congressional delegation. He was re-elected to serve a 12th term in November, but had been absent for the opening weeks of the new Congress.
The Arizona Democrat spoke out frequently denouncing the Trump administration's deportation policies as the son of Mexican immigrants and railed harshly against the cuts to the federal workforce.
'President Trump's latest reckless decision to fire thousands of employees at the Department of Education jeopardizes critical student aid programs, weakens protections for students' civil rights, and undermines essential support for students with disabilities,' the lawmaker wrote in a Thursday post on X before his passing.
In 2017, Grijalva and a Democratic colleague were arrested outside Trump Tower during immigration-related protests.
In addition to immigration advocacy, he was also a strong supporter of climate justice legislation.
'From permanently protecting the Grand Canyon for future generations to strengthening the Affordable Care Act, his proudest moments in Congress have always been guided by community voices,' his office wrote in a statement.
'He led the charge for historic investments in climate action, port of entry modernization, permanent funding for land and water conservation programs, access to health care for tribal communities and the uninsured, fairness for immigrant families and Dreamers, student loan forgiveness, stronger protections for farmers and workers exposed to extreme heat, early childhood education expansion, higher standards for tribal consultation, and so much more.'
Office staff have promised to carry out his life's mission despite his passing.
'We are heartbroken in the face of this news but determined to carry on his legacy. While the special election is being carried out, our office will continue to provide constituent services,' their statement said.
'Serving Southern Arizona was the honor of Raúl M. Grijalva's life. Having represented our communities for over 50 years was a privilege.'

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A federal appeals could said on Tuesday that President Trump's sweeping tariffs can continue for now. This is a significant win for Trump, who introduced tariffs back in March and declared "Liberation Day," as he saw them as a way to free the US from what he called unfair trade practices. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Early summer sales for Inditex, the owner of fashion retailer Zara, came in weaker, as the company missed expectations for first quarter sales on Wednesday. President Trump's tariffs have impacted consumer demand in the US and other major markets. Reuters reports: Read more here. After weeks of back and forth, the US and China have agreed on a framework to implement the Geneva consensus that helped ease tariffs. The breakthrough came after two days of talks in London, including a marathon session on Tuesday. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said both sides had to "get the negativity out" before making progress. 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