Mark Kelly: “I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my colleague and friend Representative Raul Grijalva. A devoted fighter for…”

“I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my colleague and friend Representative Raul Grijalva. A devoted fighter for justice and working families, Raul spent more than 50 years in public service, representing southern Arizona in Congress for more than two decades and serving as the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. His passing is a tremendous loss for Arizona and the country. Raul was a man of compassion and conviction, driven by his belief in doing the right thing. He spent his life fighting for the people of southern Arizona, and his leadership was rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges facing his constituents. As the son of immigrants, he knew firsthand what it meant to fight for better healthcare, labor protections, education, and economic opportunity for everyone. He was a champion to those who have been left out of the conversation, and he leaves a legacy of making sure everyone had a voice in the Halls of Congress. Raul was a mentor to my wife Gabby Giffords, when she was first elected to Congress. Raul and Gabby represented neighboring districts and were shaped by their upbringing in southern Arizona, a place that was special to both of them. As Gabby said after Raul passed, he could and did talk to anyone, with empathy and genuine interest in the people he served.…”