Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement upon the news of the death of Congressman Raúl Grijalva:

Today, the Congress, Caucus and country lost a giant with the passing of Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Through his decades of public service as a community organizer, School Board Member, County Supervisor, Member of Congress and Committee Chairman, Raúl was a progressive warrior who always fought for the least, the lost and the left behind.

Congressman Grijalva represented his community fiercely, keeping his constituents and the climate at the center of everything he did. As the Chairman and top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Grijalva made sure that historic investments in our environment and public lands were effective and equitable. Raúl led by example, pushing everyone around him to tackle the climate crisis with the fierce urgency of now, including with the Inflation Reduction Act which he championed.

Raúl was a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Committee on Natural Resources during his time as a Member of the House Democratic Caucus family. He was a mentor to many and a friend to all, and we will miss his principled presence and wisdom greatly in the Congress. The prayers and gratitude of the entire Democratic Caucus are with his loving family and all those touched by Raúl’s tremendous life of service.

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