Press Releases
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and six other Members of Congress called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand the E-Rate Program to bring broadband internet access to students and families who are taking online classes while their school districts are closed to in-person learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Washington, D.C. – Today,Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. announced the release of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report titled: EPA Grants to Tribes: Additional Actions Needed to Effectively Address Tribal Environmental Concerns. The report, which was requested by Dr. Ruiz, highlights the Tribal EPA programs run by several tribes located in Riverside County, including the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) introduced H.R. 8775, the Salton Sea Public Health and Environmental Protection Act with Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51).
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House unanimously passed Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D.'s (CA-36) bill to expand access to lifesaving care for patients with opioid use disorder, specifically for those seeking long-term care after a trip to the emergency department. H.R. 2281, the Easy Medication Access and Treatment (Easy MAT) for Opioid Addiction Act, would ease current restrictions that prevent patients from accessing the treatment they need to sustain their recovery until long-term treatment is available to them.
Washington D.C. – On Monday, the House of Representatives passed the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act – a bill to guarantee free, lifetime national park passes for all disabled veterans to enjoy over 2,000 federal recreation sites. The legislation, introduced by Dr. Ruiz (CA-36) in the House and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in the Senate, ensures free national parks passes for all veterans with a service-related disability.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. urged federal agencies to make good on their obligations to protect the environment and the public's health at the Salton Sea. In a letter sent Monday to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman and Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith, Ruiz called on each agency to detail how they have spent federal funds on projects at the Sea and to provide a plan for how they will work with the State of California on the Salton Sea Management Program.
Washington, D.C. – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. to strengthen environmental justice laws as part of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. H.R. 3923, the Environmental Justice Act of 2019, was introduced by Dr.
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Raul Ruiz's bill, H.R. 2519, the Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act. Individuals who end up in the emergency department for acute mental health episodes often don't get the long-term care they need simply because emergency departments often lack the resources to identify and secure appropriate care. H.R.
Washington, D.C. -- During the House Veterans Affairs Committee on September 23 hearing entitled "Toxic Exposures: Examining Airborne Hazards in the Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations," Congressman Ruiz questioned witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs about servicemembers' toxic exposure to burn pits.
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the Salton Sea got its first congressional hearing since 1997. This comes after Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) and Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) urged a congressional hearing to address the impending public health and environmental health crisis at the Salton Sea.