Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House passed Rep. Ruiz's bipartisan legislation calling on the Department of Defense to produce an implementation plan to end the use of active burn pits and provide a comprehensive list of all locations where military burn pits have been used by the military. Passing as part of the bipartisan, $738 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the two burn pits provisions represent a milestone in the effort to end the use of military burn pits once and for all.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) is calling attention to the ongoing inhumane treatment of children and adults under Customs and Border Protection (CBP) care. Six migrant children have died – three from flu-related illness – while in CBP custody in the last year. Sunday, December 8, 2019 marks one year since Jakeline Caal Maquin, a 7-year-old in CBP custody, died because she did not have appropriate access to medical care.

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) announced the introduction of his bill to encourage small businesses to invest in their workers. Dr. Ruiz's bill, H.R. 5261, the Rewarding American Investments to Support Employees (RAISE) Act, would encourage small businesses to give pay raises to employees by providing employers with a tax credit of up to ten percent of their total payroll increase that year. This tax credit would be particularly helpful for small businesses in California as they transition to a $15/hour minimum wage through 2023.

Thermal, CA – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. is requesting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide the community of the Oasis Mobile Home Park in Thermal with an update and further information regarding their Emergency Order issued in August after high levels of arsenic were found in the residents' drinking water. In a letter to EPA Regional Administrator Mike Stoker, Dr. Ruiz asked that the EPA host a community meeting so area residents can tell their experiences and ask questions regarding the safety of their drinking water.

Washington D.C. – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced the introduction of legislation that would give all disabled veterans free, lifetime national park passes to enjoy over 2,000 federal recreation sites. H.R. 4930, the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, would amend current law to extend eligibility for lifetime national parks passes to all wounded veterans at no cost, regardless of disability rating.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives passed the "Increasing American Jobs and Exports Act," a bill by Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) that will help grow American jobs, strengthen small businesses, and increase exports of American-made products. The bill passed as part of H.R. 4863, the "United States Export Finance Agency Act" which reauthorizes the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank for ten years. Dr. Ruiz's bill would allow the bank to use a percentage of profits – at no cost to the U.S.

Washington D.C. – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) spoke today on the nationwide youth vaping epidemic. Recently, in Desert Hot Springs Zane Martin, a local 15-year-old, was hospitalized for over a month with a life-threatening illness from vaping.

Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) released a statement as the Supreme Court hears arguments surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Trump Administration is challenging lower court rulings to block the termination of the program after the administration announced it would wind down the DACA program in 2017.