Press Releases
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) that would expand access to critical mental health programs for many providers carrying an increased burden and workload during the COVID-19 pandemic. H.R. 8890, the Physician Wellness Program Act, would remove barriers that oftentimes prevent physicians from accessing wellness programs.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) took to the House floor to honor first responders who have battled the Fairview Fire. The fire, which first started on Sept. 5, has burned over 28,300 acres and destroyed 36 structures. It is now 98 percent contained thanks to the heroism of local first responders and firefighters.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) voted to send H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act, to President Biden's desk. The historic legislation will lower families' kitchen table costs, create millions of good-paying jobs delivering the most significant climate action in history, and dramatically reduce the deficit.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robison Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, sending it to President Biden's desk for signature. At the heart of the legislative package are provisions authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to establish a presumption of service connection for 23 conditions, including respiratory conditions and cancers for approximately 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards.
Palm Desert, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase its water supply for residents of Oasis Mobile Home Park. Currently, park management provides residents with one gallon of clean water per person per day. While this amount of water is often the standard amount that government agencies believe a person needs per day, this calculation does not consider soaring temperatures, which can approach 110 degrees in Thermal, CA. Today, Dr.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked the Honoring our PACT Act, comprehensive legislation that seeks to address the full gamut of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans' access to earned benefits and care. Following the Senate vote, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) released the below statement:
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) took to the House floor to honor Coachella Valley boxing legend Lee Espinoza, the owner of the Coachella Valley Boxing Club. Espinoza is a world-renowned boxing coach who has trained numerous champions over the last 40 years. He has been inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame and the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.
Palm Desert, CA – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) is calling on the California Health and Human Services Agency to allocate additional monkeypox vaccines for the City of Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley. In a letter to California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, Dr. Ruiz urged the State to prioritize the area due to its high-risk factors, such as a disproportionately high immunocompromised population that is over twice as large as Los Angeles County.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to improve access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center outside of Hemet, California. The Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access Improvement Act would authorize the Indian Health Service (IHS) to acquire land and build an access road to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center. The facility is the only operational IHS Youth Regional Treatment Center in California and is currently accessed by a dilapidated dirt road that washes out in heavy rains.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to address the military's use of toxic burn pits and help educate veterans on benefits they may be entitled to as a result of their service near burn pits as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. Dr. Ruiz's bipartisan provisions will help pave a future free from burn pits and expand outreach programs to service members transitioning home on the impacts of toxic exposure and benefits that are available to them.