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Press Releases

April 26, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 2432, the Jennifer Kepner Healthcare for Open-air burn-Pit Exposure (HOPE) Act, legislation that would make veterans exposed to burn pits eligible for low-cost health care from the Veterans Administration. The bill is named after Cathedral City veteran Jennifer Kepner, a wife and mother who died from pancreatic cancer linked to her exposure to toxic burn pits during her military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Issues:Veterans
April 19, 2021

Anza, CA– Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced that Larry Thurner, an Anza resident and veteran of the Marine Corps with a medical condition that rendered him unable to work in 1975, finally received his deserved 100% Individual Unemployability. The news comes after Congressman Ruiz's office stepped in to resolve the issue that was pending since 1975.

Issues:Veterans
April 16, 2021

Coachella Valley, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) and the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) announced a $6 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant award that will go toward the construction of safe, affordable homes in underserved communities in Riverside County as well as neighboring Imperial County. The announcement comes after Dr. Ruiz advocated for CVHC's application to the USDA-Rural Development Section 523 Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant program in February 2020.

April 15, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. announced the introduction of H.R. 2434, the Environmental Justice Act, to require federal agencies to consider and mitigate environmental justice impacts of agency actions, strengthen legal protections for those affected by environmental injustices, and consider the effects of cumulative impacts on communities during permitting decisions. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) is leading the companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

April 14, 2021

Washington, D.C. –Yesterday, veteran advocate Jon Stewart, U.S. Congressmen Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), 9/11 activist John Feal, and other veterans' advocates held a press conference announcing landmark legislation, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. The bill would streamline the process for obtaining VA benefits for burn pit and other toxic exposures.

Issues:Veterans
April 7, 2021

Palm Desert, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced over $1 billion in federal funding is coming to Riverside County as a result of the American Rescue Plan, which Democrats passed, and President Biden signed into law, last month. Dr. Ruiz voted to pass H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, to help crush the COVID-19 virus and get the economy moving again.

April 1, 2021

Palm Desert, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced that Walmart will open new COVID-19 vaccination sites in Riverside County in the cities of San Jacinto, Beaumont, Hemet, and Palm Desert. Today's announcement is the latest development in Dr. Ruiz's advocacy to bring more vaccines to residents of California's 36th Congressional District. Last month, Dr.

March 31, 2021

Palm Desert, CA –Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called for an investigation into the handling of the ongoing situation at Oasis Mobile Home Park (OMHP) by the Southern California Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Since August 2019, the Oasis Mobile Home Park in Thermal has been under an Emergency Order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after arsenic levels nine-times the legal limit were found in the drinking water system.

March 26, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 2163, the Safe Step Act – a bipartisan bill to improve step therapy protocols and ensure patients are able to safely and efficiently access the best treatment for them. Step therapy protocols can cause unnecessary delays in care, or worse, require patients to try ineffective or potentially dangerous medications before finding the treatment most suited to their needs.

Issues:Health Care