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Press Releases

February 2, 2021

Palm Desert, CA – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) has been sounding the alarm on the need for a vaccine distribution plan that prioritizes and implements health equity for months – long before a vaccine was even approved for use in the United States. Today, during the Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee entitled, "No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in the States," Rep. Ruiz laid out continued challenges facing communities like the East Valley in getting vaccines.

Issues:Health Care
February 1, 2021

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Raul Ruiz (CA-36) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center in Riverside County. This bill would provide the Indian Health Service with authority to acquire land and build an access road to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center outside of Hemet, California. The facility is the only Indian Health Service Youth Regional Treatment Center in California and is currently accessed by a dilapidated dirt road that washes out in heavy rains.

January 26, 2021

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to increase the financial assistance provided to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. In addition to substantially increasing the death and disability benefit for families of fallen officers, H.R.

January 15, 2021

Palm Desert, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), and Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) responded to the Trump Administration's decision to amend the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, opening up pristine areas of the California desert for energy production.

January 15, 2021

Palm Desert, CA –Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), and Rep.

December 23, 2020

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congress passed H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which included several measures championed by Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. From additional funding for projects at the Salton Sea, to closing the coverage gap for seniors enrolling in Medicare Part B; from ending surprise billing to making major investments in cybersecurity education, Rep. Ruiz secured key victories for constituents in California's 36th Congressional District in this year's government funding bill.

December 21, 2020

Washington, D.C. – On Monday, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan COVID relief package. The legislation includes Dr. Ruiz's priorities to provide funds for research related to COVID-19's long-term health effects as well as funds for health programs in underserved Tribal communities. The package also includes $600 stimulus checks to individuals, $300 per week in extended unemployment insurance, money for schools to reopen safely and expand remote learning, and more.

December 14, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Over the weekend, Congressman Raul Ruiz's (CA-36) bill to expand access to lifesaving care for patients with opioid use disorder was signed into law. H.R. 2281, the Easy Medication Access and Treatment (Easy MAT) for Opioid Addiction Act, would expand access to care for people seeking long-term care after a trip to the emergency department. By easing current restrictions that prevent patients from accessing the treatment they need, Dr.

Issues:Health Care
December 9, 2020

Washington, D.C. – This week, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass a bill authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to improve seniors' access to Medicare coverage. The Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act of 2019 would expand beneficiary outreach and education to help clarify when and how to sign up for Medicare Part B and reduce gaps in coverage.

December 8, 2020

Washington, DC –Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 1811, the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) which contains a section authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) and Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) to strengthen the federal, state, and local partnership at the Salton Sea. This provision was also included in an earlier version of WRDA passed in July of this year.