Press Releases
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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) announced the introduction of the Veterans Right to Breathe Act (H.R. 4574), bipartisan legislation aimed at providing disability compensation for veterans exposed to burn pits while serving our country overseas. The bipartisan bill would help veterans exposed to burn pits by establishing presumption of service connected exposure to burn pits for nine pulmonary diseases including asthma, pneumonia, and chronic bronchiolitis. Dr.
Thermal, Ca. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. called on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to produce a plan and timeline to clean up the land in Thermal where recurring mulch fires have presented an environmental and public health hazard to area residents. In a letter to the Director of the BIA, signed also by Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Dr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) convened members of Congress, physicians, and public health experts for a problem-solving discussion regarding the epidemic of gun violence facing the nation. Dr. Ruiz led the discussion centered on approaching gun violence as a public health epidemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), Chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, participated in the discussion as well.
Thermal, Ca. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. announced the pending closure of Sun Valley Recycling Center, the facility at the center of recurring mulch fires that are posing a public health hazard to nearby schools and the surrounding community. The Bureau of Indian Affairs issued a Cease and Desist order to the facility Wednesday morning stating that if the dumping operations are not immediately halted, the owner will face an injunction and be held liable for damages and all costs associated with enforcement action.
Thermal, Ca. – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. held a problem-solving roundtable with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, and other county and state officials and called for immediate action to remedy the bad practices at the Oasis Mobile Home Park in Thermal.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. is calling attention to the children in California's 36th District and across the country who are forced to ride in school buses without A/C during extreme heat temperatures. Citing accounts of children overheating on school buses and the severe heat in Riverside County which reaches over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for four months out of the year, Dr.
Thermal, CA – Today, Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-36) is calling for an investigation into the recurring mulch pile fires from waste disposal sites in Thermal. The burn piles, which allegedly consist of agricultural waste, tires, and PVC pipes, are emitting white, odorous smoke, and have drawn concerns from the community about the air quality in the area.
Washington, D.C. – Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Palm Desert) and Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona) introduced bi-partisan legislation to 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 Services Youth Regional Treatment Center in California and is currently accessed by a dilapidated dirt road that is frequently washed out by heavy rains and often in great disrepair.