U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva speaking with supporters of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren at a town hall at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Ariz., on Aug. 1, 2019.
Southern Arizona congressman Raúl Grijalva announced he is stepping down as a ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Grijalva said in a statement that it is the right moment to pass the torch and that serving as the highest-ranking Democrat on the committee was the honor of his professional career.
“I will continue to focus on improving my health, strengthening my mobility, and serving my district in what is likely to be a time of unprecedented challenge for our community,” he wrote.
Since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, Grijalva has said this upcoming congressional term will be his last, but according to The Hill, he planned to stay on as Ranking Member until recently.
In the five years he served as the top Democrat on the committee, Grijalva consistently advocated for environmental legislation, including the Great American Outdoors Act, which permanently and fully funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Grijalva said he was proud of the progress made in environmental justice, conservation, and tribal sovereignty in his statement. He, along with the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, petitioned President Biden to designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.
With the focus now on who will become the highest-ranking member under an incoming Trump Administration, California Representative Jared Huffman announced a bid to replace Grijalva as the top Democrat last month. Ranking member spots typically go to members with the most seniority.
In a statement about Grijalva’s resignation, Huffman called him his “friend and ally” on the committee and said if chosen, he would grant Grijalva the title of Ranking Member Emeritus for his years of leadership.
Grijalva did not make any endorsements regarding who should succeed him in his announcement.
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