Bill to Rename Federal Building After Raul Grijalva Passes Committee

Rep. Raul Grijalva

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego's (D-AZ) bill to rename the Tucson federal office after the late Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has cleared the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

The federal building in Tucson houses offices for the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Labor, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Sens. Kelly and Gallego were joined by Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ) and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) in sponsoring the bill.

"Raúl Grijalva was a mentor and an inspiration to generations of Arizonans, including me," Gallego said in a statement. "His fight for equality and his deep love for his community made our state a better place. Renaming the Tucson Federal Building in his honor is a testament to his decades of public service and his dedication to the people of Southern Arizona."

Sen. Kelly shared similar sentiments, noting that "Congressman Grijalva represented Southern Arizona in the House of Representatives for more than two decades." "He was a man of compassion and conviction, always focused on doing the right thing, a champion for the working class, and he leaves a legacy of making sure everyone had a voice in the halls of Congress," he added. "By renaming the Tucson Federal Building in his honor, we recognize his lifetime of service to Southern Arizona and our nation."

Rep. Stanton also weighed in on the life and legacy of Grijalva, expressing that "renaming this building is a small but meaningful gesture to recognize Congressman Grijalva for his years of dedicated service to the people of Southern Arizona, and I'm proud to lead this effort in the House."

"He devoted his life to serving Southern Arizona families with courage and a deep love for the people he represented," Rep. Ansari added. "This recognition reflects his enduring impact on our community and ensures his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come."

Grijalva's daughter, Adelita Grijalva, recently succeeded her father in a special election, but she has not been sworn into office because of the ongoing government shutdown.

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.