Rest in Power, Raul Grijalva
Several years back, I had a fellowship with the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. At the time, I was assigned to the Democrats, who were in the minority. At the time, the ranking member was Raul Grijalva of Arizona (AZ07). Born just outside of Tucson, Grijalva was product of the Chicano movement prevalent in the late 60s and early 70s. He was as a leader in the Arizona Raza Unida party, a bit of a firebrand who eventually found his way into public service. In 2002, he was elected to the House.
Representative Grijalva was more than willing to mix it up with the other members of the committee and gave his committee staff latitude to push for social justice in the legislative wrangling. His first sponsored bill was the Tohono O’dham Citizenship Act, to grant American citizenship to all members of the tribe. He was also willing to work across the aisle to get legislation passed.
At some point during the fellowship, I assisted him with a Op-Ed for The Hill, “To Ensure Social Justice Reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund.” HPF provided grants to state and tribal preservation offices to upgrade their historic documentation and preservation efforts. At the time, Congress and the Obama Administration argued over the use of the Antiquities Act for designations of designation of Bears Ears National Monument and the addition of sites dedicated to Harriet Tubman and Cesar Chavez, one of Grijalva’s heroes, where the majority felt the Administration overreached . The piece pushed for permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which funds preservation of open space and natural areas; and HPF. Rep. Grijalva made the connection between the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the fund, and the need of a more inclusive view of history to meet the aims of a more perfect union.
Funny story: Grijalva was a kinetic thinker, and doodled during the hearings. People would find his work on agendas, slips of paper, notebook pages and the end of sessions. Some began “collecting” the drawings, and Rep. Grijalva’s staff had to gather them up after meetings. At some point, he purchased specific paper with his name and position on it for his doodling. He gifted them to staff as they left the committee or his personal staff. I received two when my fellowship was over and I have them framed in my office.
Rest in Power, Raul.
I had no idea about this fellowship - or that you knew RG! His chief of staff is a longtime friend from our first days on the hill - I imagine your paths crossed at some point. A decade or three later, and my world keeps getting smaller - in the best of ways. Thank you for sharing these stories.
Cool doodles. Nice remembrance.