Ruben Gallego

Congressman Ruben Gallego represents the 7th District of Arizona, including parts of Phoenix, Glendale, and Tolleson, in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2014.

Representative Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran, a lifelong community leader, and the son of Hispanic immigrants. He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Harvard University.

Congressman Gallego enlisted in the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq in 2005 as an infantryman, serving with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. His Company saw some of the worst fighting of the Iraq War, losing 22 Marines and a Navy Corpsman to enemy action in eight months. Following his experience in Iraq, Congressman Gallego committed to ensuring that servicemen and –women are never sent into harm’s way without a plan for winning the fight, securing the peace, and providing post-conflict medical, psychological and familial care.

Representative Gallego has largely focused on U.S. national security in his time in Washington. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has led the response to Russia’s attack on NATO, maintaining the European Deterrence Initiative following President Trump’s efforts to cut the vital defense program. He has led the effort to support front line allies like the Baltic States and protect our forces in Germany and across Europe. He has ensured that U.S. Forces Korea – the front line of our defense against North Korea – remains a credible deterrent force. He has led the response to companies like Huawei and ZTE, criminal state-directed organizations that threaten our national security and our next generation infrastructure. He believes in retaining the United States’ qualitative military edge and in employing U.S. military power only when necessary.

Representative Gallego believes in improving the health and welfare of veterans by first working to prevent unnecessary wars. When the fighting starts, he believes in providing them with the equipment and training to win. After combat, he believes in supporting veterans and their families to treat acute and chronic health issues, continue their education, and continue to serve as private citizens.

Congressman Gallego was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010 and served until 2014. As a state legislator, Congressman Gallego became known for his tough stand against extreme legislation pushed by Republicans in the state legislature. He also led the push for Medicaid expansion and to secure in-state tuition for veterans.
Congressman Gallego is also a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, a position from which he fights tirelessly to uphold Tribal sovereignty and our federal trust responsibility to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. As Chairman, he held the first-ever House hearing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, oversaw the House passage of Carcieri fix legislation affirming Tribal Nations’ right to sovereign homelands, and championed investment in broadband and other critical infrastructure on Tribal land. He has advocated for cornerstone federal land and wildlife conservation laws and worked to improve public access to America’s iconic public lands.

Congressman Gallego is an Assistant Whip for the Democratic Caucus, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chair and Tribal Liaison of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus.