Raúl Grijalva began his career in public service as a community organizer in Tucson. Four decades later, he continues to be an advocate for those in need and a voice for the constituents of his home community. From 1974 to 1986, Raúl served on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, including six years as Chairman. In 1988, he was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, where he served for the next 15 years, chairing the Board for two of those years. Raúl resigned his seat on the Board of Supervisors in 2002 to seek office in Arizona’s newly created Seventh Congressional District. Despite a nine-candidate primary and the challenge of being outspent three-to-one by his closest competitor, Raúl was elected with a 20-point victory, thanks to a diverse coalition of supporters that led the largest volunteer-driven election effort in Arizona.
The robust agricultural sector in Arizona’s Third Congressional District is an economic driver for our state. Nationally, District Three is a top competitor in fruit and vegetable production. Yuma County’s mild winters allow for a high production of leafy vegetables making this region the “winter lettuce capital of the world.” District Three's location tucked in the Sonoran Desert has made farmers and ranchers adapt to the arid climate and conserve as much water as possible, making our region one of the best in water management in the country.
Unfortunately, District Three along with many other agricultural communities across the United States have faced labor shortages, not to mention the fact that agricultural workers on average suffer from disparities in working conditions and accessibility to resources.
For far too long, agricultural workers in our country have been treated as second-class citizens. It is shocking that in this day and age, labor laws do not fully protect the rights of one of the most vulnerable populations. I am proud to co-sponsor the CARE Act with Rep. Roybal-Allard which would ensure that standards and protections for child farmworkers are in par with other industries.
In addition, I am a proud co-sponsor of the Agricultural Worker Program Act of 2017 that would create a program that would allow agricultural workers and their families to apply for legal status if they:
- show consistent employment in U.S. agriculture over the past two years
- pay a fine
- pass a thorough background check
A 3 to 5 year path to citizenship would be provided to those who continue to work in agriculture for the required amount of time.
I will continue supporting bills that benefit everyone working in District Three's prosperous agricultural community.