Congressman Raúl Grijalva passed away on March 13 at the age of 77. He leaves a lasting legacy as a dedicated champion for Indigenous People; environmental justice; and oil, gas, and mining-impacted communities. Mr. Grijalva served the people in his district, and served the country, with humility and authenticity. And those he served loved him because he fought for them.
During his Congressional service, Earthworks staff and Board members had the honor of working with Mr. Grijalva on many issues related to oil, gas, and mining reforms. His ability to listen to frontline voices and uplift them to the ears of policy makers inspired legislative campaigns for the Environmental Justice for All Act and the Requirements, Expectations, and Standard Procedures for Effective Consultation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act. Mr. Grijalva added strength to our movement by bringing together forces fighting extraction with those supporting environmental justice and Tribal sovereignty.
During the 116th Congress Mr. Grijalva became chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. He incorporated an early version of the RESPECT Act into his bill to modernize the 1872 Mining Law. He renamed the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples and empowered women like Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Rep. Deb Haaland (later Secretary Haaland), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, and others with subcommittee chairmanships. His leadership resulted in millions of acres saved from oil, gas, and mining development, including areas sacred to many Tribes near the Grand Canyon and Bears Ears National Monuments. Mr. Grijalva’s career-long push for stronger environmental protections, Tribal consultation, and community consent in mining projects extended, as recently as March 5 of this year, to when he introduced the comprehensive Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act of 2025.
Mr. Grijalva consistently stood with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities demanding accountability from oil, gas, and mining companies, advancing stricter oversight, cleanup of abandoned mines and wells, and protections for water and sacred lands. His leadership remains instrumental toward advancing policies that prioritize people over corporate profits, bringing together diverse coalitions steadfastly allied in the fight for environmental justice.
Our thoughts and condolences are with his family. Please consider donating to the Raúl M. Grijalva Scholarship in his memory.