WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ) today introduced his colleague Congresswoman Adelia Grijalva (D-AZ) on the House floor—moments after she was finally sworn in as a Member of Congress and fifty days after she was elected to represent Arizona’s 7th District.
Video of his speech is HERE.
Text of his speech as prepared is below.
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Mr. Speaker, thank you and thank you Congressman Gosar, the new dean of our state’s delegation. It’s been a minute since we’ve all been together.
As Dean, Congressman Gosar replaces the late Congressman Raúl Grijalva—one of the most impactful leaders in Arizona history.
And now with great pride, I rise today to do something we’ve waited 50 long days to do . . . exactly 49 days too long. . . and introduce my colleague from Arizona, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva.
Since September 23rd, the people of southern Arizona have been waiting for full representation.
The excuses for the delay seemingly changed daily: first they needed an election certificate, though one isn’t required. Then, they wanted to make sure she had enough “pomp and circumstance.” Then we were informed about a non-existent “Pelosi precedent.”
At one point the Speaker of this chamber went on television and said, “Bless her heart, she is a representative-elect, she does not know how it works around here.”
Bless his heart, here’s how it should work. Let’s call it the Adelita Grijalva precedent: When the American people vote, this chamber respects their will and seats them. Immediately. Politics should never come into play.
Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Grijalva is a native Tucsonan, the granddaughter of a bracero who came here from Mexico. She was the youngest woman ever elected to the Tucson Unified School Board, serving twenty years, then a Pima County Supervisor fighting for working families, affordable housing, and early childhood education. Now she brings that same fight to Congress.
The people of Arizona’s Seventh District placed their trust in her, and today that trust is rewarded.
Her first act as a Member of Congress will be a powerful one: she will be the 218th and final signature on the discharge petition to force the Trump Administration to release the Epstein files, delivering long-overdue justice and accountability for hundreds of victims abused by rich and powerful men.
She will be a smart, principled, and a fighter through and through.
Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to welcome and introduce to this chamber Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva.