On March 13, Rep. Raúl Grijalva passed away at the age of 77. The Arizona congressman, a stalwart advocate for animals and the environment who dedicated half a century to public service, will be greatly missed.
Grijalva was a staunch supporter of the Endangered Species Act, defending it time and again against attacks during his tenures as chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and co-chair of the ESA Caucus. He sponsored important conservation bills such as the RESCUE Whales Act; Extinction Prevention Act; Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act; and Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act. Grijalva also led the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act to end the use of wild animals in circuses. He championed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Protection Act and other efforts to humanely manage our nation’s wild equines.
AWI deeply valued our partnership with Congressman Grijalva on these and other crucial issues over the years, and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a principled and kind man. His compassion truly extended to all animals. We send our condolences to his family and staff, and we will honor his memory by carrying on his legacy of fierce and unyielding advocacy for all living beings.