The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community invited U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) to speak with Council and address Community members about issues important to them at the Community Council meeting on August 28. Gallego is running for the U.S. Senate in Arizona and received the SRPMIC’s official endorsement in January.

Gallego told the Community at the meeting that he has made it a goal to extend his service to Indigenous communities.

“I would love to be your U.S. Senator,” said Gallego, addressing the Community members in their seats.

For the past decade, Gallego has served on the House Natural Resources Committee. During that time, he was on the Subcommittee on Insular and Indian Affairs, serving as chairman for part of that time.

“In that time, I held the first-ever hearing in the House of Representatives on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP),” said Gallego. “[That was] something that unfortunately should have happened a long time ago, but [it] did not happen until I became chair.”

As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War, Gallego talked about his experience working with Native American veterans. In the war, Gallego served with Navajo service members.

“My best friends, I consider them brothers of mine, Navajo brothers from the Navajo Nation,” said Gallego.

“Since I returned from the war, it’s their guidance and inspiration that has given me the love for working to help better the status of Native Americans on tribal land.”

When Gallego’s time on the floor was over, Council thanked him for his service and commitment to the Community. People in the seats erupted with applause as Gallego made his way out to the lobby at the entrance of the Council Chambers to take photos with Community members.