{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://grijalva.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adelita-grijalva-sworn-in-to-united-state-house-of-representatives", "Representative Adelita Grijalva Sworn in to United State House of Representatives", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Adelita S. Grijalva", "G000606", "grijalva.house.gov", "grijalva", "https://grijalva.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nWednesday, November 12\n\nContact: grijalvapress@gmail.com\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u2013 Today, Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) was officially sworn in to the United States House of Representatives, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the State of Arizona.\n\nFollowing her swearing-in, Representative Grijalva addressed the House floor, reflecting on her family\u2019s journey and the historic nature of the moment.\n\n\u201cI rise today, the proud granddaughter of a bracero \u2013 a hard-working Mexican immigrant who came to this country with hope for a better life,\u201d said Rep. Grijalva. \u201cAnd I stand as the proud daughter of a U.S. Congressman \u2013 a man who spent his entire life fighting for justice, equity, and dignity for the most vulnerable. From working as a vaquero, to serving in Congress in just a single generation \u2013 that is the promise of this country.\u201d\n\nAcknowledging the historic nature of her election as the first Latina to represent Arizona, she also offered remarks in Spanish on the House floor.\n\n\u201cEste momento es hist\u00f3rico para nuestra comunidad. Es un honor ser la primera latina en representar Arizona en el Congreso, y les aseguro que aunque soy la primera, no ser\u00e9 la \u00faltima.\u201d\n\nGrijalva noted that her swearing-in brings an end to fifty days in which 813,000 Arizonans were silenced and denied basic representation in Congress. She called for action to prevent this from happening again.\n\n\u201cIt has been fifty days since the people of Arizona\u2019s Seventh Congressional District elected me to represent them. 50 days that over 800,000 Arizonans have been left without access to the basic services that every constituent deserves. This is an abuse of power. One individual should not be able to unilaterally obstruct the swearing-in of a duly elected Member of Congress for political reasons.\u201d\n\nIn her remarks, Grijalva called attention to the need for Congress to restore its power as a check and balance on the executive branch.\n\n\u201cWhat is most concerning is not what this administration has done, but what the majority in this body has failed to do: hold Trump accountable as the coequal branch of government that we are.\u201d\n\nImmediately after being sworn in, Grijalva signed the discharge petition to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, becoming the 218th and decisive signature to force a floor vote. She was joined by Epstein survivors Liz Stein and Jessica Michaels in the house gallery.\n\n\u201cOur democracy only works when everyone has a voice. This includes the millions of people across the country who have experienced violence and exploitation \u2013 including Liz Stein and Jessica Michaels, both survivors of Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s abuse. They are here in the gallery with us this evening. Just this morning, House Democrats released more emails showing that Trump knew more about Epstein\u2019s abuses than he\u2019s previously acknowledged.\u201d\n\nAdditionally, she will be signing other discharge petitions to rein in the Trump Administration\u2019s overreach:\n\nDischarge Petition No. 2 the Taxpayer Data Protection Act.\n\nDischarge Petition No. 3 the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act.\n\nDischarge Petition No. 4 to terminate President Trump's use of national emergency authority to impose tariffs on Canada.\n\nDischarge Petition No. 5 to terminate President Trump's use of national emergency authority to impose tariffs on Mexico\n\nDischarge Petition No. 6 the Protect America's Workforce Act.\n\nDischarge Petition No. 7 to terminate President Trump's use of national emergency authority to impose \u201cLiberation Day\u201d tariffs.\n\nDischarge Petition No. 8 to authorize support for Ukraine\n\nDischarge Petition No. 9 to make publicly available records related to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.\n\nHer full remarks are copied below:\n\nThank you to my colleague and friend, Congressman Stanton, for that kind introduction \u2014 and to the entire democratic delegation from Arizona that has supported me throughout this process.\n\nI rise today, the proud granddaughter of a bracero \u2013 a hard-working Mexican immigrant who came to this country with hope for a better life.\n\nAnd I stand as the proud daughter of a U.S. Congressman \u2013 a man who spent his entire life fighting for justice, equity, and dignity for the most vulnerable.\n\nFrom working as a vaquero, to serving in Congress in just a single generation \u2013 that is the promise of this country.\n\nThat is the America I want to raise my three beautiful children in \u2013 Adelina, Ra\u00fal, and Joaqu\u00edn. They along with my amazing husband Sol and my wonderful Mama Ramona are here today with me. Muchas gracias por su apoyo.\n\nAnd thank you to la gente of Southern Arizona. For making history, electing me as the first Latina \u2013 the first Chicana \u2013 from Arizona ever to go to Congress.\n\nEste momento es hist\u00f3rico para nuestra comunidad. Es un honor ser la primera latina en representar Arizona en el Congreso, y les aseguro que aunque soy la primera, no ser\u00e9 la \u00faltima.\n\nAnd while we celebrate this moment, today our American promise is under serious threat.\n\nBasic freedoms are under attack. Healthcare premiums are skyrocketing. Babies are being ripped away from their parents by masked agents. We can and must do better.\n\nWhat is most concerning is not what this administration has done, but what the majority in this body has failed to do: hold Trump accountable as the co-equal branch of government that we are.\n\nIt has been fifty days since the people of Arizona\u2019s Seventh Congressional District elected me to represent them.\n\nFifty days that over 800,000 Arizonans have been left without access to the basic services that every constituent deserves.\n\nThis is an abuse of power.\n\nOne individual should not be able to unilaterally obstruct the swearing-in of a duly elected Member of Congress for political reasons.\n\nOur democracy only works when everyone has a voice.\n\nThis includes the millions of people across the country who have experienced violence and exploitation \u2013 including Liz Stein and Jessica Michaels, both survivors of Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s abuse. They are here in the gallery with us this evening.\n\nJust this morning, House Democrats released more emails showing that Trump knew more about Epstein\u2019s abuses than he\u2019s previously acknowledged. It\u2019s past time for Congress to restore its role as a check and balance on this administration and fight for we \u2013 the American people.\n\nWe need to fight for our immigrant communities and veterans.\n\nWe need to stand up for our public schools, children, and educators.\n\nWe need to respect tribal sovereignty and our environment.\n\nWe need to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights.\n\nBecause that\u2019s what the American people expect us to do - fight for them.\n\nThat is why I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files, because justice cannot wait another day.\n\nAdelante mi gente. Muchas Gracias!\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://grijalva.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-adelita-grijalva-sworn-in-to-united-state-house-of-representatives"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5137619338929653, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}