Medicaid Covers 40% of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Nationwide WASHINGTON — Today on the Senate floor, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) put forward an amendment to Senate Republicans’ budget bill that would strike any provision cutting Medicaid funding for substance use disorder treatment and ensure that big corporations and the ultra-wealthy finally pay their fair share in taxes. Republicans blocked Senator Gallego’s amendment, 47-53. Millions of Americans – and more than 31,000 Arizonans – rely on Medicaid to access life-saving treatment for substance use disorders. Medicaid covers 40% of all opioid use disorder treatment nationwide. Under Republicans’ budget bill, Medicaid funding would be slashed, putting recovery out of

Legislation would retroactively give refunds to same-sex married couples who were denied opportunity to lower tax bill by filing jointly WASHINGTON –  On the ten-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, which recognized a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, and the twelve-year anniversary of U.S. v. Windsor, which struck down as unconstitutional the federal definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) backed the bipartisan Refund Equality Act to ensure that married same-sex couples can amend their tax returns back to the date of their marriage, helping them secure an estimated total of $55 million in refunds.  “Every married couple deserves to be treated equally under the

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Border Patrol Recruitment Enhancement Act to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hire qualified agents and officers faster and address its persistent staffing shortage. The bill would allow CBP to waive the polygraph requirement for certain pre-vetted applicants who currently serve or have served in law enforcement or the military. “CBP is stretched thin, and the hiring system is part of the problem. We’re losing qualified applicants to red tape and delays,” said Senator Gallego. “If you’ve already served in the military or law enforcement, we shouldn’t be making you jump through unnecessary hoops just to serve your country again. I’m