ARIZONA – Yesterday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) heard directly from Arizonans at town halls in Globe and Apache Junction.
In Globe, Senator Gallego spoke about issues disproportionately harming rural communities, like limited access to good-paying jobs, affordable housing, public broadcasting, and education funding. He also criticized the GOP and Trump administration’s policies that hit rural areas hardest – like reckless tariffs that raise prices and cost American jobs, and Republicans’ so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ Rural residents are more likely to receive health coverage through Medicaid, known in Arizona as AHCCCS, and food assistance through SNAP – both of which were dramatically cut in the bill.
“The last thing we want to see is a slower economy, especially in rural Arizona. […] We need some good jobs out here,” said Senator Gallego. “We just did a massive housing bill to help housing, especially rural parts of this country. People think that housing is only an issue in Phoenix and Scottsdale, but the hardest hit part is actually the rural parts of this country, especially in Arizona. […] We have been actively working as much as we can to bring as much opportunity to rural Arizona [as possible].”
Senator Gallego speaks to Arizonans about issues important to rural Arizona in Globe
After the town hall, Senator Gallego toured the Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center in Globe, a rural hospital potentially at risk of losing critical Medicaid funding a result of Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill, which disproportionately harms rural communities.
Senator Gallego tours the Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center in Globe
Senator Gallego then headed to Apache Junction, where he hosted a town hall focused on veterans’ issues and discussed his ongoing efforts to push back against the Trump administration’s cuts to veterans’ services.
“We need the VA fully intact. It’s okay to find efficiencies. It’s okay to look for fraud, waste and abuse. Let’s always find ways to save money while also, of course, keeping services. But let’s do it with thoughtfulness, right? Not just saying, ‘well, I know there’s fraud, waste and abuse, so I’m just going to cut 83,000 people,’” said Senator Gallego. “And I always say this, in the long run, if you want to keep recruiting men and women into the military, the way you treat veterans is going to be a really good indicator for who’s going to join.”
Arizonans pack into Senator Gallego’s town hall in Apache Junction
At the town hall, Senator Gallego also heard from several Arizonans concerned over reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arbitrarily targeting Arizonans, including outside of elementary schools.
“There used to be what’s called a sensitive sites restriction, where you wouldn’t go into churches, hospitals and schools. […] That’s just the line that you shouldn’t draw. […] You’re just going to encourage kids not to go to school, and [there will be] horrible outcomes if kids don’t go to school. We’re looking at what we can do to try to bring those sensitive site protections back,” said Senator Gallego. “We’re also seeing problems where citizens are being grabbed up and detained, sometimes for days, and veterans. […] This is something I’m specifically on to introduce a bill specifically for that.”
Senator Gallego presents Marine Corps League 554 Saguaro Detachment with a proclamation highlighting the Marine Corp’s 250th birthday
In Apache Junction, Senator Gallego also honored the members of Marine Corps League 554 Saguaro Detachment with a proclamation highlighting the Marine Corp’s 250th birthday. This is the third birthday certificate Senator Gallego has presented to Arizona Marine Corps leagues in honor of the anniversary this year.
8/12/25