Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-06-09

HONORING JULIE GALLEGO

Context

On 2026-06-09, Representative Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ-7) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING JULIE GALLEGO" in the House.

Full Text

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4003-H4004] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING JULIE GALLEGO (Mrs. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Mrs. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Julie Gallego, a devoted wife and mother, a gifted educator, and a beloved member of the Tucson and southern Arizona community. Julie passed away yesterday, on June 8, following a courageous, yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. While her loss is deeply felt by her family and loved ones, it is also felt across Tucson and beyond by the generations of young people whose lives she touched. [[Page H4004]] Julie served as a director of Viva Performing Arts Studio on Tucson's south side. She created a place where hundreds of children learned folklorico and mariachi, connected with their culture, developed confidence in themselves, and found a sense of belonging. Through her leadership, Viva became a cornerstone of the community and a second home for so many families. Those who had the privilege of knowing Julie will remember her warmth, compassion, and ability to make everyone feel welcomed, valued, and loved. Julie's legacy lives on in the students she mentored, the people she inspired, and the vibrant cultural traditions she worked hard to preserve and pass on to the next generation. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and everyone mourning this tremendous loss. May her memory be a blessing. Julie's legacy will live on. ``Rest in peace''; ``que en paz descanse.'' ____________________

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HONORING JULIE GALLEGO Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4003-H4004] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING JULIE GALLEGO (Mrs. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Mrs. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Julie Gallego, a devoted wife and mother, a gifted educator, and a beloved member of the Tucson and southern Arizona community. Julie passed away yesterday, on June 8, following a courageous, yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. While her loss is deeply felt by her family and loved ones, it is also felt across Tucson and beyond by the generations of young people whose lives she touched. [[Page H4004]] Julie served as a director of Viva Performing Arts Studio on Tucson's south side. She created a place where hundreds of children learned folklorico and mariachi, connected with their culture, developed confidence in themselves, and found a sense of belonging. Through her leadership, Viva became a cornerstone of the community and a second home for so many families. Those who had the privilege of knowing Julie will remember her warmth, compassion, and ability to make everyone feel welcomed, valued, and loved. Julie's legacy lives on in the students she mentored, the people she inspired, and the vibrant cultural traditions she worked hard to preserve and pass on to the next generation. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and everyone mourning this tremendous loss. May her memory be a blessing. Julie's legacy will live on. ``Rest in peace''; ``que en paz descanse.'' ____________________