Ruben Gallego

The merger “would combine two of the largest vertically integrated film studios with prominent streaming platforms, further concentrating decision-making power in this already consolidated market. Labor organizations in the industry have raised concerns that increased concentration can reduce competition among employers, limit opportunities for workers, and place downward pressure on wages and working conditions. Recent reporting also indicates that similar transactions have resulted in layoffs and workforce reductions across the entertainment sector,” Gallego wrote in the letter.

“I relied on Stars and Stripes when I was in Iraq for honest, credible reporting about our military instead of politicized garbage. While Trump continues to dig us into his war in Iran and all signs point to him starting more wars in Latin America, it is more important than ever that Stars and Stripes has the editorial independence to report on what is actually happening on the ground,” said Senator Gallego. “The Pentagon’s response fails to make that clear. They want to turn it into another megaphone for this administration’s propaganda.”

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ranking Member of the Digital Assets Subcommittee of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after voting to advance the digital asset market structure legislation: Digital assets have grown to represent a significant portion of our financial system. With 1 in 4 Americans now invested in digital assets, this issue cannot be ignored. What Congress is attempting to do here – create regulations for an entirely new set of assets – is a massive undertaking. We cannot afford to wait, but we also cannot afford to get this wrong.

“Arizona is a hot state – not just in temperature. People want to move here,” said Senator Gallego. “Every day, I meet with some CEO, whether it’s in Washington D.C. or here in Arizona, and they’re telling me that they’re looking for some site to bring in some huge company and/or something that will bring in billions and billions of dollars’ worth of investments. That is a story that is not found in many other states in this country right now.”