U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva speaking with supporters of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren at a town hall at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Ariz., on Aug. 1, 2019 / Wikipedia - Gage Skidmore photo

Just weeks after announcing he planned to hold onto his seat as top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Raúl Grijalva has decided to step down as a ranking member of that committee. He'd held the position for five years. This will mark the first time that slot on the committee has been available since 2015.

In a statement, Grijalva said the following: 

"After much thought, I have decided that it is the right moment to pass the torch as top Democrat on the House Natural Resource Committee for the 119th Congress. I do not make this decision lightly, as being elected Ranking Member stands as the honor of my professional career. I will continue to focus on improving my health, strengthening my mobility, and serving my district in what is likely to be a time of unprecedented challenge for our community."

Grijalva had stepped away from his duties this past spring to undergo treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. 

The congressman won his reelection bid last month, but told The Hill he'd retire upon completion of his term. Grijalva had planned to hold onto his seat as ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee, but in recent weeks changed his mind. 

Grijalva has had a successful run as a ranking member. He helped usher through passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, which permanently funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Grijalava was an advocate for the the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 (Dingell Act), which designated 1,300,000 acres as offical wilderness area, and grew the borders of several national parks. 

Before his time on the committee, Grijalva wrote the National Landscape Conservation System Act and the Federal Lands Restoration Act, both signed into law by President Obama as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.

His announcement sets up a potential battle vying for the Democrat's top seat on the committee. 

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) announced earlier this year he'd planned to challenge Grijalva for the role.

In November, Huffman issued the following statement to his colleagues, seeking to earn their support:

“I am a lifelong environmentalist and a former civil rights and environmental lawyer with strong progressive values. My priorities will be climate action, a clean energy economy, protection and restoration of our natural environment, environmental justice, and equity for Indigenous peoples and frontline communities. I will protect our public lands and bedrock environmental laws while working to advance serious, science-based policies that benefit people and the environment. My longstanding record on all these matters is second to none.”

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-New Mexico) has also been floated as a possible candidate. On Thursday, Grijalva released a statement endorsing her. 

"I am proud to endorse my friend and colleague Representative Melanie Stansbury for Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Stansbury has the experience, vision, policy acuity, and resolve we need to defend and further the historic progress Committee Democrats have made in charting a cleaner, safer, more just future for every American."

The Traveler reached out to Grijalva's office for comment, but was told he's not offering interviews this week.