EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), the likely Democratic nominee in Arizona’s competitive Senate race, is introducing two border bills as his party moves to counter Republican criticisms that Democrats are soft on immigration.

Gallego, who represents a district that includes portions of downtown Phoenix, is unveiling legislation on Wednesday aimed at speeding up migrant processing and providing relief to Arizona communities along the southern border. The legislation comes as Republicans in the upper chamber are set to block an attempt to advance a bipartisan border security bill that fell apart earlier this year.