Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, the representative of California’s 34th Congressional District, is a political pioneer.  After serving three terms in the California State Assembly, she became the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress in 1992.

Known as a respected consensus builder, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard served as chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in 1997 and 1998.  In assuming this position, she became the first woman to serve at the delegation’s helm and the first member to achieve this role through election rather than seniority. 

During the 106th Congress, in 1999 and 2000, the congresswoman served as the first female chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.  In that role, she worked to focus greater attention on immigration fairness, education, economic development, the 2000 Census and access to health care.  

Making history again in 1999, the congresswoman became the first Latina in U.S. history appointed to the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress.    

The congresswoman serves on three subcommittees.  On the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee, she oversees funding for public schools, workforce training programs, health research and preventative health programs.  On the Homeland Security Subcommittee, the congresswoman oversees funding for immigration processing, border and port security, as well as a wide variety of area emergency preparedness efforts, including providing police and firefighters with the training and equipment they need to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.  On the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, the congresswoman oversees federal funding for critical federal transportation projects, including improvements to the region’s bus systems, railroads and freeways, as well as federal housing initiatives to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing.

The congresswoman is the sponsor of several measures to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children.  They include: “The STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing) Underage Drinking Act” - signed into law in December – that coordinates all federal programs and research initiatives on underage drinking and funds a national media campaign to educate parents about its dangers; the "SAFE Act" to help victims of domestic violence retain their employment and financial independence; the “Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act” to train doctors and nurses in newborn screening and to educate parents about appropriate follow-up care; the "Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE)" to address abusive and exploitive child labor practices in agriculture in the United States; and "The American Dream Act"  to help immigrant students attend college in the United States and qualify for in-state tuition. 

In recognition of her ongoing work to help families and communities, the congresswoman is the recipient of numerous awards, including: The Century Council’s 2006 Silver-Plate Award, SADD’s 2005 National Outstanding Contribution Award, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's 2005 Congressional Leadership Award and MADD's 2004 Congressional Excellence Award for her work on underage drinking; the Los Angeles Commission for Women's 2005 President's Award and the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women's 1989 Humanitarian Award for her efforts to help survivors of domestic violence; the National Association of Community Health Centers’ 2005 Distinguished Community Health Defender award, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition's 2004 Special Impact Award and the March of Dime's 2003 Leadership Award for her work on behalf of children and the uninsured; the Skid Row Housing Trust’s 2006 Friend of the Homeless Award and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.’s 2006 Champion of Affordable Housing and Community Development Award; the 1989 and 2003 Tonantzin Award from La Cooperativa Compesina de California for her work on behalf of farmworkers; and the Sierra Club of California's 1992 Environmental Achievement Award.

Born and raised in Boyle Heights, the congresswoman is the eldest daughter of Lucille Beserra Roybal and the late Honorable Edward R. Roybal, who served as a Member of Congress for 30 years. The 1965 graduate of the California State University at Los Angeles is married to Edward T. Allard, III.  Together, they have four children and six grandchildren.