Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard - Press Release - Downtown, Los Angeles – Photo: The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County presents the congresswoman with its Policy Hero Award..

(May 9, 2008) Downtown, Los Angeles – Gloria Rodriguez, President/CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, presented Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) with its Policy Hero Award at the association’s 3rd Annual Health Policy Summit and Community Health Star Awards Ceremony, which took place at the Center at Cathedral Plaza in Downtown, Los Angeles. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard accepted the award and called the community clinic leaders "the real heroes" for their work in providing health care to the most needy in society. About 300 health community leaders, health clinic executives, policymakers, grant makers, health care administrators, researchers, and students attended the event.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard is committed to increasing access to affordable and quality health care for all Americans. From her seat on the Appropriations Health Subcommittee, the congresswoman advocates for the expansion of community health centers, which provide high-quality, cost effective and culturally sensitive care to uninsured and underserved families throughout her district and the nation. Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (pictured second from left) is shown with fellow community health star awardees: Dr. Marie Torres, AltaMed Health Services Corporation (accepting the Public Policy Star Award on behalf of Congresswoman Hilda Solis); Award Presenter Gloria Rodriguez, CCALAC; and Howard Kahn, L.A. Care and Children’s Health Initiative of Greater Los Angeles, who accepted the Visionary Star Award.

Upon accepting the honor, the congresswoman gave the following remarks: "I extend my sincere thank you to the Community Clinics Association for honoring me with the "Policy Hero Star" Award. This award has special meaning because it is presented by an organization that is a leader in advocating for expanded health care access and services in a culturally sensitive environment.

It is with great humility that I accept this award because the truth is, the real heroes are those of you in this room who work day in and day out, to provide health care to the most needy in our society. Your dedication and commitment to the medically underserved is to be commended.

Over the last few years, I have had the privilege of working with the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County to increase and in some instances fight to simply maintain current levels of federal funding for our community health centers. As you know, due to budgetary and political restraints, our fight has not been easy.

The successes we have had are in large part due to your support and advocacy in Washington, D.C. And for that I thank you. As we look to the future, the obstacles to meeting the health care needs of Los Angeles County will continue to be daunting. I feel confident however, that by continuing to work together we will meet the challenges ahead and successfully bring increased access and adequate health care to the most vulnerable in our society.

Again, thank you for this award, and most importantly thank you for all that you do to enhance the quality of life of those you serve in a way that gives them hope and a sense of self-worth."