Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-34)

Lucille Roybal-Allard California District 34

Lucille Roybal-Allard, Biography from House.gov

Biography of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard maintains a busy schedule working out of her offices in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, CA. The congresswoman represents the 34th Congressional District, which includes downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and nine southeast cities of Los Angeles County.

A political pioneer, in 1992 Congresswoman Roybal-Allard became the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress. Before that, she represented the 56th Assembly District of California for six years.

Throughout her tenure in public service, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has remained committed to expanding opportunities for residents of her district and working families throughout the country. She champions efforts to increase access to health care, create affordable housing, modernize and upgrade public schools, improve school safety, increase the federal minimum wage, reduce the high Hispanic drop-out rates, preserve Social Security and Medicare, and stimulate economic growth to create new jobs.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful and distinguished committees in Congress, she spends much of her time attending hearings and meetings. She is the first Latina in U.S. history to be appointed to the Appropriations Committee, which controls the purse strings of the federal government. The congresswoman serves on two influential subcommittees — the Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. As a member of these subcommittees, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard oversees funding of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Known as a respected consensus builder, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard also served as chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation in 1997 and 1998. In assuming this position, she became the first woman, first Latina and the first Member to achieve this role through election rather than seniority. Later, during the 106th Congress in 1999 and 2000, she went on to become the first female Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which is a coalition of Hispanic Members of Congress.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s responsibilities take her back and forth between California and Washington, D.C. Her time in Washington, D.C. centers around her committee responsibilities and votes on key bills pending before Congress. She also receives visits from Los Angeles residents, business owners, educators, veterans, workers, and students. They travel to see their nation’s capital and talk with their congresswoman about issues important to them.

When at home in Los Angeles, the congresswoman spends much of her time meeting with residents and community leaders to discuss ways to improve the quality of life in the 34th Congressional District.

For example, the congresswoman urges her constituents to take advantage of her Grants Notification Program that she established to help local groups obtain federal grant money. It gives potential applicants advance notification of upcoming federal grant opportunities. This program has helped to bring millions of federal dollars to the district.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard also encourages college-bound students in her district to check out her Student Information Program, which provides students and local schools with college scholarship, financial aid, internship, and fellowship information.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard enjoys every aspect of her job, but she especially enjoys hearing from residents of the district and serving them. If you have an idea for the Congresswoman, or if you need assistance, please feel free to contact Congresswoman Roybal-Allard.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s Personal Story

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard was born and raised in Boyle Heights, California. She is the eldest daughter of Lucille Beserra Roybal and the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal, 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: Ricardo, Lisa, Angela, and Guy Mark; and seven grandchildren.

Biography from Lucille Roybal-Allard For Congress

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard represents California’s 34th Congressional District and 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.   She serves on the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress.

Lucille 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.

Lucille believes that by investing in our infrastructure we can attract new industries and spur job growth. Lucille  fights to bring millions in federal investments home to our neighborhoods each and every year. From transportation infrastructure, such as the recently completed Eastside Extension Gold Line light rail system to the visionary plan for LA River revitalization, Lucille believes these investments help us create new jobs, and get us ready for a prosperous future.

From early childhood education to college grants and loans, Lucille fights to invest in our children so they can compete for the jobs of the future.  That includes more computers in the classroom and better technology training for teachers. And she’s fighting to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational initiatives so our kids will have the high tech skills employers, and the world market demand.

A leader in public health issues, Lucille knows that healthy communities start with healthy families.  Healthier families benefit us all – from protecting newborns to ensuring the well-being of our seniors.  A public health leader, Lucille wrote laws to stop underage drinking and expand screenings to prevent newborn deaths and disabilities. She introduced the MOMS Act to improve maternity care and legislation to reduce teen pregnancy rates – to give kids of all ages the best start in life.  She is currently Chair of the Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health.

As a member of the Seniors Task Force of the Democratic Caucus, Lucille is a strong advocate for older Americans, and fights to protect Social Security and Medicare.  She also believes that we must honor our commitments to those who have served the nation proudly, and votes to enhance the well deserved benefits of our veterans and their families, and ensure that our returning wounded heroes have access to adequate and quality medical care.

Do you know where you still on the political spectrum? See “Political Beliefs, Where Are You” to find out where you stand.