Marriott Marquis Hotel
901 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, D.C.
Presented annually, the Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service was established to honor individuals who have distinguished themselves as devoted public servants to the nation, and pays tribute to the organization’s founder and President Emeritus, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal.
Chair of the 2019 NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala
Vice-Chair
About
the Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service
The Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service was established by NALEO in tribute to the organization’s founder and on the occasion of NALEO’s 20th Anniversary. Selection of this honoree provides an opportunity for Latino elected and appointed officials to recognize the exemplary leadership provided by their colleagues in communities throughout the United States. This award recognizes current or former elected or appointed officials who have distinguished themselves in public office. Through their advocacy and representation efforts, these elected and appointed officials have advanced and given voice to the interests of their constituents and the Latino community.
A native of Palito Blanco, a South Texas farming community, NALEO’s 2019 awardee U.S. Representative Garcia has dedicated her life to her community and to public service. As a social worker and legal aid lawyer early in her professional career, she protected our community’s most vulnerable, old and young, and ensured no one was forgotten. Garcia served an unprecedented five terms under two Mayors as Director and Presiding Judge of the Houston Municipal System before being elected as the first Latino and woman elected to serve on the Harris County Commissioners Court in 2002.
She went on to serve in the Texas State Senate, becoming the seventh woman and the third Hispanic woman to serve in the upper chambers when she was sworn-in in 2013. As a three-term Texas State Senator, Garcia fought for her district and advocated for veterans, immigrant rights, women’s health and access to healthcare. She passed numerous bills during her time in office including the Truckers Against Trafficking Bill, which requires human trafficking training for commercial drivers, and the School Bus Safety Act, which requires school buses in Texas to have seat belts.
In January of 2019, Garcia became one of the first two Latinas in history to represent the state of Texas in Congress (D TX-29) once she took the oath of office. She joined the 37 other Latino U.S. Representatives and four Latino U.S. Senators in the 116th Congress, forming the largest class of Latino congressional leaders in history.
Past Recipients
of the
Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service
2018
The Honorable Nydia M. Velázquez
U.S. Representative
2017
The Honorable Mario Díaz-Balart
U.S. Representative
The Honorable Lincoln Díaz-Balart
Former U.S. Representative
2016
The Honorable Henry Cisneros
U.S. Secretary
2015
The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Member of Congress, California
2014
“U.S. Senate Gang of Eight”
The Honorable John McCain
United States Senator – Arizona
The Honorable Richard “Dick” Durbin
United States Senator – Illinois
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator – New York
The Honorable Lindsey Graham
United States Senator – South Carolina
The Honorable Robert “Bob” Menendez
United States Senator – New Jersey
The Honorable Michael F. Bennet
United States Senator – Colorado
The Honorable Marco Rubio
United States Senator – Florida
The Honorable Jeffry “Jeff” Flake
United States Senator – Arizona
2013
The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of Congress, Florida
2012
The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Mayor, City of Los Angeles
2011
The Honorable Peter M. Rivera
New York State Assemblymember
2010
The Honorable Mel Martinez
United States Senator – Florida
2009
The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
Texas State Senator
2008
The Honorable Bill Richardson
Governor of the State of New Mexico
2007
The Honorable Marco Rubio
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
2006
The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
Member of Congress, California
2005
The Honorable Raymond G. Sanchez
Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives
2002
The Honorable Manuel Lujan
Fmr. United States Secretary of the Interior
Fmr. Member of Congress, New Mexico
2001
The Honorable Judith Valles
Mayor, City of San Bernardino, California
2000
The Honorable Gloria Tristani
Federal Trade Commissioner
1998
The Honorable Esteban E. Torres
Member of Congress, California
1997
The Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez
Member of Congress, Texas (Ret.)
1996
The Honorable Edward R. Roybal
Member of Congress, California (Ret.)
The Honorable Edward R. Roybal
February 10, 1916-October 24, 2005
A devoted public servant for 43 years, Edward R. Roybal was at the forefront of efforts to advance civil rights, establish rural mental health programs, fund AIDS research, and improve support services for veterans and the elderly. In 1976, he founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), creating a national forum for Latino issues, while opening doors for a new generation of Latino leaders.
Roybal was born on February 10, 1916 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the age of six, his family moved to Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School. After graduation, Roybal joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, eventually studying business at UCLA and law at Southwestern University.
His public career began in 1942 as a health educator for the California Tuberculosis Association. In 1949, Roybal was elected to the Los Angeles City Council, becoming the first Latino to serve since 1881. He sat on the City Council until 1962, when he then went on to become the first Mexican-American to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from California. As a Congressman he established a reputation as a staunch civil libertarian while working on issues such as immigrant rights, education, and health care. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and as the Chairman of the Subcommittees on Treasury, Postal Service and General Government, Congressman Roybal was one of the “thirteen cardinals” of the House of Representatives. He was also one of the ranking members of the Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee. His post on the Appropriations Committee enabled him to work on federal funding for health and education programs, and bilingual education.
Roybal was a major catalyst in the establishment of the House Select Committee on Aging and served as its Chairman from 1983 to 1993. His vision and ability to analyze problem situations prompted him to fight and obtain, in 1982, the first ever funding specifically dedicated to research on AIDS. In 1989, he continued his work on health care issues and was instrumental in renewing legislation to provide medical services to people with Alzheimer’s disease. In 1992, he chose not to run for reelection.
During his three decades of service, Roybal worked to protect the rights of the underserved, the elderly, and the physically challenged. Throughout this career, he received numerous honors and awards, including two honorary law degrees from Pacific States University and Claremont Graduate School. In 1973, Yale University honored him with a visiting Chubb Fellowship. On January 8, 2001, President William J. Clinton presented Congressman Roybal with the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal of Honor. In 2014, Congressman Roybal was awarded posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.
SPONSOR INFORMATION
Chair of the 2019 NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala
Vice-Chair
Platinum Sponsor
White Gold Sponsor
Charter Communications
Univision Communications Inc.
Verizon
Gold Sponsor
Amgen
Edison International
National Association of Broadcasters
Walmart
For more information call (213) 765-9439, or email [email protected].
Proceeds benefit the programs and services of NALEO Educational Fund Tax ID # 52-1212849.
