Pelosi Statement on the Retirement of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard

San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard announced that she will retire from the House at the end of her term:

"For thirty years, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard has been an absolute force for progress in the hallowed halls of Congress. Whether rallying the nation behind our Dreamers, wielding the power of the purse as an appropriator or delivering for her beloved Southern California community, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has long been a trusted voice for her constituents and respected leader within our Caucus.

"Congresswoman Roybal-Allard's unyielding commitment to our immigrant communities is in her DNA: not only following in the footsteps of her legendary father, but blazing a trail as the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Congress. The godmother of the Dream Act, she has been fearless in her decades-long fight to deliver a pathway to citizenship. As a ‘Cardinal' at the helm of Appropriations' powerful subcommittee on Homeland Security, she has been a relentless champion for asylum seekers and unaccompanied children – fighting to uphold our nation's promise of liberty and justice for all. And for years, she has worked tirelessly to improve maternal health in Latino communities: ensuring mothers have more of the folic acid they need for a safe pregnancy and preventing dangerous birth defects so that babies can have a healthy start.

"After her long and storied career in public service, it is my privilege on behalf of the House to thank Congresswoman Roybal-Allard for her extraordinary leadership, as well as send best wishes to her and her husband Edward as they prepare to begin their next chapter."