In 1992, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard became the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress. She has distinguished herself throughout her 30-year congressional career as a dedicated advocate for the dignity and well-being of all Americans. The congresswoman is the first Latina to serve on the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives as well as the first Latina to serve as one of the 12 “Cardinals,” or Chairs, of a House Appropriations Subcommittee. She is the first woman to chair the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the first woman to chair the California Democratic congressional delegation. She is a founding co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care, founder of the Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform and a co-founder of the Congressional Public Health Caucus.
From sea to shining sea, Americans work hard every day to protect their economic stability. While the United States economy has shown signs of recovery from the 2008 collapse, millions are still unemployed, homeownership is not attainable enough, and working people struggle to sustain their families. Our economy is off-balance, with too much wealth in the hands of too few. During these uncertain economic times, I support policies that provide a fair return on work and help families to make a good living and have a good life.
Congress must support workforce training programs and expand workers’ opportunities for education and skills training, so that they will be prepared for high-paying 21st-century careers. As Vice Chair of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I have advocated for federal funding for worker safety programs, apprenticeships, and other workforce development grants. By assisting employers in recruiting and hiring skilled workers, these programs support the development of a competitive workforce, spur innovation, and attract business investment. We must also take action to increase wages, promote equal pay for women and minorities, provide paid family leave and adequate health care coverage, and ensure that our labor laws protect our workers from harm.
I also support improving conditions for American businesses to manufacture products and create jobs. The “Make It In America” agenda proposed by House Democrats will help to create better work opportunities, produce more goods here at home, and maintain America’s competitive edge. Since 2010, sixteen “Make It In America” bills have been signed into law, including legislation to cut taxes and provide loans for small businesses, speed up the patent process, train skilled workers, and end tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas.
Finally, I am leading the fight in Congress to support American workers who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse. My Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act would ensure that victims of this abuse are not forced to choose between their safety and their financial security. The SAFE Act would make certain that employers have safety protections in the workplace for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and would let a survivor take up to 30 days off from work to obtain medical attention, seek legal assistance, attend court proceedings, or get help with safety planning. It would also ensure that those who have lost their jobs as a result of domestic violence and sexual assault are eligible for unemployment insurance, and prohibit insurance providers from basing coverage decisions on a victim’s history of abuse. Portions of my SAFE Act were included in the House’s 2019 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).