Decision Making

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Lucille Roybal-Allard is a role model for young Hispanic women. Her personal history plays a significant role in her views on immigration and minority issues. Her original co-sponsorship of the STRIVE Act is a logical progression of those views and her life experiences.

Lucille Roybal-Allard, born in 1941 in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles County, California, the heart of the 34th Congressional District which she represents as a Democrat. Roybal-Allard grew up with political ambitions and succeeded her father, Edward R. Roybal, in the seat which he held from 1962 through 1992. The elder Roybal was only one of three Hispanic members of Congress. He became a recognized leader for the cause of minorities and Hispanics introducing among other legislation the first bilingual education bill to provide local school districts assistance with special bilingual teaching programs. Roybal left a powerful legacy of work for minorities and immigrants but it was not just his influence as a member of Congress which developed Congresswoman Roybal-Allard's beliefs.

Despite her political pedigree Roybal-Allard grew up facing discrimination and discouragement. She speaks of being punished as a child for speaking Spanish in school and of how her family was stopped and questioned when they tried to enter hotels. Even

her own family tried to dampen her efforts to rise above her station. Her Father's relatives ridiculed him for sending his daughter's to college, saying all that was expected of them was marriage and children. Later even her own siblings discouraged her from entering politics, citing the difficulties her Father faced. She emphasizes the discrimination she

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faced as a youth has made her particularly sensitive to the problems of immigrants to the United States.

After serving three terms in the California State Assembly, Ms. Roybal-Allard was elected to Congress in 1992 with 60 per cent of the vote in the general election and has been easily reelected in each successive election with an average of over 75% of the vote.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has developed a reputation as a well respected consensus builder, becoming the first female Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, the first to assume the position by election and not seniority. She was elected the first female Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and made history in 1999 when she became the first Latina appointed to the House Appropriations Committee. She serves on the Appropriations Sub-Committees including the Homeland Security Sub-Committee, which oversees funding for immigration processing and border and port security. As a member of this sub-committee she plays a pivotal role in securing the needed funding for any immigration legislation.

The 34th Congressional District consists of East central Los Angeles, Downey and Bellflower taking in the heart and Southeastern part of Los Angeles. It has an overwhelming Hispanic majority. At 77% the 34th Congressional District has the largest concentration of Hispanics in all of California. Roybal-Allard comes to the immigration debate with a very strong sense of historical precedent, personal knowledge and understanding of immigration issues. Her willingness to support the legislation speaks to her desire to find a solution to a problem the Congresswoman has seen and experienced first hand and which impacts a significant number of her constituents.

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Congresswoman Roybal-Allard's representation of a safe political district combined with her leadership and consensus building skills, and most importantly her position on the Appropriations Sub-Committee which will fund the bill, places her in a unique position of strength to bring about a resolution of the issue that can be supported by a majority of her colleagues. Roybal-Allard saw this legislation as a key important first step in finding a reasoned solution to the issue. What does the STRIVE Act actually do?

The Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007 (The STRIVE Act) was introduced by Democratic Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona with Congresswoman Roybal-Allard as an original co-sponsor. The legislation calls for specific areas of reform and the mechanisms to make it effective and enforceable. It includes significantly improved border security, better enforcement in our interior, and a series of steps and actions that will allow for foreign workers to become legal workers and most importantly it addresses the issue of citizenship by defining a program for earned citizenship without amnesty.

The bill addresses the need for enhanced border security and includes provisions for more border enforcement personnel, increased coordination with the department of defense, improvements to the border security infrastructure and stiffer penalties for those caught violating our immigration laws. While most immigrants come to this country seeking a better life for their families, some are a threat to our national security. This bill goes much farther in protecting our borders from the infiltration of terrorists and criminals.

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The legislation addresses the area of interior enforcement within the United States by increasing penalties for various offenses for immigrants, alien smuggling, violent acts and the sale or possession of firearms. It calls for the verification of citizenship for employees by creating a system for employers to electronically verify worker's employment authorization, sets criminal penalties for employers and employees who do not operate within the system. Extensive and strong enforcement mechanisms are integral to the legislation because it sets the framework for workers to be here eliminating any excuses by employers for having them on their payrolls. The bill contains the New Workers Program establishing a work visa program of three years which is renewable. To be eligible the worker must pass background checks, pay a fine, meet English and civics requirements, take a medical exam, show their admissibility to the U.S and pay their back taxes It sets the requirements and responsibilities for employers and establishes a program for immigrants to earn citizenship. This program allows a means by which a needed workforce remains functional and does so without challenging American citizens seeking employment.

Roybal-Allard is seeking a solution that is fair, workable, reasonable and acceptable to the majority of Americans residents. Many groups and organizations