Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) led the planting of a tree on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in honor of her father, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal. The tree, a red oak (Quercus rubra), was planted on the south side of the U.S. House. Congressman Roybal served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1993. He also co-founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and founded the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).
The tree was planted to mark the centennial of Congressman Roybal’s birth, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the CHC and NALEO. The ceremony was attended by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and other members of Congressman Roybal’s family. Other distinguished guests included House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV), and Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers, who all joined Congresswoman Roybal-Allard in speaking during the ceremony. House Chaplain Fr. Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., blessed the tree during the ceremony.
“In celebration of the centennial of my father’s birth, I can think of no greater tribute than the planting of this red oak tree on the U.S. Capitol Grounds,” said Congresswoman Roybal-Allard. “If my father were alive today, of all the tributes he has received, this tree would be among his most cherished, because it is being planted between the House of Representatives, which my father truly believed is the people’s house, and the Rayburn Building, where he spent much of his thirty years in Congress doing the people’s work. This tree will be a living testimony to my father’s work to ignite beacons of hope and opportunity for all Americans.”