(please click here for the Spanish version) Gazing upon a newborn baby is one of life’s simplest joys. But assuring the birth of a healthy baby is anything but simple. We cannot take for granted that all babies will be born healthy. Nationwide, one in three newborns is born with a birth defect. And tragically, here in Los Angeles County, birth defects account for about one in four infant deaths. The death of even one baby is one too many. To save more families from this heart rending grief, we m... Read more

El mirar a un bebé recién nacido es simplemente uno de los momentos más preciados en la vida. Pero, asegurar el nacimiento de un bebé sano no es nada simple. No podemos suponer que todos los bebés nacerán sanos. Al nivel nacional, uno de cada tres recién nacidos nace con un defecto de nacimiento. Y, trágicamente, aquí en el condado de Los Angeles, una de cada cuatro muertes infantiles es causada por un defecto de nacimiento. La muerte de un solo bebé es demasiado. Para proteger las familias de ... Read more

Each year, thousands of hardworking families in the 34th Congressional District and throughout the Los Angeles area lose money they're entitled to because they fail to take advantage of two important tax credits - the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Could you be one of them? As the April 17 deadline approaches for filing your taxes, I encourage you to find out whether you qualify for one or both of these credits. The answer could mean more money in your pocket, ev... Read more

Washington, D.C. - Education is the key to opportunity. I believe in an America that offers the best possible education to all of our children and young people - wherever they live, whatever their background. Indeed, the number-one concern of America's parents is the quality of the education that their children receive. That is why I am working with others in Congress to enact a five-part initiative to strengthen our schools, expand educational opportunity and address the concerns of our nation... Read more

America has the best health care system in the world - for those who can afford it. But tens of millions of Americans pay too much and get too little from our health care system, and tens of millions more have no health insurance at all. The problem of working Americans with no health insurance continues to grow. Nearly 6.5 million people in California are uninsured, and the number increases every year. In Los Angeles County, more than 2.5 million people are estimated to lack health insurance. ... Read more

This week's Cinco de Mayo celebrations will take many forms, including educational programs in our schools, community events, and parties. Many of the parties are wonderful celebrations of our Mexican culture that highlight the many contributions we of Mexican descent have made to our great nation. As a mother, a grandmother, and a Member of Congress, I am proud of my family's Mexican heritage. However, I am deeply disturbed by the way Cinco de Mayo is often transformed by the alcohol industry ... Read more

The American Psychiatric Association honors Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard with its Platinum Award for her leadership in support of people with mental illness. Pictured from left to right: Dr. James Swanson of the University of California at Irvine; Congresswoman Roybal-Allard; and Dr. Alan Schatzberg, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford's School of Medicine. The association praised the congresswoman for her efforts to eradicate discrimination agains... Read more

With the costs of higher education soaring in this country, many families are struggling like never before to send their children to college. According to the College Board, a nonprofit association of educational institutions, average tuition and fees for both public and private four-year colleges climbed 38 percent over the last 10 years. This sharp increase in college costs is preventing many capable, eager and qualified students from pursuing a four-year degree. The Advisory Committee on Stud... Read more

Last weekend's Cinco de Mayo celebrations took many forms, including educational programs in our schools, community events, and parties. Many of the parties were wonderful celebrations of our Mexican culture that highlighted the many contributions we of Mexican descent have made to our great nation. As a mother, a grandmother, and a Member of Congress, I am proud of my family's Mexican heritage. However, I am deeply disturbed by the way Cinco de Mayo is often transformed by the alcohol industry ... Read more