At the annual Edward R. Roybal Memorial Lecture on the University of Southern California campus, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) thanked the University of Southern California for its commitment to the Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging and to the institute’s mission of improving the quality of life for Older Americans in our country.

The event is intended to honor the legacy of the late Edward R. Roybal – the congresswoman’s father – as a visionary national leader in establishing aging services and a champion for civil rights and equal justice.

The congresswoman gave the following remarks, which included the introduction of Congresswoman Karen Bass who was this year’s invited speaker:

“Thank you, Dean Flynn, for that kind introduction. It seems impossible that it has been four years since we first gathered here to celebrate the establishment of the Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, here on the campus of the University of Southern California.

I am so happy to be able to join you once again, and on behalf of the entire Roybal Family thank your Trojan Family for your continued commitment to the Institute and the vision my Father held so dear—the successful translation of research into practical strategies for successful aging.

While President Nikias could not be here, I want to acknowledge my friend Max for his support and dedication to ensuring the success of the Institute’s mission. Without him, the move to USC would never have happened in the first place.

It’s been an exciting year for the Institute under the new leadership of Dr. William Vega. Just last fall the Institute’s newly designed website was launched, and its first health policy brief titled "Los Angeles Population Change and Healthy Aging," was published.

I was pleased that Dr. Vega was able to join us in Washington and add his insights during a Congressional Hispanic Caucus roundtable on health disparities last year, and I am excited about the energy he has brought to his role as the Institute’s leader.

Fulfilling my father’s commitment to enhancing access to health information and resources—particularly among low income and minority communities—is the hallmark of the Institute’s work.

I want to congratulate the recipients of the two awards to be given today and thank them for their work to make my Father’s goals a reality.

Mr. Slettie Jones, winner of the first USC Roybal Institute Community Partnership Award, is the Corporate Director of Older Adult Services for Pacific Clinics. Mr. Jones is an expert in the area of geriatric mental health. Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Jones was instrumental in the development and implementation of a culturally relevant, mobile mental health program serving home bound older adults.

Mr. James Jackson, a distinguished scholar at the University Of Michigan School Of Public Health and the Director of the Institute for Social Research, is this year’s winner of the prestigious Pearmain Prize for Excellence in Research on Aging. He is being recognized today for his outstanding research contributions to the field of adult development and aging.

I congratulate both of you on your distinguished work as a practitioner, and as a scholar and researcher, and thank you both for your dedication and commitment to improving the quality of life for Older Americans in our country.

Finally tonight, I have the great honor of introducing our keynote speaker. It’s a great pleasure to introduce our newest member of the Los Angeles Congressional Delegation who will be giving this year’s Edward R. Roybal Memorial Lecture.

Congresswoman Karen Bass was elected last November to serve California’s 33rd Congressional District—Karen is USC’s new Representative in the U.S. House and I know you are thrilled to have her.
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Many of you already know her, and are well aware of her historic election as the 67th Speaker of the California Assembly—the first African American woman in the country to serve in this powerful state legislative role.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi immediately recognized her leadership qualities only weeks upon entering the halls of Congress. Leader Pelosi selected her to serve on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus. She also serves on the Committees on Budget and Foreign Affairs.

I am so happy to welcome you to this Roybal Institute event for the first time, and look forward to working with you in Congress to ensure that all American seniors, and particularly our most vulnerable in low-income and minority communities have the information, resources and care to flourish as they age.”