[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 43 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE PLANTING OF A TREE ON THE U.S. CAPITOL GROUNDS HONORING 
                      CONGRESSMAN EDWARD R. ROYBAL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2016

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I led the planting of a 
tree on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in honor of my father, the late 
Congressman Edward R. Roybal. The tree, a red oak (Quercus rubra), was 
planted on the south side of the House of Representatives along 
Southwest Drive, near the intersection of Independence Avenue SW and 
South Capitol Street.
  For helping to make this planting a reality, I extend my most sincere 
thanks to Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt, 
Architect of the Capitol Stephen R. Ayers, and all my congressional 
colleagues who signed the letter in support of the tree planting 
ceremony.
  On behalf of my family, I also extend my deep gratitude and 
appreciation to three congressional leaders who spoke at yesterday's 
ceremony: Senator Harry Reid, whom my father admired and considered a 
very dear friend; Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, whom my father often 
referred to as the gentlelady from California and predicted would one 
day become a great leader; and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, whom my 
father respected and proudly served with as a member of the 
Appropriations Committee. I also want to offer my heartfelt thanks to 
House Chaplain Fr. Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., who 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.
  Adding to this occasion is that it is also the 40th anniversary of my 
father's founding of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the 
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, better 
known as NALEO.
  If my father were alive today, of all the tributes he has received, 
including the Medal of Freedom from President Obama, the Presidential 
Citizens Medal from President Clinton, the naming of the CDC Campus in 
his honor, and many others, this would be among his most cherished, 
because this tree 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 30 years in 
Congress doing the people's work.
  The magic of this tree is that it will be a living testimony of my 
father's work to ignite beacons of hope and opportunity for all 
Americans.
  As a poet once wrote, ``A tree is the greatest human service 
provider. It provides shade while standing, comfort when converted, and 
fire when burned.''
  To all who made yesterday possible, and to those who honored us with 
your presence and made this occasion even more special, my family and I 
are extremely grateful, and we thank you.

                          ____________________