[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 161 (Friday, September 17, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING DAVID ROYBAL'S 80TH BIRTHDAY

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                      HON. TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 17, 2021

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor David Roybal's 
incredible contributions to our beloved New Mexico. His passion for 
life, for family, for the land, and for members of his community is 
everything that we cherish and stand for in our great state. David 
turns 80 years old today--still working the land and still giving back, 
as he has done his entire life.
  David was born and raised in Chupadero, New Mexico, and comes from a 
family that believed and practiced service and selflessness. David's 
grandfather- served in the Army, David's father served in World War II, 
and David followed in their footsteps and served in Vietnam. David, his 
father, and his father before him all received the Purple Heart. David 
gathers Purple Heart veterans together still and is a leader among 
these wounded warriors.
  While David served as a firefighter for 25 years, he worked with his 
neighbors in the acequias. He knows the profound significance that 
these irrigation systems bring to our agriculture, culture, economy, 
and heritage. In fact, David became Mayordomo in 1970. He worked and 
managed the lifeblood of our communities for 40 years. He worked 
because of his endless spirit to help others and improve the place he 
called home--never even expecting to be paid for his work.
  David embodies community. With everything he does, he promotes love, 
respect, selflessness, tradition, and kindness. There is no more 
perfect example of this than David's leadership in managing the acequia 
that brings so much value to every single member of the beautiful 
valley they call home.
  Happy Birthday, David. As I often say: agua es vida y acequia es 
comunidad. You are the life of our community. But it doesn't start and 
end with only water. Thank you for your lifelong commitment to 
breathing so many different kinds of life into our beloved communities.

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