[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING EDWARD R. ROYBAL METRO GOLD LINE EASTSIDE EXTENSION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 16, 2009

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the opening of 
the Edward R. Roybal Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension project into my 
38th Congressional District. This project, which has received $490 
million in federal funding, will be a vital transportation link for the 
communities of East Los Angeles and sometime in the future continue 
through San Gabriel Valley cities. The project has already begun to 
spur economic development in this historic Mexican-American section of 
Southern California.
  I congratulate my neighboring colleague, Congresswoman Lucille 
Roybal-Allard for her great work on behalf of this Eastside Extension. 
She has led the East Los Angeles County delegation in the fight for 
federal funding for this project over the years. She has continued a 
tradition of dedicated service to this community begun many years ago 
by her father, Edward R. Roybal, and we are honoring him here today by 
naming the Edward R. Roybal Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension in his 
memory.
  This is only the beginning of bringing this important rail extension 
project to a working class area. Planning and design for phase 2 of 
this project continues, as it extends the metro line to the cities of 
Eastern Los Angeles County. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority 
and my colleagues must continue to pursue a full funding grant 
agreement for this project with the Federal Transit Administration in 
an effort to provide Metro access to the millions of people living in 
Eastern Los Angeles County. Major cities have great rail transit and 
the East Los Angeles community should be no exception!
  Madam Speaker, my constituency welcomes the metro service finally 
connecting East Los Angeles to the greater Los Angeles community. This 
will go a long way to encourage the citizens of East Los Angeles to 
continue their push for cityhood and will allow the residents of this 
area to be involved in critical projects, such as the Eastside 
Extension, that will impact their neighborhood and way of life.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues please join me in congratulating the Los 
Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Eastern Los Angeles 
Congressional Delegation, Supervisor Molina, the Review Advisory 
Committee and the residents of East Los Angeles for their involvement 
in making this historic moment a reality.

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