[Retiring at the end of current term.] Lucille Roybal-Allard, the first woman of Mexican descent elected to Congress, represents one of the nation’s most heavily Latino districts and is among a group of female lawmakers calling themselves “The Closers” who have made changing immigration policies a career priority. Roybal-Allard joined the House in January 1993 just as her father, Edward Roybal, retired from Congress after 30 years in office. She began her own political career in 1986 at the behest of party officials who asked her to run for a state Assembly seat.

Learn what Lucille Roybal-Allard says about finding common ground