NALEO to Honor U.S. Senate 'Gang of 8' with Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service

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U.S. Sens. Bennet, Durbin, Flake, Graham, McCain, Menendez, Rubio and Schumer will be honored at the NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala in February 2014

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) announced today that the U.S. Senate 'Gang of 8' will be presented with the prestigious Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service at the organization's annual NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala.  The event will be held February 12, 2014 at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.

The award will recognize the efforts of U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (confirmed), Dick Durbin (confirmed), Jeff Flake (invited), Lindsey Graham (invited), John McCain (confirmed), Bob Menendez (confirmed), Marco Rubio (invited) and Charles Schumer (confirmed) to move immigration reform forward by developing and securing passage of bipartisan legislation that would fix our nation's broken immigration system in June of this year.

"The 'Gang of 8' demonstrated extraordinary leadership in their efforts to achieve meaningful immigration reform that upholds the values of this great nation by including a path to citizenship and robust integration support for the millions of immigrants living in the shadows today," said Alex Padilla, NALEO President and California State Senator. "Fixing our nation's broken immigration system would unite American families, strengthen borders and recognize the significant contributions immigrants are making to our country each and every day.  We honor U.S. Sens. Bennet, Durbin, Flake, Graham, McCain, Menendez, Rubio and Schumer for exemplifying the spirit of service of the late Congressman Roybal by working on behalf of the American people to make immigration reform a reality in 2013."

The Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service is presented annually to individuals who have distinguished themselves as devoted public servants to the nation and the Latino community.  The award pays tribute to the organization's founder and President Emeritus, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal.  This year will mark the first time in the award's history that it will be presented to more than one individual in a single year, as well as to individuals outside the Latino community.

NALEO is also pleased to recognize the support of long-standing partner, PepsiCo, which will serve as the Chair of the 2014 NALEO Edward R Roybal Legacy Gala.  For more information about this event, please visit http://www.naleo.org/roybalgala/2014/.

This event is open to the press. Advance registration is required.  To register, please contact Amanda Bosquez at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 546-2536, or Paula Valle Castanon at [email protected] or (213) 747-7606.

About NALEO

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the leadership organization of the nation's more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.

Contact: Paula Valle Castanon, [email protected] 
(213) 747-7606 ext. 4414, (323) 253-6431 (cell)

Amanda Bosquez, [email protected]
(202) 546-2536, ext. 12, (361) 548-6989 (cell)

SOURCE National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)