(March 22, 2006) Commerce - Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard meets with representatives from nine area health care clinics - all members of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County -- at a roundtable discussion she organized at the Commerce Emergency Operations Center to discuss their patients' health care needs. A member of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee of Appropriations, the congresswoman also met with the association's members on March 29 in Washington, D.C. to further discuss the federal funding needs of community health care clinics nationwide. The association's clinics in Los Angeles County serve more than half a million uninsured and underinsured patients each year. In recognition of the congresswoman's longstanding advocacy on behalf of community health care clinics and the uninsured, the National Association of Community Health Centers recently presented the congresswoman with its 2005 Distinguished Community Health Defender award for her efforts to "strengthen America's health centers and preserve access to vital health care services for more than 15 million uninsured and medically undeserved Americans." Previously, the national association also presented the congresswoman with its 2000 Distinguished Community Health Champion Award. Pictured in the photo of the congresswoman holding the award are representatives from AltaMed Health Services Corp., which has centers throughout the 34th District. From left to right, they are: Zoila Dalia Escobar, AltaMed's Vice President for Strategic Development and Community Support; Dr. Marie S. Torres, AltaMed's Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Community Research Initiatives; Cástulo de la Rocha, President and CEO, AltaMed Health Services Corporation.