October 19, 2005

Pryce Pays Respect to Former Rep. Romualdo Pacheco
(R-CA) – A Pioneering Hispanic American House Member

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) issued the following statement regarding today’s unveiling of a portrait of Hispanic American Congressman Romualdo Pacheco in the United States Capitol Building:

“It is fitting that on the heels of our country’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the House of Representatives honors the legacy of Romualdo Pacheco. Congressman Pacheco’s life-long commitment to public service, including his tenures as a member of the California state assembly, county judge, state treasurer, governor and Congressman, is truly inspiring.

“Romualdo Pacheco’s portrait in the U.S. Capitol will serve as a reminder to us all of Hispanic Americans’ centuries-old contribution to the shaping of our country.”

Representative Romualdo Pacheco is the only Hispanic to serve as Governor of California. During his tenure in Congress, Pacheco served on the Select Investigatory Committee on the death of President Garfield and became the first Hispanic to chair a standing committee in Congress (Committee on Private Land Claims). A lifelong Republican, Congressman Pacheco served the U.S. House from 1877 to 1878, and again later from 1879 to 1883. His portrait will hang permanently on the 3rd floor of the west side of the Capitol immediately outside the Visitor's Gallery. 

Congresswoman Pryce represents the Fifteenth District of Ohio, which includes Western Franklin County, Madison, and Union Counties.  She serves as Chairman of the House Republican Conference for the 109th Congress, making her the fourth ranking member of House leadership.  The Congresswoman also co-chairs the Cancer Caucus.