Carmen E. Arroyo - New York State Assembly

New York State Assembly

In a special election held in February, 1994, Arroyo ran and was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 84th District which includes the Bronx and thus became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the Assembly and the first Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly in the United States. Among the committees which she has been assigned to are those on:

• Alcoholism and Drug Abuse;
• Children and Families; and
• Education and Aging committees.

Arroyo has also been involved with:

• The Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force,
• The Black and Puerto Rican Caucus,
• The Women's Caucus,
• The National Order of Women Legislators, and
• The New York City Commission on the Status of Women

Arroyo's daughter, Maria del Carmen Arroyo has followed in her mother's footsteps and ran for a seat in New Yorks City Council and was sworn in on March 21, 2005 representing District 17 of the Bronx. On April 23, 2004, New York State Governor George E. Pataki presented Arroyo with the Champions of Housing Award in a reception held in Albany, New York.