Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-El Monte, announced her retirement Saturday at the age of 86.
Napolitano, who has served in Congress for 24 years after a long career in local and state politics, made the announcement at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning for the Grace F. Napolitano Nature Education Center in La Puente.
“This is the only city I have represented for all those years, even before in the state Assembly,” she said, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported. “That is why it is fitting that I hear today announce the end of this term, which is in 2024 I will be retiring for the United States Congress.”
Her congressional colleague Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, was also on hand at Saturday’s dedication.
“I knew she was a fighter for her constituents, but it wasn’t until I went to Congress and joined her that I really got to see what a fighter she is,” Chu said, according to the Valley Tribune. “Thank goodness she’s the lead on water because together we were able to secure $20 million in the last two years to help with that cleanup effort — Thanks to Grace.”
Napolitano represents California’s 31st Congressional District, which includes El Monte, West Covina, Covina, Baldwin Park, Azusa, Bradbury, Duarte, Irwindale, South El Monte, Industry, La Puente, Avocado Heights, West Puente Valley, Valinda, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Monrovia.
She began her political career in 1986 on the Norwalk City Council, and was appointed mayor of that city in 1989.
Napolitano was elected to the state Assembly in 1992, and won election to Congress in 1998.
She’s the highest-ranking California member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she currently serves as ranking member on the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, which oversees EPA’s Clean Water Act and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water programs.
She also serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources, dealing with such issues as conservation, water recycling, desalination and groundwater management.