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. NY State Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo has been sued by the state Board of Elections 21 times since 2006 for failing to file her campaign finances. The nondisclosure is a violation of state election laws that often results in heavy fines, but little else. Arroyo has an established record of ignoring the deadlines. The Board of Elections has sued the lawmaker 21 times since 2006—for a total of $12,700—for failing to file campaign financial disclosures. It is speculated that her failure to report is due to misappropriation of campaign funds in connection to gambling. Board of Elections Officer Risa Sugarman referred Arroyo to the state attorney general in 2015 due to numerous financial irregularities. Including a number of 'loans' allegedly made in 2014" by the campaign committee to Arroyo. At least one of the loans appeared to have been paid directly to Empire City Casino in Yonkers, Sugarman wrote. In total, $3,322 in campaign funds were either withdrawn from an ATM located at the casino or used to make at least one direct purchase at the facility, Sugarman found. According to a footnote in the letter, a January 2015 bank statement from Chase indicates that a "loan" of $518 made on Jan. 2 of that year was a "card purchase" made to Empire City Casino. In addition in 2013, it was found that individuals who worked on Arroyo's daughters campaign in 2013 had forged petition signatures for ballot access in her reelection to council. She also came under fire