Sylvia Garcia

Sylvia Rodriguez Garcia is a Democratic U.S. Representative for Texas's 29th congressional district, representing much of eastern Houston. Born in San Diego, Texas, and raised in the farming community of Palito Blanco, she was the eighth of ten children. Garcia earned a Bachelor of Arts in social work and political science from Texas Woman's University in 1972 and later received her Juris Doctor from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Before entering politics, she worked as a social worker and a legal aid attorney. Garcia's public service career began as the presiding judge of the Houston Municipal Court System, where she served five terms. She was elected Houston City Controller in 1998 and later served as a Harris County Commissioner from 2003 to 2011, making history as the first woman and first Latina elected to the court in her own right. Following a five-year tenure in the Texas State Senate starting in 2013, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018. Upon being sworn in on January 3, 2019, she became one of the first two Latinas to represent the state of Texas in Congress. In Congress, Garcia serves on the House Financial Services and Judiciary Committees. She gained national recognition in 2020 when she was selected as one of seven impeachment managers for the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, becoming the first Latina to serve in that capacity. Her legislative efforts often focus on protecting the rights of working families, expanding access to healthcare, and advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.

Garcia is a prominent advocate for immigration reform, serving as the lead sponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, which seeks to provide a pathway to citizenship for 'Dreamers' and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). She consistently opposes mass deportation policies and the militarization of the border. On healthcare, she supports expanding Medicaid, lowering the costs of premiums and prescription drugs, and protecting Medicare and Social Security. Her economic platform emphasizes raising the federal minimum wage, protecting the rights of workers to unionize and bargain collectively, and increasing federal investment in affordable housing. Regarding the environment, she has focused on clean air and water initiatives for the Houston region, including the remediation of Superfund sites. Garcia also supports gun violence prevention measures and the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect voting access.