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Democratic

Sylvia Garcia

Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional district.

Sylvia is a native of Palito Blanco, a South Texas farming community. The eighth of ten children, Congresswoman Garcia saw her parents struggle to raise her and her siblings. Congresswoman Garcia's parents taught her that with hard work and a good education she could accomplish anything. As a result of these lessons, Congresswoman Garcia dedicated herself to success at school. She earned a scholarship to Texas Woman's University in Denton, where she graduated with a degree in social work and political science. Congresswoman Garcia then received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston, working several jobs to pay for her tuition. Just as her parents believed in her future, Congresswoman Garcia believes the children of Texas can do anything. Garcia has dedicated her life to her community and to public service. As a social worker and legal aid lawyer early in her professional career, she protected our community's most vulnerable, old and young, and ensured no one was forgotten.

INFRASTRUCTURE & TRADE

Trade is a major driver of the Texas economy and that is why Congresswoman Garcia supported the USMCA. Mexico and Canada are two of Texas' biggest trading partners, accounting last year for nearly $230 million in total trade. Trade with Mexico and Canada also supports about 1 million jobs in Texas, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The renegoatiated USMCA:

  • Removes “Sustained or Recurring” Requirement so that acts of anti-worker violence can be more easily confronted and violations enforced.
  • Creates a new presumption that a labor violation affects trade and investment and will require the other government to prove otherwise.
  • Establishes Labor Attachés that will be based in Mexico and will provide on-the-ground information about Mexico’s labor practices.
  • Establishes key benchmarks for Mexico’s labor reform implementation process. Failure to comply with these benchmarks will lead to enforcement action under the agreement.
  • Leads to penalties on goods and services that are not produced in compliance with the freedom of association and collective bargaining obligations.
  • Creates a presumption that an environmental violation affects trade and investment and will require the other government to prove otherwise.
  • Establishes Environment-Focused Attachés in Mexico City that will regularly monitor Mexico’s environment laws, regulations, and practices.

The Congresswoman also fought to ensure that the USMCA included reauthorization of the North American Development Bank, which funds environmental projects along the U.S.-Mexico border. She also supported the reauthorization of the Export Import Bank, which supports U.S. companies exporting overseas.

Congresswoman Garcia is also supportive of the House Democrats' bold Moving Forward Infrastructure proposal. As part of this new proposal, she will fight to ensure that it includes language on the Port of Houston that will allow it to: 

  • Widen and deepen the Ship Channel.
  • Streamline a public private partnership for dredging operations along the Ship Channel.