In the News
As early images of Russian tanks and smoldering buildings emerged from Ukraine last week, the first thought that crossed Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) mind concerned the safety of the Ukrainian people. His next thought was the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump. "My first reaction, in the horror of the attack, was, ‘This is why what we did was so important,'" Jeffries, one of the managers of that impeachment, recalls.
When former Austin City Council Member Greg Casar stood before a crowd of cheering supporters Tuesday night, he portrayed his ascent from Workers Defense Project policy director to Democratic nominee for Congress as a sign that Republicans' stronghold on Texas masks a burgeoning progressive movement.
"You can win and lose elections, but you don't stop a movement," Casar said after declaring his win for the party's nomination for the 35th Congressional District. "Tonight, we won, but it wasn't about me. This election was about us. This election was about the power of the people. This election was about the power of our movement."
Several House Democrats are demanding the federal Bureau of Prisons make public an audit that examines reports of sexual assault at a federal women's prison in California where inmates say they've been subjected to rampant sexual abuse that has led to the arrests of four employees, including the former warden.
The eight legislators, including members of the House Judiciary and oversight committees and the Democratic Women's Caucus, wrote to prisons Director Michael Carvajal that they want him to provide a copy of the Prison Rape Elimination Act audit conducted at the federal correctional institution in Dublin, California, by the end of the month.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia spoke to KHOU 11's Daniel Gotera about the Congresswoman's virtual guest at the State of the Union address. She invited Sunny Bryant, an 8-year-old transgender girl.
(221) Rep. Sylvia Garcia speaks about her guest at the State of the Union address - YouTube
On the House floor, Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) praises President Biden's economic record.
SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Education Agency says no school districts in the state have applied for available funds that would help with protecting students in high crime areas who walk to and from school.
In 2016, Josue Flores was brutally stabbed while walking home from his middle school in the Houston area. The tragedy sparked a statewide effort to make roads safer for students who walk to school.
Houston lawmaker Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia helped push through Senate Bill 195, an act named after Flores.
One of the virtual guests for last night's State of The Union address by President Biden was Sunny Bryant.
She's an 8-year-old trans girl from Houston who was invited as an honored guest of Texas Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.
Sunny and her mom testified in Austin multiple times against a bill that forces student athletes to play on the sports teams for the genders that match their birth certificates.
President Joe Biden, as expected, devoted a good deal of his State of the Union speech Tuesday night to Russia's attack on Ukraine and the international condemnation it has drawn. But he did include LGBTQ+ issues, along with much discussion of the economy, immigration, criminal justice, and more. But some are questioning whether his comment on trans youth went far enough.
Biden gave a nod to LGBTQ+ people under the umbrella of "advancing liberty and justice." "For our LGBTQ+ Americans, let's finally get the bipartisan Equality Act to my desk," he said. "The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is wrong. As I said last year, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I will always have your back as your president, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential."
A very special guest will virtually attend Democratic President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address on Tuesday night — trailblazing eight-year-old transgender activist Sunny Bryant.
Bryant, a third-grader from Houston, has repeatedly testified in front of Texas legislators in opposition to Republicans' transphobic policies. Her testimony has put her in touch with other trans kids looking to live freely in Texas and has also inspired teachers and administrators at her school to call their legislators and oppose the policies as well.
She was invited to attend Biden's address by Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia (D).
In remarks on the House floor Tuesday, Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) spoke about Texas Governor Greg Abbott's recent push to investigate medical treatment for transgender youth.