CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA INVITES “FIGHT FOR $15” ADVOCATE, ANNA ALVAREZ, AS GUEST TO THE STATE OF THE UNION

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) announced today that Houston resident Anna Alvarez will join her as her guest at the State of the Union in Washington, DC, tomorrow, February 4th, 2020.

Anna Alvarez is a wheelchair attendant at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. For nearly 20 years, she has worked hard helping people with disabilities and elderly travelers get to their destination safely. For all of that hard work and dedication, Anna's pay has remained stagnant at $7.25 for nearly two decades. She has never received a raise.

Anna has worked double shifts her entire life to provide for her five daughters by herself. Since she started at the airport, rent and many other living expenses have doubled, while wages have remained the same. Anna is fighting for $15 and a union so she and her co-workers can be treated with respect, put food on the table, and spend more time with family.

Congresswoman Garcia invited Anna to highlight her story and the story of working-class families in Houston and across the country who are struggling to make ends meet and are looking to their elected officials to raise the minimum wage. Last July, Congresswoman Garcia joined Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives to pass the Raise the Wage Act, the first minimum wage hike in over a decade. According to the Economic Policy Institute, this bill would benefit over 181,900 workers like Anna in the Texas 29th Congressional District.

"No person in America should have to work several jobs or double shifts and still be unable to make ends meet," says Congresswoman Garcia. "For far too long, wages have remained low while the cost of living has continued to increase. I have always been a strong supporter of organized labor and I am proud to stand with Anna in her fight for $15," continues Congresswoman Garcia. "It is time for the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to schedule a vote on the bipartisan Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage and help put more money in the pockets of many hardworking Americans like Anna," concludes Congresswoman Garcia.

"I've worked for almost 20 years at Bush Intercontinental Airport for $7.25. Yet, I've never received a raise," says Anna Alvarez, a wheelchair attendant in Houston. "I don't want my grandkids to go through what I went through. Congress can make this stop by raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and making sure we have Unions for All."

Unfortunately, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader McConnell continue blocking the Raise the Wage Act, which would make a significant difference in the lives of hardworking Americans such as Anna. Their inaction is hurting millions of hard-working families that stand to benefit from this bill. It is time they join us in giving millions of Americans a much-needed raise.

###

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