Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Voted for The HEREOS Act, Continues Fighting for Immigrant Families

HOUSTON, TX – Last Friday,Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia(TX-29) voted in favor of the HEROES Act and against Republican efforts to heartlessly block taxpaying immigrants from receiving assistance in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. This bold piece of legislation will infuse nearly $1 trillion into local and state governments, allocate $200 billion to provide essential workers with hazard pay, provide $175 billion for assistance to renters and homeowners, grant $75 billion for expanding testing, tracing, and treatment capacities, and expand SNAP and other food assistance benefits for people in need.

"Families in the Houston region and all across the country are losing their jobs and are living in fear that they won't be able to put food on the table or keep a roof over their heads," said Congresswoman Garcia. "During this global pandemic, we need to make sure that no one is left behind, including hardworking ITIN users who pay billions in taxes and mixed-status families who were inhumanely denied economic relief under the CARES Act by House and Senate Republicans."

Additionally, Congresswoman Garcia has introduced three pieces of legislation as an original cosponsor to make sure that taxpaying immigrants and mixed-status families receive the economic relief they so desperately need. A summary of each bill is provided below:

H.R.6485 The Recovery Rebates Improvement Act

Summary:This bill provides that the valid identification number requirement for the 2020 recovery rebates is satisfied for married couples filing joint tax returns if one spouse provides a valid number.

H.R.6438 To allow 2020 recovery rebates to be made on the basis of an individual's taxpayer identification number.

Summary: This bill includes a valid identification number a taxpayer identification number for purposes of the 2020 recovery rebates.

H.R.6437 The Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act

Summary: This bill includes the exact same language as the Correa bill and includes a valid identification number a taxpayer identification number for purposes of the 2020 recovery rebates.  Additionally, the Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act would halt the implementation of the public charge rule, ensure that any benefits received during the pandemic do not count as a negative factor in future immigration status determinations, and prohibit discrimination based on immigration status in any program funded by the coronavirus relief bills. Under this bill, emergency Medicaid services would also be made available to all immigrants, and the Disaster SNAP program would be extended to allow individuals and families impacted by the pandemic to receive individual assistance from FEMA. Agencies that receive funding under a coronavirus law would have to make sure that all programs and opportunities are translated into the most frequently encountered languages in order to ensure that everyone has understanding and access to the resources available to them.

"This virus does not discriminate based on immigration status. Everyone is at risk of getting this deadly virus, which has severely affected the health and economic stability of our country," continued Congresswoman Garcia. "It is unconscionable that Republicans continue wanting to deny economic relief to immigrants who contribute to our economy and are helping keep our country open at great risk to their well-being and that of their families. This goes against our values as Americans and this is why I introduced three pieces of legislation as an original cosponsor that will right the wrongs of the CARES Act that initially excluded ITIN users and mixed-status from receiving the help they need."

###

Congresswoman 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. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.