Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Votes for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) voted in favor of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a strong, bipartisan bill that builds on the House Democrat's first coronavirus-related bill - the $8.3 billion emergency supplemental package.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes:

• Free testing for the coronavirus: we secured funding for free testing for the coronavirus for all individuals, including the uninsured.
• For families' economic security: we secured paid emergency leave with two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave. We have also secured enhanced Unemployment Insurance, a step that will extend protections to furloughed workers.
• For families' food security: we strengthened nutrition security initiatives, including SNAP, student meals, seniors' nutrition and food banks. 22 million children rely on free or reduced-price school meals for their food security; we must ensure that they do not go hungry as a result of this public health crisis.
• For families' health security: we increased federal funds for Medicaid to support our local, state, tribal and territorial governments and health systems, so that they have the resources necessary to combat this crisis.

"I was proud to support this families first legislation that will start to provide much needed help to the people of Houston and all across the country," said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. "We fought back against Republican efforts to weaken worker protections in this bill and will continue to advocate for stronger protections that will put working families and small businesses first in our recovery efforts."

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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.