Newly elected to the 88th Texas Legislature, State Representative Josey Garcia serves as the representative for House District 124 in West San Antonio. As the first woman and active-duty veteran in Texas House history, Representative Garcia's personal journey is marked by resilience and a dedication to public service. Her early experiences, having lived in multiple foster homes and attended 13 different schools, inform her advocacy for vulnerable populations, including children in the foster care system.

Garcia’s service in the U.S. Air Force spanned over two decades, with deployments to Cameroon and Iraq. She retired in 2014 after a distinguished military career. Following her retirement, she became a community advocate and co-founded Uniting America Outreach, a nonprofit committed to delivering food and resources to those in need. Her organization notably provided over 9,000 meals during Winter Storm Uri and raised substantial funds for humanitarian aid in Mexico.

In her personal life, Josey is married to Ramon Garcia, an Army veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was awarded a Purple Heart. Together, they have a blended family of eight children, including two sons on the autism spectrum. This blend of experiences informs her legislative focus, which prioritizes veterans, children affected by the foster care system, retirees, and working families striving for affordable housing and better job opportunities.

Legislative Focus and Committees

Representative Garcia sits on the Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee, as well as the Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee. In these roles, she is involved in discussions that directly impact Texas’s cultural heritage and address the needs of veterans and military families.

Throughout her tenure, Garcia has sponsored and supported numerous pieces of legislation aimed at improving the welfare of various constituents, particularly those within the foster care system and veteran communities. Notably, she served as a joint author of House Bill 1705 which aims to provide diligent participation credit for defendants in state jail felony facilities to incentivize rehabilitation—a critical step in her advocacy for criminal justice reform that emphasizes supportive rather than punitive measures.

Furthermore, through her support of resolutions like House Resolution 2444 and House Resolution 2451, she has acknowledged the invaluable contributions of legislative aides and staff in her office, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and recognition in the legislative process.

Political Leanings

Representative Garcia's legislative agenda leans towards support for rehabilitation and assisting vulnerable populations. Her backing of bills aimed at enhancing accessibility to vital services—like the foster care reforms intended to communicate children's rights and resources—illustrates her commitment to child welfare. For instance, House Bill 5044 proposes improved communication regarding foster children's rights, reflecting her focus on transparency and accountability within the system.

Additionally, Garcia’s involvement in initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of students and families, such as House Bill 177, which provides financial incentives for public school employees, and her support for bills addressing healthcare access, such as those relating to HIV testing, position her as a legislator committed to public health and education reform.

Through her multifaceted background and active engagement in legislative processes, State Representative Josey Garcia demonstrates a profound commitment to creating equitable policies that advocate for the underrepresented and further enhance the quality of life for all Texans in House District 124.