Rep. Mayra Flores, the newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives, will serve as a member of the House Agriculture Committee.
Flores, R-Texas, was sworn into office on June 21 after winning a special election on June 14 to fill the rest of the term held by Rep. Filemon Vila Jr., who resigned from his congressional position.
Flores was born in Mexico, and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six years old. Eight years later, she became a U.S. citizen.
"As a legal immigrant from Mexico who grew up working in cotton fields to help ends meet, I am looking forward to working alongside my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee to advance commonsense policies that help farmers and producers in South Texas and across the country continue to feed the world and provide good-paying jobs for Americans," Flores said in a press release.
Her appointment was welcomed by House Agriculture Committee ranking member Glenn "G.T." Thompson, who stated: "After a historic victory in Texas’ 34th Congressional District, I’m excited to welcome Congresswoman Mayra Flores to the House Agriculture Committee. As the first Mexican-born Congresswoman and the first Republican to represent the Rio Grande Valley in more than a century, I look forward to Rep. Flores sharing her unique perspective. I have great confidence she will represent the agriculture industry well and I’m grateful to have her on our farm team as we work together to support rural communities nationwide."
Vela resigned from his congressional seat to work as a lobbyist for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
