Nydia velazquez biography 113th congress

Nydia M. Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in Congress, is the Representative for New York’s 7th Congressional District.

Where is nydia velázquez from

This is just one of many accomplishments, as she is also Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee. Deeply motivated by the experiences of her childhood, Congresswoman Velázquez continues to advocate for New York’s working class.

Born on March 28th, 1953, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, Velázquez is one of nine children. Raised by hard working parents Don Benito and Doña Serrano Velázquez, it was early on that Velázquez observed her parents working hard to support her family.

Her parents had many different jobs, from selling Puerto Rican pasteles to workers Yabucoa’s  cane fields to operating a business that created cinder blocks. Witnessing her parents juggling many duties to keep their family afloat was a driving force in Velázquez’s work in championing for equity.

Along with these experiences, her ultimate interest in fighting for working class