Greg Casar went from Austin city councilman to chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus by never forgetting who he works for: working people. The son of Mexican immigrants, Casar grew up watching his parents work long hours for low pay, an experience that fuels his fight for workers’ rights, higher wages, and economic justice.

As a councilman, Casar passed paid sick leave and a $15 minimum wage in Texas—a state not exactly known for progressive policy. In Congress, he is championing the PRO Act to strengthen unions, fighting for Medicare for All, and demanding that infrastructure investments create good union jobs.

Casar once went nine hours without food or water in 100-degree heat to protest a Texas law that prevented water breaks for outdoor workers. That’s who he is: willing to sacrifice personally to fight for people everyone else ignores.