The Texas Women’s Health Caucus is an official caucus of the Texas House of Representatives that works to promote women’s health care in the Texas Legislature.
Your voice in the Texas House.
Caucus Leadership
Chairwoman Donna Howard
Representative Donna Howard has served in the Texas House of Representatives since 2006. She serves as the Vice Chairwoman of the House Committee on Higher Education and on the House Appropriations Committee. She was also recently appointed to the Sunset Advisory Commission. She is the Chairwoman of the Texas Women’s Health Caucus, which is the largest caucus in the country solely focused on advancing women’s health policy. During her time in the Legislature, Chair Howard has advocated for access to the full range of women’s healthcare services, including abortion healthcare, and has championed legislation to ensure survivors of sexual assault in Texas can access the services, programs, and resources they need to heal.
Vice Chairwoman Toni Rose
Representative Toni Rose has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2013. Representative Rose currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Calendars and sits on the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Subcommittee on Article II Appropriations, and the House Committee on Human Services. Representative Rose authored House Bill 12, which extends postpartum Medicaid benefits for Texas mothers from two to 12 months to eliminate preventable pregnancy-related deaths. She is a fierce champion for District 110 and the state of Texas who will always advocate for policies that improve lives, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for all Texans to thrive.
Treasurer Rhetta Bowers
Representative Rhetta Bowers has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. She made history as the first Black woman elected to represent the district and was the first Afro-Latina elected to the Texas House. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Local and Consent Calendars Committee and is on the House Committees on Criminal Jurisprudence, Homeland Security and Public Safety, and the Select Committee on Community Safety. During her time in the Texas House, she has been a reproductive justice warrior and has filed legislation to protect our right to access quality, affordable healthcare services.
Secretary Claudia Ordaz
Representative Claudia Ordaz has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2020. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Texas House Committee for International Relations and Economic Development and a member of the Transportation and Resolutions Calendars Committees. During her second session, Rep. Ordaz passed the only bill expanding access to prescription contraception, which is of the utmost importance in this post-Roe world. She was recently named “Legislative Champion” by the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition for her work in expanding healthcare access for women and is considered a champion for reproductive rights in the Texas House.
Caucus Whip Jessica González
Representative Jessica González has served in the Texas House since 2019. She is a founding member of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus and currently serves as its Vice Chairwoman. She serves on the House Committee on Business and Industry and the House Committee on Urban Affairs. During her tenure in the Legislature, she has focused on expanding voting rights, protecting the civil rights of LGBTQ+ Texans, reforming our criminal justice system, and fighting for reproductive justice.
Representative Ann Johnson has served in the Texas House since 2021. She serves as the Vice Chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, as a member of the House Committee on Calendars, and the House Committee on Public Health. During her tenure in the Legislature, she has focused on legislation that improves access to healthcare services, has passed legislation to support survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking, and is a champion for LGBTQ Texans. Representative Johnson has been instrumental in the fight to ensure pregnant Texans can access the healthcare services they need in a post-Roe world.
General Counsel Ann Johnson
