2025-2026 CHSA Advisory Committee
Monica Garay, Co-ChairMonica is a proud Afro-Boricua from Brooklyn, New York, and currently serves as Executive Director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She previously served as Legislative Director for New York’s 13th Congressional District and Associate Staff for the House Committee on Appropriations.
Prior to this role, she served as a Senior Legislative Assistant for New York's 7th Congressional District, where she spearheaded initiatives to connect constituents with vital healthcare services and educational opportunities. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree, Magna Cum Laude, from CUNY Baruch College Marxe School of Public & International Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Public Administration from CUNY College of Staten Island. |
Emily Benavides, Co-ChairEmily Benavides is Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert E. Latta (OH-05). She previously led Benavides Strategies, advising political and nonprofit clients—including candidates, super PACs, and organizations—on strategic messaging. She also hosted the Purple Line Podcast for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.
Benavides spent nearly seven years with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), advising him on media strategy in Ohio and nationally. She also served as Communications Director for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee under Portman's leadership. Earlier, she was Traveling Press Secretary and Hispanic Communications Director for the Jeb! 2016 campaign, managing media strategy, surrogate booking, and on-the-ground press during the GOP primary. In 2014, she led communications for Governor Rick Snyder’s re-election campaign in Michigan. She also served as Florida Press Secretary and National Hispanic Press Secretary for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign and as Specialty Press Secretary for the 2012 Republican National Convention. Named one of HuffPost’s “40 Under 40: Latinos in American Politics” in 2014, Benavides was called “one of the Republican Party's top Latina communications operatives.” She received Cosmo for Latinas’ Fun, Fearless award in 2015 and CHLI’s Vermillion Congressional Staff Appreciation Award in 2021. Her past roles include Communications Director for the Hispanic Leadership Network and early career experience in the House of Representatives. |
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Marcos Ibarra |
Sara Garcia |
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Marcos Ibarra serves as Senior Policy Advisor/National Security Advisor to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). In this role, he leads the senator’s foreign policy, defense, and veterans affairs portfolios, and appropriations within these equities. Previously, Marcos served as political director for Catherine Cortez Masto for Nevada in 2022. He served as professional staff member on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, as a Policy Advisor to Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), Associate Director of Administration to then Vice President Joe Biden, and as regional representative to former Majority Leader Harry Reid. Marcos is a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War, serving in western Iraq in 2007.
He holds a bachelor in political science and a master in public administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He currently attends the Naval War College and plans to focus his master of Defense and Security studies on the Indo-Pacific theater. |
Sara Garcia is from Santa Clarita, California and is a second-generation Mexican American. She currently serves as the Director of Operations for Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10). Previously, she worked as Office Manager for The Home Depot Government Relations and Scheduler for Rep. Van Taylor (TX-03). Sara is an alumnus of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) and is Treasurer for the CHLI Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) with a B.A. in Political Science-International Relations and a minor in Spanish Linguistics. Sara has been dancing ballet folklorico for over 20 years and is an instructor for Corazon Folklorico Dance Company in Washington, DC.
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Eduardo LermaEduardo Lerma is a proud son of El Paso, TX, and was raised along the US-Mexico border. He has had the privilege of working for his hometown member, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), as her Chief of Staff since 2019.
Eduardo has worked in Congress for nearly 15 years in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and has experience in virtually all positions within a congressional office. Before his current role as Chief of Staff, he served as Director of Outreach at the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, a Senate leadership committee chaired by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), where he worked to advance the Senate Democratic agenda. He also served as a liaison for the Senate Democratic Caucus on issues relevant to Latino and Asian American communities. Prior to that, Eduardo spent 9 years in the House of Representatives, including time as Deputy Chief of Staff, Legislative Director and Homeland Security Legislative Assistant to former California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, as well as with the House Small Business Committee. Eduardo is a proud Jesuit Catholic and graduate of Santa Clara University, where he majored in finance. When he is not working, he and his wife, Johanna, spend their days enjoying adventures with their two daughters, Isela and Noemi. Though he has held many titles, his most cherished one has been being a dad. |
Carlos Paz Jr.Carlos Paz Jr. currently serves as Chief of Staff to Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles). He is a Capitol Hill, campaign and communications veteran. Carlos is one of the few Latinos to have served in senior roles in both House and Senate leadership offices: Senior Communications Advisor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Press Secretary & Director of Hispanic Media to Leader Chuck Schumer. In addition, he has served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (now governor of New Mexico), Chief of Staff to former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (now candidate for U.S. Senate), Communications Director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Campaign Manager to former City of Houston Controller Chris B. Brown.
Carlos is a Houstonian, graduate of The George Washington University, and the middle of five children born to Mexican immigrant parents. He enjoys running and mentoring and is married to Abigail Diaz. An interesting fact about him is that he was on a documentary series that took him to some of the most remote places in the world to give away hearing aids. |
Jason BercovitchJason Bercovitch began working for Rep. Peters in 2013 and currently serves as his District Director and Policy Advisor.
Bercovitch manages a portfolio focused on foreign affairs, financial services, and outreach to local small businesses and faith-based communities. Prior to joining Peters’ office, he was an intern for former Congresswoman Susan Davis while working as a financial advisor and loan officer at various local financial institutions. Bercovitch has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics and a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Bercovitch spent most of his childhood in Puerto Rico and is a fluent Spanish speaker. 
Raymond RodriguezRaymond Rodriguez is the Communications Director for Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49). Previously, he served as the National Press Secretary for former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-05) and Communications Director for Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15). He began his career as a paralegal for a GLBT legal rights group fighting for marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws. Raymond entered political communications at the NYC firm BerlinRosen advising nonprofits, unions, and Democratic campaigns on media strategy. He worked on the successful 2020 Ritchie Torres for Congress campaign that ultimately brought him to Capitol Hill.
Patricia ZaragozaPatricia Zaragoza is the Scheduler for the Office of Senator Alex Padilla, California. With over 7 years of congressional experience, Patricia has moved up from constituent services, operations, and policy. Patricia specializes in Scheduling/Operations but is passionate about intentional community building, mentorship, and advancing the lives of Latinos and allies alike. She is the youngest of four, a Tia to eight, and a proud product of immigrants from Mexico. She hopes to continue to serve as a resource to not only CHSA members but the Capitol Hill community writ-large.
Laura Muñoz Lopez Laura began her career on the Hill as the Judiciary Committee Legislative Assistant for Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04). In 2021, she joined Rep. Aguilar’s leadership office and is currently the Deputy Director of Member Services and Outreach for the House Democratic Caucus. She previously served as the Professional Development Director on the CHSA Board (2022-2023).
Laura was born in Colombia and immigrated to the United States at a young age. She was raised in South Carolina and moved to Illinois for college where she graduated from the University of St. Francis (Joliet, IL). Laura also received a Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University (Washington, DC). She is Deputy Member Services Director, House Democratic Caucus, Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33). |
Stephanie PalenciaStephanie currently serves as Director of Outreach for Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries where she heads the Leader’s stakeholder engagement and outreach strategy.
During her time in Washington, D.C., Stephanie has served in key leadership roles within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus under Chairs Raul Ruiz, M.D. and Joaquin Castro. Prior to her leadership within the CHC, Stephanie began her Capitol Hill Career as an aid to Representative Pete Aguilar. Stephanie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie is the daughter of hardworking immigrants from Honduras and credits her experiences traveling to Honduras as a large motivator for her career in public service. Stephanie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College and moved to Washington, D.C. in pursuit of opportunities to work on issues impacting Latino communities. 
Sara GuerreroSara Guerrero got her start on the Hill in Senator Schumer’s press shop, thanks in part to the mentorship she received from fellow Latino staff in CHSA. She went on to work for the Biden Presidential Campaign, Senator Cortez Masto’s office, and the DNC before becoming Communications Director and Senior Advisor to Congressman Robert Garcia. She loves the CHSA community and served as Placement Director on its board in 2021.
Kelvin BencosmeKelvin currently serves as a Professional Staff Member at the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on House Administration. In his role, he works on the Communication Standards Commission, providing detailed interpretations of House rules and ensures communication compliance for congressional offices. He also offers strategic guidance to help Members maximize communication resources, expand connections with their constituents, and increase mass communication tool use.
Prior to his current role, he participated in the CHLI Global Leaders program with the office of Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL) and Ferox Strategies. Following his completion in the program, he interned for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. A Miami, FL native, Kelvin graduated from Florida International University in 2024 with a bachelor’s in political science. 
Silvia RuelasSilvia is a Senior Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Norma J. Torres in the House of Representatives. Previously, she worked as a Legislative Aide for Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. Additionally, Silvia served as President of CHSA for the 2024-25 term. In her free time, Silvia enjoys playing soccer, cooking traditional Mexican food, and reading.
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