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Congressional Daily Record
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June 18, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHONORING CHAMBERS COUNTY JUDGE FRANK JAMES “JIMMY” SYLVIA, JR.
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend and respected leader of Chambers County, Texas—County Judge Frank James ”Jimmy” Sylvia, Jr. For three decades, Judge Sylvia has guided Chambers County through a remarkable period of growth and transformation. On December 31, 2026, Judge Sylvia will retire from public office as the longest-serving county judge in Texas, concluding a distinguished career.
moved to Texas as soon as he could. The Sylvia family has been a pillar of the Old River community in Chambers County for decades. Jimmy was a standout athlete on the 1971 Barbers Hill High School football team, which won the Class 1 A co-state championship. He graduated from Barbers Hill in 1974 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2010. Judge Sylvia continued his football and academic pursuits at Sam Houston State University, where he graduated in 1979. Jimmy has often attributed the values he learned playing team sports to his success in serving the public. Anyone who has worked with him knows that to be true. Judge Sylvia's service to Chambers County began in 1993, when he was elected Commissioner for Precinct 3. Following the untimely passing of County Judge Oscar Nelson, he was appointed to serve as County Judge, assuming the responsibilities as the chief administrator and budget officer of Chambers County. He was later elected to the position in 1998 and concludes his seventh consecutive four-year term at the end of this year.
growing counties in the nation and has become one of the most desirable places to live in the Greater Houston area. During his tenure in office, the county population has more than doubled, as has the number of county employees. Additionally, the county budget expanded from $8.5 million in 1993 to $75.7 million today. Judge Sylvia has balanced the needs of rural rice-farming communities, one of the largest and most critical petrochemical complexes in the world, and the development of once-rural communities as the Houston region migrates further east.
Judge Sylvia serves as the county's chief emergency management official. During his tenure, Jimmy has been a steady hand overseeing responses to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Humberto, Gustav, Ike, Harvey, Imelda, Laura, Beta, and Beryl, as well as the 2019 Atlas Air Crash, COVID-19, Winter Storm Uri, and many others. His expertise has been widely recognized across Texas, and he has frequently been invited to speak at training programs for county judges, offering guidance on disaster response and emergency operations. For 17 years, Judge Sylvia has hosted a Hurricane Workshop that brings together local, state, and federal organizations to prepare for hurricane season. In May of this year, he was awarded the Texas Emergency Management Leadership Award in recognition of his achievements that have demonstrated a positive and significant impact on emergency management programs or community resilience, a well-deserved honor for a public servant who leads with integrity and a servant's heart.
most significant was the de-obligation of $9 million of Hurricane Ike cleanup debt that FEMA erroneously charged to Chambers County. His diligence and advocacy were instrumental in resolving that issue. Mr. Speaker, on December 31, 2026, Judge Jimmy Sylvia will conclude three decades of distinguished public service. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to my friend and offer my best wishes to his wife, Laura Lou, their children, and grandchildren as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. May God bless Chambers County, and may He continue to bless the Sylvia family.