A firm believer in the importance and power of education, Congressman Rodriguez began his career in public service as a board member of the Harlandale Independent School District in 1974. At this time he was working as a social worker with the Bexar County Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation, but later became a trainer for the Intercultural Development Research Association. He served in this capacity until he decided to launch his legislative career in the Texas State Legislature and began teaching for his alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake University, in 1987.

While in the Texas House of Representatives, Representative Rodriguez drew from his experience as a social worker and educator to fight to increase Texas high school graduation rates.  As a state Representative, Congressman Rodriguez drafted the landmark Texas law guaranteeing acceptance of the top ten percent of Texas high school graduates to any public four-year Texas university. He was also responsible for the development of the "dual-credit" program, which allows high school students to earn college credit for advanced courses.

The 23rd Congressional District is the largest district in the state, covering most of West Texas from San Antonio to El Paso. It includes portions of Bexar (San Antonio), El Paso and Sutton counties, as well as Brewster, Dimmit, Maverick, Presidio, Zavala, Crockett, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Medina, Pecos, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde and Val Verde Counties.

Congressman Rodriguez was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico raised and educated in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Harlandale High School, received his B.A. at St. Mary's University, and earned his MSW from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez and his wife, Carolina Peña, have been married for thirty-one years. Their daughter Xochil is currently in law school.