José Airton Félix Cirilo

José Airton Félix Cirilo da Silva was born on February 21, 1957, in Aracati, in the interior of Ceará. The son of farmers, he moved to Fortaleza as a child, at the age of ten. He graduated in Civil Engineering and Law from the University of Fortaleza, holds a master's degree in Public Law from the Federal University of Pernambuco, and studied Administration at UECE. From a young age, he was a student activist, exercising leadership in engineering student unions, and was actively involved in the founding of the Workers' Party (PT) in Ceará.

Political career

His political career includes terms as city councilor of Aracati, two terms as mayor of Icapuí, city councilor in Fortaleza, as well as candidacies for governor of the State of Ceará in 1998 and 2002. In these state elections, he played a prominent role, reaching the second round in 2002, where he lost by a very small margin. In 2005, he was appointed director of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT). In 2006 and in subsequent elections, he was elected federal deputy for the PT (Workers' Party), being re-elected in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, consolidating many years of parliamentary activity.

Performance in the National Congress

In the National Congress, José Airton Cirilo focuses on infrastructure, job creation, vocational education, tourism, and the recognition of professions, with special attention to retail workers. He is a full member of the Tourism and Transportation Committees; and an alternate member of the Sports Committee. In April 2025, he was appointed Secretary for Early Childhood, Childhood, Adolescence, and Youth of the House of Representatives, where he intends to promote public policies aimed at children and young people, improve early childhood education, and strengthen the social protection network. He was also the rapporteur for the Fisheries Law and the creation of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture.