Press Releases
Congressman Castro Demands Answers from Trump Administration on Mass Firings at the Department of Veterans Affairs
Read the full letter HERE SAN ANTONIO — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), who represents more than 50,000 San Antonio veterans, joined dozens of House Democrats in a letter last Saturday to demand answers and accountability from the Trump administration’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs after mass firings that affected more than 1,000 VA employees, many of whom are service-disabled veterans or military spouses. “The Administration’s late-night actions on February 13, 2025, to terminate over … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Congressman Castro, Texas Democrats Fight to Protect Clean Air and Drinking Water from Trump-Musk DOGE Agenda
Read Friday’s letter HERE SAN ANTONIO — On Friday February 14th, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and eleven of their Democratic colleagues from the Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana delegations sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin demanding that the Trump administration reverse the illegal firing of hundreds of EPA employees who perform critical and nonpartisan work … Continue Reading
February 15, 2025
Congressman Castro, House Foreign Affairs Leaders Urge U.S. Engagement at CARICOM Conference
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Yvette Clark (NY-09), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus, and Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (VI-ATL) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to send a high-level U.S. delegation to the 48th Regular … Continue Reading
February 15, 2025
Congressman Castro Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Harmful Cuts to Medical Research in Texas
Read Friday’s Letter HERE WASHINGTON — On Friday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and all Democrats in the Texas delegation to Congress sent an urgent request for the Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reverse harmful changes in the funding structure for federal research grants that could risk lifesaving medical research in Texas and across the country. While a federal judge has temporarily halted these changes, the future … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Congressman Castro Announces Appointment to Board of Trustees for National Museum of the American Latino
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) voted to appoint him to the Board of Trustees for the National Museum of the American Latino: “The National Museum of the American Latino is a beacon of light for our communities,” said Congressman Castro. “I am deeply honored to earn the trust of my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as our representative to the Board of Trustees. As a member of … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Congressman Castro Demands Action from President Trump to Lower Egg Prices and Confront Spread of Avian Flu
Read today’s letter HERE WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and more than 30 members of the Congressional Dads Caucus sent a letter demanding immediate action from President Trump to tackle the skyrocketing price of eggs, which is placing a significant financial strain on working families and small businesses in San Antonio. “As members of the Congressional Dads Caucus, we write to demand immediate action from your administration to address the skyrocketing price of eggs. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
“These decisions will come back to haunt the United States:” Congressman Castro Slams Trump Administration’s Dismantling of USAID
WASHINGTON — Today, during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) emphasized the dire consequences of shuttering the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), slamming the Trump administration’s attacks on the agency as a gift to dictators and strongmen who oppose USAID’s work to promote democracy around the world. Congressman Castro is the ranking member (the highest-ranking Democrat) on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
WATCH: Congressman Castro Honors Dr. Joseph “Joe” Bernal in House Floor Speech
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor Dr. Joseph “Joe” Bernal, a veteran, educator, and champion for bilingual education and Hispanic civil rights in Texas who served in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate, and the Texas State Board of Education. Dr. Bernal passed away on January 25, 2025 at 97 years old. Congressman Castro’s remarks (as delivered) are below: I rise to honor the … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
OPM Letter - National Security Spouses
OPM Letter Regarding National Security Spouses and Telework … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Castro, Van Hollen, Booker Lead House and Senate Democrats in Push to Protect Military, National Security Families from Forced Attrition
WASHINGTON - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD), and Senator Cory Booker (NJ) led House and Senate Democrats in a letter asking the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to explicitly exempt military and national security families from the Trump administration’s new restrictions on telework and remote work for federal employees. Spousal employment challenges are a major cause of forced attrition in both the military and the national security community. … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Reps. Castro, Escobar, Frost, and Senator Durbin Introduce Stop Arming Cartels Act
Bicameral legislation builds on the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to prevent trafficking of high-caliber weapons from the United States WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Senator Dick Durbin (IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the bicameral introduction of the Stop Arming … Continue Reading
February 03, 2025
Congressman Castro, San Antonio Leaders Respond to Trump’s Expensive and Dangerous Trade War
SAN ANTONIO — Today, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Texas State Senators José Menéndez (SD-26) and Roland Gutierrez (SD-19), and San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Luis Rodriguez held a press conference to respond to President Trump’s dangerous and reckless threats to raise prices for Texas families and businesses by levying tariffs on America’s largest trading partners. Early estimates indicate that Trump’s proposed tariffs … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
Castro, Leading Foreign Affairs Democrats Urge Secretary Rubio to Reverse Purge of State Dept. and USAID Workforce, Release Critical Foreign Assistance Funds, and Follow Law on DEIA Initiatives
WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a letter signed by all Democrats on the Foreign Affairs Committee to express concerns over the Trump Administration’s recent actions that undermine the State Department’s mission, its workforce, and U.S. global leadership. The letter urges Secretary Rubio to reverse the removal of career foreign … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
“We are going to stand up for families in this country:” Congressman Castro Delivers Remarks on President Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered remarks on President Trump’s recent immigration executive orders during a press conference held by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). Castro, a current vice chair of the CHC, served his term as chair during the final two years of the first Trump administration. Watch and download the video here Please note - video should be downloaded for highest resolution. A transcript of Congressman Castro’s remarks is below: I'm … Continue Reading
January 15, 2025
Statement from Congressman Castro on Ceasefire and Hostage Deal
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement in response to reports of a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas: “Over the last fifteen months, the war between Israel and Hamas has caused wretched destruction, carnage, and grief. I welcome today’s news, but I mourn for the innocent victims of this war, including the Israelis killed and kidnapped on October 7, 2023, and the tens of … Continue Reading
January 14, 2025
Statement from Congressman Castro and Senator Kaine on Biden Administration’s Decision to Rescind State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation for Cuba
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Tim Kaine (VA), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s decision to rescind the State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation for Cuba: “We applaud the Biden Administration’s decision to rescind the State Sponsor of Terrorism designation for Cuba. President Trump’s politically motivated decision … Continue Reading
January 10, 2025
Castro, Meeks, Shaheen, Kaine Lead Dem Statement on the Maduro Regime’s Ongoing Violence Against the Venezuelan People
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), along with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Senator Tim Kaine (VA) led Democrats in issuing a statement condemning the Maduro regime’s escalating authoritarianism and calling for urgent bipartisan action to support the Venezuelan people and uphold democratic values. Joining the statement are Representatives Greg Stanton … Continue Reading
January 08, 2025
Following Major Revelations About CIA Surveillance of the Latino Civil Rights Movement, Reps. Castro and Gomez Lead 30+ Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members in Push for Transparency from FBI
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) led 33 of their fellow Congressional Hispanic Caucus members in a letter calling on President Biden to direct the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release long-buried files on the historical surveillance of the Latino civil rights movement. Today’s letter follows the recent release of 55 documents related to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) surveillance of the Latino community. The CIA … Continue Reading
January 07, 2025
In Annual Report, Congressman Castro Highlights Nearly $6 Billion Secured for San Antonio in 2024
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released his 2024 end-of-year report for the 20th District of Texas, highlighting nearly $6 billion in federal funding that his office secured for programs and services in San Antonio. Highlights of today’s report include: $5.8 billion in grants and other funding for San Antonio programs and services, including $268 million for VIA’s Green Line bus project, $6 million for Head Start early education classrooms, and nearly $5 million for … Continue Reading
January 07, 2025
Congressman Castro Celebrates Enactment of Social Security Fairness Act
New law will restore full Social Security benefits to 273,154 retired public servants and families in Texas WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to celebrate the enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored to repeal restrictions that prevented millions of public servants from receiving the full Social Security benefits they earned: “Passing the Social Security Fairness Act was a matter of doing the … Continue Reading