Press Releases
Castro, Jayapal, Schakowsky, Doggett, McGovern, Lee, Pocan, Jacobs, Balint Statement on the Senate Vote to Suspend Offensive Weapons Aid to Israeli Government
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Becca Balint (VT-AL) released the following statement in support of Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) joint resolutions of disapproval, S.J. Res 111, S.J. Res 113, and S.J. Res 115, to suspend specific offensive arms transfers to Israel: “Our Senate colleagues will … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
New GAO Report on Gun Trafficking: 73% of Guns Recovered in Caribbean Can Be Traced Back to United States
WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of a new report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) that examines the role of U.S. firearms in Caribbean arms trafficking. The report found that nearly … Continue Reading
October 16, 2024
Congressman Castro Applauds FAA Plan to Approve Direct Flights from DCA to SAT
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a plan to grant San Antonio International Airport (SAT) one of the ten new direct flights slots from Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). Castro, a longtime advocate for direct flights from SAT to DCA, worked to secure the additional direct flights as part of the FAA Authorization Act of 2024. “For years, I’ve been working with … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Bipartisan Castro-Salazar Bill to Target Fentanyl Precursors, Combat Drug Trafficking into the United States
WASHINGTON — This week, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted unanimously to pass the DISPOSE Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) that seeks to curb fentanyl trafficking and address the devastating toll of fentanyl addiction. Castro and Salazar are the highest-ranking Democrat and Republican, respectively, on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. “In San … Continue Reading
September 24, 2024
With Tracks from Selena, Freddy Fender, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Others, Congressman Castro Nominates 30 Latino Recordings for Preservation in the Library of Congress
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released his annual nomination list of songs, sounds, and albums by Latino voices that should be preserved in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. Established by the U.S. Congress in 2000, the National Recording Registry is designed to preserve sounds and recordings with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. As of 2024, the National Recording Registry includes 650 recordings, … Continue Reading
September 19, 2024
Castro, Luján, Cardin Lead Resolution to Combat Disinformation and Misinformation in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the highest-ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (NM.), Chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and Ben Cardin (MD), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to lead the introduction of a bicameral resolution expressing concern about Spanish-language disinformation and misinformation across Latin … Continue Reading
September 17, 2024
Castro, Foster Introduce the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), the co-chair of the Research and Development Caucus and the only Ph.D. physicist in Congress, introduced the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act, legislation that would strengthen U.S. science and research partnerships by extending appropriate privileges and immunities to the CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. “For … Continue Reading
September 16, 2024
Castro, Bonamici, Matsui, Casar, and Moylan Urge Postmaster General DeJoy to Replace Neighborhood Cluster Boxes and Address Harmful Shifts in USPS Policy
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) led four of his colleagues - Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), and James Moylan (R-Guam) in a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing bipartisan concerns about recent changes to USPS policy that have damaged public faith in the reliability of the service. “For over a year, thousands of our constituents have not had functional mailboxes after USPS suddenly abandoned a longstanding … Continue Reading
September 16, 2024
ICYMI: Congressman Joaquin Castro and National Latino-Serving Organizations Announce Newly-Formed Latino Representation in Gaming Coalition
Group seeks more transparency, greater representation in industry and content, and inclusive and inviting environment for Latinos View Full Recording of the Press Conference WASHINGTON - On Thursday, September 12, 2024, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined the National Media Coalition, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, MANA, Latinx in Gaming, the Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility and the Latino Corporate Directors Association … Continue Reading
September 15, 2024
Ahead of Emmy Awards, Congressman Castro Congratulates First Latino Chair of the Television Academy
VARIETY: Congressman Joaquin Castro Celebrates TV Academy’s Cris Abrego’s Historic Role at the Emmys on Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff SAN ANTONIO — Ahead of tonight’s Emmy Awards, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to recognize the achievements of Cris Abrego, the first Latino chair of the Television Academy: “Tonight, Cris Abrego will make history as the first Latino Television Academy chair to preside over television’s biggest night. For decades, Cris has … Continue Reading
September 13, 2024
Ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month, Castro, Padilla, and Cornyn Lead Introduction of Bipartisan Resolution to Honor Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week
WASHINGTON — Ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senators Alex Padilla (CA) and John Cornyn (TX) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to designate the week starting on September 9, 2024, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. Castro is the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus and Padilla chairs the Senate HSI Caucus. The resolution is co-led in the House of Representatives by Congressional HSI … Continue Reading
September 06, 2024
San Antonio Congressional Delegation Commends VA for Reversing Decision to Cancel Veterans Day Ceremony at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery
SAN ANTONIO - Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and members of the San Antonio Congressional delegation sent a bipartisan letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough urging the agency to reverse a recent decision to cancel the annual Veterans Day Observance Ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Yesterday evening, the agency announced that the ceremony would continue as planned after pushback from San Antonio veterans and members of the San … Continue Reading
September 06, 2024
Congressman Castro and Congresswoman Escobar Lead Call for Justice Department to Investigate State-Sponsored Voter Intimidation and Suppression in Texas
SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO, TEXAS — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led nine of their colleagues in the Texas Congressional Delegation in a letter urging Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to investigate recent incidents of voter suppression and intimidation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott. The letter was additionally signed by Reps. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Greg … Continue Reading
August 29, 2024
Congressman Castro Releases 2024 Latino Film Nominations for Recognition and Preservation by the Library of Congress
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released his third annual list of Latino film nominations for consideration by the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Castro’s 2024 nomination list includes newly eligible films (Cesar Chavez), modern film masterpieces (Babel), generational favorites (Gotta Kick It Up!), and groundbreaking historical narratives (Chicano I & II: The Mexican American Heritage Series) and reemphasizes longstanding calls for classics of … Continue Reading
August 26, 2024
Congressman Castro Announces Six-Figure NSF Grant to Support Undergraduate STEM Programs at St. Mary’s University
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that St. Mary’s University in San Antonio will receive a $132,938 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand laboratory and research opportunities for students in the Environmental Science, Forensic Science, and Biology programs. The grant was provided through NSF’s Improving Undergraduate Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions program, which supports the academic success of STEM majors from underrepresented … Continue Reading
August 16, 2024
At Celebration in Crownhill Acres, Congressman Castro Touts $1 Million Grant for Energy-Efficient Home Improvements
SAN ANTONIO — On Thursday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined CPS Energy in the Crownhill Acres neighborhood to celebrate a $1 million grant he secured to grow the Casa Verde Weatherization Program and help approximately 500 low-income homeowners qualify for no-cost, energy-saving home improvements. The celebration was held at the home of a Casa Verde beneficiary who has owned her home for nearly four decades. “CPS Energy’s Casa Verde program is a wonderful initiative that helps San … Continue Reading
August 13, 2024
Congressman Castro Kicks Off Third Annual Call for Latino Music Nominations to the National Recording Registry
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a longtime champion for Latino representation in American arts and entertainment, announced that his office is now accepting suggestions from the public for Latino songs and albums to shape his 2024 nominations to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. “From the earliest days of recorded sound, Latino musicians have made incredible contributions to the soundtrack of American life. My annual National Recording … Continue Reading
August 07, 2024
Castro, Warren, Sanders Urge DOJ, FCC to Scrutinize New Sports Streaming Service From Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney
View the Full Letter WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Bernie Sanders (VT) wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the agencies to closely scrutinize a proposed joint venture between Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney subsidiary ESPN that would create a new streaming service called Venu Sports (Venu). “This massive new sports streaming company would be … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
“A Byzantine Bureaucratic Process:” Castro, Warren Urge DOD to Fix Broken Billing System at Military Hospitals
WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) sent a letter urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a final rule waiving medical costs for qualified civilian patients who receive care at military treatment facilities. The letter additionally urges the DOD to work with other federal agencies to prevent patients from incurring tax liabilities connected to discharged medical debt and simplify a complex billing … Continue Reading
July 29, 2024
Statement from House and Senate Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Leaders on Presidential Election in Venezuela
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (VA), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement regarding the presidential election in Venezuela, in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner despite partial results and independent exit polls that suggest Edmundo González … Continue Reading