Press Releases
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
January 03, 2025
Statement from Congressman Joaquin Castro on Gen. Richard E. Cavazos
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement ahead of President Biden’s planned ceremony this evening to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to General Richard E. Cavazos, a trailblazing Texas soldier who made history in 1982 as the U.S. Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. Cavazos, who was born in Kingsville, lived the final days of his life in San Antonio and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Today’s award ceremony begins at … Continue Reading
December 30, 2024
Congressman Castro Celebrates 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winner for the 20th District of Texas
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to recognize the achievements of Neha Hariharaprasad, a Brandeis High School freshman who won the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for the 20th District of Texas. Neha’s winning app, “Eczema Ease,” was inspired by her own struggle with eczema and is designed to help users understand and manage their condition. “Every year, the Congressional App Challenge allows San Antonio students to showcase their tech … Continue Reading
December 19, 2024
Congressman Castro Celebrates $268 Million Grant for VIA Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to celebrate a $268 million grant he secured from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support the VIA Green Line project - the first Advanced Rapid Transit corridor in the region, which is expected to deliver convenient, high-frequency service by late 2027. “Over the last four years, Democrats in Congress and the White House have invested billions of dollars to build the great infrastructure that … Continue Reading
December 17, 2024
Congressman Castro Celebrates the Addition of Five New Latino-Led Films to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a longtime advocate for Latino representation in media and entertainment, released the following statement to celebrate the addition of five new Latino-led films - including four of his nominations - to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress: “For thirty-five years, the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress has worked to preserve movies with an enduring … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Congressman Castro Secures Full Ecosystem Restoration for Martinez Creek on San Antonio’s Westside
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the House passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes language he secured to authorize a full aquatic ecosystem restoration of Martinez Creek on San Antonio’s Westside. “Decades ago, San Antonio paved over miles of creeks in an effort to prevent deadly floods on the Westside. Today, modern urban planning and design techniques make it possible to restore the creeks without the … Continue Reading
December 09, 2024
Castro, Casar, and Warren Urge Military to Improve Access to Medical Debt Relief for Civilian Patients
“We are deeply concerned the proposed rule inappropriately restricts DoD’s authority to waive these [debts], as intended by Congress.” Text of Letter (PDF) WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA) have submitted a comment letter urging the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to strengthen a proposed rule to create a Military Health System Modified Payment and Waiver Program that would limit costs for civilian patients at … Continue Reading
December 03, 2024
After Pressure from Texas Democrats, USPS Drops Controversial Plan to Shift Mail Operations in South Texas
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced that it would drop a much-criticized plan to shift McAllen mail processing operations to San Antonio: “As the holiday season begins, this is great news for San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. The proposal to move McAllen’s mail processing to San Antonio would have created new burdens for already-overworked letter carriers and slowed mail service … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
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