Press Releases
Statement from Congressman Castro on Shooting of Migrants in Hudspeth County
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement calling for murder charges and accountability in the wake of the September 27, 2022, shooting of two migrants in Hudspeth County, Texas. The shooting, committed by the now-former warden of a private detention center and his brother, resulted in the death of one migrant and the hospitalization of another. "This was a hate crime against brown-skinned immigrants that was inspired by the invasion rhetoric of … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
House Passes Castro-Kim Bill to Expand Global Impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8463, the Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand the number of countries eligible for development partnerships with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The legislation was introduced by Reps. Castro (TX-20) and Young Kim (CA-39) with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) … Continue Reading
September 28, 2022
Castro, Torres, Warren, Murphy Demand Answers from Commerce Department about Troubling Increase in Assault Weapon Export Approvals
Commerce Approved $15.7 Billion in Firearms Export Licenses and Denied Less than 1% of Export Applications Since Taking Over Approvals from State Department Text of Letter (PDF) WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Norma Torres (CA-35) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Chris Murphy (CT) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressing serious concern about the threat to global public safety from the Commerce Department's process for approving … Continue Reading
September 27, 2022
Statement from Reps. Castro and Sires on New Report Detailing State-Sponsored Human Rights Violations in Venezuela
WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact and Representative Albio Sires (NJ-08), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration, and International Economic Policy, released the following statement in response to a new report from the Independent International … Continue Reading
September 26, 2022
Congressman Castro to Release Federal Report on Latino Representation in American Media at National Press Club on October 5
RSVP here WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, October 5 at 10:00 AM, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will release the second installment of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Latino representation in the American media industry during a Newsmakers event at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. The event will be open to credentialed press and invited guests, who can RSVP here. A livestream will also be available at the same link. "Last year's GAO report on Latino … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Congressman Castro Introduces Bill to Improve Credit Transfer Process for Community College Students
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced the Transparency for Transfer Students Act, legislation to improve college completion rates by reducing the number of community college students who lose academic credit when transferring to four-year institutions. This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify requirements for disclosure of transfer credit policies, including what information colleges and universities are required to publish on their websites and … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
Castro, Sires Introduce Bill to Protect Human Rights in Venezuela and Ensure Accountability for Maduro Regime
WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact and Representative Albio Sires (NJ-08), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration, and International Economic Policy, introduced the AFFECT Human Rights in Venezuela Act, which aims to hold Nicolás Maduro and his … Continue Reading
August 29, 2022
Congressman Castro Welcomes Labor Secretary Walsh to San Antonio to Showcase City’s New Ready to Work Job Training Program
SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) welcomed U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to San Antonio to showcase the city’s Ready to Work training program and demonstrate how federal workforce investments are creating good-paying union jobs and pathways to the middle class. During the visit, Secretary Walsh joined Congressman Castro and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg to tour workforce training sites at St. Philips College and the Local 142 Plumbers and Pipefitters … Continue Reading
August 24, 2022
Congressman Castro Applauds Administration Action to Forgive up to $10,000 in Student Debt for Borrowers
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement applauding President Biden's announcement that the U.S. Department of Education will cancel up to $10,000 in student loans for borrowers making under $125,000/year, with additional forgiveness up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. Today's announcement also extends the student loan payment pause for all borrowers through December 31, 2022 and allows borrowers to use income-driven repayment plans to cap … Continue Reading
August 19, 2022
Congressman Castro Announces $1.3 Million in Security Grants for Charitable and Faith-Based Organizations Serving San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced $1,344,979 in federal funding to help San Antonio-area nonprofits and faith-based organizations prevent and protect against terrorist threats and attacks. These federal funds, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Nonprofit Security Grant Program, provide financial assistance for local charitable and faith-based organizations to enhance security measures, including alarm systems, security guards, training, … Continue Reading
August 17, 2022
Castro, Grijalva, Chu Demand Accountability from Customs and Border Protection After Continued Reports of Turban Confiscations
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to demand answers after reporting from The Arizona Luminaria revealed that CBP agents in the Yuma and Tucson Border Patrol Sectors are routinely confiscating and discarding Sikh turbans and other religious possessions belonging to … Continue Reading
August 12, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes for the Inflation Reduction Act to Lower Prescription Drug & Energy Costs, Create Jobs, and Cut Carbon Pollution
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation that will lower prescription drug and consumer energy costs, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and reduce carbon pollution nearly 40 percent by 2030. "The Inflation Reduction Act will make a world of difference for hard-working folks across Texas who are struggling to make ends meet," said Congressman Castro. "For years, my constituents have seen their cost-of-living rise faster … Continue Reading
August 10, 2022
Rep. Castro and Senator Warren Call on the Department of Defense to Fix Misleading and Confusing Billing Practices at Military Hospitals and Protect Civilian Patients from Crushing Medical Debt
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressing concerns that the Department of Defense (DOD) is failing to properly inform civilians about their opportunities for debt relief after receiving emergency medical care at military health care facilities. The letter calls on the DOD to improve billing practices to protect patients from further harm. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is one of two … Continue Reading
August 02, 2022
Statement from Congressman Castro on Senate Passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act, the final step before the bill can be signed into law: "Today's vote is a hard-fought victory for Rosie and Le Roy Torres, Tim Jensen, and countless advocates who worked for years to get Congress to do the right thing," said Congressman Castro. "The health of American veterans should never be used as a political bargaining chip, and I applaud the … Continue Reading
July 29, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Ban Assault Weapons Used in Uvalde, El Paso, and Sutherland Springs Mass Shootings
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted for the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, legislation that would prohibit new importation, sale, manufacturing, or transfer of semi-automatic assault weapons or large capacity ammunition feeding devices for civilian use. Semi-automatic weapons have become the firearm of choice for mass shooters because they are designed to kill as many people as quickly as possible. "The horrific scenes of carnage in Uvalde, El Paso, Sutherland Springs, … Continue Reading
July 29, 2022
House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Castro/Kim Bill to Expand Global Development Impact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
WASHINGTON - This week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand the number of countries eligible for development partnerships with the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The legislation was introduced by Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Young Kim (CA-39) with Reps. Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) as original co-sponsors. "As the world … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
Amid Reports of Deaths and Racial Profiling Under Operation Lone Star, Congressman Castro Calls on DOJ to Protect Civil Rights in Texas
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after a federal complaint filed by the ACLU of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project identified at least 30 deaths and widespread racial profiling in connection with Operation Lone Star: "Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star is harassing Hispanic communities and creating an intolerable police state in border towns. The incidents described in today's complaint are horrifying, but they are not surprising to … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Pass CHIPS and Science Act to Tackle Semiconductor Shortage, Invest in American Manufacturing, and Lower Costs for Consumers
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan legislation that will expand production of American-made semiconductors, tackle supply chain vulnerabilities and lower costs, bolster America’s scientific research and technological leadership, and strengthen the nation’s economic and national security. “Today’s passage of the CHIPS and Science Act is a powerful step forward to fight inflation, protect America’s role as a global … Continue Reading
July 22, 2022
Castro, Clarke, Luján Lead Congressional Call for FCC to Establish New Diversity Reporting Requirements for Media Licensees and Regulatees
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Senator Ben Ray Luján (NM) led 20 members of the House and Senate in a comment urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to initiate rulemaking that would require licensees and regulatees in broadcast, cable, and satellite services to collect diversity data from their content vendors. Establishing this requirement would allow the FCC to create a new content vendor diversity report to accurately … Continue Reading
July 22, 2022
Reps. Castro, Cicilline, Sires Lead Letter Urging Biden Administration to Expand Support for LGBTQI+ Rights in Latin America
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), David Cicilline (RI-01) and Albio Sires (NJ-08) led 27 members of Congress in a letter urging the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen their commitment to supporting LGBTQI+ individuals in Latin America, including refugees and asylum-seekers. "LGBTQI+ rights are human rights, and our support for equality should be reflected in both our foreign and domestic policy," said … Continue Reading