Press Releases
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
July 21, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Block Far-Right Efforts to Restrict Access to Birth Control
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would prohibit states from restricting access to contraception. "The Supreme Court's dangerous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has emboldened far-right Republicans to force themselves into the most private decisions that Americans can make," said Congressman Castro. "As extremist lawmakers introduce bills to restrict access to birth control and basic reproductive freedoms, … Continue Reading
July 19, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Guarantee Federal Protections for Same-Sex and Interracial Marriages
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law, repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, provide the U.S. Attorney General with the authority to enforce anti-discrimination laws as they relate to marriage, and create a private right of action for individuals harmed by marriage discrimination. "The Supreme Court's decisions in Loving and Obergefell have made it … Continue Reading
July 15, 2022
Congressman Castro Leads Call for ATF to Prohibit Sales of Hellfire Trigger Devices
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led 24 members of Congress in a letter urging Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Steven Dettelbach to prohibit the sale of Hellfire trigger devices and clarify the Bureau's positions on binary triggers, forced-reset triggers, and Hellfire triggers. In the aftermath of the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, law enforcement recovered a Hellfire trigger device from one of the classrooms where … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
House Passes Castro-Kim Resolution Demanding Release of Paul Rusesabagina, Political Prisoner and Hero of the Rwandan Genocide
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass H. Res. 892, a resolution authored by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-39) that calls on the Rwandan government to release Paul Rusesabagina, a hero of the Rwandan Genocide and political prisoner who has been unlawfully detained since 2020. Congressman Castro delivered a floor speech calling for Paul Rusesabagina's release during the June 21, 2022 House floor debate on H. Res. 892. To watch … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Statement from Congressman Castro on Attorney General Paxton’s Efforts to Block Life-Saving Care
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement in response to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit to stop the Biden administration from enforcing federal rules that require abortions to be provided in case where the life of the mother is at risk: "There is nothing pro-life about watching women … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Reps. Castro, McGovern Introduce Bill to Protect Multilateral Institutions from Coercive U.S. Sanctions
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Jim McGovern (MA-03) introduced the Multilateral Leadership Act (H.R. 8372), legislation that would prevent the president of the United States from unilaterally imposing coercive sanctions against employees of the United Nations or other international organizations in response to their official actions. "During the last administration, Donald Trump used his sanctions power to attack multilateral institutions and undermine global diplomacy. … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Expand VA Health Care and Services for 3.5 Million Veterans Injured by Toxic Exposure
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act, bipartisan legislation that will improve and expand VA health care and services for more than 3.5 million veterans who were harmed by exposure to toxic fumes and substances during their military service. "For decades, veterans hurt by toxic exposure have been forced to fight an uphill battle for health care and disability benefits. With the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act, the VA will finally … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
House Passes Castro-Authored NDAA Amendment to End Surprise Medical Billing at Brooke Army Medical Center
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 2023 NDAA) authored by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) that directs the Secretary of Defense to waive extraordinary medical charges for civilians who receive care at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and other military medical treatment facilities. The House is expected to pass the full FY 2023 NDAA tomorrow evening. "The outrageous billing … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
Congressman Castro Leads Call for DHS to Protect Survivors of San Antonio Human Smuggling Tragedy from Deportation
SAN ANTONIO - This week, Congressman Castro (TX-20) led a group of 22 members of Congress in a letter urging Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to extend humanitarian considerations to the victims of the June 27, 2022 human smuggling tragedy in San Antonio. Specifically, the letter asks Mayorkas to protect the survivors from deportation, expedite humanitarian visa consideration for those who apply, and provide humanitarian parole to allow the families of the victims to visit … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
In Light of Supreme Court Ruling, Congressman Castro Urges Biden Administration to Move Swiftly to Terminate ‘Remain in Mexico’
Today, after the Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing the Biden administration to terminate the Trump-era 'Remain in Mexico' policy, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement: "This week, 53 people died horrible deaths in San Antonio in a case that demonstrates the cruelty of Trump-era immigration policies. I'm glad that the Supreme Court has now opened the door for the Biden administration to rescind 'Remain in Mexico' and allow vulnerable people to seek asylum … Continue Reading