Press Releases
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
June 29, 2022
Congressman Castro Secures $15.6 Million for San Antonio Community Projects in Fiscal Year 2023 Federal Appropriations Bills
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that he secured $15,640,539 in federal funding for community projects in San Antonio in Fiscal Year 2023 federal appropriations bills. If passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed into law, the funding will directly support programs and services for constituents in San Antonio that strengthen affordable housing, education, health care, domestic violence prevention, public transportation, small business … Continue Reading
June 29, 2022
Congressman Castro Celebrates Victory for Captain Le Roy Torres in Supreme Court Case on Re-Employment Rights of Disabled Veterans
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Captain Le Roy Torres in Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety, a case concerning the civilian job rights of servicemembers and veterans under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): "For nearly a decade, Captain Le Roy Torres and his wife Rosie have been fighting to protect the rights of disabled servicemembers to return to … Continue Reading
June 28, 2022
Reps. Castro, Johnson, Doggett, Green, Veasey, Allred, Escobar, Fletcher, Garcia, Urge Attorney General Paxton to Stop Cover-Up in Uvalde
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led eight members of the Texas congressional delegation in a letter urging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to issue a ruling that exceptions to the Texas Public Information Act are inapplicable when used to conceal information about the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Since the May 24, 2022 shooting, the city of Uvalde has received dozens of public records requests for information on the tragedy. Media … Continue Reading
June 24, 2022
Statement from Congressman Castro on Passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation that will enact major new reforms to protect Americans from gun violence: "When I met with families from Uvalde, they asked me how it was possible for the man who murdered their loved ones to get a dangerous weapon so easily," said Congressman Castro. "Today, Congress has voted to pass historic gun safety reforms that will save lives … Continue Reading
June 24, 2022
Statement from Congressman Castro on the Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey with their ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization: "Today's Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization is wrong, and it will endanger the health and safety of people in Texas and across the country," said Congressman Castro. "The impact of Texas Senate Bill 8 foreshadowed the dangerous … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
Congressman Castro Presses House and Senate Leadership to Make Bold Investments in Affordable Child Care for Texas Families
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53), and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led 124 of their House colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging the Senate to include robust child care investments in any upcoming budget reconciliation package. The letter expresses support for the Child Care … Continue Reading
June 16, 2022
Castro, Cicilline, Titus Introduce the LOVE Act to Correct Injustices of the Lavender Scare and Protect Current and Future LGBTQI+ Diplomats
WASHINGTON - This week, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), David Cicilline (RI-01) and Dina Titus (NV-01) introduced the Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration (LOVE) Act to correct historic injustices perpetrated against State Department employees because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. The bill would also require the State Department to establish an Advancement Board to address issues faced by LGBTQI+ diplomats and report on its actions to ensure that foreign countries recognize and … Continue Reading
June 10, 2022
Statement from Congressman Castro on the Los Angeles Declaration of Migration and Protection
LOS ANGELES - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, issued the following statement on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, which was released today during the 2022 Summit of the Americas: "The United States and our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere face shared migration challenges that deserve a unified and consistent … Continue Reading
June 10, 2022
Congresistas Castro, Grijalva, Torres, García, y Escobar Exigen Información en Español por parte del Departamento de Seguridad Publica de Texas Sobre el Tiroteo en Uvalde
WASHINGTON - Hoy, los Congresistas Joaquín Castro (TX-20), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Norma Torres (CA-35) Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), y Veronica Escobar (TX-16) mandaron una carta al director del Departamento de Seguridad Publica de Texas pidiendo que toda información pertinente al tiroteo masivo en la escuela primaria Robb que resulto en la muerte de 19 niños inocentes y dos maestras sea proveída en español. Informes recientes … Continue Reading
June 10, 2022
Reps. Castro, Grijalva, Torres, García, Escobar Demand Spanish-Language Information on Uvalde Shooting from Texas DPS
WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Norma Torres (CA-35), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) sent a letter to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw requesting all information pertaining to the shooting at Robb Elementary School that saw 19 innocent children and two teachers killed by a mass shooter be provided in Spanish as well as English. Recent reporting has detailed how … Continue Reading