Press Releases
Chairman Castro Secures Funding for Key Foreign Affairs Programs in 2023 Omnibus Appropriations
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, announced that the 2023 federal omnibus appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 23, 2022 includes significant investments he secured to advance American interests and promote sustainable development around the world. "For the past two years, the House Foreign … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Castro, Torres, Sires Lead Introduction of ARMAS Act to Stem Gun Trafficking to Latin America and Caribbean
WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44) Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) introduced the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act, legislation that seeks to disrupt firearm trafficking from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean by implementing stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight mechanisms for U.S. small … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Rep. Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s Latino Film Nomination Included in National Film Registry
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Raul Ruiz (CA-36) celebrated the inclusion of Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez was one of 25 films nominated for Registry inclusion by the CHC as part of the caucus's ongoing effort to highlight Latino contributions to American media and entertainment. Last year, under … Continue Reading
December 13, 2022
Castro, Kim Introduce New Framework to Promote Innovation at USAID
Bipartisan Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act would direct USAID to shift toward evidence-driven foreign aid models that leverage the power of the private sector WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Young Kim (CA-39) introduced the Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act, legislation to improve the effectiveness and impact of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by authorizing $45 million annually for five years and establishing the … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Pass NDAA with Major Progress for San Antonio Servicemembers and Families
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (FY2023 NDAA) with major wins for San Antonio, including limits to surprise medical bills at Brooke Army Medical Center, a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce, improvements to mental and dental health care for military families, and stronger access to justice for victims of military sexual assault. To view a full fact sheet on the FY2023 … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes for Respect for Marriage Act to Protect the Freedom to Marry for LGBTQIA+ and Interracial Couples
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to protect marriage equality under federal law. The Respect for Marriage Act passed the Senate on November 29, 2022, and now advances to the White House for President Biden's signature. "All Americans should have the freedom to marry who they love," said Congressman Castro. "In the months since the Supreme Court signaled its willingness to overturn Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Rep. Castro’s PARTNER with ASEAN Act
WASHINGTON - Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the bipartisan Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Steve Chabot (OH-01) that would strengthen relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by authorizing ASEAN to be designated as an international organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities consistent … Continue Reading
December 06, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Help Deported Veterans Get Legal Permanent Residency and Return Home to the United States
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted for the passage of the Veterans Service Recognition Act, legislation that would help deported veterans obtain legal permanent resident status so long as they have not been convicted of serious crimes. The bill would also make it easier for noncitizen servicemembers to apply for naturalization while in the Armed Forces and establish a review process to protect noncitizen veterans, active servicemembers, and their families from … Continue Reading
December 05, 2022
Chairman Castro to Hold Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on Modernizing International Development Assistance
WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, December 7 at 2:00 PM, Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will convene a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact on "Modernizing International Development Assistance: Opportunities and Challenges." WHO: Congressman Joaquin Castro, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social … Continue Reading
December 02, 2022
Congressman Castro, Senator Warren Introduce Bill to Prevent Surprise Billing at Military Hospitals
WASHINGTON - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) introduced the Financial Relief for Civilians Treated at Military Hospitals Act, legislation that would ensure that Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) run by the Department of Defense (DoD) can continue to enhance military readiness without racking up huge bills for civilians receiving emergency medical care. "For years, civilian patients treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio have … Continue Reading
December 02, 2022
Castro, Jacobs, Bonamici, and Colleagues Lead Over Half the House Democratic Caucus in Push to Double Child Care Funding in Omnibus
Washington, D.C. - 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), Chair of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, led more than half of the House Democratic Caucus in a push to double the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding in the end-of-year omnibus package. In a letter to House and Senate … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Rep. Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Nominate 33 Latino Works for Inclusion in National Recording Registry
WASHINGTON - This week, Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Raul Ruiz (CA-36), and CHC Vice Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led the CHC in nominating 33 works by Latino musicians for inclusion in the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. "The National Recording Registry's very existence speaks to the importance of music and broadcast in American culture and society. Music brings people from all different backgrounds together, and Latino music … Continue Reading
November 23, 2022
Castro, Cárdenas, Luján, Menendez Lead Colleagues Urging Twitter to Restore Protections for Spanish-Speaking Users
WASHINGTON — Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (NM) and Bob Menendez (NJ) led colleagues in a letter to Twitter CEO Elon Musk, urging Twitter to reverse cuts that expose Spanish speakers to fraud and abuse. The letter follows an alarming spike in harassment on the platform and reports that Twitter has fired a large majority of its contractors domestically and abroad who work to detect and remove illegal and harmful … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Congressman Castro Announces Winner of 2022 Congressional App Challenge for the 20th District of Texas
SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that Rishi Hariharaprasad, a junior at Brandeis High School, has won the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for the 20th Congressional District of Texas. Rishi’s winning app “Disabled Health” helps people with disabilities access user-friendly technology to search for online information about at-home injuries. "Disabled Health" will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Congressman Castro Seeks Public Suggestions for Songs from Latino Artists to Nominate for National Recording Registry
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is requesting public submissions for songs from Latino artists that should be inducted in the National Recording Registry. The National Recording Registry is a federal archive managed by the Library of Congress that works to preserve sounds with cultural and historical significance to the United States. "For generations, songs from Latino artists have formed the soundtrack to American life. As the Library of Congress works to enshrine the great … Continue Reading
November 14, 2022
Castro, Booker, Jayapal Lead 83 Members Calling on Biden Administration to Remove Barriers to Affordable Health Care for DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Cory Booker (NJ) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 83 colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to remove barriers that prevent Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from accessing affordable health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and the Children's Health Insurance Program. "[Current] regulation excludes a significant pool of … Continue Reading
November 10, 2022
Reps. Castro, Chabot Introduce PARTNER with ASEAN Act to Extend Diplomatic Privileges to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
WASHINGTON - Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Steve Chabot (OH-01) introduced the bipartisan Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act, legislation that would strengthen relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by authorizing ASEAN to be designated as an international organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities consistent with the International Organization … Continue Reading
November 09, 2022
Congressman Castro Holds Ceremony to Honor Four Women Veterans for Service to San Antonio and the Nation
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a ceremony to honor four San Antonio women veterans for their distinguished military careers and service on the Military Service Academy Nominations Board for the 20th Congressional District of Texas. Every year, Congressman Castro receives dozens of applications from students seeking a Congressional nomination to support their admission to a U.S. military service academy. As part of the nomination process, a panel of local veterans … Continue Reading
November 04, 2022
Ahead of 2022 Midterms, Castro, Cárdenas, Menendez, and Luján Press YouTube to Urgently Address Spanish-Language Disinformation
WASHINGTON —Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Senators Ben Ray Luján (NM) and Bob Menendez (NJ) joined 11 of their colleagues to send a letter expressing concerns about YouTube's lack of action and transparency regarding the spread of Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation on the platform, particularly in the days before the 2022 midterm elections. In prior discussions, YouTube assured members of Congress that tackling disinformation for … Continue Reading
November 04, 2022
Congressman Castro Holds Press Conference with Student Journalists to Discuss Democracy, College Affordability, School Safety, and More
SAN ANTONIO - Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a press conference with student journalists from San Antonio high schools and colleges to take questions about democracy, college affordability, school safety, and other issues of importance to young people and their campus communities. Congressman Castro meets with San Antonio student journalists "San Antonio is home to the best and brightest students in the country, and I was so pleased to hear their thoughtful and … Continue Reading