Press Releases
Reps. Joaquin Castro, Andy Kim Introduce Legislation to Modernize Foreign and Civil Service Training
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) introduced the State Department Training Modernization Act to update training for Americans who serve our country around the world in the Civil and Foreign Service. "As the State Department evolves to meet today's needs, Department personnel must have high-quality training that reflects current global and domestic priorities," said Congressman Castro, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
June 09, 2022
Congressman Castro Votes to Pass Common-Sense Measures to Keep Texans Safe from Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined a bipartisan coalition of House members to pass the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act and the Protecting Our Kids Act, bills that would help prevent mass shootings and limit access to guns for people who present a verifiable danger to themselves or others. "Sixteen days ago, nineteen Texas children and two teachers were gunned down in a massacre that could have been prevented by basic gun safety laws," said Congressman … Continue Reading
June 07, 2022
Reps. Castro, Grijalva, Garcia Lead Call for Biden Administration to Address Attacks on Free Press and Surging Violence in Mexico
WASHINGTON – This week, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) led two letters urging the State Department, the Justice Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development to work with the Mexican government to address rising levels of violence in Mexico. In the letters, lawmakers express serious concern about recent spikes in forced disappearances and escalating attacks against the Mexican free … Continue Reading
June 02, 2022
Congressman Castro, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel Work to Close the Digital Divide at Affordable Connectivity Program Kickoff in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO – On Wednesday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Federal Communications Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel held a kickoff event at Dwight Middle School in San Antonio to help local families enroll in low-cost, high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. The event brought together local families, community partners including BiblioTech and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), and digital inclusion experts from San Antonio and Washington … Continue Reading
May 31, 2022
Congressman Castro and FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel to Visit Dwight Middle School for Affordable Connectivity Program Kickoff
SAN ANTONIO - On Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will visit Dwight Middle School in San Antonio, Texas for a kickoff event to help families enroll in affordable, high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. In November 2021, Congressman Castro voted to create the Affordable Connectivity Program, a federal initiative that lowers the cost of high-speed internet for … Continue Reading
May 31, 2022
Congressman Castro Calls on President Biden to Champion Humanitarian Protections for Migrants During the 2022 Summit of the Americas
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) sent a letter asking President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to negotiate clear language on the protection of vulnerable migrants in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. The drafting of this declaration is one of the announced goals of the 2022 Summit of the Americas, which will take place from June 6-10 in Los Angeles, California. "The Summit of the … Continue Reading
May 27, 2022
Congressman Castro Holds Posthumous Medal Presentation Ceremony for WWII Veteran Basilio R. Ybarra
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a posthumous medal presentation ceremony for U.S. Army Sergeant Basilio R. Ybarra, a San Antonio soldier who served in World War II. First image: Rep. Castro presents the late Sgt. Ybarra’s medals to his son, Edward C. Ybarra. Second image: Rep. Castro with members of the Ybarra family. To download high-quality images from today’s ceremony click, here and here. “One of my … Continue Reading
May 26, 2022
In Light of Conflicting Accounts from Texas Authorities, Congressman Castro Urges FBI to Investigate Uvalde Shooting
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray urging the FBI to use its maximum authority to examine the timeline of events around the Uvalde school shooting and the law enforcement response. The letter is here and below. Dear Director Wray, Today our nation and the state of Texas mourn the 19 children and two teachers murdered at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. The Uvalde … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Congressman Castro Applauds Long-Sought Renaming of Fort Hood for General Richard E. Cavazos
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement applauding the decision to rename Fort Hood for Richard E. Cavazos, a military hero who made history in 1982 as the first Hispanic four-star general in the U.S. Army: "I'm grateful that The Naming Commission has recommended renaming Fort Hood to honor General Richard E. Cavazos, a history-making general who fought bravely and inspired generations of young servicemembers to follow in his footsteps," said … Continue Reading
May 23, 2022
Reps. Castro, Espaillat Lead Push for Biden Administration to Expand Temporary Protected Status for Migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led a bipartisan letter to President Biden, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the administration to expand Temporary Protected Status protections for migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Despite the ongoing humanitarian crises in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, citizens of these nations who flee to the United … Continue Reading
May 20, 2022
Statement from Congressman Castro on Title 42 Ruling in Louisiana v. CDC
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the Biden administration from lifting Title 42: "Today's district court decision is disappointing and wrong. For more than two years, Title 42 has stripped legitimate asylum-seekers of their legal right to seek safety in the United States. Judge Summerhays' decision to block the end of Title 42 will break our immigration system even further and cause unconscionable … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Congressman Castro Celebrates Bipartisan Deal to Improve Health Care and Services for Burn Pit Survivors
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the bipartisan Senate agreement to advance the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022: "I'm glad the Senate has reached a deal to advance the Honoring Our PACT Act, bipartisan legislation I co-sponsored to improve health care and benefits for more than 3.5 million veterans," said Congressman Castro. "For years, members of Congress and … Continue Reading
May 17, 2022
House Passes Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Reauthorization with Castro-Authored Provisions to Fund Career Navigation Programs and Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2022 with Congressman Joaquin Castro's (TX-20) Navigating to Success Act and additional Castro-authored provisions that would improve trauma-informed workforce services to help survivors of domestic violence. "As our nation rebuilds from the pandemic, Texans deserve a strong economy that works for everyone," said Congressman Castro. "After months of work on this bill, … Continue Reading
May 17, 2022
Congressman Castro Calls on Governor Abbott to Reopen Security Grant Applications for Places of Worship
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and other members of the Texas congressional delegation called on Governor Abbott and the State of Texas to reopen applications for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Nonprofit Security Grant Program. These grants help places of worship pay for security measures including alarm systems, security guards and other safety measures to prevent terrorist attacks. In Texas, state authorities closed the application process before … Continue Reading
May 17, 2022
Castro and Bera Applaud Nomination of ASEAN Ambassador, Successful U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit
WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, released the following statement applauding President Joe Biden's … Continue Reading
May 17, 2022
Reps. Castro and Larson Lead 149 House Democrats Urging Action and Accountability to Address Infant Formula Shortage
WASHINGTON - Today Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and John B. Larson (CT-01) led 149 of their colleagues in a letter urging the Biden administration to use a whole-of-government response to increase the availability of infant and specialty formula while investigating the failures that led to current shortages. For several weeks, the White House has worked with formula manufacturers and foreign suppliers to accelerate formula importation and production. The letter urges the administration to … Continue Reading
May 13, 2022
Congressman Castro Urges Biden Administration to Invoke Defense Production Act to Resolve Nation’s Infant Formula Shortage and Slams Fearmongering from Governor Abbott
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the urgent need to address the nation's infant formula shortage: "As the father of a newborn and the representative for thousands of San Antonio families who rely on infant formula, fixing this formula shortage is my most urgent priority. I appreciate the steps the Biden administration is taking to resolve this crisis, including increasing formula imports, working with states to make sure low-income WIC … Continue Reading
May 12, 2022
Castro, Wagner, Meeks, Bera Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Supporting a Strong U.S.-ASEAN Partnership
WASHINGTON - Ahead of this week's U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Ann Wagner (MO-02), founding co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on ASEAN, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks, and House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Chairman Ami Bera (CA-07) introduced a bipartisan resolution yesterday reaffirming the commitment of the United States to remain a strong, reliable, and active … Continue Reading
May 10, 2022
Congressman Castro Calls on the Senate to Abolish the Filibuster and Protect Reproductive Freedom
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined his House colleagues in a letter urging the Senate to abolish the filibuster - a move that would allow it to protect reproductive freedom by passing the Women's Health Protection Act. In June 2021, Congressman Castro and nearly 200 members of the House introduced the Women's Health Protection Act, a bill that would prohibit unreasonable government restrictions on abortion services. Under the Women's Health Protection Act, state … Continue Reading
May 09, 2022
Reps. Castro and Escobar Urge Treasury to Investigate Possible Misappropriation of COVID Relief to Fund Operation Lone Star
WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led seven of their colleagues from the Texas congressional delegation in a letter urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to investigate Texas Governor Greg Abbott's possible misappropriation of federal coronavirus relief to fund Operation Lone Star. Operation Lone Star is a state-led border operation launched by Governor Abbott in March 2021. Since the operation began, it has been criticized for high costs, delayed … Continue Reading