Press Releases
Congressman Castro Visits K9s For Warriors Campus in San Antonio to Highlight Value of Innovative Mental Health Services for Veterans
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) visited the K9s For Warriors Petco Love K9 Center on the city’s West Side to learn about the center’s work to train service dogs for veterans in need. During the visit, Congressman Castro also highlighted the bipartisan PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, a new federal law he voted to pass that will help connect service dogs with veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. Congressman Castro visits with … Continue Reading
October 28, 2022
Congressman Castro Secures $1.7 Million for UTSA to Train Next Generation of Nuclear Science and Nonproliferation Policy Leaders
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that his office secured $1,749,997 in federal funding for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to train the next generation of nuclear security science and technology leaders through the Consortium on Nuclear Security Technologies (CONNECT) program. These funds, awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, will help UTSA recruit and retain students interested in nuclear science, engineering, and nonproliferation policy and … Continue Reading
October 24, 2022
Congressman Castro Touts New Federal Funding for San Antonio Students in Visit to Jefferson High School
SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) toured his alma mater, Jefferson High School, to visit with students and educators and highlight the impact of $500,000 in federal funding he got for Communities In Schools of San Antonio to expand into six San Antonio ISD schools and provide wrap-around services to approximately 850 students. Congressman Castro visits Jefferson High School “Thirty years ago, teachers and mentors at Jefferson High School helped me and … Continue Reading
October 21, 2022
Castro, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Oversight and Accountability of U.S. Foreign Aid Programs
WASHINGTON - Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the Enhancing Development Finance Corporation Oversight Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation that would improve oversight and accountability of U.S. foreign aid programs by granting law enforcement authority to the Office of Inspector General of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC OIG). "As the Development Finance Corporation works to improve global standards of … Continue Reading
October 21, 2022
Castro, Jacobs Lead Call for Biden Administration to Affirm Global Commitment to Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Rights Post-Dobbs
WASHINGTON - This week, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Sara Jacobs (CA-53) led 67 of their fellow members of Congress in a letter to the State Department, warning that state-level abortion restrictions may violate U.S. international human rights commitments and asking the Biden administration to affirm its support for protecting sexual and reproductive rights around the world. "[R]egression on abortion rights in the United States threatens our standing as a global leader on human … Continue Reading
October 17, 2022
Congressman Castro Calls on EEOC and FCC to Prevent Discrimination and Strengthen Equal Opportunity for Latinos in American Media
SAN ANTONIO - Last week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) sent letters to the chairs of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), calling on the agencies to improve data-sharing practices to better ensure equal employment opportunity within the American media industry. "Earlier this month, I released the findings of a new Government Accountability Office report showing that Latino underrepresentation in the American media and … Continue Reading
October 05, 2022
Congressman Castro Releases Second Installment of GAO Report on Latino Underrepresentation in American Media
Read the full report Read a summary of the report in Spanish Watch a livestream of Congressman Castro's release address at the National Press Club WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the second of two Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on the underrepresentation of Latinos in the American media industry, including the film, television, news, and publishing sectors. "When I was a kid growing up in the Mexican-American neighborhoods of San Antonio, the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2022
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 Union Hall and … 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