Press Releases
Castro, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling on Republic of Rwanda to Release Paul Rusesabagina on Humanitarian Grounds
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact, and Young Kim (CA-39) introduced a resolution calling on the government of the Republic of Rwanda to release activist Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds. Paul Rusesabagina, a 67-year-old cancer survivor who suffers from a cardiovascular disorder, Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Congressman Castro helps delivers $537.1 Million for Texas Bridges from Infrastructure Law
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced the first round of investments in repairing Texas bridges under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law. Congressman Castro helped deliver $107.4 million for Texas to fix bridges this year in FY 2022, part of a total $537.1 million investment over the next five years. The funding, determined by the Federal Highway Administration's bridge formula program, is available to improve the condition of 818 bridges in poor condition … Continue Reading
January 06, 2022
Rep. Castro Statement on One-Year Anniversary of January 6
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement regarding the one-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. "Today marks the grim anniversary of the violent attack on the US Capitol. January 6, 2021, will live among the days of infamy remembered in United States history. It was a day that should have been a symbolic, peaceful transfer of power. However, it sadly resulted in chaos and division by right-wing extremists. We must work to reject … Continue Reading
December 06, 2021
Castro, Warren, Cicilline, Jayapal Lead Democrats Urging Justice Department to Investigate Proposed Merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia for Violations of Antitrust Laws
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA), Congressman David Cicilline (RI-01), Chair of the Antitrust Subcommittee, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and 29 other members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter urging the Department of Justice to investigate the proposed $43 billion merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia for … Continue Reading
November 19, 2021
Congressman Castro’s Statement on House Passage of Build Back Better Act
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Build Back Better Act: "For years, I've worked in Congress to build out what I call America's Infrastructure of Opportunity --- and the Build Back Better Act delivers meaningful progress for San Antonio, Texas, and the American people. Quality child care and universal preschool for children, good public schools for students, affordable health care for families, … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Reps. Castro and Escobar Join Immigration Advocates For Press Conference on the Need to Pass the Build Back Better Act to Deliver Protection to Millions of Immigrants
Washington, DC -Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined immigration advocates at a press conference at the House Triangle on Capitol Hill to urge the passage of the Build Back Better Act and its protections for millions of Dreamers, TPS Holders, farm workers, essential workers, and other undocumented immigrants. The event was held as House Democrats move closer to voting on the reconciliation bill. "The immigration provisions in The Build Back Better Act will … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Congressman Castro Statement on North American Leaders Summit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on President Biden's North American Leaders Summit (NALS) with Mexican President López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau: "From ending the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating the global economic recovery to combating the climate crisis and building a fair migration system, Canada and Mexico are critical partners and great friends of … Continue Reading
November 10, 2021
Rep. Castro: “Deeply Troubling and Tragic” Express-News Report on Family Violence in San Antonio
San Antonio - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the San Antonio Express-News series "Nowhere to Hide", an in-depth look at the domestic violence epidemic in San Antonio: "The Express-News series "Nowhere to Hide" gives a deeply troubling and tragic account of family violence in San Antonio and shines a necessary light on the need for systemic change to protect people from abuse. Victims need to be supported, abusers must be prosecuted, and as a city we … Continue Reading
October 29, 2021
Congressman Castro Urges Department of Justice to Investigate Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and 25 members of Congress sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland urging the Department of Justice to conduct a federal investigation into Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star program. "We ask that the Department of Justice (DOJ) review and investigate Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star program regarding both its likely violation of the Supremacy … Continue Reading
October 27, 2021
Congressman Castro Introduces Bill to Prevent Natural Gas Price Gouging During Emergencies
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act in the House of Representatives to address the dramatic increase in natural gas prices in relation to Winter Storm Uri as well as establish a federal circuit breaker - which would impose natural gas trading limits during national emergencies. Congressman Lloyd Doggett is an original cosponsor. "While Texas families faced life or death situations and struggled to stay warm amid … Continue Reading
October 26, 2021
REP. CASTRO LEADS BIPARTISAN LETTER URGING REFORM ON THE SCORING OF EQUITY INVESTMENTS AT THE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION
WASHNGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Social Impact, Representatives Michael McCaul (TX-10), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Young Kim (CA-39), Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16) and 11 other members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urging the Biden administration to reform how equity investments at the U.S. Development … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Reps. Castro, Cicilline, Titus and Congressional Members Urge State Department to Rescind Policy Prohibiting Diplomats from Defending Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressmembers Joaquin Castro (TX-20), David Cicilline (RI-01), Dina Titus (NV-01) and 58 other members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary Antony Blinken, urging the State Department to update a policy that prohibits U.S. diplomats from discussing constitutional rationale in favor of marriage equality in countries engaged in active public debate. "The State Department maintains a "neither for nor against" policy, whereby our diplomats are barred from addressing marriage … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Meeks, Castro, Issue Statement Regarding Report on Sexual Abuse Allegations Against WHO Staff
Washington, DC - Today, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks and Joaquin Castro, Chairs of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact, respectively, issued the following statement regarding an independent report commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by WHO staff during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Co-Chairs of Japan, Australia and India Congressional Caucuses Release Joint Statement on Heads of State Quad Summit
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the Heads of State Quad Summit today, Reps. Joaquin Castro and Adrian Smith, the Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the U.S.-Japan Congressional Caucus; Reps. Joe Courtney and Mike Gallagher, the House Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus; and Reps. Brad Sherman and Steve Chabot, the Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Congressional India Caucus, released the following joint statement: "As the Democratic and … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Congressman Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Committee on Oversight and Reform Announce New GAO Report on Latino Underrepresentation in Media
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and the Committee on Oversight and Reform, shared the first of two reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the underrepresentation of Latinos in the media industry, including the film, television, news and publishing sectors. As Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Castro, the CHC, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform requested this report from GAO … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Congressman Castro and Congressional Leaders Ask President Biden to Lead Efforts on Evacuating Afghan National United Nations Employees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Sara Jacobs (CA-53) and nine Members of Congress asked President Biden to work with allies and United Nations (UN) member states to ensure that Afghan national UN employees receive visas and authorization to leave Afghanistan with their families. "All UN Member States have a solemn responsibility to protect the brave men and women who tirelessly carry out the international community's work in countries around the … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Congressman Castro Statement on Hispanic Heritage Month
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to mark the start of Hispanic Heritage Month: "Hispanic Heritage Month is an important moment to celebrate the immense contributions of Latinos to the prosperity of the United States. This country is a nation of and built by Latinos. Since the very beginning, Latinos have played an instrumental role in shaping American society through entrepreneurship, public service, and more. Throughout this pandemic, the … Continue Reading
September 07, 2021
Statement from Congressman Castro on Gov. Abbott’s Restricting Texans Right to Vote
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on Governor Abbott's signing Senate Bill 1 into law, restricting Texans right to vote: "Today, Governor Abbott and Texas Republicans continued their assault on democracy and made it harder for Texans to vote. SB1 is an unprecedented restriction on voting rights in Texas, motivated by the same Big Lie of widespread voter fraud that led to a deadly attack at the U.S. Capitol and an attempted coup on January … Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
Statement from Congressman Castro on Supreme Court’s Ruling on Texas Law SB8
SAN ANTONIO - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling on Texas law SB8: "Under the shadow of night, the Supreme Court enabled an unconstitutional assault on women's rights in Texas. For nearly half a century, Roe v Wade has been the law of the United States. There is no doubt that Republican's goal with SB8, and soon copycat legislation across the nation, is to overturn almost 50 years of precedent and strip away a woman's … Continue Reading
August 16, 2021
Congressman Castro Statement on Afghanistan
SAN ANTONIO - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement on Afghanistan: "It's a terribly tragic situation in Afghanistan. After two decades of open-ended U.S. military intervention with the loss of 2,448 American service members and costing over $2 trillion, I supported President Biden's decision not to surge troops to fight in a civil war and enter a third decade of conflict. The … Continue Reading