Press Releases
Castro, Larson Demand Trump Admin Stop Plan to Cut Social Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (CT-01) are requesting that the U.S. State Department immediately turn over the Trump administration's plan to cut Social Security benefits and all related documents. In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic and with over 20 million Americans unemployed in the last month alone, reports of a secret document developed by State … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Reps. Castro, Eshoo, Matsui, Butterfield, Fudge, Blunt Rochester, Adams, and Sen. Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Support Broadband Connectivity for College Students in Need
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Doris Matsui (CA-6), G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Marcia Fudge (OH-11), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At-Large), and Alma S. Adams (NC-12) today introduced legislation to establish a new program to support college students who are unable to participate in distance learning. The Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act provides $1 billion to colleges and universities to pay for at-home internet … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Castro, Haaland Urge House Leadership to Establish Family Care for Essential Workers and Vulnerable Family Caregivers During COVID-19
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) today released the following statement after urging House Leadership to prioritize the needs of and provide Family Care to family caregivers and essential … Continue Reading
April 23, 2020
Castro Statement on the Passage of Interim Emergency COVID-19 Relief Package
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement after voting on the fourth coronavirus relief package: "COVID-19 is an unprecedented health and economic crisis: more than 850,000 individuals have been … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Castro Urges Federal Officials To Track Coronavirus Cases at Nation’s Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, joined 77 House Democrats in calling on Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma, … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Rep. Castro, Senator Markey Announce Legislation to Expand Protections for American Citizens Overseas during Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON-As countries close their borders and take action to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, impacting the travel of U.S. citizens and nationals around the world, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) are leading new legislation to enhance the ability of the State Department to protect U.S. citizens and nationals overseas. The Expanding Vital American Citizen Services Overseas (EVACS) Act expedites and expands American Citizen Services at U.S. … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
Castro Statement on Trump Firing Intelligence Community Inspector General
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement after President Trump's firing of the ICIG: "In the middle of the night, in the midst of a global pandemic, as the coronavirus threatens the American … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
Castro Urges for More Resources and Capacity for the Texas Workforce Commission
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement after urging Governor Greg Abbott to provide the necessary funding to invest more resources and capacity into the Texas Workforce Commission who is tasked … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
Castro Urges HASC to Overhaul Emergency Billing Practices at Brooke Army Medical Center
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement after urging the House Armed Services Committee to consider reforming the billing practices of Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) when care is provided to … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Castro Statement on CARES Act
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement in response to the CARES Act: "Congress must meet the enormous health care and financial needs of the American people in this unprecedented moment. This … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
ICYMI: Castro PSA on COVID-19 and San Antonio Community
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following PSA on the urgent and important actions San Antonio residents must take to stop the spread of coronavirus in the larger community: For the full video, click … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Castro Statement on Additional Evacuees Arriving at JBSA-Lackland
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement upon the arrival of additional evacuees from the Grand Princess cruise ship in San Antonio: "San Antonio has done its part to care for those in need. We … Continue Reading
March 06, 2020
Castro, Engel, and Sires Open an Inquiry into Trump Administration Scheme to Deport Asylum Seekers
WASHINGTON- Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Representative Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Representative Albio Sires (NJ-08), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, today launched an inquiry into the State Department's role in crafting agreements with El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to accept migrants seeking asylum in the … Continue Reading
March 03, 2020
Castro, Doggett Call for Investigation into CDC COVID-19 Release Protocols
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health and member of the House Budget Committee, have requested the opening of an oversight … Continue Reading
March 03, 2020
Castro and Engel Push State Department for Answers on Payments to Trump Properties
WASHINGTON- Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Representative Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today pushed the State Department to provide the Committee with information about the spending of taxpayer dollars at Trump properties. In a letter to Under Secretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao, the lawmakers reiterated their deep concern that government resources are being … Continue Reading
March 01, 2020
Castro Statement on Coronavirus Patient Released Into San Antonio By CDC
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement in response to reports that a coronavirus patient released into San Antonio by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later turned up … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
Castro Statement on Coronavirus Evacuees Treated at Lackland, Senator Shelby’s Refusal to Help Evacuees
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement on coronavirus evacuees being treated at JBSA-Lackland as well as Senator Shelby's refusal to help evacuees: "Senator Shelby of Alabama has dangerously … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
Castro Questions Secretary Pompeo During HFAC Hearing on Iran
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today had the following exchange with Secretary Pompeo on Iran during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing: CASTRO: Thank you, Chairman. Mr. Secretary, you and I were both on the … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Castro Statement on SCOTUS’ Ruling on Cross-Border Shooting
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement following the Supreme Court's ruling that the parents of a 15-year-old boy cannot sue the federal agent who shot him by firing across the border … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Castro Statement on Additional Evacuees at JBSA-Lackland
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement to provide an update on the additional evacuees at JBSA-Lackland. "Yesterday, 144 new evacuees arrived at Lackland from Japan after being quarantined on … Continue Reading