Press Releases
Reps. Castro and Jacobs Introduce Legislation to Restore and Strengthen U.S. Leadership in International Organizations
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53), the subcommittee's Vice Chair, introduced the Restoring U.S. Leadership in International Organizations Act of 2021. This legislation would boost America's diplomatic presence at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and incentivize American diplomats to serve in international … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Congressman Castro’s Community Project Included in House Transportation Infrastructure Bill
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced $15.6 million in federal funding to complete the Zarzamora overpass was included as part of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's INVEST in America Act. The Zarzamora-Frio City road overpass safety project is critically important to the San Antonio community, and Congressman Castro designated this community project as one of his top transportation and infrastructure funding priorities for the 2021 fiscal … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
CASTRO, MEIJER INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS CHINA’S CENSORSHIP OF AMERICANS
WASHINGTON - Congressman Castro (TX-20), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Congressman Meijer (MI-3) introduced legislation to monitor and address China's censorship and intimidation strategies affecting Americans and American businesses. This legislation is the House counterpart to a Senate bill introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Marco Rubio, Elizabeth Warren, and John Cornyn. "Freedom of speech is a … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
CASTRO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE U.S. STRATEGY IN THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION
WASHINGTON - Congressman Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act topromote economic and security cooperation with civil society, the private sector, and the governments in the Indian Ocean region. This bill is also included as part of the EAGLE Act. "The Indian Ocean region is increasingly important to the diplomatic, economic, and security … Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Congressman Castro Statement on President Biden’s Summit with South Korean President Moon
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on President Biden's Summit with South Korean President Moon: "I commend President Biden for hosting South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House. Today's summit is a strong demonstration of the importance of the U.S.-Korea alliance, the linchpin of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. "Americans and South Koreans are united by our shared democratic values, deep economic ties, and a … Continue Reading
May 17, 2021
Congressman Castro Urges Cease Fire in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Concerned with Weapons Sale to Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement urging a cease fire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and expressing serious concerns over the Biden administration's approval of a $735 million weapons sale to Israel: "The increasing loss of civilian lives of Palestinians and Israelis is unconscionable and unacceptable. I'm particularly disturbed by the disproportionate bombing of the Gaza Strip, including the deaths of at least 92 women and children … Continue Reading
April 28, 2021
Congressman Castro Invites San Antonio Essential Worker as Virtual Guest to Presidential Address
SAN ANTONIO - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is uplifting a San Antonio essential worker, Eliza Sanchez, as his virtual guest to President Biden's Joint Address to Congress. Eliza, 44, is an immigrant domestic worker and has worked as a homecare worker for the past 3 years providing care for the elderly. The Joint Address is President Biden's first speech to a Joint Session of Congress, marking 100 days into the President's first term. In the past, Congressman Castro has invited … Continue Reading
April 26, 2021
Castro & Blumenthal Reintroduce the Families Belong Together Act to Reunite Separated Migrant Families
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Education and Labor Committees, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced legislation to reunite the thousands of immigrant children and families who were separated by the Trump Administration's cruel 2018 family separation policy. As of April 7th, 2021, likely more than a thousand children have yet to be reunited with their … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Castro, Tenney Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Impose Arms Embargo Against Burmese Military
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today introduced a resolution urging the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to immediately impose an arms embargo against the military of Burma in an effort to end the ongoing coup by the Burmese military and deliver control of the nation back to its elected officials. Since February 1, 2021, Burmese military leaders have remained in control of the country after carrying out a coup. They have used … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Castro, Torres, Omar, Velázquez, and Congressional Leaders Ask President Biden To Address Climate Refugees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and 16 Members of Congress asked President Biden in a letter to work with world leaders at the 2021 Climate Summit to address the growing needs of people displaced by the climate crisis. "Currently, the world does not have an agreed upon definition of 'climate refugees.' As a result, climate displaced persons are often stuck in legal limbo because they are not … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Castro Global Election Bill Approved by Foreign Affairs Committee, Heads to House Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, welcomed approval by the House Foreign Affairs of the Global Electoral Exchange Act. Castro re-introduced this bicameral and bipartisan legislation with Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate … Continue Reading
April 20, 2021
Congressman Castro Statement on Conviction of Derek Chauvin for the Murder of George Floyd
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd: "Dereck Chauvin murdered George Floyd while hiding behind the badge. Today he got the verdict he deserved. "The guilty verdict on all counts delivers necessary accountability, but true justice depends on all of us fixing a broken policing system and preventing this horror from happening again. "History will remember Darnella Frazier who … Continue Reading
April 16, 2021
CHAIRMAN CASTRO LEADS SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON INNOVATION IN DEVELOPMENT POLICY
WASHINGTON - The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact held a hearing entitled "Innovation in Development Policy: Maximizing Impact and Results" under the leadership of Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) on Friday, April 16, 2021. The hearing focused on how the United States can develop and expand the use of innovative development practices at the US Agency for International Development and other foreign … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Castro, Padilla, Warren, Lieu: Citizenship for Essential Workers is Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Alex Padilla (CA), Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33) led a bicameral letter to President Biden urging the inclusion of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act in the President's upcoming infrastructure package. This legislation provides a fair, secure, and accessible pathway to U.S. citizenship for over 5 million immigrant essential workers in health care, agriculture, construction, food, energy, … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Castro, Gallego, and Hispanic Caucus Urge Defense Department to Rename Ft. Hood After Mexican-American Medal of Honor Recipient, Update Base Naming Criteria
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) led 18 additional members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in a letter urging Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the DOD renaming commission to ensure that Latino military heroes are honored as new namesakes for at least one of the 10 Army bases with Confederate names that await renaming. In last year's National Defense Authorization Act, Congress mandated that DOD rename all bases, … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Chairman Castro Leads Subcommittee Hearing on U.S. Standing in International Organizations
Washington D.C. - The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact held a hearing entitled "U.S. Standing in International Organizations" under the leadership of Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. The hearing focused on the United States' role in international organizations such as the United Nations and what actions Congress can take to help strengthen American leadership and counter … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Congressman Castro Statement on House Approval of Immigration Legislation for Dreamers, TPS Holders, and Farmworkers
WASHINTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted for the American Dream and Promise Act, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and issued the following statement: "Today is a day of hope in the United States. Hoy es un día de esperanza en los Estados Unidos. It's long past time that Congress honored the contributions of immigrants, including Dreamers, TPS holders, and farmworkers, with a path to citizenship. The House approval of the American Dream and Promise Act and the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Congressman Castro And Texas Colleagues Urge Gov. Abbott to Prioritize Agricultural Workers for COVID Vaccine Eligibility
WASHINTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and six of his colleagues in the Texas Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging him to expand vaccine eligibility to farmworkers, meatpackers, and other agricultural workers in line with CDC recommendations. Texas is one of only a few states that have excluded such workers from Tier 1B of its vaccination rollout. "Throughout the pandemic, the agricultural workers in Texas' fields, ranches, farms, dairies, and … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Chairman Castro Leads Subcommittee Hearing on Impact of America’s International Development Priorities
WASHINGTON - The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact held its first hearing of the 117th Congress under the leadership of Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Ranking Member Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11). The hearing focused on COVID-19's impact on global development one year after the pandemic began, and how the United States' international development institutions and workforce must adapt and rebuild in … Continue Reading
March 05, 2021
Castro, Wagner, Klobuchar, & Sullivan Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Election Administration Practices with International Allies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight of federal elections, and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) reintroduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to share … Continue Reading