Press Releases
Castro Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Pay State Department Interns
WASHINGTON - Today, February 18th, 2021, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, reintroduced his bipartisan legislation guaranteeing financial support and paid internships at the U.S. State Department. The Department of State Student Internship Program Act would require internships at the State Department to be compensated and authorizes the Department to … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Castro and Wagner Introduce Southeast Asia Strategy Act
WASHINTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), co-chairs and co-founders of the Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), introduced the Southeast Asia Strategy Act. "Southeast Asia is an increasingly important region that is critical to America's security and prosperity," said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate … Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
Castro Leads Texas Delegation Demanding Answers on Power Outages from ERCOT and Public Utility Commission
SAN ANTONIO - Today, February 16th, 2021, Congressman Joaquin Castro led nine members of Texas' Congressional Delegation in demanding immediate answers from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Public Utility Commission of Texas leadership as to the cause, duration, and equitable distribution of power outages across the state of Texas. "The ongoing power outages across Texas are causing unacceptable hardship and suffering to millions of families, especially among the most … Continue Reading
February 01, 2021
CASTRO & BLUMENTHAL WELCOME BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO REUNIFY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES & CALL FOR PASSAGE OF THE FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER ACT
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), authors of the Families Belong Together Act, commend President Biden for taking action to begin reuniting families separated by the Trump Administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy and urged the Biden Administration to make every effort to enable those families to be reunited in the United States. Blumenthal and Castro also announced plans to reintroduce their bicameral legislation to … Continue Reading
January 29, 2021
Castro, Gallego, and Hispanic Caucus Members Urge Defense Secretary Austin to Remove Trump Appointees from Confederate Renaming Commission, Include Latino Representation
WASHINGTON - Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) led a Congressional Hispanic Caucus letter to Secretary Austin regarding the process for renaming U.S. military bases named after Confederate traitors. Specifically, the letter urges Secretary Austin to remove the 4 appointees of the Trump administration to the commission that will make renaming recommendations as mandated by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and replace these appointees with people that … Continue Reading
January 29, 2021
Chairman Castro Announces Members of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact
WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Joaquin Castro announced members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact for the 117th Congress. The Democratic Subcommittee members include: Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-53) Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-30) Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5) Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6) Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-3) "This Subcommittee is composed of talented and … Continue Reading
January 28, 2021
Castro, Spanberger Re-Introduce Bill to Expand Apprenticeships, Partner with Higher Education and Industry
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Congresswomen Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) re-introduced the Strengthening Our Youth Apprenticeships Act. This legislation creates an interagency agreement between the Secretaries of Labor and Education that would provide publicly available guidance and best practices to support youth apprenticeship programs in both secondary and postsecondary education programs. The bill also funds a … Continue Reading
January 28, 2021
Congressman Castro Elected Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was elected Chair of its Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact for the 117th Congress. Castro will continue to serve on the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration, and International Economic Policy. Chairman Castro released the following statement on leading the new subcommittee: "I'm honored to … Continue Reading
January 27, 2021
Rep. Castro and Over 90 Colleagues Urge Biden administration to Extend ACA Benefits to DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro and 93 House Members sent a letter to President Biden and the Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services urging them to expand ACA benefits to DACA recipients. Specifically, the letter asks HHS to repeal it's rule excluding DACA recipients from the definition of lawfully present, a definition that DACA recipients qualify for in many other federal programs, and to do so within the first 100 days of the administration."There are over 200,000 DACA … Continue Reading
January 26, 2021
Castro, Markey and Colleagues Urge President Biden to Protect Immigrants in Sanctuary Churches
WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas and Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts, along with Senator Warren and 27 House members, sent a letter to President Biden urging swift action to grant relief and protections to immigrant families living in sanctuary churches across the nation. For decades, immigrants have been sheltered and supported by communities of faith as a last resort to avoid deportation. Federal immigration enforcement has a longstanding policy against … Continue Reading
January 25, 2021
Rep. Castro Reintroduces Immigration Bills for the New Congress
WASHINGTON - Today, January 25th, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced three pieces of legislation to restore dignity and protections for immigrants in the United States. All three bills had previously been introduced in the 116th Congress. The reintroduced immigration legislation includes: The Jakelin Caal Death in Custody Reporting Act. Named in honor of Jakelin Caal, a 7-year-old girl who died in U.S. government custody after crossing the border, this legislation requires the … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Congressman Castro Selected by Speaker Pelosi to Serve as an Impeachment Manager
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on his selection to serve as an impeachment manager: "For the first time in our nation's history, the transfer of power has not been peaceful. The President of the United States, in an unconscionable act of insurrection, incited a violent mob of his supporters to terrorize the U.S. Capitol in an attempt … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Rep. Castro, Amb. Abercrombie-Winstanley, Sen. Murphy Launch New Truman Center Task Force on Transforming the State Department
WASHINGTON - Today, the Truman National Security Project announced that Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, will co-chair a task force on transforming the State Department. In October, Rep. Castro authored an article in Foreign Affairs on rebuilding America's infrastructure of diplomacy and introduced new legislation last week to promote diversity and inclusion at the State … Continue Reading
December 15, 2020
Castro Introduces Legislation to Overhaul Guest Worker Program
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and member of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced the Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act. This bill creates a new framework for the H-2B temporary guest worker visa program to prevent discrimination and displacement, elevate labor standards, respond to real labor market needs, end captive employment, respect family unity, ensure access to justice, and afford immigrant workers a path to … Continue Reading
December 10, 2020
Castro, Raskin Statement on Commemorating International Human Rights Day
Washington - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, released the following statement to commemorate Human Rights Day: "As we mark International Human Rights Day, we must reaffirm the importance of our commitment to human rights … Continue Reading
December 09, 2020
Castro, Bass, Chu, Haaland, Titus Introduce New Legislation to Promote State Department Diversity and Inclusion
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-1), Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, and Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1), Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Castro Statement on Congress Passing the Global Child Thrive Act
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, released the following statement after Congress passed the Global Child Thrive Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, children are more vulnerable than ever before. Over 250 million children are at risk of impaired development due to the impacts of poverty, poor nutrition, and … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Castro Statement on Foreign Affairs Race
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, released the following statement on the results of the Democratic Caucus vote for chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee: "Congratulations to Representative Gregory Meeks on his election to become the next chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee - he will be the first African American to lead our committee. I look … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Castro, Cicilline Introduce the LOVE Act to Protect LGBTQ Diplomats from Discrimination
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D, TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and Congressman David Cicilline (D, RI-1) introduced the Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration (LOVE) Act of 2020. The LOVE Act the recognizes and corrects the injustice perpetrated against approximately 1,000 people who were fired from the State Department due to their sexual orientation during the Lavender Scare of the … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Castro Resolution Reaffirming the U.S.-Japan Alliance Passes the House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee released the following statement after the House passed H. Res. 349, a resolution reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance. "Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 349, which I authored with Adrian Smith of Nebraska. The U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of prosperity and security in the … Continue Reading