Press Releases
ICYMI: Castro, Blumenauer, Bonamici, Garcia Unveil Appropriations Amendments to Defund Trump’s Secret Police
WASHINGTON—In response to the Trump administration’s continued occupation of Portland, Oregon and the president’s threat to expand such operations to other cities, 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 … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Congressman Castro Announces He Will Seek House Foreign Affairs Chairmanship
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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 announcing his intention to run for Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: "We need a new generation of foreign policy leadership with a … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Subcommittees Oppose Potentially Dangerous Language and Raise Public Health Concerns in the State Department’s Unalienable Rights Draft Report and Release Event
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Chairman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, issued the following statement after the State Department revealed a draft report from the Commission on Unalienable Rights. "Based on Secretary Pompeo's remarks today and an initial review of the report, it seems that our fears about the … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Castro, Scott, Others Urge Department of Labor to Reverse Work Visa Ban
WASHINGTON-Today, in response to the Trump Administration's June executive proclamation suspending all work visas during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair 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, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3), Chair of the Education and … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Castro Joins Curtis, Others in Leading Bipartisan Coalition to Introduce The Hong Kong Safe Harbor 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, joined Congressman John Curtis (R-UT), in leading a bipartisan coalition to introduce the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, which would designate the people of Hong Kong as Priority 2 refugees, … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Castro, Omar Urge USAID to Rescind its Appointment of Mark Kevin Lloyd as USAID Religious Freedom Adviser
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 Ilhan Omar (MN-5),today urged USAID to rescind its appointment of Mark Kevin Lloyd as USAID Religious Freedom Adviser. Mr. Lloyd has a proven track record of prejudice towards … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Castro Floor Speech on George Floyd Justice in Policing 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 delivered the below floor speech on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act: "For far too long, far too many people have lost their lives to police brutality. And for far too long, the … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Castro Statement on 70th Anniversary of Start of Korean War
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 the 70thAnniversary of the beginning of the Korean War: "Seventy years ago today North Korea invaded South Korea, setting off the tragic Korean War. … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Castro Statement on First House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Diversity in Diplomacy Hearing
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 his first subcommittee hearing on diversity on diplomacy: "One of my top priorities as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Castro Statement on Bolton Allegations Against President Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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 allegations were reported in Ambassador John Bolton's new book against President Trump: "Ambassador John Bolton should have testified … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Chairs Castro and Raskin Raise Concerns that Upcoming Report by State Department’s “Unalienable Rights” Commission Will Harm Global Human Rights
Washington, D.C. (June 9, 2020)-Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations within the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to the State Department's Commission on Unalienable Rights to express serious misgivings about reports that the Commission may change the way the United States upholds human … Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Castro Statement on Justice in Policing Act of 2020
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 as House Democrats and Senate Democrats introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020: "This moment in history requires nothing short of a … Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Castro Statement on Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre
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 the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre: "Thirty-one years ago today, the Chinese government used military force to crush young protesters … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Castro Statement on Trump Administration Withdrawal From the Open Skies Treaty
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 Trump Administration's withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty: "The decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty is the latest … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Castro Statement on Passage of the HEROES 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 a statement following passage of the HEROES Act in the House of Representatives: "I voted in support of the Heroes Act today because it delivers urgent relief to match the … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
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