Press Releases
San Antonio Delegation Introduces Legislation to Address Threats to U.S. Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees; Congressman Will Hurd (TX-23), a former undercover CIA officer, cybersecurity entrepreneur and IT Subcommittee Chair; Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Chairman of the Health Subcommittee on Ways and Means; and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) introduced legislation that … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members Urge Homeland Security Conferees to Oppose Additional Funding for Trump’s Deportation Agenda
WASHINGTON— Today, leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members urged the Bipartisan Bicameral Homeland Security Conferees to oppose increases in funding for ICE and CBP for the purposes of immigration detention, Trump’s deportation force and the border wall. Members specifically asked Conferees to hold ICE and CBP accountable through the appropriations process and to limit ICE and CBP’s ability to transfer or reprogram funds from other accounts in order to build a wall or border … Continue Reading
February 06, 2019
Castro Statement on the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the House Committees on Education and Labor, tonight made this statement in response to the President’s State of the Union address: “Despite a brief attempt at striking a bipartisan tone, the President instead painted a picture of division, chaos, and false narratives. He called for increased legal immigration,yet continues to … Continue Reading
February 06, 2019
Castro Introduces Two Measures to Help Veterans Affected by Burn Pits
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the House Committees on Intelligence and Education and Labor, today introduced two measures that would help U.S. Military veterans who have been negatively affected by exposure to toxic burn pits. Specifically, the Congressman introduced the Family Member Access to Burn Pits Registry Act of 2019 (H.R.1001) and the Burn Pits Veterans … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Castro Joined by DACA Recipient for State of the Union
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the House Committees on Intelligence and Education and Labor, today announced that he will be accompanied by Carlos Salinas Hernandez as his guest for the 2019 State of the Union. A recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Carlos currently studies at the Texas A&M College Station, and is a … Continue Reading
February 02, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro Calls on Governor Northam to Resign
WASHINGTON— Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement: "I join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in calling for Virginia Governor Northam's resignation. His display of racism occurred years after our nation had openly confronted the scourge and legacy of racial prejudice. While his political record does not seem to match the man profiled in that yearbook, his silence throughout the years undercuts his … Continue Reading
February 01, 2019
Castro Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from INF Treaty
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement that the United States government would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty sets back U.S. national security and significantly weakens our credibility with … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Castro & Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Address the Family Separation Crisis
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Intelligence, and Education and Labor Committees, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation to help children and families who were affected by the family separation crisis that resulted from the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Castro Introduces Legislation Preventing Intelligence Community Heads from Lobbying for Foreign Government
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and a member of the Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today re-introduced legislation that would prevent Intelligence Community heads from lobbying for foreign governments. The Intelligence Directors Lobbying Prevention Act of 2019 (H.R. 867) specifically amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to ban a former head of any … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Castro Elected Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Education and Labor, today was elected as Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the 116th Congress. The Vice Chairman position will be deputy to Chairman Eliot L. Engel (NY-16) and these positions are intended to harness emerging leaders in Congress. Chairman Castro wrote the following statement on his … Continue Reading
January 29, 2019
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Congress’ Foreign Policy Priorities for 116th Congress
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on priorities ahead for the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the U.S. Congress featuring Chairman Eliot L. Engel (NY-16). “We’ve seen the President push foreign policy objectives such as withdrawing U.S. forces from Syria or even considering … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Castro Statement on the Trump Shutdown’s Economic and Moral Costs
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement in response to the Congressional Budget Office’s Economic Impact Report on the Government Shutdown: “Today’s report confirms what we already suspected: that the Trump Shutdown damaged our nation’s morale, economy and national security. In just five weeks, we lost over $11 billion in GDP. Not only did President Trump’s actions … Continue Reading
January 27, 2019
Castro Statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a member of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Education and Labor Committees, and a member of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, today released the following statement in observation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day: “Each year on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we are reminded of the horrors committed by the Nazi regime and their collaborators that … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Castro Statement on Roger Stone Indictment
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and a member of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement following Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment and arrest of former Trump campaign official Roger Stone: “Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment today of former Trump campaign official Roger Stone strengthens the case for collusion between the Trump’s … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Castro Statement on Reopening the Government
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today put out the following statement on the President’s announcement to reopen the government: “I am relieved that a deal has been reached to temporarily reopen the government and back pay the 800,000 Americans who missed two paychecks. The 35-day, record long shutdown harmed our federal workers and greatly jeopardized U.S. national security all as the President pursued his … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Castro to VA Secretary Wilkie: Does the VA Recognize Links Between PTDS, Alzheimer’s and Dementia?
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and representative of Military City USA, asked the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to provide any information in their possession that relates to the link between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Alzheimer’s and dementia. In a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, Congressman … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Welcomes Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard’s Appointment to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents
WASHINGTON—The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) welcomes the appointment of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard as their champion to serve on the Smithsonian Institute Board of Regents. In response, CHC Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement: “The Congressional Hispanic Caucus welcomes Speaker Pelosi’s appointment of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard to the Smithsonian Board of Regents. As a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Congresswoman … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Castro Joins the House Committee on Education and Labor, Assigned 3rd Committee for 116th Congress
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, joined the House Committee on Education and Labor as a third Committee assignment for the 116th Congress effective immediately. Chairman Castro issued the following statement: “I’m honored to join the House Committee on Education and Labor, and grateful to Speaker Pelosi and the Steering and … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Castro, Meadows Reintroduce Election Security and Democracy Promotion Legislation
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and a member of the House Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, and House Education and Labor Committees, and Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, today reintroduced the Global Electoral Exchange Act (H.R.753). This bipartisan measure would authorize the Secretary of State to administer exchange … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Middle East: “From Russia to Riyadh”
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on the tectonic shifts in the Middle East since the Arab Spring and the implications for U.S. foreign policy. This episode features Vali Nasr, former Special Advisor to President Obama’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and current … Continue Reading