Press Releases
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
January 23, 2019
Castro Statement on SCOTUS Ruling on the President’s Proposed Transgender Military Ban
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Hispanic Caucus and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement: “I’m deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court has allowed the President’s proposed transgender military ban to go into effect, impacting nearly 9,000 of our men and women in uniform. This policy proposal is discrimination at the highest levels against an already … Continue Reading
January 19, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Castro Response to President Trump’s Speech
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today issued the following statement after President Trump offered to end the government shutdown in exchange for $5.7 billion for President Trump’s border wall and temporary protection for some DACA and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients: “The President must reopen the government to allow federal workers to get back to work and support their families. After we have … Continue Reading
January 17, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Castro Statement on New Report of Thousands More Children Separated From Their Parents
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, which determined that thousands more children were separated from their parents than previously known. Specifically, this report found that HHS separated thousands of additional children before the public announcement of the zero-tolerance policy in April 2018 by … Continue Reading
January 15, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Castro Statement on Court Ruling on 2020 Census
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement on the court ruling today that says U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross violated federal law in attempting to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census: “The Trump Administration is attempting to add a new citizenship question to the 2020 census to politically intimidate the immigrant community, and today’s court ruling against adding this … Continue Reading
January 14, 2019
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Castro Condemns Rep. Steve King’s Racist Comments
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement in response to Iowa Congressman Steve King’s racist statements to the New York Times: “Over the years, Steve King has made increasingly more xenophobic and racist statements. King’s rhetoric, plus the President’s bigoted statements about immigrants, Native Americans, and people of color, engender a climate of racial and ethnic … Continue Reading
January 09, 2019
Chairman Castro Gives Reaction to President’s Address on Government Shutdown
- As Delivered - Click Here for Video - WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, last evening gave a quick reaction to the President’s government shutdown address on Facebook live. Following his reaction, he had a discussion with staff debunking some of the falsehoods the President claimed: “Hey everybody. Well, we’re still here at the office. We stayed late to watch President Trump’s address on the border wall. And I’m here with some … Continue Reading
January 09, 2019
Members of Congress: Systemic Failures Also Contributed to Felipe Gomez Alonzo’s Death
ALAMOGORDO, NEW MEXICO—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led a congressional delegation to Alamogordo Border Patrol Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding Felipe Gomez Alonzo’s death. He was joined by Congresswoman Xotchil Torres Small (NM-02); Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR); House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), House Democratic Policy and Communications Chair David Cicilline (RI-01), Congresswoman Grace F. … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
Chairman Joaquin Castro Welcomes Newest Members to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
WASHINGTON—Today, Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued a statement welcoming the newest CHC members to the Caucus for the 116th Congress: “The 116th Congress’ Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) now consists of 38 total members—the largest class since our founding in 1976 nearly doubling the size of women in our ranks and welcoming some of Congress’ youngest in the Freshman class. We have a challenging session ahead, and I look forward to working alongside our entire … Continue Reading