Press Releases
Castro Announces $2M for Improving Healthcare in San Antonio
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, announced $2,000,000 of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) towards the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), the local mental health authority for San Antonio and Bexar County. This grant is intended to help CHCS expand their availability of … Continue Reading
September 18, 2018
Representatives Wagner & Castro Introduce Southeast Asia Strategy Act
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), co-chairs and co-founders of the Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), introduced the Southeast Asia Strategy Act to enhance U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia and assure critical partners in the region of the United States’ strong support. “To date, the U.S. has never articulated a comprehensive strategy for the Southeast Asian region,” said Congresswoman Wagner. … Continue Reading
September 15, 2018
Castro Statement on Hispanic Heritage Month
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today issued the following statement marking Hispanic Heritage Month: “As we mark the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s an opportunity to recognize the history, culture, and achievements of the Latino community. From creativity in the arts and sciences, protecting our freedom and … Continue Reading
September 14, 2018
Castro Statement on Manafort Plea Deal, Cooperation with Mueller’s Team
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement: “Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort’s guilty plea today and subsequent cooperation with the Department of Justice validates Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential elections. This plea … Continue Reading
September 13, 2018
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on U.S. Foreign Policy in Disarray
Eighth Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on U.S. foreign policy in disarray under President Trump featuring Council on Foreign Relations President Dr. Richard Haass: “From China’s … Continue Reading
September 13, 2018
Castro Statement on Settlement Reached in Family Separation Asylum Cases
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement: “While seeking asylum is a right under international law, I welcome the agreement reached late last night to allow around 1,000 asylum seekers, who had been separated from their families at the border, another chance to seek asylum in the United … Continue Reading
September 07, 2018
CHC, HFAC to Pompeo: Halt Inappropriate Passport Denials to American Citizens
Members Demanded State Dept. Review This Practice, Provide Written Responses to Congress WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Intelligence and Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ First Vice Chair; Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; and Ranking Member Eliot L. Engel, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led 24 Democratic lawmakers in urging the U.S. State … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
CHC to Nielsen: What Conditions at the South Texas Detention Center Led to Toddler Death and Why Wasn’t Congress Notified?
Castro Leads Caucus Letter Demanding Answers on Care Provided to Detainees WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led members of the Hispanic Caucus in asking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen about the conditions at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas that led to the death of 18 … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
Castro Statement on the Administration’s Plans to Withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, made the following statement after the Trump Administration’s preparation to withdraw from the Flores Settlement Agreement and circumvent limits on the government’s ability to hold minors in immigration detention: “I am deeply concerned about the Trump Administration’s preparations … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
Castro, Meadows Bipartisan Election Security Bill Passes House, Heads to Senate
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Intelligence, and Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11), a member of the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure and Foreign Affairs, welcomed the unanimous passage of their bipartisan measure, the Global Electoral Exchange Act (H.R. 5274). This legislation would authorize the Secretary of State to administer exchange programs for electoral authorities … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
ASEAN Co-Chairs to Myanmar: Commute Journalists Sentencing for Reporting on Rohingya Massacres
Bipartisan Members Urge Aung San Suu Kyi to Support Free and Independent Press, Principles of Democracy WASHINGTON—Founding co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committees Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) today urged Myanmar to commute the sentences of two Reuters journalists who have been sentenced to seven years of jail time for investigating the Rohingya massacres. In a letter to Aung San Suu Kyi, … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro, Wagner, Larsen Introduce Bipartisan Measure to Promote International Commerce
Measure Expands Small Business Development Centers into Southeast Asia, Recognizes Invaluable Role of Small Businesses in Economic Expansion WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Financial Services Committee; and Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Transportation and … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Announces $2M for Low and Zero Emissions Transit
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, announced $2 million of federal funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to VIA Metropolitan Transit for the purchase of 8 electric buses to replace diesel vehicles dedicated to downtown operations. “As public transportation continues to grow in large cities including San … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Op-Ed in the Foreign Service Journal: “A Foreign Service for America”
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, authored an op-ed in the Foreign Service Journal making the case for a strengthened Foreign Service that maintains American engagement with our allies and promotes diplomacy and development in all corners of the world. A preview of the op-ed can be found below, with a full version … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Statement on Anniversary of President Trump’s Decision to End DACA
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of the Trump Administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: “It’s been one year since the Administration ended DACA, putting more than 822,000 recipients in legal … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Castro Announces Over $2.5M from the National Science Foundation to UTSA for Various Projects
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today announced over $2.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA): “As San Antonio and cities across Texas continue to grow, we must ensure all our students can access research, development and education programs that that … Continue Reading
August 31, 2018
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Consequences of NAFTA Renegotiations, U.S.-Latin America Policy
Seventh Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Former Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. State Department Roberta Jacobson WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on consequences of NAFTA renegotiations with Mexico … Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Trump-Russia Investigation
Sixth Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (CA-28) WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released a Diplomatic Cable episode on the investigation into the Trump campaign’s collusion with Russia in the 2016 presidential election: The episode is available on … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Castro Issues Congressional Inquiry Regarding Texas Car Accident Involving Female Immigrant Detainees
Castro Requests Explanation for Discrepancies in Responses Received, Highlights Continuing Concern of Immigrants in Government Custody WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, wrote a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Ronald D. Vitiello asking about the circumstances of a car accident … Continue Reading
August 06, 2018
CHC Leadership to Mexican Ambassador Gutiérrez: What is Mexico’s Policy for the Treatment of Individuals in the Country Seeking Asylum in the United States?
Castro Leads Letter to Gutiérrez Inquiring About the Treatment of Asylum-Seekers in Mexico by Mexican Officials WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), led a CHC leadership letter to Mexican Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez requesting more information about the treatment of asylum-seekers by Mexican officials. The Members wrote: “As … Continue Reading