Press Releases
Castro Statement on Discharge Petition Failure, Upcoming Immigration Votes
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: “Last night’s announcement by Speaker Ryan that the discharge petition will be effectively stopped is deeply disappointing. We had 216 Republicans and Democrats, with only two signatures away, from bringing meaningful, bipartisan legislation to the … Continue Reading
June 13, 2018
Castro Statement on Administration’s Consideration of Texas Tent Cities for Immigrant Children
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: “Separating immigrant children from their families is a cruel and inhumane tactic that the Trump Administration employs to punish asylum seekers. An even more cruel and inhumane policy is housing these children, without their parents, in tents across … Continue Reading
June 12, 2018
ASEAN Caucus to POTUS: Nominate ASEAN Ambassador
Co-Chairs Wagner, Castro Lead Effort to Highlight Vacant Post, Importance of Promoting Free and Open Indo-Pacific WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and founding co-chair of the ASEAN Caucus, and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Financial Services Committee and founding co-chair of the ASEAN Caucus, urged President Trump to … Continue Reading
June 12, 2018
Castro Statement on Singapore Summit
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 made the following statement: “Just a few months ago, President Trump engaged in a war of words on Twitter with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Diplomacy is preferable to the path we were previously on, and the Singapore summit marked a shift away from war towards possible … Continue Reading
June 11, 2018
Castro Statement on Repeal of Net Neutrality Protections
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 on the Trump Administration’s repeal of net neutrality protections: “The Trump Administration’s repeal of net neutrality protections with the FCC rule change that takes effect today represents a broader assault on a free and open Internet. Repealing … Continue Reading
June 11, 2018
Castro Statement on Sessions’ Stricter Asylum Requirements
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, made the following statement on Attorney General Sessions’ announcement that the Trump Administration will stop granting asylum to victims of gang violence and domestic abuse: “Under U.S. law, asylum is intended for those who can establish a credible fear of persecution based on race, … Continue Reading
June 08, 2018
Castro Remarks On Burn Pits Health Effects
- As Delivered - Click Here for Video - WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and representative for Military City USA, made the following statement at a press conference that shed light on the harmful effects burn pits exposure has on our military’s service members and veterans: “Thank you, Stacey, for that testimonial. … Continue Reading
June 07, 2018
Castro Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Family Members to Register Deceased Veterans on Burn Pits Registry
Measure Allows Family to Document Loved Ones Experience, Help Government Track Long-Term Burn Pits Exposure Health Effects WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and representative for Military City USA, introduced the bipartisan Family Member Access to Burn Pit Registry Act. This measure would allow a family member to … Continue Reading
June 07, 2018
Castro Remarks at House Democratic Leaders Press Conference on Separation of Immigrant Children
- As Delivered - Click Here for Video - WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, made the following statement at a press conference on the separation of immigrant children from their families: “Thank you Congressman Crowley, Chairman Crowley. Thank you for the letter and for all of your work in highlighting, really the inhumanity of this issue. Under President Trump, separating young kids from their parents has become standard … Continue Reading
June 07, 2018
Castro Launches Foreign Policy Podcast
“The Diplomatic Cable” Will Offer Insights into Critical Foreign Policy and National Security Challenges We Face 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, this evening launched “the Diplomatic Cable,” which is a podcast highlighting critical foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States and the … Continue Reading
June 05, 2018
Castro Statement on Immigrant 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, made the following statement: "For centuries, people from around the world traveled to America in search of more opportunity for themselves and their families. Because of this, many Americans share the great privilege of having an immigrant story and have become our nation’s doctors, … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Castro Statement on President’s Decision to Cancel North Korea Summit
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement in response to the President’s decision to cancel the North Korea summit: “Once again, things have fallen apart with North Korea. However, the idea that President Trump would cancel a historic summit over someone else’s strong language is absurd. With three weeks to go, the President and his … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Castro, McCaul to Trump: Reassess Lifting Penalties on ZTE
Members Highlight Lifting Penalties Will Pose National Security Risks, Damage U.S. Credibility Washington, D.C.-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Congressman Michael T. McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, urged President Trump to reconsider lifting penalties on the Chinese telecommunications firm Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) on … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Castro Q&A With State Department Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
- As Delivered - Click Here for Video - Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, had the following question and answer session with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing today on strengthening American diplomacy and reviewing the State Department’s budget, operations, and policy priorities: Rep. Castro: “Is the North Korea … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Castro, McCaul Bill Approved by Foreign Affairs Committee, Heads to House Floor
Measure Protects U.S. Diplomats from Surveillance Through Location-Tracking Consumer Devices Washington, D.C.-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Congressman Michael T. McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, today welcomed the Foreign Affairs Committee’s approval of their bipartisan measure the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Castro Statement on Senate Intelligence Committee’s Bipartisan Report
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today made the following statement: “The Senate Intelligence Committee report released today validates the Intelligence Community’s previous assessments that the Kremlin interfered in our elections to help Trump and damage Clinton’s presidential prospects. Only once the President acknowledges these facts too can we adequately protect our upcoming elections from Russian … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Lujan Grisham, Castro Welcome Amazon Decision to Increase Board Diversity
Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, welcomed Amazon’s decision today to support the adoption of a policy that would allow qualified women and minorities to be considered for all board openings. On Friday, the Members wrote Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos expressing concern over Amazon’s Board of Directors recommended vote against a … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Castro Announces $460+K Award to St. Mary’s University for Biomedical Research Training
Washington, D.C.—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 $460,845 of federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support training undergraduate students in biomedical research: “I welcome today’s $460,845 HHS grant to St. Mary’s University that will provide structured training programs to … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Castro Statement on Facebook Advertisements Release
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today made the following statement: “I welcome the release of Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency Facebook advertisements that sought to influence American behavior as early as 2015. These advertisements prove what we already suspected: Russia exploited social media platforms to divide and polarize our nation’s political system. … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Castro Remarks at Congressional Forum on Challenges Facing Deported Veterans
- As Delivered - Click Here for Video - Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, made the following statement at a forum he hosted along with Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Mark Takano (CA-41), and Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03) yesterday that focused on the challenges deported U.S. military veterans encounter: “Thank you, Mark, for all of your hard work on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and of course to my colleagues that are … Continue Reading