Press Releases
At Celebration in Crownhill Acres, Congressman Castro Touts $1 Million Grant for Energy-Efficient Home Improvements
SAN ANTONIO — On Thursday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined CPS Energy in the Crownhill Acres neighborhood to celebrate a $1 million grant he secured to grow the Casa Verde Weatherization Program and help approximately 500 low-income homeowners qualify for no-cost, energy-saving home improvements. The celebration was held at the home of a Casa Verde beneficiary who has owned her home for nearly four decades. “CPS Energy’s Casa Verde program is a wonderful initiative that helps San … Continue Reading
August 13, 2024
Congressman Castro Kicks Off Third Annual Call for Latino Music Nominations to the National Recording Registry
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a longtime champion for Latino representation in American arts and entertainment, announced that his office is now accepting suggestions from the public for Latino songs and albums to shape his 2024 nominations to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. “From the earliest days of recorded sound, Latino musicians have made incredible contributions to the soundtrack of American life. My annual National Recording … Continue Reading
August 07, 2024
Castro, Warren, Sanders Urge DOJ, FCC to Scrutinize New Sports Streaming Service From Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney
View the Full Letter WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Bernie Sanders (VT) wrote to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the agencies to closely scrutinize a proposed joint venture between Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney subsidiary ESPN that would create a new streaming service called Venu Sports (Venu). “This massive new sports streaming company would be … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
“A Byzantine Bureaucratic Process:” Castro, Warren Urge DOD to Fix Broken Billing System at Military Hospitals
WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) sent a letter urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a final rule waiving medical costs for qualified civilian patients who receive care at military treatment facilities. The letter additionally urges the DOD to work with other federal agencies to prevent patients from incurring tax liabilities connected to discharged medical debt and simplify a complex billing … Continue Reading
July 29, 2024
Statement from House and Senate Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Leaders on Presidential Election in Venezuela
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (VA), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement regarding the presidential election in Venezuela, in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner despite partial results and independent exit polls that suggest Edmundo González … Continue Reading
July 26, 2024
Castro & Kaine Statement Ahead Of Presidential Election In Venezuela
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (VA), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement ahead of the presidential election in Venezuela on July 28: “On July 28, Venezuelans will go to the polls to elect their president for the next six years. Despite an election process marred by irregularities, … Continue Reading
July 24, 2024
Statement from Congressman Castro on Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address to Congress
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement in advance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress: “Over the last nine months, Benjamin Netanyahu has prosecuted Israel’s war in Gaza with contempt for human life. Under his command, Israeli troops have bombed hospitals, ambulances, and schools, killing nearly 40,000 people, most of whom are civilians, and leaving millions homeless. He has failed to prioritize the rescue of … Continue Reading
July 18, 2024
Castro, Warren Urge Commerce to Strengthen New Rule on Assault Weapons Exports
WASHINGTON - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA) released a letter urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to strengthen its new rule on firearms license requirements to prevent U.S. weapons exports from contributing to violence, forced migration, and instability across the globe. The full letter can be viewed here. “We applaud and appreciate the recent steps taken to amend the Department’s licensing policy for exports of firearms, which recognized … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Hispanic-Serving Institutions Caucus Democratic Co-Chairs Applaud Executive Actions to Expand Educational Opportunities for Latino Students
WASHINGTON — Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Democratic Co-Chairs of the House Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (CA), co-chair of the Senate HSI Caucus, issued a joint statement applauding key actions the Biden-Harris Administration will take to expand educational opportunities for Latino students. The actions will establish the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic … Continue Reading
July 16, 2024
Congressman Castro Launches Third Annual Call for Public Suggestions of Latino-Driven Films to Nominate for the National Film Registry
SAN ANTONIO —Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) launched a nationwide call for public suggestions to help shape his third annual list of nominations of Latino-driven films that should be preserved in the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. “For more than a century, Latino filmmakers have poured their talent and creativity into bringing our stories to the silver screen. As my office launches our third annual public call for nominations, I’m excited to hear from folks … Continue Reading
July 16, 2024
Castro, Booker, 86 Democrats Push for Outreach to Help DACA Recipients Apply for ACA Coverage
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Cory Booker (N.J.) led 86 of their colleagues in the House and Senate in a letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand investment in outreach and enrollment assistance to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients ahead of the upcoming November open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance. Congressman Castro and Senator Booker have been longtime leaders in … Continue Reading
July 13, 2024
Statement from Congressman Castro on Shooting at Trump Rally
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after a shooting during a rally held by former president Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania: “Political violence is unacceptable in any form. As we wait for more information, I commend the Secret Service agents who acted quickly to protect the former president and prevent further harm to the … Continue Reading
July 08, 2024
Congressman Castro Secures $11.7 Million for San Antonio Community Projects in FY2025 Federal Appropriations Bills
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that his office has secured approval from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee for $11,718,000 in federal funding to support fifteen San Antonio community projects. If passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and signed into law, the funding will support projects including real-time monitoring to improve air quality on the Westside, revitalization projects focused on Woodlawn Lake and Monterrey Park, … Continue Reading
July 02, 2024
Castro, Cornyn, Fallon, Cuellar Push to Bring AFCYBER Consolidated Campus to Port San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator John Cornyn (TX), Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04), and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released a letter sent to the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force expressing strong support for Port San Antonio’s efforts to build a consolidated campus for the 16th Air Force (AFCYBER) and associated missions and partner agencies. AFCYBER employs more than 2,000 Airmen, civilians, and contractors to conduct sensitive cyberspace and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2024
Congressman Castro Announces New Planned Passport Agency in San Antonio to Help Travelers with Urgent Passport and Visa Services
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that the State Department has selected San Antonio as one of six locations for a new U.S. passport agency, following requirements Castro voted to pass as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In a post on social media, Congressman Castro celebrated the selection as “incredible news,” citing years of work from San Antonio’s Congressional delegation to establish a local passport agency and save … Continue Reading
June 18, 2024
Congressman Castro Applauds President Biden’s Immigration Relief for Mixed-Status Families and High-Skilled College Graduates
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement in support of new immigration relief measures announced by President Biden that will provide protections from deportation and a pathway to legal status for the undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens and also ease the visa process for foreign-born graduates of U.S. colleges and universities. “For too long, mixed-status families have been forced to live in the shadows - worried that a traffic … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Johnny Canales Honored in the U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor Johnny Canales, a beloved South Texas entertainer who died earlier this week at the age of 77. Canales was the longtime host of The Johnny Canales Show, a bilingual variety show that aired for decades across the United States and Latin America and is credited with helping to launch the careers of Tejano music superstars including Selena Quintanilla. To … Continue Reading
June 11, 2024
Congressman Castro Fights to Relieve Medical Debt for BAMC Patients through Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA
WASHINGTON — This week, U.S. House lawmakers will consider two amendments authored by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) that would address ongoing issues with medical debt and financial hardship associated with civilian care at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio. If made in order by the House Rules Committee, the amendments will be included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “For years, BAMC’s agreement with Bexar County has allowed Army medical … Continue Reading
June 07, 2024
Castro, Nadler Push Disney, Fox, WBD for Answers on Transparency and Competition Concerns with Proposed Sports Streaming Venture
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to the chief executive officers of The Walt Disney Company, FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery to express renewed concerns that a proposed joint sports streaming venture among the three companies could reduce competition and harm consumers and to request further information to ensure appropriate government oversight of the venture. The … Continue Reading
June 04, 2024
Statement from Congressman Castro on New Asylum Restrictions
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement in response to a new executive order that will substantially limit access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border: “The United States of America became the strongest, most prosperous nation on earth because of - not despite - immigration. The ‘daily threshold’ in this executive order would amount to a … Continue Reading