Press Releases
Castro Statement on Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after this morning’s shooting at a practice for the Congressional baseball game: “My prayers are with Congressman Scalise, the injured Capitol Police officers, Congressman Williams’ injured staff member, and all of their loved ones after this morning’s terrible attack. All Americans can agree that this sort of violence is condemnable. Every day, I am grateful to the Capitol Police who keep Congress … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Castro Statement on North Korea’s Release of Otto Warmbier
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding North Korea’s release of U.S. citizen Otto Warmbier: “It is a great relief that Otto Warmbier’s unjust imprisonment in North Korea has come to an end, and that he will finally reunite with his family after an excruciating period of uncertainty and hardship. I am concerned about Otto’s health and reports that he is in a coma. This episode … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Castro Statement on Comey's Written Testimony
“Since the early days of his presidency, Donald Trump has inserted himself into the FBI’s work, publicly commenting on an ongoing investigation and privately expressing his desire for the agency’s leadership to clear his name. These actions violate the Department of Justice’s independence, as did the President’s repeated requests for loyalty from the FBI Director. That this highly suspect behavior immediately preceded Mr. Comey’s firing raises very disturbing questions about the President’s … Continue Reading
June 02, 2017
Castro Announces $500K to Support UTSA and Local High School Students
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $500,000.00 to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA will receive funding under the Upward Bound Program, which provides key opportunities for students to succeed in the pursuit of higher education. Upward Bound is one of eight federal TRIO Programs. TRIO aids students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including low-income individuals, … Continue Reading
June 02, 2017
Castro Statement on President Trump’s Withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from participation in the Paris Climate Accord: “Leaving the Paris Agreement is an abandonment of U.S. global leadership. With the President’s decision today, the United States joins Syria and Nicaragua as one of only three nations in the world not to participate in the deal. Already, we have seen how the effects of … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
Castro Introduces Legislation to Improve Public and Police Safety through Increased Law Enforcement Transparency
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced legislation to bring transparency and accountability to law enforcement agencies across the nation with the aim of reducing the use of force by and against police officers. The Police Reporting Information, Data and Evidence (PRIDE) Act of 2017 would require states and Indian tribes to provide quarterly reports to the U.S. Justice Department regarding any incident during which a civilian is shot or seriously injured by a … Continue Reading
May 19, 2017
Castro Statement on U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela Supreme Court Members
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement after the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on members of Venezuela’s Supreme Court: “The desperation, oppression, and violence in Venezuela is reaching a breaking point. Since the Supreme Court’s attempts to dissolve the National Assembly in March, the Venezuelan people have sustained massive protests despite a brutal crackdown from … Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Castro Statement on Appointment of Robert Mueller as Special Counsel
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement: “The naming of Robert Mueller as special counsel for the investigation into Russia is a positive step. The American people expect him to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into whether any Americans assisted the Russians who interfered in our election, and, if necessary, to use his ability to prosecute … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Castro Statement on Comey Memo
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement: “If President Trump instructed Director Comey to stop the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn’s ties to Russia, he used his office to obstruct justice. Director Comey should come back to the House Intelligence Committee and publicly testify. Relevant congressional committees should be given Director Comey’s memo to review as well … Continue Reading
May 10, 2017
Castro Statement on Firing of FBI Director Comey
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after President Donald Trump fired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey: “President Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director Comey is extremely suspicious. For the past six months, I have been asked if I believed Director Comey should be fired. Consistently, I have said that, despite his errors, I trust Director … Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Castro Statement on SB 4 Becoming Law
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law: “The state legislature’s passage of SB 4 was a dark moment for Texas and for our nation. Now, Governor Abbott has signed the measure into law, legalizing the profiling of people based on their ethnicity and birthplace. Not only is this law morally wrong, it will strain our law enforcement and make our communities more dangerous. Our … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Castro Statement on House Passage of Republican Healthcare Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting against Republicans’ healthcare legislation, the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA): “Republicans’ healthcare bill lets state leaders in Austin abandon Texans who have preexisting conditions. States will have the option to allow insurance companies to inflict devastatingly high premiums on people suffering from ailments like cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, and … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Castro Statement Welcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on ASEAN and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement welcoming foreign ministers from Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to Washington, D.C.: “I extend a warm welcome to ASEAN foreign ministers visiting Washington, D.C., and look forward to meeting with them while they’re in our nation’s capital. Recognizing the … Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
Castro, Wagner Introduce Resolution Recognizing ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary and the 40th Anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN Relations
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressional Caucus on ASEAN founding co-chairs Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) introduced a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highlighting member nations’ contributions to stability, prosperity, and peace in Southeast Asia. The resolution also marks the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN relations and recognizes the positive outcomes of … Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Castro Introduces Legislation to Improve the Veterans Crisis Line
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced legislation to more swiftly connect veterans in crisis directly with professionally trained responders through a confidential and toll-free hotline. The Veterans Crisis Line Improvement Act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that when a veteran places a telephone call to any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility, the first message a caller hears provides a mechanism by which the caller can … Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Castro Statement on Texas Voter ID Law Ruling
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after a U.S. District Judge ruled that Texas’ voter-identification law was enacted with the intent to discriminate against black and Hispanic voters: “A federal court has reaffirmed that the Texas Legislature passed our state’s voter ID law with the intent to discriminate. Texans will continue to be disenfranchised until this law is permanently … Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Castro Statement on Chairman Nunes’ Recusal from Russia Investigation
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after Chairman Devin Nunes announced he will step aside from leading the committee’s investigation into Russia: “As Chairman Nunes has said, his decision today is in the best interests of the House Intelligence Committee and its investigation. I am hopeful that under the leadership of Mike Conaway we can move forward in a bipartisan … Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Castro Introduces Legislation to Provide Local Pre-K Programs Direct Access to Federal Funding
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus, introduced legislation that will help eligible local education entities across the country access federal prekindergarten (pre-k) funding. The Pre-K for USA Act provides school districts with a direct line to federal funding, eliminating their reliance on states to access federal pre-k dollars. “Over the years, states like Texas have failed to prioritize pre-k, causing … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Castro Statement on U.S. Strikes in Syria
San Antonio, TX - Tonight, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement: “Tonight, the United States launched missiles at an airfield in Syria. The Assad regime’s repeated chemical attacks on its own citizens are war crimes and indisputably horrific, but Congress plays an important role in authorizing military force. I continue to believe that Congress must authorize any additional use of force against the Syrian … Continue Reading
April 05, 2017
Castro Statement on North Korea Missile Test
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and founding co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus, released the following statement on North Korea’s ballistic missile test: “North Korea’s continued missile tests violate UN Security Council resolutions and threaten regional stability. The United States is fully committed to defending our allies in the region, including Japan and South Korea. Nothing good will come from the Kim regime’s … Continue Reading