Press Releases
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PASSES CASTRO LEGISLATION TO MAKE U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS MORE IMPACTFUL AND COST-EFFICIENT
Washington, D.C. – Today, The Global Development Lab Act, a bill introduced by Congressmen Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) and Michael McCaul (R-TX-10), passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee and moved one step closer to consideration by the full House of Representatives. The legislation authorizes and augments the capabilities of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Global Development Lab, an entity that applies science, technology, innovation, and partnerships to … Continue Reading
February 19, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON JAPANESE AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio, TX - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus and member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after the conclusion of Japanese Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae's visit to San Antonio: "It was a pleasure and honor to host Ambassador Sasae in San Antonio today. I'm grateful that he took time to meet with local leaders and learn more about our city's economic and cultural ties with Japan. … Continue Reading
February 10, 2016
CASTRO TO HOST JAPANESE AMBASSADOR IN SAN ANTONIO
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus and member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, today announced that Japan's Ambassador to the United States, Kenichiro Sasae, will visit San Antonio next week on Friday, February 19. "It will be an honor to host Ambassador Sasae in my home city next week. San Antonio and Japan share strong economic ties, and we have a longstanding cultural bond through our Sister … Continue Reading
February 08, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREA ROCKET LAUNCH
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after North Korea's long-range rocket launch: "North Korea's rocket launch is unacceptable and an egregious violation of UN Security Council resolutions. This provocative act on the heels of last month's alleged nuclear test threatens the security of the United States and of the entire Asia-Pacific region. We … Continue Reading
February 01, 2016
U.S.-JAPAN CAUCUS ANNOUNCES WEBSITE LAUNCH
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S.-Japan Caucus launched a website to showcase its members work to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship. In addition to the website, the Caucus will also begin periodically issuing a newsletter and will provide updates on Caucus members' work using its new Twitter account, @USJapanCaucus. "Japan is a vital ally of the United States, and together our nations are fostering a more stable, secure, and prosperous Asia-Pacific region," said Congressman … Continue Reading
January 13, 2016
CASTRO VOTES TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 757, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act: "In the wake of North Korea's alleged hydrogen bomb test last week, the House of Representatives today sent a strong signal to Pyongyang that the United States will not tolerate such hostile behavior. The North Korean regime knowingly violated U.N. … Continue Reading
January 06, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $300K REIMBURSEMENT TO BEXAR COUNTY FOR RIVER PROJECT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced a $300,000 reimbursement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for the Mission Reach project. SARA will return the funds to Bexar County, which was the primary funding source for the project. This is the second tranche of a total $61.3 million USACE reimbursement Bexar County is entitled to receive for funding the Mission Reach project. "This second reimbursement from … Continue Reading
January 06, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREA'S CLAIMED HYDROGEN BOMB TEST
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after North Korea claimed to have successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test: "North Korea's alleged hostile actions compromise the security and safety of the entire Asia-Pacific region and are a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. With such adversarial, reckless behavior, North Korea yet again makes clear its … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING LEGISLATION
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2029, the FY2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill: "Today, the House of Representatives did its job and voted to fund the federal government through FY2016. This package will provide the American people, the U.S. economy, and our nation's allies with confidence that the federal government will not resort to additional short-term funding measures … Continue Reading
December 17, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $2.7 MILLION FOR JOB TRAINING IN SAN ANTONIO
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced $2.7 million in federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support job training and poverty reduction in San Antonio. The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) will receive the funding through HUD's Jobs Plus Pilot program. The purpose of the Jobs Plus Pilot program is to develop locally-based, job-driven approaches to increase earnings and advance employment outcomes through work readiness, … Continue Reading
December 08, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES FOR THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act: "To fulfill its responsibility to keep the American people safe, Congress must diligently update our nation's polices that affect security here at home. As the tragic San Bernardino attack demonstrated, increased vigilance … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF LONG-TERM TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 22, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which guarantees federal transportation infrastructure funding for the next five years: "Today, after years of inadequate, short-term measures, the House finally passed multi-year transportation infrastructure funding legislation. Thousands of construction projects can now proceed with certainty that federal … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DECISION TO OPEN ALL COMBAT JOBS TO WOMEN
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that the Department of Defense would allow women to serve in all combat positions: "The removal of these outdated restrictions will broaden the pool of talent available to the Department of Defense and strengthen our Armed Forces. The Pentagon's decision comes after nearly five years of extensive … Continue Reading
December 02, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting in favor of the conference agreement on S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act: "The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is long overdue. This law's intent is to improve our national education system and assist our country's most vulnerable students. I'm glad that today the House voted to increase support for low-income students, for early education programs, … Continue Reading
December 01, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $365K TO SUPPORT UTSA MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced $365,150 in federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) mental health research. UTSA will receive the funding through the NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Mental Health Research Grants program, which supports research in the understanding of mental illnesses using basic and clinical research. Dr. Carlos Antonio Paladini in UTSA's Department of … Continue Reading
November 28, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON SHOOTING IN COLORADO
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after yesterday's shooting in Colorado: "I am deeply saddened that yet again our nation has suffered a tragic mass shooting. My prayers are with the victims and their families, and I hope that all those affected can find peace in the wake of such horrible tragedy. "This is not the first time in America that the target of intensely negative rhetoric has become the target of very real … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015
CASTRO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT PRE-K PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced legislation that will help eligible education and government entities across the country access federal prekindergarten (pre-k) funding. The Pre-K for USA Act creates new prekindergarten development grants and provides school districts and local entities with a direct line to federal funding, eliminating their reliance on states to access federal pre-k dollars. "Studies show that students who attend high-quality … Continue Reading
November 17, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $45K TO SUPPORT CHILD NUTRITION IN SAN ANTONIO
Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced $45,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support a healthy eating initiative for San Antonio children. The North East Independent School District (NEISD) will receive the funding through the Farm to School Grants fund, which supports efforts to connect child nutrition programs with local farmers and ranchers through USDA's Farm to School Program. "Understanding where their food … Continue Reading
November 14, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON ATTACKS IN PARIS
San Antonio, TX - Congressmen Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement on the terrorist attacks in Paris: "The devastating attacks in Paris were an assault on all who cherish freedom and respect the dignity of human life. My prayers go out to the families of the victims and the people of Paris. In this moment of unimaginable tragedy, the United States stands by France, our oldest ally. We remain … Continue Reading
November 06, 2015
CASTRO, COFFMAN, DENHAM INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION SUPPORTING WOMEN VETERANS
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressmen Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Mike Coffman (R-CO-06), and Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) introduced legislation aimed at reducing the number of women veterans who are homeless in America. The Reduce Homelessness for Female Veterans Act requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to direct a contractor to conduct a survey focused on homeless female veterans. Currently, neither HUD nor the VA collects … Continue Reading