Press Releases
Castro, Torres, Goldman, Cherfilus-McCormick Lead Introduction of Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act to Curb U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Latin America and Caribbean
Congressman Castro announced the introduction of the ARMAS Act on December 6, 2023, at the Annual National Gun Violence Prevention Summit hosted by the Center for American Progress. A recording of his remarks can be found here - Congressman Castro is the second speaker in the program. WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), … Continue Reading
December 04, 2023
Castro Staffer, UTSA Alumnus Honored for Dedication to Supporting Hispanic Success in Higher Education
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) applauded his senior legislative assistant Eyole M. Mbongo - an alumnus of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) - for receiving the Outstanding Congressional Staffer Award from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in recognition of his exceptional dedication to advancing equity in education. “For the last eight years, Eyole Mbongo has been a … Continue Reading
December 01, 2023
Congressman Castro Grills Trump-Era DHS Chief on Family Separation
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, grilled Chad Wolf, who led the Department of Homeland Security under Donald Trump, about the prospective resumption of family separation in a future Trump administration. During the hearing, Wolf, who now leads the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing group widely seen as … Continue Reading
December 01, 2023
Statement from Congressman Castro on Appeals Court Order for Texas to Remove Border Buoys from Rio Grande
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state of Texas to remove dangerous floating buoys installed in the Rio Grande River as part of Operation Lone Star: “I’ve seen Governor Abbott’s border buoys for myself. They’re illegal and dangerous. I applaud the Justice Department for today’s hard-fought victory in the conservative Fifth Circuit and look forward to seeing these death traps … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Reps. Castro, Lee, Jayapal and Senators Booker, Durbin and Hirono Urge Biden Administration to Expand Health Coverage to DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON - This week, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to finalize their proposed rule to expand health coverage for those participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, crime victims, and immigrant children. In April 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services … Continue Reading
November 14, 2023
Castro, Booker Introduce Bicameral Bill to Expand Advanced Coursework Opportunities for Underrepresented Students
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Cory Booker (NJ) introduced the Advanced Coursework Equity Act, bicameral legislation that would create a federal grant program to help states and school districts increase the enrollment of underrepresented students in advanced coursework and academic programs. The Advanced Coursework Equity Act would allow eligible schools and school districts to receive up to $60 million to implement universal screening for advanced students, … Continue Reading
November 14, 2023
Reps. Castro, Goldman, and Thompson Introduce Bill to Curb Trafficking of American Guns into Mexico
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) introduced the Disarming Cartels Act to curtail the trafficking of U.S.-made firearms and ammunition southbound over the U.S.-Mexico border. Guns originating in the United States power human and drug trafficking and other illicit activities by transnational criminal organizations in … Continue Reading
November 13, 2023
Statement from CHC Members on UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán (CA-44), CHC Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), and former CHC Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement in response to a new study “Hollywood Diversity Report 2023: Exclusivity in Progress” that was released by the Entertainment & Media Research Initiative at the University of California, Los Angeles: “The report underscores what many advocates within media have … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Castro, Gallagher Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Intelligence-Sharing Across Federal Government
WASHINGTON - Today, senior members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Mike Gallagher (WI-08), who is also chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, introduced the Open Source Intelligence Availability Act, which would require the U.S. intelligence community to develop a plan to make unclassified intelligence products derived from open-source intelligence (such as … Continue Reading
November 06, 2023
Statement from House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Leaders on Recent Events in Honduras
WASHINGTON — Today House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Ranking Member Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement in response to recent events in Honduras: “We are seriously concerned by the recent political violence in Tegucigalpa. The process of selecting an attorney general and deputy attorney general for Honduras has been lengthy, but the Honduran Congress and the administration of President Xiomara Castro must … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Congressman Castro Votes Against Republican Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 6126, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act: “For weeks, I have called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to protect more innocent people from becoming victims of this conflict. As the death toll continues to rise, the United States must play an active role in rescuing hostages, supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza, and saving lives. “The world is … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Castro, Issa Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand U.S. Cybersecurity Partnerships with Southeast Asian Nations
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Southeast Asia Partnership Expansion Act, bipartisan legislation to expand existing U.S. partnerships with countries in Southeast Asia to enhance their cybersecurity training and practices and improve their capability, capacity, and infrastructure to protect against foreign cyberattacks. Specifically, the bill would expand the list … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Castro, Issa Introduce U.S.-ASEAN Center Act to Strengthen Trade, Investment, and Cultural Exchange Between U.S. and ASEAN
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the U.S.-ASEAN Center Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow the United States to establish a U.S.-ASEAN Center focused on strengthening trade, investment, and people-to-people relationships between the United States and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In September, the leaders of ASEAN and the … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Congressman Castro, Founder of Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, Calls on Congress to Avert Looming Child Care Crisis
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, released the following statement urging Congress to approve a one-year extension for Child Care Stabilization Grants, which support more than 225,000 child care facilities across the country. Congressman Castro’s statement follows a request from the Biden administration for Congress to pass a new domestic funding package with $16 billion to keep the end of … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Congressman Castro, Founder of Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, Calls on Congress to Avert Looming Child Care Crisis
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, released the following statement urging Congress to approve a one-year extension for Child Care Stabilization Grants, which support more than 225,000 child care facilities across the country. Congressman Castro’s statement follows a request from the Biden administration for Congress to pass a new domestic funding package with $16 billion to keep the end of … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Statement from Congressman Castro on Texas House Passage of Bills Targeting Diverse Communities
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) shared the following message with his constituents in response to the passage of House Bill 4, House Bill 6, and Senate Bill 4, three Republican-led bills targeting immigrants and diverse communities that advanced through the Texas House of Representatives this week: “A few weeks ago, the most powerful, influential Texas Republican group hosted the country’s most notorious white nationalist. That’s who’s shaping the Republican agenda at … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Congressman Castro Pushes for Answers from Brooke Army Medical Center After Alarming Express-News Report on Contaminated Surgical Equipment
Read his letter WASHINGTON - Today, after an alarming report from the San Antonio Express-News about ongoing issues related to contaminated surgical equipment at one of San Antonio’s two Level I Trauma Centers, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) sent a letter asking Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) leaders for a detailed explanation of how widespread equipment sterilization failures were allowed to occur and how the institution will protect patients going forward. In the letter, Congressman … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023
Congressman Castro Demands Answers After USPS Ends Cluster Box Maintenance, Threatens to Halt Mail Delivery for Thousands of San Antonio Residents
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released a letter he sent to the San Antonio headquarters of the United States Postal Service (USPS) demanding answers and accountability after USPS suddenly ended a longstanding policy of maintaining the cluster boxes that San Antonio neighborhoods rely on for safe and secure mail delivery. “For years, my constituents have been able to count on USPS to maintain and replace neighborhood cluster boxes. However, in recent months, USPS has … Continue Reading
October 23, 2023
Congressman Castro Announces Planning Grant for UTSA to Expand Cybersecurity and Secure Manufacturing in San Antonio
As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce leverages Tech Hubs Program to spur regional innovation and job creation. WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Secure Manufacturing in South Texas Strategy Development Consortium in San Antonio, Texas, was awarded a Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant to strengthen cybersecurity and secure … Continue Reading
October 20, 2023
Castro, McGovern, Meeks, and Lee Welcome Progress on Restoring Democracy and Human Rights in Venezuela
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs ,issued the following … Continue Reading