Press Releases
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $4M TO HELP END VETERANS HOMELESSNESS
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) renewed $4,040,000.00 of federal funding for the non-profit agency Family Endeavors. The money is awarded under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help thousands of very low-income veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent … Continue Reading
August 26, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $3.27M FOR SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced a $3,279,208.00 grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The DOE funding will support an SwRI project to make coal-based power generation more efficient, cleaner, and less expensive. SwRI is collaborating on the project - entitled "Pre-Project Planning for a Flameless Pressurized Oxy-combustion Pilot Plant" - with ITEA S.p.A., Jacobs, the Electric Power Research Institute, … Continue Reading
August 26, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON PROPOSED SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION CONTRACT
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement regarding the City of San Antonio's proposed contract with the San Antonio Police Officers Association (SAPOA): "The proposed police contract is incomplete. Of the three main issues up for negotiation - salary, benefits and accountability reform - only the first two have been addressed. The negotiations over salary and benefits revolved around saving money and properly compensating San … Continue Reading
August 25, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $763K FOR NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE NANOTECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced a three-year $763,417.00 federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Northwest Vista College's proposed Alamo Institute for Materials Technology (AIMTEC) project, which will address Texas' urgent nanotechnology workforce development needs that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board identified in its recent "Nanotechnology Forecast" report. "Nanotechnology may be science conducted on an … Continue Reading
August 15, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $1.7 MILLION FOR SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced a five-year, federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education expected to total $1,179,630.00 for the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). SAISD will receive the grant through the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program, which provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. The program also provides services … Continue Reading
August 10, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $458K FOR SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE SPACE PROJECT
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced a three-year $458,821.00 federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The NSF funding will support SwRI's "Occultations by Pluto, Triton and Large Trans-Neptunian Objects" project, the findings of which will aid in the development of more accurate atmospheric models for the subjects of the study. "From developing microsatellites that improve our … Continue Reading
August 09, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $325K FOR ST. MARY'S MANUSCRIPT IMAGING PROJECT
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced a $325,000.00 federal grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for St. Mary's University. St. Mary's will receive the grant through NEH's Digital Humanities Implementation Grants program, which aims to support the implementation of experimental projects that have successfully completed a start-up phase and demonstrated their value to the humanities. Specifically, the funding will support St. Mary's Jubilees … Continue Reading
July 19, 2016
CASTRO ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $870K FOR UTSA'S OUTREACH TO AND SUPPORT FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced three federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $878,400.00 for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA will receive the funding through the Talent Search Program, which aims to help identify and assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. Talent Search is one of eight Federal TRIO Programs, which are targeted to serve and assist … Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON SOUTH CHINA SEA RULING
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after a Hague tribunal ruled on China and the Philippines' territorial dispute in the South China Sea: "Today's ruling should be respected. With this decision, China has a clear opportunity to live up to the commitments it made to the international community. Ignoring the tribunal's decision threatens stability in the South China Sea and erodes China's … Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON SOUTH CHINA SEA RULING
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after a Hague tribunal ruled on China and the Philippines' territorial dispute in the South China Sea: "Today's ruling should be respected. With this decision, China has a clear opportunity to live up to the commitments it made to the international community. Ignoring the tribunal's decision threatens stability in the South China Sea and erodes China's … Continue Reading
July 08, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON DALLAS SHOOTINGS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the Dallas shootings that killed five police officers and wounded seven other individuals: "In the midst of a peaceful protest, tragedy shook the city of Dallas last night. I mourn the loss of the officers who were shot while protecting those demonstrating. I pray for their families, for the civilians who were injured, and for the entire Dallas community. "This has been a very painful week for our … Continue Reading
July 06, 2016
CASTRO PRAISES FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASIA PACIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE'S PASSAGE OF U.S.-JAPAN-KOREA TRILATERAL COOPERATION LEGISLATION
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Asia Pacific Subcommittee's passage of H. Res. 634, a measure of which he is an original cosponsor, that recognizes the importance of the United States-Republic of Korea-Japan trilateral relationship: "The North Korean regime has repeatedly, flagrantly disregarded United Nations Security Council resolutions, compromising the stability … Continue Reading
July 06, 2016
CASTRO JOINS HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will join the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), effective immediately. "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on this critical committee and I'm grateful for Leader Pelosi's trust," said Rep. Castro. "The United States' intelligence operations are instrumental in our nation's efforts to combat terror around the world and keep the American people … Continue Reading
June 30, 2016
CASTRO STEM EDUCATION LEGISLATION INCLUDED IN DEMOCRATS' MAKE IT IN AMERICA PLAN
San Antonio, TX - Today, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) announced that House Democrats' updated Make It In America plan includes Congressman Joaquin Castro's (TX-20) Supporting Afterschool STEM Act (H.R. 831). Rep. Castro's bill would create a grant to encourage afterschool programs that bolster science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning and provide students with opportunities to learn about the fields driving job creation in America. The Make It In America plan … Continue Reading
June 27, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON WHOLE WOMAN'S HEALTH V. HELLERSTEDT DECISION
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled to strike down Texas House Bill 2 with its Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision: "This ruling protects millions of Texas women's rights and their access to personal, critical healthcare. Thanks to the Supreme Court's decision, women can receive the care they need in safe facilities with good … Continue Reading
June 24, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON THE U.K.'S EUROPEAN UNION REFERENDUM
San Antonio, TX - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement regarding the United Kingdom's European Union referendum results: "The British people have spoken, and the United States will respect their decision to leave the European Union. While this vote prompts a period of transition for the United Kingdom and the EU, the United States' special relationship with the U.K. will not falter. Just as the U.S.-U.K. … Continue Reading
June 23, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT DAPA AND EXPANDED DACA RULING
Washington, D.C - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court's 4-4 ruling in United States v. Texas, the case concerning the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs: "Today's ruling is a setback, but it's not the end of the road for these much-needed programs or for the millions of people eligible for them. I am confident that this … Continue Reading
June 22, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TESTS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, released the following statement on North Korea's ballistic missile tests: "The North Korean regime's flagrant, hostile behavior violates United Nations Security Council resolutions and threatens the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Tests like the ones carried out this morning are reckless and unacceptable. Pyongyang's repeated affronts only further isolate … Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
CASTRO BRINGS "ALIEN" DEBATE TO HOUSE FLOOR, GOP DOUBLES DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR DEHUMANIZING TERM
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) took to the House floor where he requested a point of order and brought attention to House Republicans' campaign to force the Library of Congress to continue its use of the offensive term "illegal alien" in its subject headings system. Republicans included language in the FY17 Legislative Appropriations bill's committee report that blocks the Library of Congress from carrying out its proposal to update its subject headings by … Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
CASTRO STATEMENT ON THE RULES COMMITTEE'S REJECTION OF HIS "ALIEN"-RELATED AMENDMENTS
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the House Committee on Rules rejected his FY 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations amendment seeking to allow the Library of Congress to move forward with its proposal to replace "illegal alien" in its subject headings system: "Republicans are using the Legislative Appropriations bill to force the Library of Congress to abandon proposed subject heading changes and continue its use of the … Continue Reading