Press Releases
CASTRO STATEMENT ON CRUDE OIL EXPORT LEGISLATION
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting in opposition of H.R. 702, legislation to lift the United States' ban on crude oil exports: "In the past, I've supported lifting the ban on crude oil exports to Mexico and expediting America's LNG exports. In crafting this bill though, Republicans took a "my way or the highway" approach and rejected the inclusion of provisions that would improve the legislation. For example, tax … Continue Reading
October 01, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $500K FOR SAPD TO HIRE FOUR OFFICERS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced $500,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) to hire four additional officers. SAPD will receive the funding through the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. "Ensuring SAPD has the resources and personnel it needs to protect our city is absolutely essential,"? said Rep. Castro. "Through the COPS … Continue Reading
September 30, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON FY2016 CONTINUING RESOLUTION
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 719, a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 11, 2015: "While I am relieved that the federal government will receive the funding it needs to remain operational for the next two months, this short-term measure simply kicks a manufactured crisis down the road. It is essential we negotiate a bipartisan budget agreement to provide … Continue Reading
September 29, 2015
CASTRO CONGRATULATES YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY ON NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL DESIGNATION
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today released the following statement after the Department of Education recognized the Young Women's Leadership Academy (YWLA) in San Antonio as a National Blue Ribbon School: "I could not be prouder of the teachers, students, and administrators at YWLA for earning this impressive and deserved distinction. The school's commitment to excellence shines through the young women enrolled there and all of their varied accomplishments. … Continue Reading
September 28, 2015
CASTRO, GREEN, BLANCO, MARTINEZ FISCHER CALL FOR FURTHER ACTION TO PREVENT HARMFUL CUTS TO TEXAS KIDS'
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (San Antonio), and Texas Rep. César Blanco (El Paso) today renewed their call for the Texas Legislature to prevent $350 million of health therapy cuts over two years from going into effect in Texas. Last week, the offices of the three elected officials participated in a call with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss the impending cuts’ likely impact on Texas … Continue Reading
September 24, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2.1M TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced more than $2.1 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education for four San Antonio colleges and universities to improve the educational attainment of Hispanic students. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Northwest Vista College, San Antonio College, and the University of Texas Health Science Center will receive funding through the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program. "For our nation to … Continue Reading
September 22, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON $1M DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT FOR BODY-WORN POLICE CAMERAS IN SAN ANTONIO
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today released the following statement after the Department of Justice awarded the City of San Antonio $1 million through its Body Worn Camera Pilot Implementation Program to support the San Antonio Police Department’s purchase and use of body-worn cameras: “The tragic consequences of recent clashes between civilians and police officers highlight the urgent need for solutions. Body-worn cameras provide objective transparency that … Continue Reading
September 17, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES$250K TO SUPPORT CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION SERVICES
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced $250,000 in federal grants from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for San Antonio's Northside Independent School District (NISD) to support citizenship preparation services. NISD will receive the funding through the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which provides resources to build community capacity to support lawful permanent residents in the naturalization process. "As the grandson of an … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF TICKETS TO PAPAL VISIT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced the availability of tickets to be present on Capitol Hill during His Holiness Pope Francis' visit to Washington, D.C. for residents of Texas' 20th District. "I'm privileged to be able to distribute tickets to this historic event, and give the residents of San Antonio an opportunity to visit the Capitol and see his Holiness Pope Francis' address. Pope Francis will be the first sitting pope ever to address a joint session … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
CASTRO, GREEN URGE CMS TO EVALUATE HARMFUL TEXAS MEDICAID CUTS
Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Gene Green (TX-29) today sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting the agency evaluate impending harmful Medicaid cuts scheduled to go into effect in Texas. If state leaders do not act, an estimated 60,000 Texas children will lose access to medically necessary therapy services on October 1. Every Texas Democrat in Congress signed Castro and Green's letter calling on CMS to ensure that the cuts do … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES $250K TO SUPPORT UTSA'S MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced a $250,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). UTSA's Department of Mechanical Engineering will receive the funding through the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program, which aims to promote and strengthen Hispanic-Serving Institutions' higher education programs that graduate … Continue Reading
September 10, 2015
CASTRO INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO INCREASE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRANSPARENCY AND IMPROVE POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
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 of Information, Data and Evidence (PRIDE) Act would require states to report to the U.S. Justice Department any incident during which a civilian is shot or seriously injured by a law enforcement officer, and any incident during … Continue Reading
September 09, 2015
CASTRO CALLS FOR CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today sent a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward Royce (CA-39) calling for a congressional hearing on the Syrian refugee crisis. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have been displaced due to the violence and destruction of the four-year Syrian civil war. Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, the United States has accepted only 1,554 Syrian refugees. "The unthinkably tragic refugee crisis unfolding in Europe … Continue Reading
September 01, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON RECENT SAN ANTONIO SHOOTING
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement regarding the fatal shooting of a San Antonio man by Bexar County Sheriff's deputies: "The encounter is extremely disturbing as it appears to show an unarmed man with his hands up being shot by a deputy. This incident is further evidence that police officers and deputies should wear body cameras. The widely-supported technology brings transparency and accountability that protects law enforcement and … Continue Reading
August 28, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON TRIP TO JAPAN
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), co-chair of the Congressional U.S.-Japan Caucus, issued the following statement after the conclusion of his five-day trip to Japan: "The United States and Japan share a close relationship that benefits our respective nations and the entire Asia-Pacific region. Texas and my home city San Antonio have felt firsthand the positive impact of strong economic and cultural relations with Japan. Japan is a leader in foreign direct … Continue Reading
August 14, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON U.S. EMBASSY OPENING IN HAVANA
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana: "Reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, and raising the American flag at the U.S. Embassy on the island, will allow the power of American culture, technology, and democracy to have a positive impact on Cuban society. "Of course, in areas like human rights, Cuba has a real need for reform. … Continue Reading
August 14, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON U.S. OIL SWAPS WITH MEXICO
San Antonio, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement regarding the Department of Commerce's approval of limited sales of U.S. crude oil to Mexico: "I applaud the decision by President Obama and the Department of Commerce to allow crude oil export swaps with Mexico. Swapping Mexican heavy crude with light sweet crude from the U.S. will better integrate our energy sectors and deepen our economic relationship. More importantly, this will significantly … Continue Reading
August 10, 2015
CASTRO ANNOUNCES OVER $430K TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO UNIVERSITIES
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today announced $439,983 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education for two universities in San Antonio. St. Mary's University and San Antonio College will receive the funding through the TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSS), a grant program that provides academic and other support services to first-generation, low-income, or disabled students to increase those students' retention and graduation rates. These new grants … Continue Reading
July 30, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement recognizing the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid: "Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law, ensuring millions of vulnerable Americans would have access to affordable health care coverage. Seniors, individuals with disabilities, low-income communities, and working families are healthier and more financially secure because of … Continue Reading
July 29, 2015
CASTRO STATEMENT ON HIGHWAY FUNDING VOTE
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 3236, the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015: "The transportation funding bill the House passed today not only provides reassurance for the hundreds of thousands of workers and thousands of vital construction projects across the country that depend on federal funding, it fills the budget shortfall for the Department of … Continue Reading