Press Releases
Congressman Castro Urges State Department, Treasury to Impose Sanctions on Azerbaijan Officials in Response to Growing Human Rights Violations in Nagorno-Karabakh
WASHINGTON - On September 26, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, joined nearly 100 members of the House and Senate in a bipartisan letter to the Departments of State and Treasury calling for sanctions on individuals in the government of Azerbaijan who are associated with the military attacks against and brutal blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. In the letter, members cited the discretionary authority of the leaders of both agencies under the Global … Continue Reading
September 28, 2023
Castro, Casar Fight to Block Federal Funding for Operation Lone Star
WASHINGTON - Last night, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) fought to block federal homeland security funding from being diverted from federal immigration enforcement to fund Texas’ failed Operation Lone Star through an amendment they offered to H.R. 4367, the FY2024 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. The amendment received bipartisan support, including from all Democrats in the Texas congressional delegation. Congressman Castro speaks on … Continue Reading
September 26, 2023
Congressman Castro, 97 House Members Urge Speaker McCarthy to Pass a Bipartisan Funding Bill and Stop a Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON - In a new letter, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and nearly 100 members of the House urged Speaker Kevin McCarthy to use his influence within the Republican Party and work across the aisle to advance a bipartisan government funding agreement and prevent a government shutdown. “We urge you to reject the hyperpartisan approach and focus on passing government funding legislation that can actually become law. In the absence of viable appropriations bills from the House … Continue Reading
September 21, 2023
Castro, Ocasio-Cortez, Himes, Casar, Velázquez, Sanders, and Kaine Introduce Bicameral Resolution Commemorating 1973 Coup in Chile
WASHINGTON - Following the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-backed coup d’état against democratically-elected Chilean President Salvador Allende, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere Ranking Member Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes (CT-04), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35), Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), and Senate Foreign … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Congressman Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Kick Off Hispanic Heritage Month with Public Call for Suggestions for National Recording Registry Nominations
WASHINGTON - As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced today that he is leading the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) in collecting public nominations for works by Latino recording artists to be added to the National Recording Registry. The National Recording Registry is the nation’s preeminent archive of recorded sound and is intended to maintain and preserve sound recordings with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Reps. Castro and González-Colón, Senator Padilla Introduce HERE Act to Close Achievement Gap for Hispanic and Latino Students in Higher Education
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (PR), and Senator Alex Padilla (CA) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment (HERE) Act, legislation that aims to provide Hispanic and Latino students with the tools and support they need to close the enduring achievement gap they face in higher education. Specifically, the bill would create a new federal grant program to fund partnerships that focus on … Continue Reading
September 13, 2023
Reps. Castro and Senator Menendez Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Honoring Hispanic-Serving Institutions
The resolution designates National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Week to highlight the contributions of HSIs across the country. WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Jenniffer González-Colón (PR), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) and Senators Bob Menendez (NJ), John Cornyn (TX), and Alex Padilla (CA), introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to designate the week starting on September 11, 2023, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. The … Continue Reading
September 08, 2023
Castro, Warren, Torres, Goldman Call on Commerce Department to Address Troubling Increase in Assault Weapons Export Approvals
Lawmakers call on Secretary Gina Raimondo to publish updated data on Commerce approvals of assault weapons export licenses and respond to September 2022 Congressional inquiry Text of Letter (PDF) WASHINGTON - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, seeking answers on the Department of Commerce’s (Commerce) lackluster … Continue Reading
September 07, 2023
Castro, Casar Introduce Amendment to Block Federal Funding for Operation Lone Star
SAN ANTONIO — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) introduced an amendment to the FY2024 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to prohibit federal homeland security funding from being used for Operation Lone Star. “Since 2021, Governor Abbott has stolen more than a billion dollars in federal COVID-19 aid and diverted hundreds of millions in state taxpayer dollars from critical public health and safety programs to fund Operation Lone … Continue Reading
September 06, 2023
“Flooded Our Streets with Guns:” Congressman Castro Slams Gov. Abbott’s Dangerous Gun Laws After Five San Antonio Police Officers Are Shot in Two Weeks
SAN ANTONIO — After a fifth San Antonio police officer was shot in less than two weeks, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement slamming Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Republican legislature for their failure to prevent gun violence: “Over the last eight years, Governor Abbott and Texas Republicans have weakened public safety laws and flooded our streets with guns. The result has been a clear increase in gun violence. Today, violent Texas criminals can easily … Continue Reading
September 01, 2023
Castro, Escobar, and Texas Democrats Call on the Department of Justice to Investigate Operation Lone Star National Guard Shooting
SAN ANTONIO - This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and nine additional Democrats from the Texas House delegation sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) asking for a comprehensive investigation into the shooting of a Mexican national by a Texas National Guard servicemember along the border of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. The letter, led by Congresswoman Escobar, comes amid Governor Greg Abbott’s continued interference with federal … Continue Reading
August 23, 2023
Congressman Castro, Texas Democrats Call on Biden Administration to Stop Catastrophic Loss of Medicaid Coverage in Texas
SAN ANTONIO – This week, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) and Greg Casar (TX-35), together with the entire Texas Democratic congressional delegation, urged the Biden Administration to quickly intervene in the Medicaid redetermination process in Texas to prevent the catastrophic loss of health care coverage for vulnerable Texas families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress required states to protect public health by maintaining Medicaid coverage for enrollees … Continue Reading
August 21, 2023
Congressman Castro Nominates 27 Latino-Driven Films for Inclusion in National Film Registry
WASHINGTON – Last week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) nominated 27 Latino-driven films for inclusion to the National Film Registry – the nation’s preeminent archive of films with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. The list of films was cultivated from hundreds of public suggestions after a nationwide call was put out by Congressman Castro and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “Given the film … Continue Reading
August 16, 2023
Congressman Castro and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members Call on the Biden Administration to Investigate Governor Abbott’s Migrant Family Separation Practices
WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and 23 additional CHC members sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding a full and transparent investigation into the intentional separation of migrant families at the hands of the Texas … Continue Reading
August 11, 2023
Statement from Reps. Joaquin Castro and Jesús “Chuy” García on Death of a Three-Year-Old Child on Asylum-Seeker Bus from Texas to Chicago
SAN ANTONIO AND CHICAGO — Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement in response to the reported death of a three-year-old child on a bus sponsored by the state of Texas that was carrying asylum-seekers from Texas to Chicago: “Migrant parents make the journey to our country seeking safety and stability for their children. We are saddened and horrified, but not surprised, by the death of a three-year-old … Continue Reading
August 11, 2023
Congressman Castro Celebrates Negotiated Release of Five Americans Held in Iran
SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement applauding the announcement of a successful negotiation by the Biden administration to free five Americans who were wrongfully detained in Iran: “Yesterday’s news is long-awaited relief for Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi and Morad Tahbaz, and two other Americans who I hope will be back home soon. “Over the last several years, the Biden administration has quietly negotiated for the … Continue Reading
August 10, 2023
Castro, Salazar, Meeks, McCaul Statement on Assassination of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio
WASHINGTON — Today, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Ranking Member Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10), issued the following statement expressing outrage and calling for an investigation and prosecution of the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio: “We are outraged and deeply saddened by the … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023
Castro, Casar, Cuellar, Gonzales Urge USPS to Bring Back Water for San Antonio Letter Carriers
In the middle of a historic heat wave, San Antonio’s letter carriers are no longer receiving the water bottles they used to get at the start of work SAN ANTONIO - Today, San Antonio Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Greg Casar (TX-35), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), and Tony Gonzales (TX-23) are calling on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to resume providing water for letter carriers on their routes. According to San Antonio letter carriers, USPS had previously provided water bottles but … Continue Reading
August 02, 2023
Congressman Castro Urges Veterans to File PACT Act Claims Ahead of August 9 Deadline for Retroactive Benefits
SAN ANTONIO – Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is urging all eligible veterans to file claims or submit notice of their intention to file claims under the Honoring Our PACT Act by the August 9, 2023 deadline for retroactive benefit eligibility. The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act expands health care and benefits for more than five million servicemembers who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins during their … Continue Reading
July 29, 2023
Castro, Kamlager-Dove Lead Democratic Colleagues Calling on the Biden Administration to Support Democratic Resilience and Human Rights in Peru
WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) led 13 of their Democratic colleagues in a letter calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take action to support Peru's democratic resilience and promote accountability for human rights violations committed by security forces during recent protests.Following former President … Continue Reading