Press Releases
Castro, Veasey, Allred Introduce Resolution Standing Against Republican Attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts in Higher Education
WASHINGTON – Last week, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Colin Allred (TX-32) led a resolution highlighting the importance of protecting and bolstering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at institutions of higher education. The resolution responds to recent Republican-led attacks on diversity efforts in higher education institutions in Texas and across the country. In June, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that bans … Continue Reading
July 21, 2023
Congressman Castro Leads 80+ House Democrats Calling on the Administration to Intervene in Operation Lone Star
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) led 87 House Democrats, including the full Texas Democratic delegation and the chairs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus, in a letter calling on the Biden administration to assert its authority over federal immigration policy and foreign relations to investigate Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star border operation and pursue legal action … Continue Reading
July 20, 2023
House Passes Castro/Salazar Amendment to Improve Transparency and Opportunity in Federal Transit Contracting
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) that will improve transparency and opportunity within the Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which aims to level the playing field for small businesses competing for federally-funded transit contracts. The legislation, introduced as Amendment 13 to H.R. 3935, … Continue Reading
July 19, 2023
Congressman Castro and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members Seek Public Suggestions for Latino Films to Nominate to the National Film Registry
WASHINGTON — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are launching a nationwide call for Latino-driven films to nominate to the National Film Registry — the nation’s preeminent archive of films with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. Films can be submitted by visiting Castro.House.gov/film. To be generally eligible, films must be at least ten years old. To be eligible for the … Continue Reading
July 17, 2023
Castro, Doggett Urge EPA to Reject Texas Railroad Commission’s Application for Primacy of Class VI Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Wells
In letter, members cite concerns about The Texas Railroad Commission’s subpar enforcement of environmental protections and disregard for marginalized communities. WASHINGTON – Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject the Texas Railroad Commission’s application for primacy enforcement of the Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) well program under the Safe Water Drinking Act. In a … Continue Reading
July 11, 2023
Castro and Casar Introduce Defense Bill Amendment to Fund Child Care for Military Families
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) announced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would give the Department of Defense greater flexibility to reallocate Congressionally-appropriated program and weapons funding that exceeds the Pentagon’s budget request to expand child care programs for military families. “Supporting our troops starts with supporting military families,” said Congressman … Continue Reading
July 06, 2023
Congressman Castro Presses Biden Administration on TPS and Broader Immigration Relief for Caribbean and African Migrants
WASHINGTON – Ahead of a trip this week to Trinidad and Tobago to meet with Caribbean leaders at CARICOM's Heads of Government Conference, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined 65 members of Congress in a letter urging President Biden to advance immigration relief for migrants and asylum-seekers from Caribbean and African nations. The letter highlights the unique challenges faced by Black migrants and calls on the administration to protect DACA recipients, use existing legal … Continue Reading
July 05, 2023
Ranking Member Castro to Meet with Caribbean Leaders During Congressional Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a six-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, is accompanying Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and other top-ranking members of Congress on a bipartisan delegation to Trinidad and Tobago. During the visit, Congressman … Continue Reading
June 30, 2023
Castro, Wasserman Schultz, Barragán, and Pocan Lead Members in Supporting Asylum Access for Vulnerable LGBTQI+ Individuals and Families
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, led dozens of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Biden, Secretary of … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Statement from Congressman Castro on the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling
SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent to severely restrict how colleges and universities can consider race in college admissions: “Decades after Brown v. Board of Education and subsequent cases ended legal segregation, the opportunities that make students most competitive for college admissions are still inequitably distributed across racial lines. Today’s Supreme Court … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Statement from Ranking Member Castro and Congresswoman Norma Torres on Guatemalan General Election
WASHINGTON – In response to yesterday’s general election in Guatemala, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), the first Member of Congress to be born in Central America, issued the following statement: “As we monitor the results from yesterday’s election, we remain deeply troubled that the Giammattei government blocked candidates from seeking … Continue Reading
June 23, 2023
Castro, Jayapal, Booker, Hirono, and Durbin Lead 80 House and Senate Democrats in Push to Extend ACA Eligibility to DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Senators Cory Booker (NJ), Mazie Hirono (HI) and Dick Durbin (IL) led 80 House and Senate Democrats in a comment letter expressing support for the Biden administration’s proposed rule to extend eligibility for ACA coverage and certain other federal health insurance programs to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In the 2010 Patient Protection and … Continue Reading
June 22, 2023
Castro, Meeks, McGovern, Lee Lead Key Democrats Calling on the Biden Administration to Prioritize Constructive Engagement with Venezuela
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, James P. McGovern (MA-02), ranking member of the House Rules Committee, and Barbara Lee (CA-12), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, led key Democratic members of Congress in a letter calling on the Biden … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Castro, Neguse, Curtis, Warner and Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help More Transfer Students Earn College Degrees
WASHINGTON – This week, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and John Curtis (UT-03), along with Senators Mark R. Warner (VA) and Mike Braun (IN) introduced the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act, bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for community college transfer students to earn associate’s degrees as they continue their studies at four-year institutions. The bill would amend the Family Educational … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Castro, Jacobs, Jackson, Phillips and Kamlager-Dove Reintroduce U.S. Commitment to Peacekeeping Act
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Dean Phillips (MN-03), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) reintroduced the U.S. Commitment to Peacekeeping Act, which would eliminate the Congressionally-mandated cap of United States contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations and help restore U.S. standing on the global stage. In 1994, Congress voted to cap U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping operations at 25 percent. But … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Castro, Wasserman Schultz, Salazar, And Waltz Reintroduce Bipartisan Effort to Protect Human Rights in Venezuela
WASHINGTON – This week, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Michael Waltz (FL-06), reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral AFFECT Human Rights in Venezuela Act. This legislation aims to hold the Maduro regime … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Statement from Congressman Castro on the Biden Administration’s Failure to Redesignate TPS for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s decision not to redesignate Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal. “In recent years, families from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal have fled brutal violence, catastrophic climate disasters, and … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
As Vice President Harris Meets with CARICOM Leaders, Castro, Salazar, and Espaillat Release Bipartisan Roadmap for U.S. Engagement with the Caribbean
WASHINGTON - Today, as Vice President Kamala Harris visits The Bahamas for high-level meetings with Caribbean leaders, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) announced the U.S.-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023, a comprehensive roadmap to modernize U.S. engagement with Caribbean nations. Castro and Salazar are the ranking member and chairwoman, respectively, of the House Foreign Affairs … Continue Reading
June 02, 2023
Congressman Castro Joins Prosper West, Community Partners to Celebrate Completion of Inaugural Casa Bella Affordable Home
SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined Prosper West, Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, the San Antonio Area Foundation, and Texas Capital Bank for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of the first new affordable housing redevelopment under the new Casa Bella program. Congressman Castro delivers remarks at the new Casa Bella property “As San Antonio grows, we need to be intentional about keeping the Westside affordable for the … Continue Reading
June 02, 2023
Castro and Casar Get $2.8 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for Education and Small Business Development Programs in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) announced their offices have secured more than $2.8 million in AmeriCorps funding for education and small business development programs run by City Year San Antonio and LiftFund Inc. The funding comes in addition to more than $13 million in new state formula funding announced by AmeriCorps last month for programs throughout Texas. "Since I came to Congress, I've focused on building out what I call the … Continue Reading