Press Materials - 2022 State of the Union
Congressman Joaquin Castro is honored to host Captain Le Roy Torres as his guest for President Biden's 2022 State of the Union Address.
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Biography for Le Roy Torres
Le Roy Torres is the co-founder of Burn Pits 360 Veterans organization, a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to educate, equip, and empower individuals by networking with those affected by toxic exposure through their own experiences allowing them to set the pathway to justice through advocacy, outreach, and research efforts. Their goal is to establish policy reform, treatment-based solutions and resources for specialized healthcare through accessing real time data from the Burn Pits 360 independent registry.
Captain Torres served a one-year tour in Balad, Iraq. He was medically retired from the Army after 23 years of service with the rank of Captain following his diagnosis of a war lung disease and Toxic Brain Injury similar to CTE brain disease found in NFL football players. He served in the Army 7 years active duty and 16 years in the Army Reserve. Captain Torres also worked as a State Trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety - Highway Patrol Service after a forced medical discharge following his 14 years of state service. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in Administration - Organizational Development at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Captain Torres is an ardent advocate alongside his wife Rosie Torres who advocates on behalf of veterans and their families battling illnesses associated with the effects of environmental toxic exposure from the Burn Pits utilized during combat operations in the Middle East. He volunteers in the operation of Burn Pits 360 National Headquarters also known as the Warrior Support Center located in Robstown, Texas. Their grassroots efforts include the 2013 Open Burn Pit Registry bill 112-260 signed by President Obama and the Texas Service Member and Veteran Open Burn Pit Registry Act (HB 306) signed by Governor Abbott in 2019.
Captain Torres is also passionate about assisting others that are battling not only medical conditions from exposure, but also include those facing battles with invisible wounds, job loss, and other challenges that arise from such hardships that have taken a toll on so many veterans, citizen-soldiers and their families.
Community Awards & Recognitions:
- Army Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal – August 2008
- Knights of Columbus Community Outstanding Award – September 2018
- United Chamber of Commerce - Corpus Christi Best in the Biz Military Veteran Entrepreneurship Award - December 2018
For press inquiries related to Congressman Castro and the 2022 State of the Union address, contact Geneva Kropper at geneva@mail.house.gov. To learn more about Congressman Castro's work to support Captain Torres in his case against the Texas Department of Public Safety, click here.