Press Releases
Castro Resolution Reaffirming the U.S.-Japan Alliance Passes the House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee released the following statement after the House passed H. Res. 349, a resolution reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance. "Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 349, which I authored with Adrian Smith of Nebraska. The U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of prosperity and security in the … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Rep. Castro: LGBTQ Rights Are Human Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, released the following statement on the Council for Global Equality's public letter: "LGBTQ rights are human rights, and this principle must be reflected here in the United States and in our foreign policy. As Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have worked with my colleagues to promote LGBTQ … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Castro, Larsen, Wagner, Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Small Businesses and Promote International Commerce
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee; Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Financial Services Committee; and Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and House Armed Services Committee, introduced the Global Small Business Network Act which would … Continue Reading
October 01, 2020
Castro, Zeldin Statements on Introduction and Markup of Department of State Student Internship Program Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D, TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, released the following statements after the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced their bipartisan legislation guaranteeing financial support and paid internships at the U.S. State Department: "Internships are … Continue Reading
September 30, 2020
Castro, Speier, and Engel Take On Harassment and Discrimination in the State Department
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Co-Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus; and Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-16), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; introduced the State Harassment and Assault Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE) Act of 2020. The SHAPE Act requires stronger anti-harassment and discrimination policies and resources and … Continue Reading
September 29, 2020
Castro, Spanberger, Guthrie Introduce Bill to Expand Apprenticeships, Partner with Higher Education and Industry
WASHINGTON - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and member of the House Education and Labor Committee, Congresswomen Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), and Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), today introduced the Strengthening Our Youth Apprenticeships Act of 2020. This legislation creates an interagency agreement between the Secretaries of Labor and Education that would provide publicly available guidance and best practices to support youth … Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Chairman Castro Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Global Child Thrive Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee released the following statement after House passed the Global Child Thrive Act: "Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Global Child Thrive Act, which I wrote with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development to prioritize early childhood … Continue Reading
September 21, 2020
MEDIA ADVISORY: Tomorrow Chairman Joaquin Castro Will Lead House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on Diversity in Diplomacy during the Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - Tomorrow, September 22nd, House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will hold a hearing on the lack of diversity in diplomacy. In June, Chairman Castro led a hearing on this topic and received recommendations from former Ambassadors and the Government Accountability Office on structural changes to improve diversity and inclusion at the U.S. State Department. This hearing will assess the Trump administration's record. WHEN: … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Chairman Castro Launches Investigation of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Participation in the Republican National Convention
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, sent a letter to Deputy Secretary Biegun opening an investigation and demanding answers on Secretary Pompeo's participation in a political party convention in the course of official government work, which is a potential violation of federal regulations, U.S. State Department policy, and the Hatch Act. According to multiple … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Chairman Castro Statement on Trump Administration Attempt to Invoke Snapback Sanctions on Iran
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee released the following statement on Trump administration attempt to invoke snapback sanctions on Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): "Last week, the Trump Administration embarrassed the United States on the world stage when it failed to convince our allies and adversaries to extend the arms embargo … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
MEDIA ADVISORY: Tomorrow Congressman Joaquin Castro Will Tour GMF San Antonio Post Office and Hold Press Conference
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Tomorrow, August 19, 2020, Congressman Joaquin Castro will hold a press conference after touring the GMF San Antonio Post Office. The tour will be closed to press, per USPS guidance, and the Congressman will update members of the media afterwards. Today, after national mail delays and public outrage, Postmaster General DeJoy announced that all changes being made to the U.S. Postal Service will now be suspended until after the November 3 election. Here's Congressman Castro's … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Chairmen Castro, Bera, Deutch Demand Answers Trump Administration on Saudi Arabia Nuclear Program
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation, and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism, sent Secretary of State Michael Pompeo a letter demanding information on recent … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Castro, Titus Introduce Promotion Accessibility Act
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20),Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, and Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1), today introduced The Promotion Accessibility Act. This legislation would ensure that any foreign service officer who is up for promotion at the State … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
ICYMI: Castro, Blumenauer, Bonamici, Garcia Unveil Appropriations Amendments to Defund Trump’s Secret Police
WASHINGTON-In response to the Trump administration's continued occupation of Portland, Oregon and the president's threat to expand such operations to other cities, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Congressman Castro Announces He Will Seek House Foreign Affairs Chairmanship
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today released the following statement announcing his intention to run for Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: "We need a new generation of foreign policy leadership with a … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Subcommittees Oppose Potentially Dangerous Language and Raise Public Health Concerns in the State Department’s Unalienable Rights Draft Report and Release Event
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Chairman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, issued the following statement after the State Department revealed a draft report from the Commission on Unalienable Rights. "Based on Secretary Pompeo's remarks today and an initial review of the report, it seems that our fears about the … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Castro, Scott, Others Urge Department of Labor to Reverse Work Visa Ban
WASHINGTON-Today, in response to the Trump Administration's June executive proclamation suspending all work visas during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3), Chair of the Education and … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Castro Joins Curtis, Others in Leading Bipartisan Coalition to Introduce The Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, joined Congressman John Curtis (R-UT), in leading a bipartisan coalition to introduce the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, which would designate the people of Hong Kong as Priority 2 refugees, … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Castro, Omar Urge USAID to Rescind its Appointment of Mark Kevin Lloyd as USAID Religious Freedom Adviser
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20),Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-5),today urged USAID to rescind its appointment of Mark Kevin Lloyd as USAID Religious Freedom Adviser. Mr. Lloyd has a proven track record of prejudice towards … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Castro Floor Speech on George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON-Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today delivered the below floor speech on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act: "For far too long, far too many people have lost their lives to police brutality. And for far too long, the … Continue Reading