Texas' 20th Congressional District
U.S. Government: Elected Officials | U.S. Congressional Districts
Recent News About Texas' 20th Congressional District
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Castro, Escobar, and Texas Democrats Call on the Department of Justice to Investigate Operation Lone Star National Guard Shooting
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.
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Congressman Castro, Texas Democrats Call on Biden Administration to Stop Catastrophic Loss of Medicaid Coverage in Texas
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.
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Congressman Castro and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members Call on the Biden Administration to Investigate Governor Abbott’s Migrant Family Separation Practices
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 Department of Public Safety (DPS). The letter also requested that both agencies take necessary measures to prevent this cruel practice and ensure that families can remain together. This letter comes following multiple reports that DPS is arresting and incarcerating men who arrive in the United States and separating them from their families as part of Operation Lone Star.
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Castro, Salazar, Meeks, Mccaul Statement on Assassination of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio
On August 10, 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:“
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Castro, Kamlager-dove Lead Democratic Colleagues Calling on the Biden Administration to Support Democratic Resilience and Human Rights in Peru
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.
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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.
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Castro and Casar Introduce Defense Bill Amendment to Fund Child Care for Military Families
On July 11, 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.
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Congressman Castro Presses Biden Administration on Tps and Broader Immigration Relief for Caribbean and African Migrants
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 authorities to grant Temporary Protected Status designations and redesignations for Caribbean and African nations, and address the long green card and work permit backlog.
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Ranking Member Castro to Meet With Caribbean Leaders During Congressional Delegation to 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.
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Statement From Congressman Castro on the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling
On June 29, 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:
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Statement From Ranking Member Castro and Congresswoman Norma Torres on Guatemalan General Election
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:
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Castro, Jayapal, Booker, Hirono, and Durbin Lead 80 House and Senate Democrats in Push to Extend Aca Eligibility to Daca Recipients
On June 23, 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.
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Castro, Meeks, Mcgovern, Lee Lead Key Democrats Calling On The Biden Administration To Prioritize Constructive Engagement With Venezuela
On June 22, 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 administration to prioritize avenues for constructive engagement with Venezuela on democracy, human rights, and diplomatic re-engagement as the United States moves away from the punitive “maximum pressure” approach imposed by the previous administration.
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Castro, Neguse, Curtis, Warner and Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help More Transfer Students Earn College Degrees
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.
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Castro, Jacobs, Jackson, Phillips and Kamlager-dove Reintroduce U.s. Commitment to Peacekeeping Act
On June 15, 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.
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Castro, Wasserman Schultz, Salazar, And Waltz Reintroduce Bipartisan Effort To Protect Human Rights In Venezuela
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 accountable for their human rights violations while providing support for the millions of Venezuelans suffering from political and economic crisis. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) are leading companion legislation in the Senate.
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Statement From Congressman Castro On The Biden Administration’s Failure To Redesignate Tps For El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, And Nepal
On June 13, 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.
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As Vice President Harris Meets With Caricom Leaders, Castro, Salazar, And Espaillat Release Bipartisan Roadmap For U.S. Engagement With The Caribbean
On June 8, 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 Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. Espaillat is a member of the Appropriations Committee and the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. Congress.
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Congressman Castro Joins Prosper West, Community Partners To Celebrate Completion Of Inaugural Casa Bella Affordable Home
On June 2, 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.
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Castro And Casar Get $2.8 Million In Americorps Funding For Education And Small Business Development Programs In San Antonio
On June 2, 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.