Press Releases
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month:
Washington, D.C. — Leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37)—issued the following joint statement on the Trump administration's memo to federal agencies canceling anti-racism training for government employees:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Second Vice Chair Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) released the following statement after leading the CHC member meeting with the Secretary of the Army, Chief of Staff of the Army and senior Army officials to discuss the recent solider deaths at Army bases, their diversity and inclusion efforts, and renaming Army bases that honor Confederate soldiers:
Washington, D.C. — Leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37)—issued the following joint statement on the U.S. Census Bureau's refusal to brief Tri-Caucus members or staff on the latest changes to the 2020 Census.
"From our perspective, the Trump administration is doing everything in its power to decrease representation and reduce resources for people of color through an incomplete and inaccurate Census count. The administration has a constitutional obligation to complete an accurate count of the U.S. population — every single person living in America without exception."
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Twenty-five members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are requesting information from 127 of America's agricultural employers on the exact steps they've taken to protect farmworkers, use federal assistance, and prevent future coronavirus outbreaks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) published a guest column in Variety on the stark lack of Latino representation and positive portrayals in film and television, and the direct negative impact on the lives of Latinos in American society.
The guest column in Variety can be read here and below:
Just over a year ago, a gunman drove more than 600 miles to shoot and kill people because he viewed Latinos, who have lived in El Paso long before the U.S. was even founded, as invaders. The massacre in a Walmart not far from the U.S.-Mexico border was an act of terror — the deadliest attack against Latinos in more than 100 years.
WASHINGTON — Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is calling on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to update their "Diversity in Media" reporter. In a letter to Commissioners Dhillon, Lipnic, and Burrows, CHC members urged the EEOC to update their report for the first time in 16 years.
The letter was signed by CHC Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Diversity Taskforce Co-Chair Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Diversity Taskforce Co-Chair Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), First Vice Chair Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Congressman José Serrano (NY-15), Congressman Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39), Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-12), and Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51).
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) issued the following statement on GAO's decision confirming President Trump's top DHS appointments were illegal:
"Last December, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus joined Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson and Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney in urging an emergency review of the legality of the appointments of Chad Wolf as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and Ken Cuccinelli as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Twenty-one members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are calling on the Government Accountability Office (GOA) investigate the connection between the spread of COVID-19 infections in meatpacking facilities across the country and the workplace standards that are being set by the federal government.
"We are requesting that the GAO conduct an examination of the Administration's coronavirus policies and practices as they relate to workplace standards and safety in the meatpacking industry," the Members wrote. "The issuance of an executive order by President Trump directing processing plants to remain open has contributed to massive COVID-19 outbreaks for states and communities across the country that are home to meatpacking plants."
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Twenty-two members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Chairman Joaquin Castro are urgently requesting a meeting with the Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on COVID-19 in meatpacking facilities. Over the past few months, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) has conducted oversight into the workplace conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic at meatpacking facilities across the country.
"We respectfully request a meeting with you to discuss OSHA's current policy decisions regarding the meatpacking industry," the Members wrote. "As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country, there are reports of more than 33,000 coronavirus cases that are tied to meat and poultry plants, and at least 132 meatpacking workers have died."