Media

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."

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the Census Bureau stopping field data collection early.

"The Trump administration is sabotaging the 2020 Census. By stopping the collection of data next month, it's clear the Administration has no intention of fulfilling its constitutional obligation of a complete and accurate count of the U.S. population.

SAN ANTONIO, TX —Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement to mark the one-year anniversary of the El Paso shooting, the deadliest act of anti-Latino violence in modern history.

"One year ago today, a gunman motivated by white supremacy drove over 600 miles to the bi-national community of El Paso, Texas, and killed 23 people and wounded 22 others in an act of terror. We lost veterans, coaches, immigrants, and parents, all members of a vibrant border community — a city that reflects the promise of America as a nation of immigrants.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus—composed of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20)—released the following statement on the K-12 education provisions in the Senate Republicans' HEALS Act.

"Over the past six months, we have watched the COVID-19 pandemic worsen existing inequality and inflict devastating harm on communities of color. Rather than providing these communities with relief, the Senate Republicans' HEALS Act exploits that inequality in a way that will endanger the health and safety of students of color, their teachers and school staff, and their families.