Economic Development and Workforce

WASHINGTON—Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro and 18 members sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Perdue, Health and Human Services Secretary Azar, and Department of Labor Secretary Scalia calling for an investigation of working conditions in meatpacking facilities during the COVID-19 crisis and emergency standards to protect meatpacking workers.

WASHINGTON— Today, the Chairs of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – which is composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – issued the following joint statement in response to recent reports that large corporations, rather than small businesses, received millions and even billions of dollars in loans from major banks participating in the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The Tri-Caucus Chairs include Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu (CA-27):

WASHINGTON—Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is calling for improvements to the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program and additional funding for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and grants to ensure capital actually reaches main street business most in need. In a letter to Secretary Mnuchin and Administrator Carranza, Chairman Castro urges them to set aside at least $65 billion to be channeled through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), at least $50 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loans, $15 billion in disaster grants, and institute mandatory reporting requirements. The request is for a total of at least $130 billion to support unserved businesses with stronger accountability and transparency measures.

WASHINGTON--Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement:

"For generations, Republican and Democratic Administration have maintained an orderly, humane asylum process that respects international law while protecting the sovereignty and security of the United States. Yet, the Trump Administration has failed miserably.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), members of CHC leadership, and the CHC Puerto Rico Task Force, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long and Tito Hernandez, Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer at the Puerto Rico Joint Field Office. The letter requests a meeting to discuss what immediate steps FEMA and the federal government are taking to assist in Puerto Rico's ongoing recovery efforts, and what concrete plans the agency is taking to ensure the poor response to this tragedy and loss of life that followed Hurricane Maria never happens again.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued the statement below marking the one year anniversary of Hurricane Maria making landfall on the island of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.