Joaquin Castro

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5363, the FUTURE Act. I thank all the Members of Congress, the Members of the Senate, the educational institutions, and the advocates who helped shepherd this legislation. Under the FUTURE Act, MSIs will permanently receive the $255 million they need for the next 10 years. Without this funding, schools would miss out on funding for STEM programs, academic counseling, and financial support for students in need. This funding can be the difference between millions of students being able to afford college or attend college at all. This funding provides many students of color with the only opportunity they have ever had to enter fields where they are so often sorely underrepresented. We must support these critical efforts by MSIs to help students complete their college degrees and diversify STEM careers. Today, many students continue to leave STEM fields while in college, especially minority students. About 37 percent of Latino STEM students and 40 percent of Black STEM students will switch majors during college, compared to 29 percent of White STEM students. About 20 percent of Latino students and 26 percent of Black students will drop out before completing their STEM degrees. By providing schools with a means to support their students, we can prevent these trends from continuing and help diversify all fields of study. It will help dismantle the lingering discrimination found in some career fields that these folks want to pursue. When we diversify, we develop different perspectives, gather better talent, and become more competitive globally, and I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the right to vote in our Nation is fundamental to our democracy, and that right to vote continues to come under assault. States with a history of denying and blocking the right to vote, like my home State of Texas, are no longer held in check by the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act. Worried that changing demographics erode their political power, Texas leaders continue to make voting more difficult for Latinos and other communities of color. For example, since the Shelby case, the Texas secretary of state attempted to purge nearly 100,000 foreign-born U.S. citizens from voter rolls; the Texas Legislature restricted mobile voting sites designed to make voting more convenient; at least 750 polling locations have been closed, more than any other State; a voter ID law went into effect that a Federal judge later ruled was enacted to intentionally discriminate against Black and Latino voters. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is important to protect every American's right to vote, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life of Ms. Veronica Davila who passed away on November 13, 2019 at the age of 66. Ms. Davila hails from my hometown of San Antonio, Texas and is survived by her children, Lisa Luna, Enoch Diaz and Maricela Diaz- Wells; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and four siblings. A life-long advocate and educator, her contribution to the San Antonio community is irreplaceable. She will be greatly missed. Veronica Davila was born on December 16, 1952 to Adolfo Rodriguez, Sr. and Leonarda Vasquez Jimenez. Early on she developed a keen interest in family, community, and faith. For thirty years she worked extensively in the community and in non-profit organizations. For decades she dedicated herself to planning and the implementation of programs to end family violence. Until her untimely passing, Ms. Davila worked with the P.E.A.C.E. Initiative, or Putting An End to Abuse through Community Efforts. She was also known to help at-risk youth and victims of domestic violence. Madam Speaker, my heart goes out to the family and loved ones of Ms. Veronica Davila. A true hero in our community, she forged life-long friendships and connections with the many people she helped. At times, victims of domestic and family violence go unheard. Her passion and dedication to survivors gave them a voice. Her contribution to the San Antonio community will never be forgotten.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Mr. Gregory Garcia who passed away on Friday, October 4, 2019. Mr. Garcia dedicated his life to community and education. He is survived by wife of 42 years, Margaret; his daughters Christine, Gina, and Glinda; son Gregory Anthony; and his sister Leila Ramos. He will be greatly missed. Mr. Greg Garcia was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, graduating from Central Catholic High School in 1958. A proud alumni of Texas A&M University, he graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. There, he actively participated in the Corps of Cadets. After extensive work in the private sector for 20 years, he heard the call to return and serve the alma mater that he so loved. Mr. Garcia was incredibly active in our community and his involvement was only matched by his desire to make San Antonio the best it can possibly be. During his time with the Texas A&M University System, he served as Vice Chancellor of Governmental Relations. He partnered with his dear friends, the late Senator Frank Madla, in establishing a university on San Antonio's Southside. He has since been recognized as a founding father of Texas A&M University--San Antonio. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge the passing of Mr. Gregory Garcia. San Antonio and its Southside communities mourn the loss of a great pillar who dedicated his life to the service of others. I thank Mr. Garcia for everything he has done for San Antonians, the entire state of Texas, and for his fellow Aggies.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a foreign policy disaster that will be a stain on the conscience of our Nation for many years to come. The situation in Syria is costing lives as we speak. Until recently, our strategy to defeat ISIS by, through, and with our allies was working. Our small military presence in Syria was a sustainable force that denied ISIS the ability to plan and launch attacks from Syria or resurge back into Iraq. The President's impulsive decision to leave Syria without any deliberation has ignited a conflict in one of the most volatile regions on Earth. This administration has managed to turn our Middle East policy on its head in a week's time. Turkey is slaughtering the Kurdish forces that have fought and died on our behalf in the fight against ISIS. In our place, Syria and Russia have quickly filled the void of American leadership. We have betrayed our allies. This is not a foreign policy that displays America's core values. It is a shameful choice that will cause irreparable damage to American interests and alliances around the world. I believe this joint resolution is what we need in this moment to combat this President's worst instincts. The joint resolution will rebuke the White House and attempt to rebalance the situation in Syria. I urge all of my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, to support it.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Emilio Nicolas who passed away on October 12, 2019. Mr. Nicolas hails from my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. For decades he led the way in providing a voice for Mexican Americans through Spanish-language television. He is survived by his wife Irma, one sister, three children, five grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed. Emilio Nicolas was born on October 27, 1930 to Mr. and Mrs. Constantino Nicolas in Frontera, Coahuila, Mexico. In 1948, he moved to San Antonio to study chemistry and mathematics at St. Mary's University; graduating in 1951. Later, he received a master's degree from Trinity University in 1952. In 1955, Emilio Nicolas came to work at KCOR-AM & TV in San Antonio where he produced live programming and television. Nicolas and investors later purchased KCOR, renaming it KWEX; precursor to Univision. The fourth Television Network, Univision became a major media company catering to Spanish speaking audiences across Texas and the United States. Emilio Nicolas was known for his commitment to community and family. His work has given a voice to so many Hispanic Americans on a massive, global scale. But he also never forgot the community that made him, and in turn, we can never forget him. Madam Speaker, we have lost a pioneer whose story and work inspired so many in our community. He's remembered in our words, in our heritage, and most importantly, in all the stories of Hispanic Americans raising their voices because of the road he paved.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in February, I authored a resolution to reject the President's emergency declaration at the border. Both Chambers of Congress, a Democratic House and a Republican Senate, rejected that sham declaration by passing the resolution. Today, we consider a similar resolution to terminate the President's emergency declaration. A border wall does nothing to make us safer or address the real humanitarian crisis at our border. This time around, the President is raiding actual national security priorities to build his wall. He is stealing millions of dollars reserved for important projects that range from training sites for our servicemembers to the schools for their children, to our military readiness projects. It is shameful that our servicemen and -women are collateral damage in his quest to build this racist wall. It is a disgrace that money is being stolen from over two dozen States and territories, ensuring that American taxpayers--not Mexico, as the President repeatedly promised-- are actually paying for the wall. For example, in my district alone, we are losing out on $18.5 million in military construction funds. In the State of Texas, that number is $38.5 million. The total impact for the entire country is over $1 billion. This should be shameful to all of my colleagues that this administration would leave our military families out to dry. I ask all of my colleagues to vote their conscience and to vote their district. I would also add that the heavy burden of this wall will be felt by the people in the Rio Grande Valley and in south Texas. Miles and miles of private property, Texans' land, will be taken to build Donald Trump's wall. There have been stories about how people's property will be split; some of it in front of the wall, some of it behind the wall. Some people, there will be the wall in front of them, and they will have to drive and use a clicker to open the wall to come into what would be considered the United States. Those are American citizens who are literally going to be behind the wall in Texas because of Donald Trump. This is a shame. This was a simple campaign promise. This doesn't do anything to keep us safer. I hope, as we did last time, that this House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats, will vote overwhelmingly to terminate the President's emergency declaration.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I, too, look forward to reviewing the whistleblower's complaint, shortly. I want to start by saying thank you to the whistleblower. We don't know if it is a man or a woman, the person's identity, yet, but I want to say thank you for having the courage and the bravery to come forward and reveal--at least in terms of what we have seen from the transcript--abuse of power by the President of the United States. We must protect a whistleblower who comes forward and puts himself or herself and their career on the line. I hope that this Congress will be committed to doing that. These are very serious charges, an abuse of power that includes coercing a foreign leader into digging up dirt against a political rival for the President's political gain, to win reelection; asking a personal lawyer, his personal lawyer, to go along with this. It appears as though the State Department and, perhaps, the Secretary of State may also be implicated in this scandal. Madam Speaker, I look forward to passing this resolution. I hope all will support it.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Dr. Alfonso ``Chico'' Chiscano who passed away Tuesday, August 27, 2019. A pillar of the San Antonio community, Dr. Chiscano dedicated his life to helping others and preserving our community's history. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary-Alice; his daughters, Kristie and Carina; sons, Steve and Todd; and eight grandchildren. Dr. Alfonso ``Chico'' Chiscano was born on July 22, 1938 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, part of Spain's Canary Islands. At an early age he demonstrated a keen interest in medicine and community involvement. He attended medical school in Barcelona, Spain where he earned high marks, later completing his General Surgery Residency at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He soon rose to prominence and became one of San Antonio's top cardiothoracic surgeons. During his medical career, he performed countless surgical operations and assisted in saving more than 6,000 lives. He was also the first to perform open- heart surgery on the Canary Islands. Dr. Chiscano is well-known in San Antonio as a person who committed his life to civic engagement. He worked tirelessly as a Cultural Ambassador for San Antonio, connecting his native Canary Islands through business and cultural ties. He also worked on numerous historical preservation initiatives. Dr. Chiscano was named ``The Father of the Tricentennial,'' celebrating the city's 300-year history. Madam Speaker, I am proud to have known such a remarkable individual who defined what it means to live in the service of others. Throughout his life, he inspired all who encountered him. The entire San Antonio community mourns this tremendous loss. I know his legacy and memory will live on in every single life he changed.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of jazz legend Jim Cullum, Jr. who passed on August 11, 2019. Mr. Cullum hails from my hometown of San Antonio. For 60 years he exemplified what it means to be an artist. He is survived by his longtime companion, Donna Cloud; sister, Mary Conoly Hester; children, Bonnie Cullum, Blanquita Sullivan, Lene Conner-Foley, Chris Cullum, James Cullum, Katie Cullum, and Catlin Cloud; and six grandchildren. Although the San Antonio and Jazz community will mourn the loss of Jim Cullum, Jr., his impact will endure for many years to come. James ``Jim'' Albert Cullum, Jr. was born on September 20, 1941 to James Albert Cullum and Conoly Prendergast Cullum. At an early age he was drawn to music, listening to his father's records and who was a well-respected jazz clarinetist and saxophonist. In 1953, the family moved to San Antonio from Dallas. In 1963, the Cullum family established the Landing Jazz Club in the basement of the Nix Hospital, becoming the first nightclub on San Antonio's historic Riverwalk. For decades, the Landing played six nights a week until the passing of Jim Cullum, Sr. Shortly after, the band renamed itself the Jim Cullum Band. Since then, the band performed over 300 jazz masses across the United States. The band and its members became ambassadors of the City of San Antonio, and played in venues like the Carnegie Hall, Austin City Limits, the White House, and the Kennedy Center. Jim Cullum carried his performances throughout the world and taught music workshops locally. He served as the president of the San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation and created the Cullum Riverwalk Jazz radio program, syndicated on National Public Radio broadcasting. The weekly program reached across 200 stations for 25 years. Cullum was a historian at heart. He dedicated much of his time advocating for the preservation of San Antonio's historic sites. He was known to live by the Golden Rule, holding strong convictions of integrity and respect. Notably, he inspired many to pursue their interest in music and would bring light into every room he occupied. A mentor, artist, and activist are just a few words to describe such a remarkable individual. Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand and recognize this brilliant bohemian who dedicated his life to music and community. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of WWII Veteran, Retired Army Staff Sergeant Odon S. Cardenas. July 30, 2019 marks SSgt. Cardenas 100th birthday and I am proud to represent an individual who has dedicated his life to family, community, and country. SSgt. Odon Cardenas was born on July 30, 1919 in Devine, Texas to Donaciano and Cecilia Cardenas. One of six siblings, his early life was spent as a Sugar Beet Farmer in Shakopee, Minnesota. On March 29, 1941 he enlisted in the United States Army in Ft. Snelling, Minnesota as Private First Class. After becoming Squad Leader, SSG Odon Cardenas was assigned to the 172nd Battalion, Company C in California. Shortly after reassignment, the battalion deployed in November 1944 to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations of World War II in Germany. While on the front lines of defense, Cardenas and his unit were attacked by German opposition. During the ambush, his company received heavy artillery fire. Approximately 24 hours into battle, he and a few others attempted to escape by crawling through the snow at night. However, he and several company members were captured by opposition forces and held in captivity at a Prisoner-of-War camp near Dusseldorf, Germany. After being detained for two weeks, SSgt. Cardenas and his fellow service members were liberated by the Americans and allied forces. Odon departed soon after in April 1945, receiving an honorable discharge in October 1945. After the war, SSgt. Cardenas became a barber and auto mechanic. With his wife of 60 years, Maria Inez Valadez Cardenas, they raised 10 children along with 18 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent SSgt. Odon Cardenas and look forward to his 100th birthday. His lifelong dedication to our country can only be met with celebration.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I stand in support and the Hispanic Caucus stands in support of H.R. 3239. We had an opportunity, not too long ago, to visit rural New Mexico and Antelope Wells, a forward operating base, and another Border Patrol station. It became very clear to Dr. Ruiz, and to all of us, that the Border Patrol is not prepared for medical emergencies that migrants may encounter or that their own agents may encounter. Something must be done. These folks are not livestock. They are not animals. They shouldn't be treated in a subhuman way. Mr. Chairman, this bill establishes minimum standards for humane care, and I, wholeheartedly, support it.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Chair, the President should be sending the Red Cross to the border, not the United States military. I stand today with many of my colleagues to ensure that our government is not misusing funds, resources, and personnel that Congress has provided. We have seen again and again how this administration manipulates the law, congressional intent, and allocated funding in order to impede the immigration process and play with people's lives. There is no reason for the administration to force the Department of Defense to advance his anti-immigrant agenda and use our valuable troops to conduct immigration enforcement duties. These are young children and women who are fleeing desperate situations, and they should be treated for what they are, folks seeking asylum at the U.S.- Mexico border who are lawfully petitioning for asylum in the United States. We don't need the military there. We need the Red Cross.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I want to speak tonight about the very deep humanitarian situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. Immigration has been the lifeblood of our Nation for generations. The United States has been blessed that people from all over the world have come to our country fleeing oppression, dictators, violence, poverty, desperation, and seeking opportunity in our Nation that has been built up by those very same people to become the most prosperous and powerful Nation on the face of this Earth. But our immigration system is broken. Our enforcement system is broken. And tonight, we want to talk about what we have learned, after repeated visits to Department of Homeland Security facilities, operated by Customs and Border Protection, ICE, and also HHS facilities operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. I am going to be joined tonight by a few of my colleagues, Jimmy Gomez, who represents part of Los Angeles, Darren Soto, a Congressman from Florida, and perhaps other Members of Congress this evening. Before I turn it over to Darren, I want to speak for a second about what is known as the largest for-profit center that is operated to detain children. It is in a town called Homestead, Florida, and it is a massive operation. The operators of this facility, it is reported, make over $700 per child per day, and its size continues to grow. There are many troubling things going on at Homestead, and about a system that keeps growing and growing for the sake of profit, holding and detaining children, some of them infants and toddlers, longer and longer. My colleague, Darren Soto, is here to describe Homestead and his visits there. I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto).

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. That is an important point. When you went into that facility, this HHS facility, you were told, as a Member of Congress that has oversight authority over these Federal agencies and facilities, you were told not to speak to anybody that was inside that facility.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. And there has been concern because of the weather in Florida, because you have a hurricane season in Florida, about the ability of these tents to withstand strong weather and the danger that that could present to the kids there.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. The gentleman mentioned the point about the Trump administration has done something fundamentally different than the prior administration in a few ways. First, its zero tolerance policy. So it started aggressively separating fathers and mothers from their young kids. Thousands of those kids were lost in the system. Literally, the administration had absolutely no way ahead of time to track them and to reunite them with their parents. And also, what is known as the Remain in Mexico, or MPP policy; that once people come seeking asylum, the administration has done a few things: Number 1, for the people that do make it here, they then send many of them right back to Mexico. And these are, unfortunately, the cities that--some of these cities that the United States Government and the Department of State recommends that Americans do not travel to. And we are sending people back there, when we are recommending to our own folks that they don't go to these same cities. Then the other thing they have been doing is metering, as you alluded to, and trying to block people from legally--remember, these people are legally presenting themselves for asylum. And they are blocking these folks from presenting themselves for asylum. So what happens is, the situation that you have with the young man and his young daughter, 2-year-old daughter, the photo from about three weeks ago that the whole world saw. And I didn't speak to a single person who saw that photograph of the father and his 2-year-old daughter, dead in the water, with the young girl, her arm over her dad--I didn't speak to anybody who said that they saw that photo that didn't cry.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Thank you, Darren. Thank you for keeping an eye on the Homestead facility in Florida, for the CODELS, which are official congressional visits to these facilities. Thanks for all the work that you have been doing.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Absolutely. Jimmy, I know you are from Los Angeles. You have also been on many of these CODELS. You have seen the horrific conditions that folks are being kept in, the separation of families, all of these things.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. That is an important point, Jimmy. People wonder, well how is it that these families got separated? Why would the government do that? There is, in the law, which is known as Section 1325, a law that allows the government to basically charge the parents with a crime; therefore, separate them from their kids, and send the kids off somewhere else.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. That was bizarre. You remember, several months ago now, when Secretary Nielsen was still the Secretary of Homeland Security in, I think it was the first hearing, where she was asked about the government's, the Trump administration's family separation policy. She said, flat out, that there was no child separation or family separation policy; very bizarrely said that there was no family separation policy.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. That is right, you and Nanette Barragan, who also represents part of southern California, and you saw the metering policy, what is known as the metering policy. Again, that is where they block people from legally presenting for asylum. You all saw it firsthand. In fact, you ended up spending almost the whole night, I think, sleeping there on the concrete.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. These were CBP agents who were refusing to show you.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. So it is a purposeful way to disrupt your rest, your sleep, to try to get as many people out of there as possible?

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. With her kids.