Joaquin Castro

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Al Salgado, who for the last 32 years has served the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), helping to grow the Texas economy ``One Business at a Time.'' Established in 1979, America's Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) have grown to include approximately 1,000 service centers and more than 5,000 professional business advisors who provide personalized and confidential assistance to small business owners. For twelve years, Mr. Salgado served on the ASBDC board, serving as board chair for two terms. Mr. Salgado also served on the Baldrige, TX-based ASBDC Accreditation Committee for 15 years. Through this work, Mr. Salgado continuously improved the national network and supported entrepreneurs across the country. Before retirement, Mr. Salgado continued his commitment to helping small businesses reach their full potential as Executive Director of the Texas South-West SBDC Network at the University of Texas at San Antonio. For more than 20 years, the Texas South-West SBDC Network has provided business consulting at every stage of business development, helping small businesses increase capacity and reach their full potential. In 2023 alone, the Network's effort saved over 31,000 jobs and created some 10,400 jobs. Moreover, companies affiliated with the Network generated approximately $635 million in new sales and $72 million in tax revenue. Mr. Salgado's impact across the region during his tenure is immeasurable. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to express my gratitude to Al Salgado, a man who helped transform my city of San Antonio and state of Texas for the better.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following Roll Call votes due to testing positive for COVID-19. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: AYE on Roll Call No. 358, H.R. 8812; NAY on Roll Call Nos. 359 through 379, Amendments to H.R. 8997; NAY on Roll Call Nos. 381 through 383, 385 through 392, and 394 through 398, Amendments to H.R. 8998; AYE on Roll Call No. 393, H. Res. 1367; NAY on Roll Call No. 399, H.R. 8998; and NAY on Roll Call No. 400, H. Res. 1371.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the retirement of George B. Hernandez, Jr. Mr. Hernandez spent the last 19 years serving South Texas as president and CEO of University Health. A member of the University Health family for more than four decades, Mr. Hernandez attended his first Board of Managers meeting in December of 1980. Since that time, University Health has become a nationally recognized health care organization. That growth would not have been possible without his leadership. University Health is a longtime fixture for community health, trauma care, and disease prevention in San Antonio. During his tenure, Mr. Hernandez oversaw the opening of a new state-of-the-art medical office building, the expansion and redesign of University Hospital, and just last year, the opening of a women's and children's hospital. Mr. Hernandez has ensured that University Health will continue to expand, with construction of public health clinics and community hospitals underway. Notably, Mr. Hernandez led the health system through the COVID-19 pandemic, with his team of healthcare heroes administering more than 600,000 doses of Covid vaccines throughout our community. A native of San Antonio, Mr. Hernandez has never stopped giving back to his hometown, serving on the boards of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, the Center for Health Care Services, St. Mary's University and the San Antonio Medical Foundation. Mr. Hernandez's efforts with University Health have improved the lives of thousands of South Texans. With his retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of compassionate care, education, and discovery that will continue on. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to express my gratitude for Mr. George Hernandez, Jr. and his spirit of service to San Antonio.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Juan Jose ``Johnny'' Canales, a legend of Tejano music, who died on Thursday at the age of 77. Johnny was a champion for civil rights, an advocate for veterans, and a musician in his own right, but he was best known as the host of the ``Johnny Canales Show,'' a bilingual variety show that ran for decades in the United States and Latin America. It helped launch the careers of countless Tejano stars, including Selena Quintanilla, who made one of her live TV performances on the show in 1985. To his loyal fans, Johnny was best known for his catch phrase: ``You got it, take it away,'' the words of encouragement he would share with all the performers who joined him on stage. Johnny, you will always be remembered, especially among your loyal fans in south Texas. Johnny, ``rest in peace,'' ``que descanse en paz.''

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8369 because Joe Biden did the right thing. He made the right decision. The United States is a friend to the people of Israel. The United States is not a rubberstamp to an extremist Prime Minister who has not prioritized the release of hostages, who has allowed for indiscriminate killings in Gaza, and who has put his own political survival above all else. Chairman McCaul said something I think that was very important. After October 7, the world stood with Israel, expressed support for Israel. I believe all of us did in a bipartisan way. What has happened since then? Prime Minister Netanyahu has ruined the world's support. He has done so by not focusing on the hostages, but by allowing his military to bomb hospitals, ambulance convoys, people's homes, to take out journalists, aid workers, including Americans. The moral compass does not bend in favor of one nation regardless of what it does. That is why the President has done what he has done, and the President's leverage matters. When President Biden has taken steps to exercise his leverage, we have seen immediate results. Last month, President Biden told Israel to open the Erez Crossing in northern Gaza, and 3 days ago, dozens of WFP flour trucks entered through the western Erez Crossing, bringing desperately needed food to starving families. After the President paused a 2,000-pound bomb shipment, less than 1 percent of the total weapons shipments to Israel, the Israeli Defense Minister raised concerns for the first time that Netanyahu has no plan to rescue the hostages or establish a functioning Palestinian Government in Gaza. This, in many ways, is our last chance. We must do the right thing ourselves.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8038 and today's vote to fund Benjamin Netanyahu's war in Gaza. All of us have seen the tragedy of Gaza. We have seen how Prime Minister Netanyahu's government has used American weapons to kill indiscriminately and to force famine, with over 25,000 women and children dead and tens of thousands of missiles and bombs levied on innocent civilians. We cannot escape what we see before us every day. That is the blessing of today's technology--TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, all of it. When we see it, we have to decide what we are going to do about it. Are we going to participate in that carnage or not? I choose not to. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been reckless. His actions have not led to the release of the remaining hostages. He has ignored the pleas of the families of hostages. He has ignored the pleas of the President of the United States. He has ignored his own people. He has engaged in self-preservation. We should not be sending offensive weapons to Israel right now, and I hope that this body will not.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise concerning my vote on H.R. 4639. This bill raises important issues that must be addressed by Congress. Law enforcement agencies should not be able to circumvent due process by buying information about the targets of their operations from third- party data brokers. The American people need a solution that covers federal, state, and local governments to ensure that their rights are fully protected. During legislative negotiations on H.R. 4639, members raised concerns about conflicting possible interpretations of this bill that were not addressed before it came to the floor. As currently drafted, it is not clear whether H.R. 4639 appropriately covers federal, state, and local governments or whether the scope is limited to only cover the federal government. I also have concerns about restrictions that H.R. 4639 would impose on the Intelligence Community's ability to protect our national security by collecting data on foreign individuals operating abroad. Given the ambiguity over the scope of H.R. 4639 and the challenges this bill would create for our ability to monitor foreign threats to the United States, I will vote PRESENT. I am hopeful these issues will be addressed by the Senate as they consider this legislation.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise concerning my votes on H.R. 6603 and H.R. 5826 on April 16, 2024. With regard to H.R. 6603, I fully support the use of the Foreign Direct Product Rule to restrict Iran's ability to develop weapons technologies, especially technologies used by Iran for its April 2024 attack on Israel. However, H.R. 6603 would represent a counterproductive restriction of the flexibility that has enabled the Commerce Department to effectively restrict Iran's access to materials and technology that can be used to produce drones and missiles. While I have no concerns about expanding the application of the Foreign Direct Product Rule to include the additional categories enumerated within the bill, I believe this expansion must be done in coordination with U.S. partners to avoid creating an outcome that hurts our allies without addressing Iranian proliferation. This bill would threaten relationships with key partners, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and others that have allowed the United States to effectively counter malign actions by the Iranian government and I voted no as a result. With regard to H.R. 5826, I voted no out of concern that Section 8 of the bill could result in reciprocal actions from Iran to restrict the travel of Iranians to the United States--preventing asylum-seekers and others from escaping Iran's authoritarian government. The bill would additionally prevent thousands of Iranian Americans from being able to visit family in Iran and similarly restrict visas by journalists, educators, and other visitors who contribute to positive connections between the people of Iran and the outside world. I also oppose provisions in Section 6 of H.R. 5826 that would break with decades of diplomatic precedent and undermine U.S. capacity to negotiate with Iran by restricting how Iranian government officials can travel to the United States to attend meetings at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Gil Coronado. Born in Corpus Christi and raised in the barrios of San Antonio, Col. Coronado is a shining example of the American Dream. Overcoming a childhood marked by adversity, Col. Coronado has gone on to spend the entirety of his adult life dedicated to both public service and the advancement of Hispanic cultural appreciation. Orphaned at the age of five, and a self-described ``product of the streets,'' Col. Coronado decided to alter the direction of his life by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 16. Col. Coronado served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and completed tours of duty in Spain, Germany, and Panama. For his service, he was awarded a Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and a Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation. In 1985, Col. Coronado was assigned to the Inter-American Defense Board. It was there that Col. Coronado came to work closely with members of Congress to push for the expansion of efforts to honor the unique contributions of Hispanics to American history. In 1988, Col. Coronado's efforts came to fruition when this chamber invited him onto the floor to watch the bill that created Hispanic Heritage Month, which he helped create, pass unanimously. Later that year, President Reagan invited Col. Coronado to the White House Rose Garden as he signed the bill into law, taking time to recognize Col. Coronado as ``a stout defender of Hispanic Heritage and the United States of America.'' Col. Coronado went on to continue blazing trails for Hispanic Americans when he was appointed as the first Hispanic director of the Selective Service System in 1994. Under his tenure, he pushed for a 100 percent compliance rate and worked to educate the public on the importance and benefits of registering for the Selective Service. He retired as Director of the Selective Service System in 2001 and returned to San Antonio, where he resides to this day. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the honorable achievements of Col. Gil Coronado. San Antonio is proud to be home to the ``padrino'' of Hispanic Heritage Month. May God bless him and his family for all their years to come.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of Tony ``Doc'' Fuentes, a San Antonio native who has dedicated his life to placing the needs of others before his own. His giving spirit represents the best of our city of San Antonio. When Mr. Fuentes graduated from South San High School in 1970, he knew that his family would be unable to bear the burden of college tuition. Seeking another way to honor his family and to serve others, Mr. Fuentes enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Southeast Asia the following year, where he was assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh, Vietnam. While there, Mr Fuentes volunteered for a front-line medevac unit to help transport soldiers who were wounded on the front lines. After his time in the service, Mr. Fuentes returned to San Antonio and was taken under the wing of Lt. Col. Hector Villarreal, who became his mentor and provided Mr. Fuentes with the support needed to fully ``return home.'' Shortly before Lt. Col. Villarreal passed away in 2020, he designated Mr. Fuentes as his successor to lead the San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families, an organization dedicated to helping San Antonio's veterans through difficult times. He stepped into the role in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge of veterans seeking assistance. Since then, the San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families has expanded its scope and operations every year to help even more veterans and their families with basic needs and emergency support. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the honorable achievements of Mr. Tony ``Doc'' Fuentes. His efforts have led to increased support systems for San Antonio's veterans and their families, and he is a testament to the idea that a medic's commitment to his soldiers is one that never ends. May God bless Mr. Fuentes, his wife Cynthia, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchild today and for all their years to come.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the life and legacy of Mary Esther Rodriguez, who passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024 in the town of Losoya, Texas. Mary Esther Rodriguez was born October 4, 1944 in San Antonio, Texas. The oldest of ten children, she was a devoted wife, mother and community servant who enjoyed volunteering her time to help those in need. As a young woman right out of high school she began working as a nurse's aide at the San Antonio State Hospital and later focused her energy as a Home Health Aide for the sick and elderly. A woman of deep faith she began teaching religious education at 19 years of age and eventually became the Director of Religious Education at El Carmen Catholic Church in Losoya. She was moved to instill and strengthen the role of faith in the lives of children in the same manner that faith guided her life. An active member of The Ladies of Charity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, she lived by their motto ``to serve rather than be served, in humility, simplicity and charity.'' As a member she visited parishioners in nursing homes and the homebound, offering assistance to the poor in the community. She helped run their community service programs including the thrift store and wellness center. She leaves behind her husband, Ramon Rodriguez, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, whom she shared a life of love, joy and many blessings over more than 57 years. She will be remembered by her daughters Rosalinda and Elizabeth, her sons-in-law Henry Macias and Estuardo Rodriguez and her most treasured grandchildren, Maria Isabella, Valencia Lael, Nicolas, Fidel, Abram, and Emilio. She will forever remain the heart of the Rodriguez family and serve as an unyielding call to charity and service for those she leaves behind.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the life and legacy of Mary Esther Rodriguez, who passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024, in the town of Losoya, Texas. Mary Esther Rodriguez was born October 4, 1944, in San Antonio, Texas. The oldest of ten children, she was a devoted wife, mother, and community servant who enjoyed volunteering her time to help those in need. As a young woman right out of high school she began working as a nurse's aide at the San Antonio State Hospital and later focused her energy as a Home Health Aide for the sick and elderly. A woman of deep faith she began teaching religious education at 19 years of age and eventually became the Director of Religious Education at El Carmen Catholic Church in Losoya. She was moved to instill and strengthen the role of faith in the lives of children in the same manner that faith guided her life. An active member of The Ladies of Charity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, she lived by their motto ``to serve rather than be served, in humility, simplicity and charity.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of Mr. Raymond Flores, a World War II veteran and native of San Antonio, Texas who recently celebrated his 102nd birthday at San Antonio's Boss Ross Senior Center. Born February 28, 1922, to Mauro Flores and Dorothea Martinez, Mr. Flores has spent his life dedicated to public service. Following his graduation from Luther Burbank High School in 1941, Mr. Flores spent the greater part of a year working for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Dallas Texas, helping the country recover from the Great Depression. In December of that year, Mr. Flores answered the Nation's call and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps to help defend freedoms overseas. Mr. Flores completed a tour of duty in the Southern and Western Pacific where he served as Air Freight Master in Papua New Guinea and as First Cook in Australia. Mr. Flores then returned stateside, where he served as First Cook at Camp Kearns in Salt Lake City, Utah, before being transferred back home to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. It was there on September 30, 1945, that Mr. Flores received his honorable discharge along with other accommodations for his time in service. After his return to civilian life, Mr. Flores attended San Antonio College. In early spring 1948, Mr. Flores met Margarita Gomez and they were married later that year on June 27, 1948, at San Fernando Cathedral. Over the following three decades, Mr. Flores continued his tradition of service, working for the United States Postal Service until he retired, with commendation from President Jimmy Carter, in December 1980. Mr. Flores is currently living in a VA assisted living care facility where he brings life and joy to those around him. Before his beloved wife Margarita passed in 2019, she and Mr. Flores celebrated seventy- one years of marriage together. When asked what he is proudest of, Mr. Flores cites his fifty-two years of volunteer service to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, where he was an officer from 1952 to 2004 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower. When asked what lesson he wishes to pass onto the next generation, Mr. Flores asked that we all pray and keep the Lord in our lives. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the long life and honorable achievements of Mr. Raymond Flores. His story is a testament to his character and his status as the pride of San Antonio. May God bless him and his family for all their years to come.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, this piece of legislation is a bad idea. The right to participate in a boycott is an expression of free speech and free association that has been enshrined in American law since our Nation's founding. This bill would allow the President, any President, to compel the speech of Americans. That is unconstitutional and dangerous. Let me lay out a few scenarios that this bill would enable: An international organization calls for a boycott of goods made through forced Uyghur labor in China. An American citizen, concerned about the ongoing Uyghur genocide vocally expresses support for this boycott and participates in it. Under this bill, a President could decide that China is a ``friend to the United States'' and penalize one of our own fellow citizens with a $1 million fine and 20 years in prison. Under this bill, an American citizen who participates in a European Union boycott of goods made in Russian-occupied Ukraine could be jailed for 20 years under an American President who was friendly to the invasion. There are no safeguards under this law. The President has the complete power to decide when a country is covered by this law. That, I cannot support. If an American chooses to participate in such a boycott, it should be their decision and theirs alone, not the United States Government's. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate AVANCE for their 50 years of service uplifting Latino families to their fullest potential. San Antonio is proud to be home to the headquarters of this leading nonprofit, which is dedicated to improving the lives of Latino communities through high quality and culturally responsible early childhood and parenting education. In 1973, San Antonio native Dr. Gloria Rodriguez saw a need to address growing systemic racial inequalities in education on our city's Westside. Fifty years later, what started out as a program serving 35 San Antonio families at one housing development project has grown into a national-scale operation. AVANCE now serves more than 13,000 caregivers and children every year throughout Texas and California. AVANCE believes that parents are their child's first teacher and that home is a child's first classroom, and that thinking guides their core Parent-Child Education Program. They work tirelessly to foster economic mobility for Latino families by opening the door to opportunity for both caregivers and children. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of families have been impacted by AVANCE's work. By 2030, Latinos will make up nearly 30 percent of the American student population. Our nation's prosperity goes hand in hand with the success of these students, and organizations like AVANCE that are ensuring that the next generation of American leaders have a strong foundation. I look forward to many more years of powerful work from AVANCE and endless possibilities for Latino families to come.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas is a sham. The process was a sham. The charges are a sham. You might wonder, if that is the case, then why go through all of this trouble? Well, last November, a colleague of mine from the State of Texas stood up in this Chamber and asked for one meaningful accomplishment that the Republican Congress has accomplished this session. The answer was nothing. That colleague was not a Democrat on this side of the aisle, but a Republican--a Republican, who asked the question whether somebody could name one meaningful accomplishment. Therefore, the answer to my question: Why does this happen? When you have no record of accomplishment to run on--nothing on education, nothing on healthcare, nothing about creating jobs, nothing on the environment, nothing about keeping people safe--this is what you do. You put on a circus, and that is why we are here today. If we need an example, let's look to the last few days. For years, Republicans have used immigrants as political scarecrows. They are using them like scarecrows to put up in the face of Americans and scare Americans that every single one of these people, including the 6-year- old children, are coming to harm you and hurt you. Since my Republican colleagues have no positive policy solutions, they sell that really hard. You hear it on every radio interview, every television interview. You hear it from the people in here. You hear it on television on FOX News. Every single place, these people are used to scare Americans. That is how Republicans want to win. That is why we are here, because there is nothing else--nothing else left.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have claimed that we need to secure the border. Even when President Biden made the comment that he would be willing to shut down the border because it is overwhelmed, the Republican Speaker says that proposal-- which would allow for what Republicans have been asking for, supposedly for years--is dead on arrival. The Republicans are not going to do it. Mr. Speaker, this is a show trial. It is a sham.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of several members of the Greenblum family of South Texas. Over the past 14 months, South Texas lost three members of this beloved family, all who made a deep impact on our community. Isidoro Irving Greenblum, Shirley Jean Katz Greenblum, and Jeffrey Lee Greenblum will all be greatly missed. Isidoro Irving ``Pancho'' Greenblum lived life by one of his favorite dichos--``Que mala hiebra nunca muere''--``A tough weed always survives.'' He was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and later raised in Laredo, Texas, and he was proud to be a citizen of ``Los Dos Laredos.'' He worked for his family's successful furniture business in Nuevo Laredo while also serving as a member of the International Bank of Commerce's Board of Director for 40 years. His command of both Spanish and English and his tendency to treat everyone he met like family made him an invaluable member of the board, and he traveled extensively to Mexico and throughout Texas to form relationships with customers. Shirley Jeannne Katz Greenblum was known for the warmth she radiated in everything she did and was dedicated to her family and community. As the mother of four sons, she undoubtedjy had her hands full, but she built a home that was nurturing and open to all, with her children having fond memories of their mother hosting their friends for refreshments almost daily. Shirley and Isidoro were loving life partners, sharing 72 years of marriage after meeting while in school at the University of Texas. Together in Laredo, they raised their sons, Jeff, Gary, Brad, and Robbie. They were also proud and adoring grandparents and great- grandparents. Shirley and Isidoro shared a passion for charity and volunteering. Isidoro was the Founding Board Member and served as the first President of the Laredo Area Community Foundation, with the goal of making local charitable giving easy. He served on the board of several other charitable organizations, including for the Jewish community he was dedicated to, and created a scholarship at his high school alma mater for immigrant students attending college. Although Shirley was born and raised in Dallas, she made Laredo her home and gave back to the community through several organizations like the Laredo Art League, the Laredo Children's Museum, and more. Jeffrey Lee Greenblum, known as Jeff, was a proud son and brother, and a proud father himself to his son William ``Billy'' Greenblum. He graduated from his parents' alma mater and went on to get a law degree from Southern Methodist University. Jeff found success in both business and public service, serving as a senior executive for an oil and gas company, a mining company, and a natural resource consultancy and serving his country during the George H.W. Bush Administration at the Departments of Energy and Commerce. Isidoro, Shirley, and Jeff leave behind a lasting legacy in South Texas, and the love they had for each other, and their family will never be forgotten.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Eyole M. Mbongo of San Antonio, Texas, who received the Outstanding Congressional Staffer Award on December 1, 2023 from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) in recognition of his exceptional dedication to advancing equity in education. In 2014, Mr. Mbongo joined my Congressional staff as an intern while completing his master's degree in public administration at the University of Texas, San Antonio. After his graduation, I hired him as a constituent services representative in my district office, where he worked to help residents of the 20th District of Texas access programs and services within the federal government. After almost two years in my district office, he joined my staff in Washington D.C., where he now serves as a senior legislative assistant. Over the course of his work with my office, Mr. Mbongo has led the fight to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding back to San Antonio schools and universities--helping them chart a path forward through the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and close racial and socioeconomic gaps in college attendance and completion. During the current session of Congress, Mr. Mbongo has been a critical advisor in the introduction of several bills and resolutions, including: The Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act (HERE Act), which would authorize a grant program to support partnerships between Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and school districts with high enrollment of Latino students to improve college readiness and degree attainment. The Advanced Coursework Equity Act, which would authorize a grant program to address equity gaps in enrollment and performance in advanced programs and courses. A resolution to designate the week beginning on September 11, 2023 as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. There is no one more qualified or deserving of this award than Mr. Mbongo, and I am grateful to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities for recognizing the profound impact of his work. I congratulate Mr. Mbongo--he makes San Antonio proud.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, America's colleges and universities should be places where all students can learn, grow, and express their ideas without harassment or discrimination. Since the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas, I've been communicating with college and university presidents, school districts, and law enforcement leaders to make sure we combat any rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia, or other forms of discrimination. I voted YES on Amendment No. 114 to H.R. 5894--Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 to combat antisemitism on campus and I would likewise support a similar amendment to combat Islamophobia or other forms of discrimination.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Ernesto Gomez, who for the last fifty years has stewarded one of the premier health care organizations in Texas, CentroMed. Founded in 1973 as El Centro del Barrio, CentroMed began as a project on San Antonio's South and West sides to offer culturally competent mental health services to vulnerable members of the community. Since then, CentroMed has expanded the services it offers, providing much-needed medical care to tens of thousands of people every year. This growth would not have been possible without the efforts of Dr. Gomez, who has served as CentroMed's President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. He has helped grow the organization from a single clinic to twenty-seven clinics and two fitness centers across Bexar and Comal counties. CentroMed has forged powerful partnerships, allowing it to serve even more of the South Texas community. CentroMed's collaboration with Methodist Healthcare Ministries allows it to provide services for low- income, uninsured, and houseless populations. Through partnerships with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care, CentroMed has also expanded efforts to provide care for uninsured pregnant women and infants. Mr. Gomez has also made sure his efforts continue through the next generation of social workers, health care professionals, and activists. For the last thirty-seven years, Dr. Gomez has taught graduate-level courses at San Antonio's Our Lady of the Lake University, focusing on public policy, administration, and human behavior. The dedication that Dr. Gomez has demonstrated for the last fifty years has been an invaluable service to San Antonio. His efforts with CentroMed have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to express my gratitude for Dr. Ernesto Gomez a man who has helped transform my city of San Antonio for the better.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I have to rise in opposition to H. Res. 559. I am proud to represent San Antonio, Texas, known as Military City, USA, which is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. Every year tens of thousands of young men and women pass through my city on their way to military theaters around the world. Their lives are sacred, and Congress needs to be careful about how our decisions can put them in harm's way. While this is a nonbinding resolution, it would speak for the House of Representatives without meaningfully engaging with the broad range of tools at our disposal to prevent Iranian proliferation. I strongly oppose Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon. That is why I supported President Obama's efforts to constrain Iran's nuclear program through the JCPOA and why I opposed Donald Trump's decision to release Iran from the restrictions on its nuclear program by violating and then withdrawing from the JCPOA. Nonetheless, this resolution, in saying the United States must use ``all means necessary'' to prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon goes too far. Do we support sending U.S. forces, ground troops, into Iran to stop their nuclear program? What about using a nuclear weapon ourselves? That is what the language of this resolution would support or allow. This isn't just leaving all our options on the table. This resolution endorses every option. In recent years, Congress has had important, bipartisan conversations about reclaiming our constitutional authority over the use of military force. If the Congress is going to endorse the use of force, even in a nonbinding resolution, then we need a more deliberate debate before going forward. This resolution also commits the United States to endorse the actions of any of our partners and allies to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Would we support Saudi Arabia or the UAE if they were to unilaterally strike Iran putting hundreds of U.S. forces stationed in the Persian Gulf at risk? This resolution commits to unconditionally supporting their ``freedom of action.'' While I strongly oppose Iran's nuclear program, Mr. Speaker, the language we are voting on today goes too far, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if the humanitarian exemption that was originally in this bill was restored, I would fully support H.R. 340, but I cannot in good faith support a bill that amounts to intentional collective punishment against the people of Gaza, nearly half of whom are children. For this reason, I urge the House to vote ``no.''

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 340. I unequivocally condemn Hamas' attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 innocent people and the kidnapping of hundreds of hostages, including American citizens. The United States has rightly designated Hamas as a terrorist organization since 1997, and I have fully supported sanctions on Hamas when they have come before the House in the past. However, there is a distinction between Hamas and the innocent Palestinians it holds captive in Gaza, and we must legislate with that understanding. Our efforts to hold Hamas accountable must not come at the expense of those innocent civilians. As originally written, this bill included a broad humanitarian exemption that would have protected the provision of food, medicine, and other lifesaving supplies into Gaza. The State Department and the Treasury both supported that exemption, which aligned with the Biden administration's goals to weaken Hamas without causing undue civilian suffering and deaths. Unfortunately, the primary sponsor of H.R. 340 offered an amendment during committee markup that removed that exemption, replacing it with a case-by-case waiver that will impede the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. At times here, we need to speculate about the motivations behind specific legislation and legislative decisions. In this case, however, it is part of the committee record. The bill's sponsor said that he believes ``any assistance should be slowed down'' and argued that no one can distinguish between innocent Palestinians and Hamas. The situation in Gaza is incredibly dire and becoming more so by the day, which is why President Biden has worked to secure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and requested funding to support those efforts. The decision to intentionally remove this provision was a choice to hurt people in Gaza who are not responsible for this conflict.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the immediate aftermath of the horrific October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, I co- sponsored H. Res. 771 in solidarity with the people of Israel. The resolution was intended to send an immediate message of bipartisan support. Unfortunately, Republican dysfunction (inability to elect a speaker of the House) prevented the resolution from moving to the floor for nearly three weeks. In the interim, as the conflict deepened, my Republican colleagues refused to update the text of the resolution to reference the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the civilian casualties in both Israel and Gaza. While I support many of the goals of this resolution, Congress must recognize that the suffering from this war is not one- sided. As I will vote present on this resolution, I hope that Congress can put partisanship aside, helping Israel and pushing Hamas to work toward an immediate ceasefire--or, at minimum, a temporary cessation of hostilities to protect civilians, transport humanitarian aid, and secure the safe return of all hostages.