Texas Rep Appointed Highest Ranking Member of House Committee

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) has been very busy as of late. Much of his time has been spent fighting against what he calls “invasion rhetoric”, which targets Hispanic immigrants. However, he recently took to Twitter to share his thoughts and statement on being appointed as the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

“I'm honored to be selected as ranking member of the @HouseForeign Western Hemisphere Subcommittee for the 118th Congress. More than any other region of the world, the future of the United States is intimately linked with that of our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere,” tweeted the Texas Congressman.

He continued, stating, “As we grapple with transnational challenges – from managing migration to climate resilience – the time has come for a reimagined regional approach that prioritizes multilateralism, effective engagement, and mutual respect.”

According to the statement, Rep. Castro served “in Committee leadership as Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact during the 117th Congress and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations during the 116th Congress.” Furthermore, “He also served as Vice Chair of the full Committee during the 116th Congress.”

Castro shared his family’s history as immigrants fleeing war, stating, “My family’s American story began when my grandmother, Victoria Castro, came to Texas as a young orphan in the wake of the Mexican Revolution. Her San Antonio relatives raised her in a city defined by Mexican culture, where recent migrants and long-established Hispanic families could chase their American dreams despite the prejudices of the time.”

Much of the congressman’s focus will be centered around the issues such as immigration, the job market and smuggling. He states, “As the 118th Congress begins, my priorities for the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere will be advancing inclusive and sustainable development, expanding regional economic cooperation to create good-paying jobs at home and abroad, promoting a more humane approach to migration, strengthening our bilateral and multilateral relationships, and curbing firearms trafficking from the United States into Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.” 

“These goals will build on the progress I accomplished as chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact,” said Castro, sharing his résumé. “I’m pleased to be able to continue many of the important conversations that began last Congress.”