CASTRO, JOAQUIN (a Representative from Texas)

Addresses

Reading of U.S. Constitution, H164 [9JA]

Amendments

Dept. of Education: support State and local accountability for public education, inform parents of their schools’ performance, and support Impact Aid and homeless student services (H.R. 5), H1259, H1289 [26FE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: enhance multi-directional sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks and strengthen privacy and civil liberties protections (H.R. 1731), H2437 [23AP]

Energy and water development: making appropriations (H.R. 2028), H2758 [30AP]

Health: accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices (H.R. 6), H5074 [10JY]

Science, Depts. of Justice and Commerce, and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 2578), H3703 [2JN]

Space policy: facilitate pro-growth environment for developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions (H.R. 2262), H3526 [21MY]

Appointments

Committee to escort Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe into the House Chamber, H2503 [29AP]

Conferee: H.R. 1735, Dept. of Defense appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction, H4699 [25JN]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 632), H7027 [20OC]

Americans With Disabilities Act: anniversary (see H. Con. Res. 66), H5777 [29JY]

Animals: outlaw the practice of animal crushing and production or distribution of any videos depicting such acts (see H.R. 2293), H7333 [28OC]

——— prohibit the sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for human consumption (see H.R. 1942), H6228 [24SE]

Armed Forces: grant family of members temporary annual leave during deployment of such members (see H.R. 1845), H2306 [16AP]

Bearss, Edwin C.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2059), H2496 [28AP]

Boys Town (organization): mint coins in commemoration of anniversary (see H.R. 893), H3254 [15MY]

Chavez, Cesar E.: tribute (see H. Res. 178), H2111 [26MR]

Civil rights: award a Congressional Gold Medal to participants in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, or the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March, which served as a catalyst for the Voting Rights Act (see H.R. 431), H664 [28JA]

——— improve remedies for discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex (see H.R. 1619), H2032 [25MR]

——— issue postage stamp in commemoration of Selma to Montgomery, AL, voting rights marches (see H. Con. Res. 23), H1624 [6MR]

Colleges and universities: support efforts to ensure that students have access to debt-free higher education (see H. Res. 214), H6189 [22SE]

Cosmetics: phase out cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (see H.R. 2858), H6228 [24SE]

Courts: making emergency appropriations to address needs of the Federal judiciary serving the border region between the U.S. and Mexico (see H.R. 3612), H6259 [25SE]

Crime: denounce attacks on healthcare centers for women, providers of healthcare for women, and patients and affirm right of women to access reproductive services without fear of violence or intimidation (see H. Res. 558), H9079 [8DE]

——— protect pets of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence (see H.R. 1258), H6228 [24SE]

Dept. of Education: allow certain student loan borrowers to refinance current loans (see H.R. 1434), H1768 [18MR]

——— award grants to establish pediatric early literacy programs for health care providers and facilities (see H.R. 523), H5775 [29JY]

——— establish American Dream Grant program to encourage States to increase access to higher education to low-income students regardless of immigration status (see H.R. 1507), H1803 [19MR]

——— provide guidance on how dependent students with noncitizen parents without Social Security numbers may obtain Federal student assistance for college (see H.R. 1833), H2305 [16AP]

——— reinstate year-round access to Pell Grants (see H.R. 242), H187 [9JA]

Dept. of Energy: expedite and approve permits to export natural gas (see H.R. 351), H583 [26JA]

Dept. of HHS: anniversary of Head Start Program (see H. Res. 92), H919 [10FE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: making appropriations (see H.R. 861), H1038 [12FE]

——— study circumstances which may impact the effectiveness and availability of first responders before, during, or after a terrorist threat or event (see H.R. 2795), H4431 [16JN]

Dept. of the Interior: conduct a special resource study of Chicano Park in San Diego, CA (see H.R. 3711), H8242 [16NO]

Dept. of Transportation: establish a veterans business enterprises program (see H.R. 3997), H8282 [17NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: clarify presumptions relating to exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam (see H.R. 969), H5943 [10SE]

——— deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for benefit purposes (see H.R. 2766), H4343 [12JN]

——— ensure South Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care Center in Harlingen, TX, includes a full-service inpatient health care facility (see H.R. 1294), H1611 [4MR]

——— provide additional assistance under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program to veterans pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) (see H.R. 3949), H8150 [5NO]

Discrimination: prohibit on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity (see H.R. 3185), H5465 [23JY]

——— prohibit on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (see H. Res. 208), H2308 [16AP]

Diseases: issue semipostal stamp to support breast cancer research (see H.R. 2191), H8155 [5NO]

——— mint coins in recognition of the fight against breast cancer (see H.R. 2722), H4135 [10JN]

Equal Pay Day: observance (see H. Con. Res. 35), H2210 [14AP]

Eximbank: reauthorize (see H.R. 1031), H1166 [25FE]

Families and domestic relations: support Working Families Agenda (see H. Res. 506), H7346 [29OC]

Financial literacy: provide grants to promote (see H.R. 346), H534 [22JA]

Firearms: ensure prohibited purchasers are included in National Instant Criminal Background Check System, require background checks for commercial sales, and establish a National Commission on Mass Violence (see H.R. 1217), H6937 [8OC]

Floresville Veterans Post Office Building, Floresville, TX: designate (see H.R. 891), H2656 [29AP]

Freedom of the press: support in Latin America and the Caribbean and condemn violations and violence against journalists (see H. Res. 536), H9081 [8DE]

Health: accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices (see H.R. 6), H3642 [1JN]

Higher Education Act: anniversary (see H. Res. 505), H7346 [29OC]

Hispanic Heritage Month: observance (see H. Res. 426), H6137 [17SE]

Horse Protection Act: designate additional unlawful acts, strengthen penalties for violations, and improve Dept. of Agriculture enforcement (see H.R. 3268), H6228 [24SE]

House Rules: require a reading of the names of Armed Forces members who died in the previous month as a result of combat operations (see H. Res. 24), H188 [9JA]

Immigrant Heritage Month: observance (see H. Res. 325), H4491 [17JN]

Iran: call for release of Saeed Abedini and others detained due to their religious beliefs (see H. Res. 111), H1663 [16MR]

——— condemn persecution of Baha’is and continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, impose sanctions for such violations, and call for release of religious prisoners (see H. Res. 220), H7347 [29OC]

——— immediately release U.S. citizens that it holds and provide all known information on any U.S. citizens that have disappeared within its borders (see H. Res. 233), H3391 [19MY]

Korea, Republic of: provide high-skilled visas for nationals (see H.R. 1019), H3921 [8JN]

Korean War Veterans Memorial: authorize and allow certain private contributions to fund a Wall of Remembrance (see H.R. 1475), H6977 [13OC]

Land and Water Conservation Fund: reauthorize (see H.R. 1814), H6180 [18SE]

Law enforcement: provide alternatives to incarceration for youth (see H.R. 3158), H5402 [22JY]

——— provide for the expungement and sealing of youth criminal records (see H.R. 3156), H5402 [22JY]

——— provide for the humane treatment of youths in police custody (see H.R. 3155), H5402 [22JY]

Medicaid: anniversary (see H. Res. 400), H5769 [29JY]

Medicare: anniversary (see H. Res. 400), H5769 [29JY]

——— expand coverage to include eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental care (see H.R. 3308), H5763 [29JY]

——— provide coverage of an initial comprehensive care plan for beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (see H.R. 1559), H5776 [29JY]

——— provide coverage of pharmacist services in medically underserved areas (see H.R. 592), H5775 [29JY]

Minimum wage: increase, and index future increases to the median wage (see H.R. 2150), H2768 [30AP]

National Women’s History Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 137), H1566 [3MR]

New York, NY: reauthorize the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (see H.R. 1786), H7254 [27OC]

Pakistan: welcome Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif upon U.S. visit, support efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen democracy, and reaffirm friendship, partnership and ongoing cooperation with the U.S. (see H. Con. Res. 86), H7028 [20OC]

PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway, TX: designate (see H.R. 2559), H3561 [21MY]

Political campaigns: reform the financing of congressional elections by broadening participation by small dollar donors (see H.R. 20), H477 [21JA]

Postal Service: ensure continuation of 6-day mail delivery service (see H. Res. 12), H535 [22JA]

——— restore pre-existing service standards relative to overnight mail deliveries and elimination of delays (see H. Res. 54), H7190 [26OC]

Puerto Rico: set forth the process to be admitted as a State (see H.R. 727), H2035 [25MR]

San Antonio Spurs (basketball team): tribute (see H. Res. 23), H155 [8JA]

Schools: end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools (see H.R. 846), H5775 [29JY]

Senior citizens: increase Social Security and military retirement benefits and base future cost-of-living increases on the Consumer Price Index for the elderly (see H.R. 3761), H7175 [23OC]

Silvis, IL: mint coins in recognition and celebration of Hero Street, USA (see H.R. 2525), H3559 [21MY]

Singapore: commemorate independence anniversary and reaffirm partnership with the U.S. (see H. Res. 374), H8646 [30NO]

Social Security: provide States with the option of providing services to children with medically complex conditions under Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program through a care coordination program (see H.R. 546), H5468 [23JY]

——— support policies to protect and expand and secure long-term future (see H. Res. 393), H5769 [29JY]

Taxation: allow credit for amounts paid by a spouse of an Armed Forces member for a new State license or certification required due to permanent change in duty station of such member to another State (see H.R. 1100), H1368 [26FE]

——— assist in the support of children living in poverty by allowing a refundable credit to grandparents for the purchase of household items for the benefit of those children (see H.R. 3475), H5941 [10SE]

——— exclude from gross income the discharge of certain student loans of deceased or disabled veterans (see H.R. 1581), H4544 [18JN]

——— extend and modify the American Opportunity Tax Credit (see H.R. 1260), H1610 [4MR]

——— limit authority of States to tax certain income of employees for employment duties performed in other States (see H.R. 2315), H9329 [15DE]

Voting: modernize voter registration, promote access to voting for disabled individuals, and protect the right to vote (see H.R. 12), H1800 [19MR]

——— revise criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to certain protections against racial discrimination in voting (see H.R. 2867), H4775 [25JN]

Women: constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 52), H3212 [14MY]

——— ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition (see H.R. 2654), H7626 [3NO]

——— remove deadline for ratification of constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 51), H2957 [13MY]

Bills and resolutions introduced

AID: establish the U.S. Global Development Lab (see H.R. 3924), H7741 [4NO]

Armed Forces: allow aliens granted deferred action and work authorization to be appointed to and attend a military service academy and to be appointed as a commissioned officer (see H.R. 2367), H3251 [15MY]

Dept. of Education: provide grants for high-quality prekindergarten programs (see H.R. 4042), H8279 [17NO]

Dept. of Homeland Security: anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (see H. Res. 327), H4542 [18JN]

Dept. of Justice: require State and local law enforcement to report certain information on shooting incidents involving officers and provide grant funds to protect officers from violence and use of force training (see H.R. 3481), H5942 [10SE]

Dept. of State: report on diversity recruitment, employment, retention, and promotion (see H.R. 3836), H7253 [27OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: provide for a survey of homeless female veterans (see H.R. 3960), H8150 [5NO]

Immigration: prohibit Executive agencies from using the term ‘‘alien’’ to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national and establish a uniform definition for the term ‘‘foreign national’’ (see H.R. 3785), H7089 [21OC]

NSF: support afterschool science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs (see H.R. 831), H916 [10FE]

Seventh Summit of the Americas: support (see H. Res. 160), H1803 [19MR]

Taxation: extend certain expiring provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (see H.R. 1808), H2268 [15AP]

UNESCO: welcome World Heritage Committee inscription of the San Antonio Missions to the World Heritage list, recognize the Missions as having historical and cultural significance, and congratulate people of San Antonio, TX (see H. Res. 358), H5088 [10JY]

Constitutional authority statements

AID: establish the U.S. Global Development Lab (H.R. 3924), H7742 [4NO]

Armed Forces: allow aliens granted deferred action and work authorization to be appointed to and attend a military service academy and to be appointed as a commissioned officer (H.R. 2367), H3253 [15MY]

Dept. of Education: provide grants for high-quality prekindergarten programs (H.R. 4042), H8280 [17NO]

Dept. of Justice: require State and local law enforcement to report certain information on shooting incidents involving officers and provide grant funds to protect officers from violence and use of force training (H.R. 3481), H5942 [10SE]

Dept. of State: report on diversity recruitment, employment, retention, and promotion (H.R. 3836), H7254 [27OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: provide for a survey of homeless female veterans (H.R. 3960), H8153 [5NO]

Immigration: prohibit Executive agencies from using the term ‘‘alien’’ to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national and establish a uniform definition for the term ‘‘foreign national’’ (H.R. 3785), H7089 [21OC]

NSF: support afterschool science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs (H.R. 831), H917 [10FE]

Taxation: extend certain expiring provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (H.R. 1808), H2269 [15AP]

Remarks

Corps of Engineers: reimburse local government for certain public works projects, H2758 [30AP]

Dept. of Defense: allow transfer of excess military equipment to the Dept. of Homeland Security for border security activities, H3170 [14MY]

——— authorizing appropriations for military activities, prescribing personnel strengths, and military construction (H.R. 1735), H3170 [14MY]

Dept. of Education: appoint a neutral ombudsman to ensure K–12 textbooks are held to high academic standards, H1259 [26FE]

——— require States to provide a description for college and career counseling opportunities for homeless youth in their State plan, H1289, H1290 [26FE]

——— support State and local accountability for public education, inform parents of their schools’ performance, and support Impact Aid and homeless student services (H.R. 5), H1259, H1289, H1290 [26FE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: enhance multi-directional sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks and strengthen privacy and civil liberties protections (H.R. 1731), H2437, H2438 [23AP]

——— establish the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, H2438 [23AP]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 240), H1102 [24FE]

——— making appropriations (H.R. 240), consideration (H. Res. 27), H245 [13JA]

——— provide self-assessment tools to small and medium-sized businesses to determine their level of cybersecurity readiness, H2437 [23AP]

Dept. of Justice: law enforcement body-worn cameras funding, H3703, H3704 [2JN]

Energy and water development: making appropriations (H.R. 2028), H2758 [30AP]

Health: accelerate discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century lifesaving cures and devices (H.R. 6), H5074 [10JY]

Immigration: prohibit funding to implement, administer, carry out, or enforce Executive orders to implement immigration reform, H1102 [24FE]

——— reform, H245 [13JA]

NIH: include data on underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, in report on efforts to attract, retain, and develop emerging scientists, H5074 [10JY]

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: modify definition of full-time employee relative to employer health insurance mandate (H.R. 30), consideration (H. Res. 19), H121 [8JA]

San Antonio, TX: Memorial High School recipient of National Association of Music Merchants Foundation SupportMusic Merit Award, E595• [28AP]

Science, Depts. of Justice and Commerce, and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 2578), H3703, H3704 [2JN]

Space policy: ensure the Orbital Traffic Management Study includes input from nonprofit organizations that conduct research in space traffic and orbital activities, H3526 [21MY]

——— facilitate pro-growth environment for developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions (H.R. 2262), H3526 [21MY]

Texas: tribute to 20th Congressional District organizations recognized by White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics as Bright Spots in Hispanic Education, H7199 [27OC]

Votes: position on missed, H2940• [13MY], H5357• [22JY], E964• [24JN]

Tributes

Coffey, Lucy, E399• [24MR]