Joaquin Castro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joaquin Castro
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 20th district |
|
| Assumed office January 3, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Charlie Gonzalez |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 125th district |
|
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Art Reyna |
| Succeeded by | Justin Rodriguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 16, 1974 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Anna Flores
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Julian Castro (twin brother) |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Joaquin Castro (born September 16, 1974) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 2013. He represents Texas's 20th congressional district, which includes a large part of his hometown, San Antonio. Currently, he works on important committees like the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Before joining the U.S. House, Castro served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013. There, he helped make laws for the state of Texas. He was also the campaign leader for his identical twin brother, Julian Castro, when Julian ran for president in 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joaquin Castro grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He was born just one minute after his twin brother, Julian Castro. From a young age, he became interested in helping his community. This was because his parents were very involved in political campaigns and community work. His mother, Rosie Castro, is a well-known community activist.
Castro went to Stanford University and earned a degree in political science and communications. Later, he and his brother both studied law at Harvard Law School. After finishing law school, they worked at a law firm before starting their own firm in 2005.
Serving Texas in the State House
Becoming a State Representative
In 2002, Joaquin Castro decided to run for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. This is where lawmakers create laws for the state of Texas. He won his election easily and became a state representative at age 28. He was reelected several times, serving five terms in total.
Working on Committees
While in the Texas House, Castro worked on several important committees. These groups focus on specific topics to help create better laws. He was the vice-chair of the Higher Education Committee, which deals with colleges and universities. He also served on committees related to law and justice, county affairs, and international relations.
Representing Texas in the U.S. House
Running for Congress
In 2011, Castro decided to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This is a part of the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers create laws for the entire country. He ran for the 20th district of Texas. This district is known for having many Democratic voters. He won the election in November 2012. He became only the fifth person to represent this district since it was created in 1935.
Key Roles and Actions
Joaquin Castro officially started his work in the U.S. House on January 3, 2013. He was chosen to lead the group of new Democratic members in Congress. Later, he became a Chief Deputy Whip, which is an important leadership role for his party.
In 2016, he supported Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign. In 2019, he became the leader of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. This group works to address issues important to Hispanic Americans.
In February 2019, Castro introduced a bill to stop a national emergency declaration. This declaration would have allowed money to be used to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. His bill passed both the House and the Senate, but the President vetoed it.
In August 2019, Castro shared information about people who had donated money to a presidential campaign. He said he was sad to see so many people supporting a campaign that he felt was negative towards Hispanic immigrants.
In January 2021, Castro was chosen to be an impeachment manager. This meant he acted as a prosecutor during a trial in the Senate.
Committee Work in Congress
As a U.S. Representative, Joaquin Castro serves on important committees:
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: This committee deals with national security and intelligence agencies like the CIA.
- Committee on Foreign Affairs: This committee works on issues between the U.S. and other countries. He is a ranking member (a top leader) on the Western Hemisphere subcommittee.
Caucus Memberships
Castro is also part of several caucuses, which are groups of lawmakers who share common interests. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He also helped start the U.S.-Japan Caucus and the ASEAN Caucus, which focus on relations with those regions. He also co-founded the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus.
Personal Life
Joaquin Castro is the identical twin brother of Julian Castro. Julian was once the mayor of San Antonio and a U.S. Cabinet Secretary. Joaquin is one minute younger than Julian. In 2019, Joaquin grew a beard to help people tell him apart from his brother.
In 2013, Joaquin Castro got engaged to Anna Flores. They have three children: a daughter born in 2013, a son born in 2016, and another daughter born in 2022.
Besides his political work, Castro has also taught law at universities in San Antonio. He also serves on the boards of several non-profit groups that help communities.
In February 2023, Castro had surgery to remove some small growths called neuroendocrine tumors. He said he was doing well after the surgery.
See also
In Spanish: Joaquín Castro para niños
