Watch the full event here: https://youtu.be/g_MUgwB5E2M

WASHINGTON, D.C. / SAN ANTONIO – Today, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) joined Texas political, business, and community leaders in a virtual town hall to discuss the importance of American global health, diplomacy, and development programs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the health and safety of all Americans—in Texas and across the country.

“In the past, the world has turned to America for its leadership in times of crisis. Now is no different, as we experience possibly the greatest global health crisis of our generation. Our country must rise to the occasion, working with international partners, to help the world’s most vulnerable and stop the continued spread of the virus,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX). “As Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I support investments in our country’s global health, diplomacy, and humanitarian programs to help in the global fight against COVID-19. When we promote the health and stability of other countries, we are also promoting the security and well-being of our own.”

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) hosted today’s online event at a time when policy makers are considering our country’s response to the pandemic at home and abroad, including resources for the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).

U.S. international engagement is crucial to deal with the pandemic, from a global health perspective as well as an economic one—an especially important matter in Texas, where over 3.1 million jobs in the state are tied to international trade and exports to foreign markets total more than $315 billion a year.

“In the midst of this pandemic, Congressman Castro is hard at work to confront the public health crisis in San Antonio and beyond,” said Jason Gross, USGLC Executive Director. “Calling on America to step up our leadership in the international response— through our country’s global health and international programs— he gets that defeating COVID-19 on a global scale is essential to protecting communities in Texas and across America.”

Many of today’s participants are members of the USGLC’s Texas Advisory Committee, a strong and growing coalition that brings together more than 170 business, faith, non-profit, veteran, and political leaders who understand why American global leadership matters for Texas.