Tampa, FL – 12/5/2025 – The Latino & Hispanic Republican Executive Club (LHREC) issues the following response to Congresswoman Cathy Castor’s recent weekly report, which contained demonstrably false statements concerning Congressional operations, economic policy, and national security.
Mischaracterizing Congressional Activity and the Budget Process
Congresswoman Castor claimed that “House Republicans shut down the House of Representatives for most of October and November.”
This assertion is factually inaccurate.
Sponsor of the Latino & Hispanic Republican Executive Club
The House of Representatives did not shut down. Committee work, legislative negotiations, appropriations planning, and oversight responsibilities continued throughout that period. Leadership transitions and procedural deliberations are normal functions of constitutional governance, not evidence of a shutdown.
More importantly, the budget impasse was not caused by Republican obstruction, but by Democrat refusal to support a clean funding bill, one free of unrelated spending, partisan policy riders, and taxpayer-funded allocations for favored interests, including benefits for individuals in the country illegally. Republican leadership sought a responsible measure focused on core government operations, while Democrats insisted on maintaining wasteful spending and ideological provisions.
To misrepresent this policy disagreement as a “shutdown” misleads constituents and erodes trust in the legislative process.
Economic Realities Require Policy Solutions, Not Political Rhetoric
Congresswoman Castor’s report implies that Republicans are ignoring inflation, energy costs, and affordability concerns. In reality, Republican members have introduced legislation aimed at reducing federal spending, securing domestic energy production to lower utility prices, and rolling back regulatory burdens that contribute to inflation.
To suggest Republicans are “AWOL” on affordability issues disregards legislative facts and the lived experiences of Florida families, many of whom recognize that the inflation crisis began well before recent Republican leadership.
Sponsor of the Latino & Hispanic Republican Executive Club
False Depictions of Foreign Policy and National Security
Rep. Castor’s characterization of an “illegal war in the Caribbean” launched by President Trump is a political distortion. The United States operates under statutory authorities, congressional oversight, and established security protocols. Drug interdiction, counter-terror efforts, and hemispheric stability initiatives are longstanding bipartisan missions, not “vanity projects.”
To accuse U.S. leadership of engaging in military action to seize foreign oil without citing evidence is irresponsible and inflammatory.
These statements risk misleading constituents and disparaging the service of men and women in uniform.
Regarding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
Concerns over communication practices should be reviewed through appropriate oversight, not sensational political commentary. LHREC will always support accountability, but accountability must be grounded in facts, not rhetoric designed to score partisan points or erode national confidence.
Our Call for Honest Dialogue
As representatives of Latino and Hispanic communities across Tampa Bay, we urge Congresswoman Castor to:
• Prioritize truthful communication • Avoid inflammatory accusations that divide rather than inform • Engage in bipartisan problem-solving rather than political theater
Florida families deserve honest leadership, not narratives constructed for partisan advantage.
“Residents in Hillsborough County expect their elected officials to address challenges with integrity and accuracy, not exaggeration and fear-based messaging,” said Angel Ramos, President of the Latino & Hispanic Republican Executive Club. “Our communities deserve truth, respectful dialogue, and leadership that strengthens unity rather than deepens division. LHREC will continue standing up for transparency, accountability, and the facts, because our families, businesses, and future depend on it.”
LHREC’s Commitment to Transparency and Accountability
In the coming months, the Latino & Hispanic Republican Executive Club will:
• Continue correcting misinformation when circulated by elected officials • Provide constituents with fact-based updates on policy and governance • Encourage civic education and accountability
We remain committed to ensuring every community in Hillsborough County receives truth, clarity, and advocacy rooted in integrity, not propaganda.
