Join a very special dinner session of the DACOR LAC discussion group. Our distinguished guest will be Congressman Joaquin Castro, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman Castro is a leading voice and policymaker on U.S. engagement throughout the hemisphere. The event will begin with a reception from 6 - 6:30 (cash/credit card bar). We will then serve dinner at 6:30 and remarks will begin around 7:20 pm. There will be a virtual participation option for this important event. Registration is required for all attendees.
The Congressman brings a strong record of legislative effectiveness and sustained engagement on foreign policy issues across the LAC region. In the 118th Congress, he was recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as the most effective Democratic Member of the House, reflecting his ability to advance policy priorities even in a narrowly divided Congress.
Congressman Castro will provide an update on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s work on Latin America and the Caribbean, including areas where bipartisan progress has been achieved, where challenges remain, and how he is helping to shape U.S. policy in an increasingly complex environment. He will be joined by a special moderator for the evening, Ambassador Frank Mora, who will guide the wide-ranging conversation.
Ambassador Mora has had a distinguished career in defense, diplomacy, and academia. He currently is Professor of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University. From 2023-2025, he served as US Ambassador to the Organization of American States. He was also Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere from 2009–2013. He has held several teaching positions, including Professor of National Security Strategy and Latin American Studies at the National War College, National Defense University, and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of International Studies, Rhodes College.
This promises to be a timely, candid, and highly informative evening with one of Congress’s most engaged leaders on hemispheric affairs. Please note that our Discussion group has a strong commitment to bipartisan programming and we are working to schedule a follow-on session with a Republican member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Location
Setting: In-Person DACOR Bacon House 1801 F St NW Washington, DC 20006 UNITED STATES
