John,

As July wraps up, I wanted to share some updates about my work for you in Washington and at home in San Antonio.

First, I know the record-breaking heat is top of mind for many families. As the summer continues, I want to remind you to stay hydrated and limit your outdoor activity when excessive heat warnings are in place. The city of San Antonio keeps a list of free cooling centers, and our community centers and libraries have plenty of indoor activities to help you beat the heat.

Last time I wrote to you, I shared a quick update on my successful surgery to treat neuroendocrine cancer. July 3 marked the one-year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis, and I shared more of my journey on social media, which you can read about here.

Since then, I’ve heard from San Antonians and folks across the country about their own struggles to get affordable care. It’s clear that we need universal health care coverage so that no family has to choose between life-saving treatment and putting food on the table.

Resources For You

Insulin Now Capped at $35/Month for Seniors: Last year, I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to lower the cost of health care and other basic needs for San Antonio seniors and families. The new law's $35 cap on insulin is now in effect for everyone with Medicare. You can learn more about the program here. 

Deadline for Backdated PACT Act Benefits: In 2022, I voted for the Honoring Our PACT Act, the largest expansion of veterans benefits in decades. The PACT Act expands VA healthcare and benefits for more than five million service members who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins during their service. There's no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits, but if you file your PACT Act claim - or your intent to file - by August 9, 2023, you can receive benefits backdated to August 2022. You can learn more and file here.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: If you work in public service, the U.S. Department of Education offers federal student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which recently underwent some permanent changes to help more borrowers qualify for debt relief. My office hosted a virtual update on the program with representatives from the Department of Education, which you can view here.

News from Washington

Removing Barriers to College Degrees: Every college student has a unique path to graduation, and administrative roadblocks should never get in the way of a hard-earned college degree. In June, I introduced the bipartisan Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act, which would make it easier for community college transfer students to earn associate’s degrees as they continue their studies at four-year institutions. The bill would also help reduce the number of Texans who leave school with debt but no degree.

Supreme Court’s Ruling on Affirmative Action: At the end of June, the Supreme Court ruled that colleges and universities can no longer use race as a deciding factor in student admissions. This practice, known as affirmative action, helped to level the playing field for students from underserved communities and opened the door for Latinos and other students of color to attend many of our nation’s top universities. The Supreme Court’s decision did not affect legacy admissions programs, which give wealthy students an advantage when applying to institutions that their parents attended. The Supreme Court’s decision will disproportionately hurt students from communities like ours, and I am working with my colleagues in Congress on the next steps to protect equal access to opportunity.

Funding Child Care for Military Families: I’m proud to represent Military City U.S.A., and supporting military families is the backbone of how we support our troops. A 2021 poll found that nearly 80 percent of military families have struggled to access affordable child care. Our service members can’t focus on their mission if they’re worried about finding care for their kids. As Congress debates the annual military funding budget this month, Congressman Greg Casar and I introduced a measure to give the Department of Defense more flexibility to fund childcare for active military personnel.

News from San Antonio

New AmeriCorps Funding: At the beginning of June, Congressman Greg Casar and I announced that our offices got $2.8 million in funding for education and small business development programs run by City Year San Antonio and LiftFund Inc. City Year’s funding will support 58 City Year student success coaches who will serve full-time in San Antonio schools, while LifeFund Inc.’s funding will support low-income and minority small business owners impact by COVID-19. 

Congressional App Challenge: Recently, I visited the Girls Inc. Eureka! Summer STEM Camp in San Antonio to kick off the annual Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide computer science competition for middle and high-school students. San Antonio students can participate as an individual or in a team of up to four. District winners are eligible to have their app displayed at the Capitol and will be invited to a #HouseofCode Demo Day Reception in D.C. Learn more about the Congressional App Challenge here.