I’m back in Washington after a busy month at home in San Antonio. As the fall legislative session starts, I wanted to share what I’ve been up to in San Antonio and some resources that may be helpful for you and your family.
Resources For You
New Student Loan Repayment Plan: In late July, the Biden administration introduced the most affordable student loan repayment plan in history. The new plan, called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, is based on income and family size, and is estimated to save the typical borrower $1,000 a year on their payments, with some borrowers having their payments cut to $0.
With many student loan payments set to resume in October, the SAVE plan comes at an important time. You can learn more about the plan and apply here.
UTSA Procurement Academy: Enrollment is open for UTSA’s Small Business Development Center first Procurement Academy, which will kick off on September 25th. These classes will provide insight into winning government contracts, increasing opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. San Antonio is home to entrepreneurs of all backgrounds, and I’ve called on public entities to have their contracts reflect that. As the local procurement economy grows, this academy will give minority and women-owned businesses the tools to compete for and secure public contracts. For more information and to enroll, click here.
Special VA Enrollment Period for Post-9/11 Combat Veterans: Last year, I voted for the PACT Act, which expanded the widow for many post-9/11 veterans to enroll in VA health care from five to 10 years.
The PACT Act also created a special enrollment period for veterans deployed to combat zones and discharged or released between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013. The deadline to enroll through this special enrollment period is September 30, 2023. The impact of burn pit exposure and other environmental hazards can take years to develop, and the VA strongly encourages all eligible veterans to apply for the VA care they earned. Get more information and apply for VA health care by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MyVA411.
News from Washington
Celebrating Latino Movies: Over the past few weeks, many of you may have had the chance to watch Blue Beetle, a great movie centered around a Latino superhero that I took my own kids to see. It’s movies like this that highlight the importance of our stories being told in Hollywood.
This summer, I put out a public call for suggestions for Latino-driven movies to nominate to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, which preserves films with cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance to American life. Latinos make up nearly 20% of our country’s population, but less than 3% of the films currently preserved are about the Latino experience.
My office received hundreds of suggestions and I was happy to submit 27 nominations ranging from love stories to cult classics and more, including Blood In, Blood Out, a San Antonio favorite starring native Jesse Borrego. You can read more about my selections and why Latino representation in places like the National Film Registry is so important here. The Library of Congress is expected to announce the inductees this December.
News in San Antonio
Standing Up for Letter Carriers: In July, Reps. Greg Casar, Henry Cuellar, Tony Gonzales, and I learned that the United States Postal Service had abruptly stopped providing water bottles to San Antonio letter carriers in the middle of this summer’s historic heat wave, even though many mail trucks don’t have air conditioning.
We wrote a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General and the San Antonio Postmaster asking them to make sure letter carriers get the cold water they need to stay safe and hydrated. Letter carriers keep our city running, and I’ll keep pushing USPS until we get a solution.
I visited with the National Association of Letter Carriers Alamo Branch 421 to thank letter carriers for their service and talk about the fair working conditions they deserve.
Celebrating Jovita Idar: In mid-August, the U.S. Mint began circulating their new quarter, featuring Mexican American journalist and activist Jovita Idar, as part of their American Woman Quarters Program. Jovita is an unsung hero who called San Antonio home for decades, and I’m looking forward to celebrating the launch of her quarter and the lasting impact of her work. A variety of events will take place September 14th-September 17th, including a mural launch and community paint day, a symposium on Jovita’s career and life, and a family activity celebration in Market Square. You can read more about the festivities happening this month and Jovita Idar’s legacy here.
Around Town
Inclusive Employment in San Antonio: Last month, I visited Vibrant Works (formerly known as San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind) to learn more about their workforce development programs for blind and vision impaired folks. The Vibrant Works manufacturing plant produces supplies for the U.S. military while helping people with vision loss access meaningful and empowering employment.
Southside’s New Education Hub: In early August, my office celebrated the opening of the new Southside Education and Training Center. Known as SETC, the facility will host Palo Alto College’s new nursing program and will be home to job training and literacy classes for community members.
Remembering 9/11: On Monday, I visited San Antonio ISD's Burbank High School as they hosted a ceremony to remember the lives lost on 9/11 and recognize the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. This week, and every week, we honor the victims of 9/11 and the acts of heroism from that day in order to never forget.
Cultural Celebrations: Team Castro was honored to join cultural celebrations around the city this month.
On August 26, we joined Ukrainian San Antonio to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day. The celebration took place at the new Ukrainian School of San Antonio, which opened earlier this year in partnership with Our Lady of the Lake University. San Antonio is home to a large Ukrainian-American community, and I’m proud to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their homeland against Russia’s unprovoked invasion.
Team Castro also joined the Cameroonian Community of San Antonio for their back-to-school night/cultural festival and the inauguration of new leadership of their men’s fellowship group. Both events were wonderful celebrations of our city’s Cameroonian community.
Get in Touch
My San Antonio and Washington D.C. offices are open to help residents of San Antonio with issues involving the federal government.
To share your views on policy, request a Capitol tour, or get in touch regarding other matters in Washington, call 202-225-3236.
To get help with a federal agency or get in touch regarding other matters in San Antonio, call 210-348-8216.
Sincerely,
