Friend,

This week, dozens of San Antonians are in Washington D.C. for SA to DC — an annual opportunity to meet with agency leaders and policymakers and strategize about how we can work together to bring more resources back to San Antonio. It's great to see so many faces from back home on Capitol Hill, and I'm excited for the teamwork that lies ahead. 

I wanted to share a quick update on some of the work I’ve done so far this year for you and your family.

Resources for You

Student Aid: The 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available here. Colleges use the form to determine eligibility for financial aid programs, including grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. The deadline to fill it out can vary by college, so be sure to check with individual schools for their specific submission deadlines. More information can be found at studentaid.gov. I know the rollout of the 2024-2025 FAFSA has been rocky, and I’m pushing the Department of Education to do more to help students apply for financial aid.

Tax Help: Tax season is officially here. San Antonio residents who make $60,000 or less can get free tax services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). To find a VITA site near you, visit vitasa.org or call the United Way Helpline at 2-1-1.

The IRS is also offering extended weekly office hours to help with tax issues. The San Antonio office is open 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday-Friday with extended hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 – 8:30 AM and 4:30 – 6:30 PM through April 16th. The office is located at 8122 Datapoint Dr., Suite 210, San Antonio, TX 78229 near the Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, call (844) 545-5640. 

Education

My teachers at Carvajal and Hoelscher Elementary Schools, Tafolla Middle School, and Jefferson High School opened the doors to my future, and I want every child in San Antonio to get the great education they deserve. Since my early days in public service, supporting San Antonio’s schools and universities has been a top priority.

Last week, I announced a new $4.5 million grant for career and college readiness programs at seven San Antonio ISD high schools – Jefferson High School, Burbank High School, Sam Houston High School, Highlands High School, Lanier High School, Brackenridge High School, and Edison High School.

This funding will help thousands of students earn college credits or industry certifications that prepare them for success after high school. In some cases, students will even be able to earn a two-year degree alongside their high school diploma. Today’s high school students have been incredibly resilient, and I hope these opportunities will remind them that San Antonio is committed to their success.

I’m also proud to announce that my office got more than $6 million in grant funding for Head Start preschool programs in San Antonio. On January 25, I visited with students and teachers at South San Antonio ISD’s Hutchins Elementary to learn about the impact of Head Start for our families and communities. The new grant funding will support Head Start programs at South San Antonio ISD, Ascension de Paul Services, and Parent/Child Inc of San Antonio and Bexar County.

Over the last decade, San Antonio has become a national model for high-quality early childhood education. The benefits of great preschool follow our kids throughout their entire lives, and I want every family to have affordable, high-quality preschool options. To learn about San Antonio’s Pre-K for SA program and other preschool options, click here.

Restoring the Westside Creeks

In the 1950s and 1960s, San Antonio paved over big sections of the Westside Creeks as part of a federal flood-control project. In the decades since, there have been several pushes to restore the creeks and rebuild the ecosystem around them.

Martinez Creek

Two years ago, I worked with other San Antonio congressmen to get $75 million in funding to expand the Westside Creeks restoration project. Earlier this month, I joined a bipartisan push for a full restoration of Martinez Creek, including water quality improvements and new trails and recreation areas.

Similar restoration efforts are already in the works for San Pedro, Apache and Alazán creeks, and the neighborhoods around Martinez Creek deserve the same benefits. 

Clean Transportation

Three years ago, I fought to pass a major Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that included hundreds of millions of dollars to create jobs, protect the environment, and invest in San Antonio’s future. 

Earlier this month, I got more than $6 million in new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help San Antonio ISD buy 15 low-pollution school buses that will help improve air quality across the city.

In December, I also got $1 million to expand rail service for San Antonio travelers. The funding will go towards studying and planning the development of a rail line between San Antonio and Houston. I want to see expanded rail service between San Antonio and all of our neighboring cities, including Austin, and will continue to push for that progress.

These grants are investments in cleaner transit and a healthier future San Antonio, and I’m excited to keep working to bring more funding home to our city. 

National Film Registry

What’s your favorite Latino movie?

From Selena to Stand and Deliver, Latino stories make incredible movies. Since 2020, I’ve been proud to nominate an annual list of Latino-centered movies that deserve to be preserved in our national archives for generations to come.

This year, I put together a list of 27 film nominations with help from folks in San Antonio and around the country.  In December, I was happy to learn that one of my nominations, ¡Alambrista!, a film about the strength and resilience of a young California farmworker, was chosen for the registry.

For years, I’ve worked to help increase Latino representation in the larger American narrative, and it’s moments like these that open the door for more talented Latinos to shine. 

Around Town

My office attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Harmony Science School of Science’s Middle and High School, which will open in August 2025.

My office also stopped by Northside ISD’s Taft High School to share information with students about congressional programs and services available to them. You can learn more about those here.

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,

Joaquin Castro
Member of Congress