Dear Friend,

Across San Antonio, children are back in school and families are preparing for the upcoming holiday season. As we continue to rebuild from the pandemic, I’m focused on solutions that create good-paying jobs, bring prices down, and expand opportunities in our city.

Over the last few months, I’ve voted to pass laws to strengthen our economy, lower health care costs, and prevent school shootings and domestic violence. Our economy is improving, and I’m glad that we’re seeing results. Since 2021, the economy has added nearly 10 million jobs — a number that will continue to grow under Democratic policies aimed at revitalizing American manufacturing, investing in clean and secure energy, and rebuilding our infrastructure. We have work to do, but the future looks a lot brighter than it did two years ago.

I look forward to finishing the year strong and continuing to work to make San Antonio a place where everyone can thrive.

Lastly, as many of you may know, early voting has begun in Texas and runs until Friday, November 4. Election Day is the following Tuesday, November 8. I urge you to exercise your sacred right to vote and encourage your family and friends to make their voices heard. Find your nearest early voting or day-of voting location at votetexas.gov.

Key Reminders and Upcoming Deadlines:

• Apply for expanded VA benefits under the PACT Act: Earlier this year, I voted for the Honoring Our PACT Act to improve health care benefits for more than five million servicemembers who were exposed to dangerous burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins during their service. Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf War, or Post 9/11 era can now file claims for PACT Act-related benefits. Learn more at va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits.

• Medicare Open Enrollment: Seniors have until December 7 to enroll in Medicare coverage or change their plans. Under the Inflation Reduction Act that passed in August, plans cannot charge you more than $35/month for Medicare Part D-covered insulin after December 31, 2022. Find a coverage plan that works best for you at medicare.gov. 

• Affordable Care Act Enrollment: If you need health insurance, the Affordable Care Act marketplace can help you find a low-cost plan. The 2023 open enrollment period is approaching and runs from November 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023. Folks who enroll or change plans by December 15, 2022, will see their new coverage go into effect on January 1, 2023. The Inflation Reduction Act will also prevent premium hikes on ACA marketplace plans by extending federal premium subsidies for the next three years. These subsidies have kept premiums at $10/month or lower for the majority of people enrolled in marketplace plans. Learn more about the health insurance Marketplace and how to enroll at healthcare.gov.

• Apply for Student Loan Forgiveness: The application to receive up to $20,000 in student loan debt forgiveness is now available at studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application. As the final details of debt forgiveness work their way through the legal system, I strongly encourage anyone who meets the eligibility requirements to apply no later than December 31, 2023. The Department of Education will continue to review applications and process payments as soon as possible.

          Who qualifies for debt relief?

               -- Individuals who made less than $125,000 in 2021

               -- Families that made less than $250,000 in 2021 or 2020

• Apply for Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness before October 31: San Antonio teachers, librarians, and all public servants may also be eligible for additional student loan relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time. A temporary waiver is currently in effect to allow borrowers to receive credit for some past payments, but you must apply by October 31, 2022. To learn more, visit studentaid.gov/pslf.

• Help with Housing: Help is within reach for San Antonians who are struggling to keep up with their property bills. Last year, I voted to fund the Texas Homeowner Assistance program to provide households with up to $65,000 in relief for mortgages, utility payments, and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn if you qualify and how to apply by visiting texashomeownerassistance.com.

• Military Service Academies: Each year, I have the privilege of nominating San Antonio's brightest students to U.S. military service academies. If you're interested in attending an academy and serving our country, please apply for one of my nominations by 5:30pmCT on November 4, 2022. Learn more at castro.house.gov/how-can-i-help/military-academy-nominations.

New Updates for Seniors

• Social Security Increase: Starting in January, Social Security recipients will see an 8.7% increase in their Social Security checks, which is the biggest bump in decades. On average, seniors will receive an extra $140/month to help them cope with inflation. This change comes in addition to new prescription drug and energy savings that will soon be available through the Inflation Reduction Act.

• Lower Costs for Hearing Aids: Millions of Americans experiencing hearing loss are now eligible to buy over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription or exam. This is life-changing for families and seniors who could save as much as $3,000 per pair. You can visit retailers, which include Best Buy, Walgreens, and CVS, to purchase a hearing aid.

Recent Legislation

I recently voted for important legislation to protect public safety, fight human trafficking, increase financial support for families of fallen servicemembers, and expand mental health services in our communities and schools. I also introduced the Transparency for Transfer Students Act, which will help improve college completion rates by reducing the number of community college students who lose academic credit when transferring to four-year institutions, saving them valuable time and money. To learn more about this legislation, click here.

In the Community

This fall, I’ve had the opportunity to visit with folks across San Antonio and talk about how the federal government can deliver more for our city. Here’s what I was up to around town:

Helping San Antonio Students Excel in the Classroom and In Life

Visiting Jefferson High School: Last week, I visited my alma mater, Jefferson High School to talk with students and teachers about their needs coming out of the pandemic. In March, I was proud to get $500,000 in federal funding for Communities in Schools of San Antonio to expand into six San Antonio ISD schools (including Jefferson) and provide supplemental services to more than 800 students and families.

As I toured Jefferson, I was glad to hear from the inspiring, dedicated students and teachers who fill the classrooms and hallways of San Antonio’s schools. Our kids are the future, and I’ll always be focused on making sure they have safe and welcoming places to learn and grow.

Visiting Kennedy High School: Earlier this month, I stopped by John F. Kennedy High School to speak with students about the programs my office offers. Every year, my office accepts submissions from high school students for the Congressional App Challenge, the Congressional Art Challenge, and the Congressional Award. I also have the unique privilege of nominating a limited number of students for our nation’s military service academies. For eligibility information and how to apply, call my office at (210) 348-8216 or visit castro.house.gov.

Bringing Mental Health Funding to San Antonio’s West Side

Earlier this year, I got $875,000 in federal funding for St. Mary’s University to update its Family Life Center and strengthen mental health services for West Side families. I was glad to recently visit the center and meet with counselors and educators to hear more about their planned updates to technology infrastructure for teletherapy, classrooms, patient therapy rooms, faculty offices, patient areas, security, and building access.

The pandemic exposed deep disparities in access to health care. With this renovation, St. Mary’s is taking an innovative approach to providing San Antonians with affordable mental health services while giving their students real-world training experience.

Watch my interview with Spectrum News about the visit to St. Mary’s here.

Congratulations to Northside Independent School District’s Mr. Anthony Gonzales

San Antonio is blessed to have thousands of talented and creative teachers educating our students. On October 17, I was honored to present Mr. Anthony Gonzales of Northside ISD’s John Marshall High School with an Outstanding Teaching Award from Humanities Texas.

Through his innovative approach and his passion for including Mexican American stories in the telling of American history, Mr. Gonzales teaches his students that the success of the American experiment depends on contributions from all of us. I look forward to seeing him continue to inspire and encourage our students, and I congratulate him and Marshall High School on this well-deserved award.

Office Hours Across Our District

My top priority is making sure San Antonio families receive the federal resources they have earned, including Social Security and VA benefits. Over the last few months, my staff has held office hours at different senior and community centers across our district to make it easier for San Antonians to get help. Recently, I met with members of the Virginia Gill and St. Vincent de Paul senior centers to talk about my work to keep San Antonio affordable and help seniors retire with dignity.

If you have issues with Social Security, Medicare, the VA, the IRS, or any federal agency, we may be able to help resolve your problem or get you the information you need. To learn more, call (210) 348-8216 or visit castro.house.gov.

Meeting with Uvalde Families

Uvalde families deserve transparency and accountability for the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School. In September, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and I held a Children’s Caucus listening session to hear directly from families and community members about the local, state, and federal support they need to heal.

In the aftermath of the Uvalde shooting, I voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a law that includes provisions to save lives and keep weapons away from dangerous people. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is an important step forward, but we must continue making progress on gun safety to prevent mass shootings and gun crime.

Stay in Touch:

Listening to constituents like yourself is the most important part of my job. If you have additional thoughts you’d like to share, please email me here or call my San Antonio office at (210) 348-8216.

Sincerely,

Joaquin Castro
Member of Congress