Posts by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #AV0uV72qtVif7Elk24 by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:38:43Z
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1⃣ Kickstart a Global Aid Innovation PlanFIGDA requires USAID to create a global strategy to integrate effective ideas across its programs, with specific plans to prioritize innovation within USAID's Country and Regional Development Strategies.
(DIR) Post #AV0uV8z1ghqb7wziLY by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:39:01Z
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2⃣ Establish a USAID Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) and an innovation fellowship program to drive the innovation agenda within USAID.Innovation fellows will start in the office of the CIO and then spread out across USAID to promote innovation in all areas of its work.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVAYrow6w1Olqqm by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:39:50Z
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3⃣Codify Development Innovation Ventures (DIV).USAID's DIV program invests in breakthrough solutions to the world's toughest development problems. Establishing DIV as a permanent entity within USAID will help the agency do more good at a fraction of the usual cost.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVC7zzno6seDQFU by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:40:06Z
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4⃣Reward Proven SolutionsFIGDA requires USAID to identify evidence-based solutions that improve development outcomes and then deploy these proven solutions in countries and areas where they can make the most difference.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVEg6VyHCn0Bgga by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:41:53Z
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5⃣Restart U.S. Contributions to the Global Innovation Fund (GIF)The U.S. and partner governments established GIF to support innovation in foreign aid, but the U.S. hasn't contributed in years. FIGDA would let USAID restart contributions to promote innovation with our global partners.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVGJqPhevsXmwGe by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:42:36Z
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6⃣ Expand Sub-Awards for Effective ProgramsFIGDA quadruples the maximum fixed amount sub-award for innovative aid projects, allowing USAID to direct more funding to proven solutions that generate better returns for taxpayer dollars.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVUL4HwxNMOT77Q by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:42:56Z
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7⃣Promoting Joint Innovation with DFCFIGDA authorizes USAID to enter into agreements with the Development Finance Corporation to carry out joint innovation projects with tools like innovation authorities, blended finance, and fixed payment rates for good outcomes.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVa7om7vHJ2JcIa by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:43:15Z
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8⃣Creating New Innovation AuthoritiesFIGDA allows USAID to provide flexible results- and milestone-based funding to support the expanded use of innovation with tools like grants, contracts, advanced market commitments, and prizes.
(DIR) Post #AV0uVcfDKvpDBBxJdA by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:44:05Z
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To advance these initiatives, FIGDA authorizes $45M annually for innovation at USAID – giving the agency the resources to invest in groundbreaking new ways to improve the lives of the world’s neediest people. Read more about our bill from Vox ⤵️https://www.vox.com/2023/4/25/23692700/usaid-foreign-aid-joaquin-castro-young-kim
(DIR) Post #AV0uVhBGXhq9Bkyy92 by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-04-25T14:43:39Z
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9⃣ Establish a Recovery of Funds AuthorityFIGDA authorizes USAID to require recipients to return a portion of the funds they receive – allowing the agency to recoup investments from successful projects and pursue new creative avenues for supporting innovation.
(DIR) Post #AVUJvPkkZrcRfg4FRQ by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-09T16:30:54Z
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Today, Fort Hood was renamed for San Antonio’s Richard E. Cavazos – the first Mexican American to reach the rank of four-star general in the Army.Gen. Cavazos inspired generations of troops with his integrity and courage. Starting today, Ft. Cavazos proudly bears his name.https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/fort-cavazos-hood-name-change-confederacy-18074547.php
(DIR) Post #AVYzeJ652o8coQPRMe by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-12T00:44:14Z
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🧵Today, House Republicans passed their extreme border bill – a cruel and counterproductive piece of legislation that would divert resources away from the border while bringing back the worst immigration policies of the Trump administration. 1/5
(DIR) Post #AVYzeJkqbEkQqrTzuK by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-12T00:46:39Z
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Their bill (H.R. 2) would severely restrict asylum at the border and abandon asylum-seekers to the cartels. If it became law, Ukrainians fleeing from Putin's invasion, Uyghurs escaping genocide in China, and Christians fleeing Iran would all be turned away. 2/5
(DIR) Post #AVYzeKSnxnuT3C36QK by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-12T00:46:46Z
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H.R. 2 would also end legal protections for tens of thousands of Afghan families who have started new lives in the United States. These folks fought side-by-side with our troops and risked their lives for us. Republicans just voted to send them back to die. 3/5
(DIR) Post #AVYzeOL9YCAL4cV33I by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-12T00:46:57Z
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H.R. 2 does nothing to address the root causes of migration and would not fix our broken immigration system. With fewer legal pathways, more asylum-seekers would rely on the same kind of smugglers who left 53 people to die in a tractor-trailer in San Antonio last summer. 4/5
(DIR) Post #AVYzeQcx2zaiAOqI4W by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-12T00:47:11Z
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100 years ago, my grandmother came to the US from Mexico as a 6- or 7-year old orphan. Together, tens of millions of people who came during the same period helped make America a global superpower. America needs immigrants – not the naked cruelty and partisanship in H.R. 2. 5/5
(DIR) Post #AVnWPsCqO1HvNVr2ie by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-18T20:16:58Z
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In San Antonio and across Texas, Asian American and Pacific Islander-owned businesses are creating jobs and contributing to our economic growth.I was glad to meet with the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, the Asian Chamber of Texas, and the Center for Asian Pacific American Women about expanding procurement opportunities, building diverse business coalitions, and stopping AAPI hate.
(DIR) Post #AVr5UsnLRKgpRvG760 by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-05-20T18:16:54Z
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If these reports are accurate, CBP agents kept an obviously sick child in detention for more than week — in violation of the agency’s own policy — while ignoring her parents’ pleas for help.CBP leaders need to answer for the failures that allowed a child to die on their watch.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/20/eight-year-old-girl-death-border-patrol-custody-texas-mother
(DIR) Post #AWb4zYAtzmKPJGw9Fg by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-06-09T18:31:52Z
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When I was an impeachment manager, I argued that Trump incited an insurrection that gave our foreign enemies unprecedented exposure to the halls of Congress.Again and again, his crimes put our national security at risk.Nobody — not even a former President — is above the law.
(DIR) Post #AXC6yYIhb2dHFFqSci by Joaquincastrotx@mastodon.social
2023-06-29T19:07:50Z
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It’s time to end legacy admissions. Each year thousands of students are admitted to colleges around the nation only because their parents went there.Legacy admissions are back-door discriminatory policies that overwhelmingly advantage wealthy, white students over everyone else.