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WASHINGTON Rep. Joaquin Castro has a long list of priorities for the new Congress.

The San Antonio Democrat wants to tackle immigration, fill judicial vacancies in Texas and boost enrollment in health plans under the Affordable Care Act.

But Castro and his Texas Democratic colleagues face long odds in making progress on any of these issues. House rules allow the majority to set the chambers agenda, leaving Democrats who have been in the minority since 2010 searching for ways to make an impact away from the House floor.

Ive always been in the minority party, said Castro, who served in a GOP-led Texas House before winning his congressional seat. But you still have to make a strong push to advocate on the issues that are important to the people you represent.

Years in the minority could leave some lawmakers demoralized, but Texas Democrats insist they can influence legislation, even if House rules are stacked against them. And theyre confident that its only a matter of time before the pendulum swings back in their favor.

I always tell my Republican friends to treat us nicely because sometime in the future were going to be in the majority, Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said.

Republicans have sketched an ambitious agenda for the next Congress, vowing action on trade, taxes and the Keystone XL pipeline. They also plan to roll back the presidents health care law and take him to task for his executive actions on immigration. Texans will be key players on several of those issues, since the state sends more Republicans to Washington than any other.

Democrats have to set more modest goals.

Cuellar said hed continue to use his powerful perch on the Appropriations Committee to tweak spending bills, attaching amendments to create public-private partnerships on infrastructure, for instance.

Other Texas Democrats also capitalize on influential committee positions. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas has served in Congress since 1993, propelling her to the highest Democratic post on the House Science Committee. Shes spent just six years in the majority party.

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Long in the minority, Texas Democrats in Congress look beyond legislation for impact