Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – As many college students and their families are facing financial difficulties that may impact their ability to return to class this fall, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, is introducing the American Opportunity Student Tax Relief Act, joined by U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). This legislation assures that college emergency grants to students authorized by the CARES Act are not taxed. It expands the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)—which already helps millions of students pay for the costs of college—with both a short-term expansion of the incentive during the pandemic and long-term improvements to the program.

Washington, D.C. – As the COVID-19 pandemic places unique pressures on food supply chains in the United States, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, led Members in urging the Department of Agriculture to curb the extreme measures for “depopulation” at some animal slaughter facilities. Their letter raises concerns about mass suffocation of animals who are being quickly cleared from facilities and urges use of more humane practices.

Washington, D.C. – Amid announcements concerning preliminary clinical trial data on remdesivir and anticipated emergency use authorization from the FDA, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, urge Secretary Azar to release information about the extent of taxpayer investment in remdesivir, government ownership of any remdesivir patents, and any federal efforts to scale-up production. Arguing that an unaffordable drug is entirely ineffective for patients suffering, the members assert that “substantial taxpayer investments in COVID-19 pharmaceutical research must be recognized.”

Washington, D.C. – As more than 1.4 million Texans have filed for unemployment insurance amid the deepening economic crisis, and Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) struggles to handle the influx, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, led all congressional Texas Democrats in urging Governor Abbott to help Texans experiencing ongoing delays in continuing their unemployment benefits by temporarily waiving the current biweekly recertification requirement. By relieving both unemployed Texans and the TWC of this requirement, Abbott could help far more people access needed aid faster.