In the News

Democrats Raise Alarm Over Trump Drug Pricing Tool: A group of Democrats in Congress, led by House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), submitted a public comment opposing a Trump-era proposed rule they say would revoke the government’s ability under the Bayh-Dole Act to protect taxpayer investments and reasonable prices for prescription drugs and other patented inventions that were partially funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, according to a statement. Read the comment here.

Progressives are increasing pressure on President Biden to support a waiver for COVID-19 vaccine patent protections at the World Trade Organization (WTO), arguing the move is crucial for helping lower-income countries fight the coronavirus.

(CNN) Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont and the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, is set to unveil a trio of bills designed to lower the cost of prescription drugs and give American consumers access to the competitive global drug market.

San Antonio-area colleges and universities expect to receive nearly $236 million from the latest round of federal COVID-19 relief funds, and if previous rules apply, at least half of it is destined for direct aid to students.

A little-known part of the pandemic relief bill that President Biden signed into law last week includes a big incentive for Texas to expand Medicaid to more low-income people.

AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin's Equity Office said it has noticed an uptick in Asian American hate crimes similar to what's happening in other parts of the country, such as vandalism at an Asian-owned small business in San Antonio. Some parts of the community in Austin tell KVUE they're hoping more people educate themselves.

Austin community leaders and elected officials said Wednesday they are disgusted with the killing of eight people in Georgia the night before — most of whom were of Asian descent — and are calling on others to condemn violence and hate crimes against Asian Americans.

On March 11 President Joseph Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law. The $1.9 trillion bill, introduce on Feb. 24, was voted largely along party lines (220-211 in the House, 50-49 in the Senate).