Press Releases

Washington, D.C.—In a surprising new email obtained by Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) offers only a raffle and “6 Days of Merry Service” to resolve the growing backlog in Medicaid and SNAP applications. Beginning today, an overburdened and demoralized workforce must complete 15 hours of overtime in six days to be entered into a raffle, on top of an already mandated monthly 20 hours of overtime required during the past three years. Today, Rep. Doggett is again urging Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to fulfill federal enforcement responsibilities and require a comprehensive corrective action plan from Texas HHSC, implemented under federal supervision, to ensure timely assistance to Texans in need.

Since October, the Congressman has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to address ongoing issues at Austin’s airport with more air traffic control staff and updated safety equipment.

Washington, D.C.— Two active members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, joined by 51 colleagues, introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation in further response to Russian atrocities in Ukraine by strengthening the current ban on Russian petroleum products as well as supporting Ukrainian reconstruction and recovery. Leading the effort are U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.    

Washington, D.C.—As countries around the world convene at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), joined by 12 Members, urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to address critical oversights currently missing in the Zero Draft text of an internationally legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. Specifically, the Members push for robust criteria to identify and phase out single-use plastics and implement rigorous measures to prevent and remove secondary microplastic pollution. The Members also call on the Administration to work with known big polluting industries—from tire manufacturers to textile producers—to determine best practices in addressing the root causes of secondary microplastic pollution.

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and 101 lawmakers urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen and finalize the proposed Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting rule.

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) urged Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acting Administrator Polly Trottenberg to address low air traffic controller staffing levels at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). Following concerning reports of near misses threatening passenger and staff safety, Rep. Doggett specifically called on the FAA to increase both the number and training of air traffic controllers, advance the ranking of ABIA to a level 10 terminal facility, and expand airspace levels surrounding ABIA.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) released the following statement: "I completed an informative briefing regarding the surprise attack on Israel. We affirm our support for Israel and especially the many families who are suffering from the criminal actions of Hamas.