Lloyd Doggett

Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act

in committee

Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026

in committee

No Aid for Russian Energy Act

in committee

“Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a critical national resource that for 30 years has served as a lifeline for victims and survivors of domestic violence and relationship abuse across our country: the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Based in Austin, Texas, in my Congressional district, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is the only national hotline that operates 24/7, responding to all those in the U.S., its territories and military bases across the globe via phone, chat and text. These services are free and confidential. Authorized by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and funded through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, the National Domestic Violence Hotline was created to ensure that anyone experiencing relationship abuse would have a safe, confidential place to turn for help. On February 21, 1996, the National Domestic Violence Hotline answered its very first call--marking the beginning of a national commitment to listening to survivors, offering support without judgment, and helping people see pathways to safety and healing. Since that first call, The Hotline has served more than 7.8 million people through phone, chat and text--each contact representing courage, resilience and hope. Its highly trained advocates provide compassionate support, personalized safety planning, and connections to local resources, responding to thousands of contacts each day as the demand for services continues to grow. Thirty years later, The Hotline continues to experience incredibly high demand for its services. Every day, The Hotline receives nearly 3,000 calls from those needing crisis support and a path to safety--demand for services has more than doubled during the past decade. As the needs of survivors have evolved, The Hotline has implemented responsible, survivor-centered technology innovations--including expanded chat and text services and improved resource navigation to increase access, reduce barriers, and better meet demand nationwide. This 30-year milestone is not a celebration of the continued prevalence of domestic violence. The ongoing need for a national hotline is a sobering reminder that relationship abuse affects millions of people across every community, demographic, and geography. Survivors, particularly those from marginalized communities, often face compounded barriers to safety and support, and too many endure abuse in silence. But the courage of survivors is something worthy of recognition. Every day, individuals reach out to The Hotline, often for the first time, taking a brave step toward safety, healing, and freedom. The Hotline bears witness to that courage by offering hope, validation and practical support in moments of crisis. In addition to its core hotline services, The Hotline operates the National Dating Abuse Helpline, which provides 24/7/365 chat, text and phone support to help teens and young adults experiencing abuse or unhealthy dating situations. The Hotline also runs love is respect, a program dedicated to engaging, educating and empowering young people facing abusive or unhealthy relationships. I also wish to recognize the dedicated advocates who staff the National Domestic Violence Hotline and its programs. Their work requires extraordinary compassion, resilience, and skill, as they respond to heart-wrenching calls and messages with care and professionalism. Their commitment saves lives and strengthens families and communities across our Nation. For 30 years, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has stood as a beacon of hope--answering the call when it matters most. As we mark this 30th anniversary, we honor the survivors who inspire this work, the advocates who make it possible, and the enduring mission to ensure that everyone can live a life free from violence. ____________________”

2026-02-23 · Civil Rights

“Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, at the end of a long series of votes today, I missed the final vote on Representative Crenshaw's misnamed Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, which would prohibit Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for youth. I would have voted No, just as I did when Republicans proposed this outrageous policy earlier this year. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 361, and NAY on Roll Call No. 362. ____________________”

2025-12-18 · Healthcare

“Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomew. Born Demetrios Arhondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gokceada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew was elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2000-year-old Church founded by the Apostle Andrew. His formal office is Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, a historic title dating to the sixth century. The role of the Ecumenical Patriarch as the primary spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian world and transnational figure of global significance has increased exponentially during the tenure of His All- Holiness. He has co-sponsored international peace conferences, as well as meetings about racism and fundamentalism, bringing together Christians, Muslims and Jews for the purpose of advancing greater cooperation and mutual understanding. He has advanced Christian-Muslim relations in such places as former Yugoslavia, advocating for peace-building measures to diffuse global conflict in the region, while supporting many traditionally Orthodox countries emerging from decades of wide scale religious persecution and oppression behind the Iron Curtain. Moreover, he has initiated international meetings and theological conversations with Muslim and Jewish leaders to promote mutual respect and religious tolerance on a global level, proving a pioneer in interfaith encounters and traveling to Muslim countries rarely visited by Christian leaders. He has organized international, inter-faith and inter-disciplinary symposia and summits to address ecological problems of the world, earning him the title ``Green Patriarch'' and prestigious international awards. His efforts to promote religious freedom and human rights, his initiatives to advance religious tolerance among the world's religions, together with his work toward international peace and environmental protection, have justly placed him at the forefront of global visionaries as an apostle of love, peace and reconciliation. In 1997, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the United States Congress. The Guardian recognized him as one of the world's leaders in raising environmental awareness. And, in its category of Leaders and revolutionaries, Time Magazine named him as one of the world's most influential people. Now, he is being rightfully honored with the Templeton Prize, previously received by Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, among others. Congratulations to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on this honor and I thank him for his life of service. ____________________”

2025-09-08 · Foreign Policy