Lloyd Doggett
Editor:
I applaud you on beginning a new semester at San Antonio College. I have visited your campus many times in the past year and enjoyed participating in a student government conference at SAC last October.
There, I encouraged students to advocate for their education and their futures. Civic involvement should last a lifetime, and I urge you to get started early. Too many Texans encounter financial barriers to higher education, and too many others leave college with a mountain of debt.
You have much at stake in Washington. I have supported legislation to avoid the doubling of interest rates on federal loans and to continue adequate funding for Pell Grants and other types of federal student financial assistance.
We continue to face big challenges from those who do not believe in federal aid to education and who oppose adequate funding for student aid.
I believe that an investment in you is an investment in the future of America, but to maintain that investment, it is essential that you continue to make your voices heard.
What do you think about the rising student loan burden? Share information about how student loan debt after graduation will affect you so I can share your thoughts, stories and ideas with my colleagues.
You can email me at Lloyd.Doggett@mail.house.gov, send me a message on my website at http://doggett.house.gov, tweet me using @RepLloydDoggett (don’t forget the #DropThatDebt hashtag!), or post a photo of yourself with your story on my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LloydDoggett.
I want to hear from you, the students affected by the doubling interest rates on your student loans.
I successfully authored the “More Education” tax credit to encourage those seeking education beyond high school. Also known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit, this law provides a tax cut to students or their families by up to $10,000 over four years as reimbursement for tuition, textbooks and other higher education expenses.
This $2,500 annual credit can go a long way toward helping make ends meet.
Earlier this year, I introduced legislation to make this tax credit permanent and to make it work better for students who also receive Pell Grants.
Throughout your time here, I look forward to seeing you when I am in San Antonio participating in community events and holding my neighborhood office hours.
I also encourage students to get involved as interns in my San Antonio and Washington, D.C., offices. I am always looking for students to help me serve the community.
Interested in an internship?
Please visit my website at http://doggett.house.gov and click on “Students” under the “Serving You” tab to find out how to apply.
A recent SAC graduate, Timoteo Garcia, interned this summer in my San Antonio office just off West Travis Street.
I wish you a successful year.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett
35th Congressional District
