Help with Federal Agencies

Help for Solving Problems with Federal Agencies

Sometimes dealing with the federal bureaucracy is a challenge. My office can help when you run into problems on federal issues like Social Security,  Medicare, Veterans Administration claims, student financial aid, Small Business Administration loans and the I.R.S. If you are experiencing a problem with a federal agency, please write to my Texas office, outlining the problem and requesting that I look into the matter on your behalf.

We ask that you fill out a privacy release form giving permission for Congressman Doggett to make inquiries on your behalf. You should also include any other documents or correspondence that you think may be helpful to my office in pursuing your case. My Texas office will contact you after receiving your letter.

Here are some online resources:

Obtaining a Government Document 

Many federal documents are readily available on the Internet through the Government Printing Office Web Page, directly from the federal agencies through their respective Web sites, or from the Library of Congress' new Thomas Web server. If you can't find what you need online, however, you should be able to obtain it through one of the following sources or by calling my Texas office at (512) 916-5921.

House Legislative Resource Center

  • Provides most congressional documents free of charge, including copies of bills and concurrent and joint resolutions.
  • To obtain materials, call (202) 226-5200.
Government Printing Office
  • Provides government documents and many non-Congressional materials, including: laws, reports from federal agencies and departments, and copies of the Congressional Record.
  • There is a fee assessed on every order.
  • To obtain materials, call (202) 512-1800.
Federal Deposit Library:

Texas State Law Library
Tom C. Clark Building
P.O. Box 12367
205 West 14th St
Austin, TX 78711-2367
Phone: (512) 463-1722
 

Passports

Recent changes in travel requirements mean that all U.S. citizens departing the country will need either a passport book or the new passport card to re-enter. The last stage of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will be fully implemented in June 2009. U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean and Bermuda by land or sea will be required to show a valid passport book or card upon re-entry.

To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to a passport acceptance facility with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license.  Acceptance facilities include many federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices.

Applying for a Passport

In the Travis County area, you can apply for a passport at the following passport acceptance facilities: 

  • GMF Station:  8225 Cross Park Drive, (512) 342-1259
  • Balcones Station:  11900 Jollyville Road, (512) 331-9802
  • Chimney Corners Station:  3575 Far West Blvd., (800) 275-8777
  • Downtown Station:  510 Guadalupe, (512) 494-2380
  • South East Station:  4516 Burleson Road, (512) 444-1083
  • University Station:  2201 Guadalupe Street, (512) 232-5488
  • Westlake Station:  3201 Bee Caves Road, Suite 120, (512) 328-5065
  • Bluebonnet Station:  1822 W. Braker Lane, (512) 873-9289
  • Lake Travis Branch:  2110 RR 620, (512) 263-2458
  • Mockingbird Station:  7310 Manchaca Road, (512) 416-1094
  • North Austin Station:  4300 Speedway, (512) 453-2785
  • Travis County District Clerk:  1000 Guadalupe, (512) 854-9457

To locate a passport acceptance facility in your area or to check the status of your pending application online, you may visit the U.S. Department of State website.

Renewal Application
If you have a passport that was issued within the past 15 years and you were over 16 years old at the time it was issued, you may apply for a passport by mail by downloading the "Application for a US Passport by Mail" (DSP-82 PDF form).

If you Need your Passport in a Hurry
There are 13 regional passport agencies, which serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. You must present your tickets or travel itinerary, as well as the other required items and an additional fee will be required to expedite your application.  Appointments are required in such cases.  The Department of State office in Houston, the nearest of 13 national passport agencies for my district, maintains a a toll-free customer service line that provides general passport information, passport agency location, and hours of operation and information regarding emergency passport services during non-working hours.  The number is (877) 487-2778 and the nearest office is located at: 

Houston Passport Agency
Mickey Leland Federal Building
1919 Smith Street, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas 77002-8049 

Source: Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

EITC is a federal tax credit that recognizes the economic contributions of working families. For 2008, the maximum credit is $4,824. Families with incomes up to about $41,500 may qualify for a credit. Though the program has detailed eligibility rules, basic eligibility is a function of income and family size.

With the help of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Internal Revenue Service, I am providing an online interactive EITC estimator. You can use this tool to estimate your 2006 EITC (a new window will open). You can also learn more about the EITC with the Internal Revenue Service's more detailed Publication 596 PDF.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions From Veterans

Q. What can I do if I don't receive my monthly benefit check? 

A. Call the VA toll-free, 1 (800) 827-1000. If that doesn't produce a prompt answer, call my Texas office at (512) 916-5921 for assistance. In some instances, you may need to submit a written statement explaining that you didn't receive your check before the VA will issue a replacement check. 

Q. Am I eligible to receive medical care at a VA facility if I did not get injured or ill while on active duty? 

A. The answer is that you may be eligible. Eligibility for VA medical care falls into two categories: mandatory and discretionary. Veterans in the "mandatory" category are those with either a service-connected medical condition OR whose incomes meet certain requirements. Veterans with non-service-connected conditions may receive VA medical care on a "discretionary" basis, depending on available resources. To determine your eligibility, contact a Health Benefits Advisor at Austin's VA Satellite Outpatient Clinic. The telephone numbers are: (512) 389-7192, (512) 389-1010, or (512) 389-7186.

Q. I'm scheduled to close on a house soon and haven't heard if my VA loan has been approved. What should I do?

A. Call the VA toll-free, 1 (800) 827-1000, and if you don't get a quick response, call my Texas office at (512) 916-5921. You must have the following information: VA loan number, property address, and your Social Security number. Neither my office nor the VA can offer assistance without this information. While we can't guarantee that your application will be approved, we may be able to help you get the information necessary to resolve any pending problems. 

Q. Where are the VA medical facilities servicing Central Texas? 

A. Following is a list of VA medical facilities servicing Central Texas.  For more information regarding VA benefits, including pension and compensation, education, home loans, and vocational rehabilitation can be found at the agency website .

VA Medical Centers
Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center
1901 Veterans Memorial Drive
Temple, TX 76504
Phone: (254) 778-4811 or 1 (800) 423 2111
Fax: (254) 743-2338

Waco VA Medical Center
4800 Memorial Drive
Waco, TX 76711
Phone: (254) 752-6581 or 1 (800) 423-2111
Fax: (254) 297-3161

VA Outpatient Services
Austin Outpatient Clinic
2901 Montopolis Drive
Austin, TX 78741
Phone: (512) 389-1010
Fax: (512) 389-6545
Hours:  8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

Frank M. Tejeda Outpatient Clinic
5788 Eckhert Road
San Antonio, TX 78240
Phone: (210) 699-2100
Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

San Antonio Dental Clinic
8410 Data Point
San Antonio, TX 78229
Phone: (210) 949-8900