BIOGRAPHY

After spending nearly three decades practicing medicine in North Texas, Congressman Burgess has served the constituents of the 26th District since 2003 in the United States House of Representatives.

He currently serves on the House Rules Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the House Budget Committee. Congressman Burgess has served on the Rules Committee since 2013 and was appointed as Chairman in 2024. In addition, he chairs the Health Care Task Force on the Budget Committee and serves on the Health, Energy, and Oversight and Investigations subcommittees of Energy and Commerce. 

During his time on Capitol Hill, he has earned a reputation as a problem-solver who seeks sensible solutions to the challenges Americans face and has received several awards, including the Guardian of Small Business award by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); the Spirit of Enterprise award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and the Taxpayer Hero award from the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste; among others. In 2013, he was named to Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders.

As a fiscal conservative, he believes Americans deserve a federal government that is more efficient, more effective, less costly, and always transparent. He is a proponent of a flat tax and has introduced a flat tax bill every term he has served in Congress. He follows a strict adherence to the Constitution and opposes the unnecessary expansion of the federal government’s control over the personal freedoms of Americans. Instead, Congressman Burgess believes in giving people more control over their lives and their money. He is committed to reducing illegal immigration into our country and has taken action to ensure our borders are secure and our immigration laws are enforced. Congressman Burgess strongly opposes any proposal to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants.

As of the 118th Congress, he is the most senior medical doctor on both sides of the aisle serving in the House of Representatives. Because of his medical background, Congressman Burgess has been a strong advocate for health care legislation aimed at reducing health care costs, improving choices, reforming liability laws to put the needs of patients first, and ensuring there are enough doctors in the public and private sector to care for America’s patients and veterans. He has voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act over 50 times and has played an important role in bipartisan efforts to reform the Food and Drug Administration.

As a member of Congress representing one of the country's fastest-growing areas, transportation is one of his top priorities. In 2005, he successfully amended the Highway Bill to include development credits, design-build, and environmental streamlining. During his time on Capitol Hill, he has worked to build, maintain, and improve the safety of roads, bridges, air service, and transit in the North Texas region.

Today, he represents all of Cooke County, the majority of Denton County, and parts of Tarrant and Wise Counties. Congressman Burgess was raised in Denton and attended The Selwyn School, graduating in 1968 as valedictorian. In addition, he graduated with both an undergraduate and a master’s degree from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas.

He received his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and completed his residency programs at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He also received a master’s degree in Medical Management from the University of Texas at Dallas, and in May 2009 was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center.

Congressman Burgess and his wife, Laura, have been married for over 40 years. They have three children and two grandsons.