Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, delivered the following remarks during today's Rule Debate on H.R. 139 SHOW UP Act of 2023, H.R. 382 Pandemic is Over Act, and H.R. 497 Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, and H.J. Res. 7.

As Prepared for Delivery:

I rise today in support of the rule and underlying bills. Today, the Republican Majority begins the long process of reversing the policy failures of President Biden and the previous Democratic Majority.

Republicans last week demonstrated that we are committed to openly and responsibly governing for the American people. Towards that end, Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have had one of the most productive legislative weeks in recent memory. Our new governing majority has demonstrated that it is no longer business as usual in the People’s House.

Instead of a lethargic Congress, Republicans, in only three short weeks, have set a precedent that I hope subsequent Congresses will emulate. The new Republican Majority is eager to begin the important work that Americans have sent us here to do.

Instead of legislating for the few at the expense of the many, Republicans are making good on our Commitment to America.

We are dismantling the covid surveillance state, we are protecting the conscience rights of our healthcare workers, we are demanding that government employees show up and do their job like the rest of America, and we are terminating and rescinding the interminable extension of President Biden’s public health emergency declaration.

It seems that the Biden Administration is of two minds on the COVID-19 pandemic. One view being that the Administration’s policies to combat the pandemic has been a resounding success and the other view is that we are still living through the COVID-19 crisis and that requires emergency measures must be prolonged indefinitely.

The American people have spoken Mr. Speaker. Their message to their elected Representatives is: enough.

Thanks to Chairman Graves and H.J. Res. 7 the American people can be assured that President Biden’s national emergency will be rescinded, and American’s will finally have a government that recognizes the reality across our nation that the pandemic is over.

Nowhere is the contrast more evident between Republicans and Democrats than what is included in this rule today. The Republican Majority is already hard at work passing common sense legislation that will benefit all Americans, not just the connected few.

One of the most vital services I provide to the constituents of the 26th District of Texas is communicating with federal agencies on their behalf. Through this communication, I am able to ensure timely passport services, social security benefits, Medicare enrollment, and more. Over the past few years, I have seen that these services have been severely delayed or even halted completely in some cases. An out-of-office response or no response at all from a federal agency is entirely unacceptable.

Last week, I introduced my bill, the REACT Act, to require a timely response from executive agencies after inquiries from Members of Congress. However, in order for them to fulfil that responsibility, they must first get back to work in the office.

H.R. 139, the SHOW UP Act, would end the unproductive telework policies that we have seen enacted to ensure that these federal agencies get back to work for the American people. I strongly support this bill and urge my fellow Members to support the underlying bill.

This September, President Biden in a candid moment officially admitted that the pandemic is over. Despite this declaration, this administration just authorized the 12th extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Everyone can agree that in March of 2020 the country was in fact in a public health emergency. However, now the landscape has changed, and the American people are transitioning back to their normal routines. Today, the Biden Administration’s lack of transparency has yet again put our country in dire straits. Throughout the last three years and 12 extensions of this public health emergency, we had ample time to seriously discuss a plan to avoid disruptions to patients and providers as we transition out of this pandemic.

The House majority has continuously been pressing the Administration to come up with a plan to make permanent the policies that work and unwind the policies that don’t. While there were several successful policies and innovations that came out of the emergency declaration, such as telehealth and hospital at home flexibilities, this administration has repeatedly failed provide a plan.

This public health emergency cannot serve as a permanent means for the Biden Administration to subvert Congress and enact their radical agenda.

I support Congressman Guthrie’s efforts to officially end this public health emergency and look forward to transitioning back to regular order.

Our health care workers across America are still subject to President Biden’s vaccine mandate enforced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The health care industry is already suffering from a severe workforce shortage that will have drastic effects on our ability to take care of patients.

Republicans have been crystal clear on the issue. We never have—and never will—support a federal vaccine mandate.

The personal health care decision of whether to receive a vaccine should be left between a patient and their doctor. The federal government has no place in demanding what an American must do for their personal health.

For Texas specifically, one of our hospitals lost over 150 workers due to the federal vaccine mandate. This decision has deepened the staffing shortages in Texas, especially in rural areas leaving us ill-equipped to deal with day-to-day functions.

I stand in strong support of the rule and underlying bills and urge my fellow Members to support rule.

In closing, I would like to thank my fellow Members, specifically Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers, Chairman Graves, and Chairman Comer for their hard work and delivering for the American people by bringing these bills to the floor.

The Republican Majority has once again demonstrated that our governing agenda will be devoted to improving the lives of our Nation’s citizens. Our governing majority will continue to focus on the issues that matter most to the American people: rising energy costs, sky high inflation, rampant crime, and a porous southern border.

These are the issues that American voters rightfully demand their elected Representatives address. The Republican Majority is committed to solving the crises Democrats have inflicted on our Nation.