Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after House passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.  

“Earlier this morning the House considered a Continuing Resolution and bipartisan budget deal to fund the federal government through March 23 and provide full funding for our Armed Forces for the next two years. This package includes important public health provisions, as well as funding for the long-term rebuilding of communities struck by natural disasters. Further, the package also provides resources to combat the opioid epidemic and invest in our nation’s infrastructure.

“Similar to previous funding measures we have considered, this package is far from perfect and presented a difficult choice. However, I have heard from many of you who support this funding package. The White House has released a Statement of Administrative Policy in support of the package, saying, ‘The Bipartisan Budget Act lays the groundwork for higher investments in several Administration priorities.’ I also heard directly from Governor Abbott, who expressed his strong support for the disaster relief funding that he says is critical for the recovery of the areas in our state that were so severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

“After careful consideration, I voted in favor of the bill to ensure our national security and support our men and women in uniform. Texas alone is home to 28 of our nation’s military installations and more than 160,000 active duty personnel. It is far past time that we end our habit of paying for our national defense via IOUs, and my vote ensures that our Armed Forces will have the resources they need to protect North Texans and all Americans.

“The bill also contains the necessary funding for important priorities like disaster recovery that will help those affected by Hurricane Harvey restore their homes, businesses, and communities. Further, it includes several of my priorities as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health – including Medicare extenders and MACRA technical fixes that will ease some administrative burdens so that doctors can provide better care to their patients. This bill indeed has flaws, but it is necessary in order to continue providing the services and programs that support North Texans and the American people.”