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Pandemic Flu -- Avian Flu
Posted by on November 7, 2005
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, we heard the chairman of the Appropriations Committee come to the floor and speak about his bill that he has introduced to fund preparation for a possible pandemic flu outbreak, and I thought it might be useful to come down to the floor and just review some of the reasons that scientists are concerned about this outbreak of avian flu in the world and some of the reasons why we need to be concerned and some of the reasons why we need to be prepared and some of the good news to share as well.
Madam Speaker, the influenza virus with which we are all familiar undergoes a continuous process of change. It is constantly changing its genetics. It drifts from one genetic makeup to another.
For the past several years, the flu type known as H3N2 has been the type for which we commonly receive inoculations; and because of this genetic drift, a new inoculation is required each and every year.
With the absence of a flu vaccination last year, I did not take a flu shot; but there is still some immunity that carries over from year to year; but about every 30 years, there is a major change in the genetics of the flu virus. These major changes took place during the last century in 1957 when 170,000 people in this country died from an outbreak of what was called Asian flu and in 1968 when 35,000 people in this country died from the Hong Kong flu.
The term pandemic applies when there is a big, big animal reservoir of the virus and no underlying immunity, and those conditions exist today.
The assumptions and the knowledge of prior pandemics certainly have become part of the pandemic plan that was revealed by the Department of Health and Human Services last week; but the important thing is the study of prior pandemics tells us that this virus, if it were to achieve pandemic status, could overwhelm almost all of the available resources that we would have at our disposal in this country, not to mention what would happen in the rest of the world.
The virus that is under consideration for this pandemic, the so-called H5N1 virus, has some similarities with the Spanish flu from the 1918 pandemic. Both of these illnesses cause lower respiratory tract symptoms, high fever, muscle aches and pains, and extreme, extreme fatigue. That fatigue can persist for 6, 8, 10 weeks after recovery. If the patient recovers from the illness, that fatigue may persist for many, many weeks thereafter; and that, of course, could have implications for people returning to the workforce. The virus can cause a primary or a secondary pneumonia. The pulmonary tree is unable to clear itself of secretions and debris. The vast majority do recover, but the potential to kill is certainly related to the virulence of the microbe.
Some of the trouble signs that are on the horizon, things that have gotten the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations concerned, some of the trouble signs include the wide geographic setting with involvement of not only birds but now other mammals. Bird-to-human transmission has occurred. It has not been easy for the virus to go from bird to human, but it has happened; and it appears in some instances, although it has not been an easy transmission, there has been transmission from human to human.
If the virus undergoes that last step that allows it to have efficient human-to-human transition, that is what would signify the onset of a worldwide pandemic. It is also entirely possible, and I do need to stress this, that efficient human-to-human transition will never be developed and that the pandemic will never occur.
So the chairman is quite right. We need to devote resources to this problem, but we must also recognize that the problem that we are concerned about today may not be the problem that we face. One of the very important aspects of the legislation that has been introduced by Chairman Lewis and legislation that will be taken up by my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, is how do we facilitate the ramp up, the surge capacity, the production of antiviral or the production of antiviral vaccines if an entirely different virus or somewhat different virus from this avian flu is actually the one that causes the outbreak.
There are other antiviral medications available, medications such as Tamiflu and Relenza have activity against the H5N1 virus, and they are going to be one of our first lines of defense.
Again, some good news is that a vaccine has been developed, and it was developed in a relatively short period of time. It was undergoing trials. It appears to be safe. One of the troubles, though, is since we have no underlying immunity to that virus, it takes a lot of that vaccination for us to develop immunity.
Some of the things we are going to have to consider, and the chairman appropriately referred to these, the Federal Government will have to share some of the risks with companies that are manufacturing the vaccines. That means not only some of the liability risks but the risks of guaranteeing purchase of these products if they ramp up production and the pandemic does not materialize. Some guarantee of purchase will have to be there and to allow drug companies to communicate with each other to discuss among themselves what are some of the techniques for producing some of these medications. So perhaps some antitrust reform will have to be included in whatever our preparation and our response is to the flu.
Madam Speaker, I wanted to bring these facts to the floor tonight because I know this is important legislation that this House will be considering in the next couple of weeks, and it is imperative that we all do have accurate and timely information.
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Spanish Flu of 1918 and Today's Avian Flu
Posted by on November 7, 2005
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for bringing this topic to the floor tonight and for including me in the discussion.
In the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918, one of the observations was, instead of the very young, the very old and the infirm who were the victims of this illness. It was, in fact, young people age 28 to 45 who appeared to be the primary victims of this illness.
Undoubtedly, part of that is related to the fact that we do not have any underlying immunity to this disease and people who are, as a general rule, exposed to a lot of other people, that is, people in school, people in the workplace, in other words, your 20- to 45-year-old age group, would have a greater chance to come down to exposure to this virus, which was very virulent, had a high ineffectivity rate, and simply a cough in the room was enough to expose someone to the virus; and, again, with no native immunity, it could overwhelm their system fairly quickly.
There is no question it is still a deadly virus to the very young. It is still a deadly virus to the very old, but I think one of the striking epidemiological features of the 1918 flu was that people who were generally regarded as being in good health also seemed to fall victim to this illness.
Also bear in mind, we were in the last months of the First World War so there were a lot of recruits who were stationed together in barracks and tents, and the virus seemed to be particularly virulent in its outbreaks in those types of situations.
So some differences from 1918 to now and certainly our ability to know about an outbreak. Syndromic surveillance will be an important part of the pandemic plan that the Secretary has unveiled.
[Time: 20:30]
The other important concept, since this disease is so widespread, about a quarter of the globe right now is affected with the bird flu. Because the geographic footprint is so large and because birds can fly from place to place and people travel from place to place so easily, an outbreak anywhere has to be regarded as an outbreak everywhere. So if the disease appears to travel easily from person to person in Vietnam, in Indonesia, that means that our full pandemic plan has to come into play in this country.
The gentleman mentioned the experience with SARS, when we first came to Congress in 2003, a deadly, deadly illness that previously was only known in an animal host in China. The transmissibility of SARS was with a little more difficulty than with influenza; that is, you had to get a little closer to the infected person with SARS than with the flu, which meant that health care workers and close household contacts were the types of people who were most at risk.
But bear in mind, we conquered SARS, we beat back SARS without developing a vaccine for the virus and without any specific treatment for the virus. This was accomplished through studies of epidemiology, knowing where the outbreaks were, what travel patterns were and then very careful quarantine of those individuals in whom the disease was suspected and very careful isolation techniques for health care providers when it was suspected they were dealing with a case of that disease. The few times we forgot those principles in dealing with SARS is when the outbreak was allowed to, in fact, reignite or reengage.
Quite different from our current situation. No vaccine for the virus, although the virus was identified by the use of genomics. The virus was identified very quickly, but no vaccine was developed and no effective treatment. With the avian flu, there is a vaccine that is already now available; it has been developed, it is in testing. And, of course, there are antiviral medications that are effective in treating the H5N1 virus. So some differences there between those two.
If I could make one last point, and I did not make it during my previous remarks, and I should have: Although the regular flu shot will provide no protection against the bird flu, we should all still get our regular flu shots and keep the appearance of regular flu to a minimum this year, this flu season, because the fewer people who are sick and the fewer people are who are debilitated by the regular flu virus, I think that will improve our overall odds in keeping the pandemic flu at bay.
I yield back to the gentleman and thank him for his time.
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Zero In – A Story on Avian Flu (Star Community Papers)
Posted by on November 2, 2005
By: Phuong-Khanh Jessica Nguyen-Trong
Congressional Health Care Fellow in the Office of U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess (Texas-26)
Not a newscast airs today that does not talk about the spread of avian flu. Is that attention warranted or has the threat been over-hyped?
Attention devoted to this issue has certainly brought this virus to the forefront of everyone’s thoughts. It is significant to note that avian flu refers to viruses that only infect birds. In this particular instance, the virus is H5N1. As humans become infected, it no longer is characterized as strictly an “avian flu.” However, with the strong possibility that H5N1 could cross species – from birds to humans – decisive action must take place.
Worldwide pandemics are not all together rare occurrences. Less than a century ago, the 1918 flu pandemic claimed 50 million lives. More recently, the world rallied against the 1957 Asian and 1968 Hong Kong influenza.
So will H5N1 represent a threat comparable to these historical outbreaks? Yes. But it is important to remember that a new pandemic has not yet bloomed and may not be as severe as previous ones. But the threat alone means we must be prepared.
Through technological inventions, humans have broken down geographical barriers. Today, instant communication and travel entwine in our everyday lives. With the increasing appearance of H5N1 in several Asian and European countries, many leaders are considering methods to isolate nations from each other, which at this point in history is no simple task.
Already, the modern world has some perspective on dealing with pervasive infectious diseases such as with SARS, a 2003 respiratory virus epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by the end of the SARS outbreak, over 8,000 people were infected with nearly 800 deaths. SARS was a dangerous disease, but not nearly as fatal as avian flu. As of October 10, 2005, over 100 human cases of H5N1 have been reported with over half of these cases resulting in death. Thus, this high mortality rate has led to caution among the scientific community and compounds the challenges of the 2003 SARS outbreak.
In the modern age, information and data are highly prized. Our current research capacity gives us the gifts of time and foresight. A global, united front to face this potential threat is critical to protect the health and safety of humankind.
U.S. Human and Health Services Secretary Michael Leavitt took a bold step in gathering knowledge about avian flu through his trip in Asia. Understanding the conditions of these regions where the outbreak is occurring is essential. Secretary Leavitt’s firsthand account of the situation in Asia is immeasurably more beneficial than what is captured by reading a report. His findings will be shared with Congress in the final version of the Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan. This plan will be invaluable to federal, state and local leaders who should analyze the plan and build on it to adequately prepare to handle a pandemic.
How do we begin to combat this potential crisis? The best way to prevent a pandemic is containment. Streamlined relief efforts help squelch an outbreak before it travels further. At the local level, mandatory and self-quarantines need definition, including how to react to the increased need for health care and how to prevent the spread of the virus. This might include a temporary stop in mail delivery or addressing work absenteeism.
Health care workers must define the best way to provide antiviral drugs and vaccines to people. Currently, antiviral drugs need to be administered within two days of an infection – a short but vital timeframe. New drug designs should not be limited by this window. Additionally, a rapid screening test should be developed to classify an infection as H5N1 prior to administering its treatment.
Another necessary aspect of containment is accurate communication to prevent panic. The general public needs to be educated to recognize symptoms of H5N1, including practical steps to minimize the dispersion of the virus. The efficacy of protective equipment should be examined and may need to be in every household. Furthermore, cities need to designate a hospital or large clinic as the primary treatment manager for a pandemic if one is to occur.
Every individual also needs to be responsible and plan ahead. If a person suspects infection, they should know how to protect others while making a straight route to the designated hospital. Personnel at these treatment sites will be better trained and equipped to treat the virus. In addition, diverting patients with weakened immune systems to non-designated hospitals will decrease their exposure to H5N1.
Because a virus must be destroyed to hinder it from growing into a pandemic, containment begins at the local level. Practical and concise preparedness plans need not only be outlined but also implemented. Because in the words of Goethe, “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”
Natural Gas and Heating Oil for American Homes
Posted by on November 2, 2005 STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD - MICHAEL C. BURGESS ENERGY AND AIR QUALITY HEARING NATURAL GAS AND HEATING OIL FOR AMERICAN HOMES November 2, 2005 First, I want to thank Chairman Barton for convening this hearing today. I think today's hearing will do a good job of breaking down the natural gas and home heating oil supply chains. We did something similar following Hurricane's Katrina and Rita to break down the supply chain for gasoline. As we discussed during our hearing last week, the EIA expects home heating costs to almost double this year when compared to last year. The EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook predicts that consumers who heat their homes using primarily natural gas can expect to pay an additional $350 this winter and those who use heating oil can expect to pay an additional $378. This Committee and this Congress have already taken some steps to help address our home heating needs in the future. When President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law, it included several important provisions intended to boost supply and hold down costs for consumers. It incentivized domestic production of both ultra-deep gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico and on-shore marginal wells; streamlined permitting for natural gas projects on federal lands; and clarified the federal government’s role in siting LNG facilities to help reduce red-tape. The Energy Policy Act also provided loan guarantees for the construction of an Alaska Natural gas Pipeline. When the House passed the GAS Act a few weeks ago, we sunset these provisions to spur companies to action. At least one company in my neck of the woods is listening - Just last week, the Challenger Capital Group in Dallas announced that it will take the lead in arranging financing for the pipeline. The project is expected to cost between $13 billion and $20 billion when it's finished in 2012 and provide 4.5 Bcf per day. I'd like to ask unanimous consent to insert an article by the Dallas Morning News on this subject into the record. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma all have had an impact on the availability of supply this winter, but the underlying reason for the high prices is that in the U.S., demand far outstrips supply. We have restricted exploration off of over 2/3 of our coasts, placed thousands of acres of federal lands off-limits, and then prevented the siting of LNG projects and refineries in those areas that could most use them. We are in this situation, Mr. Chairman, because some members of this panel have consistently opposed measures that would increase supply of both natural gas and oil. I have a hard time understanding how these members can be opposed to policies that will bring relief to their constituents from high heating costs. We've seen that in their single-synapse opposition limited exploration in ANWR and their consistent opposition to projects that would directly benefit their constituents. Some examples include the Islander East gas transmission pipeline project from Southern Connecticut across Long Island Sound to western Long Island and New York City and the Weaver’s Cove LNG terminal project in Fall River, Mass. I can assure you that none of my constituents would directly benefit from these projects. It is the constituents who are represented by those who have most staunchly opposed energy infrastructure development that would stand to gain the most. We are lucky in North Texas to be geologically blessed with the Barnet Shale to provide us with natural gas. In 2004 the Barnett Shale produced over 370 Bcf and total reserves are estimated to be over 500 Trillion Cubic Feet. We have all the natural gas that we need in Texas. In fact, we export it up to our friends in the Northeast. North Texas is clearly playing its role in providing the country with safe and secure domestic energy. It is time for those who would stand in the way of increasing energy supply to realize that it is their obstructionist tactics that are causing the high heating costs that the EIA is predicting for this winter. So in conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I thank the panelists for appearing before us today and look forward to learning more about the supply chain.
Responding to Avian Flu
Posted by on November 1, 2005
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, this morning the President at the National Institute of Health outlined his plan for dealing with pandemic flu should this illness jump from birds to people. The President outlined a plan that essentially covered three areas: to be able to detect the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world; stockpiling vaccines and medicines; and the response from both the local, State, and Federal level.
To be able to detect the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world is going to require a partnership of several countries that will share information and samples, but it is important to remember a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere.
Stockpiling vaccines and increasing the rapidity with which this country can make vaccines ensure that there is reliability and regulatory protection for those countries that are making vaccines.
And, finally, response. Response needs to be at the local, Federal, and State levels. Local officials need to be ready to go, but there also needs to be strategic national stockpiling of supplies and equipment.
Mr. Speaker, the fact remains that the best way to deal with panic is through preparedness. The best way to deal with inflammatory rhetoric is with information. I think the President took some bold steps this morning to outline these plans, and I look forward to the release of the preparedness plan tomorrow.
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The Burgess Bulletin - November 2005
Posted by on November 1, 2005
Click here for the full version.
Please do not respond to this email. To contact Congressman Burgess, use the "Write Your Rep" service. If you would to be removed from our email distribution list, please click here. This link will redirect you to the main page of the congressional website where you can remove your email address. NEWS Rep. Burgess speaks on the potential dangers of a deadly pandemic As the Avian Flu virus spreads throughout Asia, and now with reports of the virus in Europe, the threat of an outbreak in the United States is imminent. Avian Flu (H5N1 virus) merits attention because this virus could be the world’s next pandemic. A pandemic occurs with periodic evolution of the influenza virus. The term ``pandemic'' applies when there is no underlying immunity within the community to the particular type of flu virus. The last flu pandemic the world experienced was in 1918 and the flu affected between 20 and 40 million people. That was a pure avian or bird flu, which then adapted to humans with fatal infections as a result. There is currently a widespread bird infection throughout Asia, Russia, several former Soviet republics, Southeast Asia, and recently we have seen it make an appearance in European Union countries. However, today we have the technology and the ability to prepare, and hopefully prevent, such a dramatic and devastating pandemic. Currently, the Avian Flu virus is not easily transferable from bird to human or from human to human. This will require further genetic mutation of the virus, but if that event does occur, a worldwide pandemic will commence. However, it is possible that this mutation will not occur, nor would efficient human-to-human transmission be developed, and the pandemic will not occur. The situation is very unpredictable, but Congressman Burgess feels that “because of the extremely wide geographic distribution of the avian flu, unlike any ever seen previously before, it is prudent to prepare for the outbreak in humans.” The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has taken action to create a plan to prepare and prevent an Avian Flu pandemic including:
In a House floor speech on October 25, 2005, Congressman Burgess stressed that “To be able to detect the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world is going to require a partnership of several countries that will share information and samples, but it is important to remember a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere.” Link to this speech: /News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=36012 Congressman Burgess has been featured on MSNBC, CNBC, G. Gordon Liddy and other television and radio programs discussing Avian Flu. To view or listen to these programs, please visit the Multimedia Section of our website. .
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted out of committee the 21st Century Medicaid Reform Act as part of the reconciliation process. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, the only doctor on the committee, played an integral role in developing the language of the bill. The bill passed 33-17. Significant portions of the bill were authored by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, specifically two provisions: (1) restructuring Medicaid rules dealing with asset transfers as a qualification of eligibility for Medicaid long-term care and (2) extending long-term care partnerships to any State and making Health Opportunity Accounts available as an option to States. Ultimately, the bill will be brought before the House of Representatives for a final vote sometime before the end of the first session of Congress. Burgess Pushes for VA Outpatient Clinic Near Resource Connection The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) unanimously selected to place the Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic adjacent to the Tarrant County Resource Connection. Congressman Michael C. Burgess worked at the federal level on this issue in conjunction with officials with the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), including Director Betty Bolin Brown and Robert Martin, Operations Administrator of the Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic, and Judi Ketchum, Director of the Tarrant County Resource Connection. Over a year ago, Congressman Michael C. Burgess met with Robert Martin, Acting Operations Administrator of the clinic and other VANTHCS Management Officials to discuss the potential locations where the new clinic would be opened. Upon reviewing the list, Congressman Burgess was quick to throw his support and influence behind the Resource Connection location. “Having a new, large and easily accessible facility to serve our veterans’ health care needs was a priority of mine from the beginning,” stated Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26). “The perfect scenario was constructing the clinic close to the Resource Connection where a multitude of community services are available and my Fort Worth congressional district office is located.”
Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) voted in favor of legislation that will enable first responders to communicate more effectively in times of emergencies. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation setting December 31, 2008 as the “hard date” for the transition of all televisions from analog to digital transmission. By freeing the space currently used by analog transmissions, public safety officials will gain access to 24 megahertz of radio spectrum and an additional 60 megahertz of spectrum for radio. “It was apparent after 9/11 that first responders were greatly hampered by the inability to communicate with one another,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess. “I have been a long-time advocate of making the switch to digital transmissions, but it was the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rita that made it clear to my colleagues that we could not wait another four years to take action.” Passage of the bill will trigger a required spectrum auction to commence on January 7, 2008. The sale of the spectrum alone is estimated to bring in somewhere between $10 and $30 billion the federal treasury. Remarks from the House Floor: Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I would just add to the gentleman from the State of Ohio that the State of Texas added 15,000 jobs last month. Mr. Speaker, when she sat down, society stood up and took notice. Rosa Parks, the name is synonymous with civil rights. Often referred to as the Mother of Civil Rights, Ms. Parks, with one small act of defiance, refusing to give up her bus seat, galvanized a generation of activists, including the young Reverend Martin Luther King, who then organized a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. Finally in November of 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public transportation was unconstitutional. Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks was then a 42-year-old seamstress, an active member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People, and had worked as its adviser to its youth council. But it was on a city bus on December 1, 1955, when her seat was demanded and when history was made. When questioned why she did not vacate her seat that day, her answer was simple. She said, ``I felt I had a right to be treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment for too long.'' Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks received many awards throughout her lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996; and then in 1999, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Ms. Parks. But Ms. Parks wanted people to remember what was most important, to understand the government, to understand their rights, and the Constitution.
Help with Federal Grants In addition, Patricia Bostic recently joined the District Staff as Grant Coordinator. Pat joins us with 14 years in project/grant management, including experience with the Dallas Housing Authority, Dallas County Planning and Development and D/FW Airport. She brings a background and experience in the request process and local administration of various federal funding streams at the city and county levels, including HUD’s CDBG and HOME programs. For more details and help, please contact my Lewisville Office at (972) 434-9700.
Upcoming Events Cooke County Office Hours - an opportunity to meet with the staff of Congressman Burgess: Monday, November 14th
November 11, 2005 November 12, 2005 November 12, 2005 Cooke County
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Burgess Names Local Leaders to Service Academy Board
Posted by on October 31, 2005
U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) announced today members of his 2005 Service Academy Advisory Board. The eleven-member board will meet in November to advise him upon the selection of qualified service academy candidates. The board’s purpose is to comprehensively screen and interview high school and college applicants wishing to receive a congressional nomination; the board then makes recommendations to Congressman Burgess for final review and nominations are sent to the individual service academies (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.)
“One of the privileges I have serving in the U.S. House of Representatives is the opportunity to nominate outstanding young people from the 26th District to our nation’s service academies,” Congressman Michael C. Burgess said. “We have an excellent group of former military, education and civic leaders serving on the Advisory Board. In this tumultuous time in our nation’s history, many young people in our area have expressed their interest in serving their country by attending one of our nation’s service academies. After a rigorous selection process, I look forward to receiving the recommendations of this outstanding board.”
Retired Air Force Lt. General Charles R. Hamm will serve as Chairman of the Board. Congressman Burgess noted, “General Hamm’s highly regarded service as the former Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy enables him to capably lead the Board.”
“I know how serious Congressman Burgess takes his responsibility to nominate highly qualified young people to the academies, and I look forward to serving with this distinguished board to recommend the right people to him for consideration,” said General Hamm.
The members of the 26th Congressional District Service Academy Advisory Board are as follows:
26th Congressional District Service Academy Advisory Board
Chairman:
Lt. General Charles R. Hamm, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) of Argyle – Aviation Consultant
Former Superintendent of U.S. Air Force Academy; 35 years service in USAF
Air Command and Staff College, 1969; National War College, 1972
M.S., Auburn University, 1969; B.S., U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY), 1956
Army
Mr. Gene Collett of Flower Mound – Group Manager, Capital One
Former Academy Board Member, U.S. Cong. Eric Cantor (VA-7)
Captain, U.S. Army, Parachutist and Pilot
MBA, University of Texas (Austin), 1989
B.S., U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY), 1982
Mr. Thomas Russell of Flower Mound – Aerospace Consultant
Captain, U.S. Army Infantry Officer, Airborne Ranger
B.S., U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY), 1963
Navy/Marine Corps
Mr. Bryan McKinney, Jr. of Flower Mound – Terminal Manager, DFW Airport,
Transportation Security Administration
Academy Board Member, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn & U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm
Infantry Captain, U.S. Marine Corps
B.S., U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD), 1977
Air Force
Mr. Terence T. “Tom” Henricks, Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) of Keller –
Executive, Bell Helicopter Textron
Former NASA astronaut & Space Shuttle commander
Honorary D.Sc., Heidelberg College, 2002; Honorary D.Sc., Defiance College, 1993
M.S., Golden Gate University, 1982; B.S., U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO), 1974
Mr. Brad Jones of Copper Canyon – Pilot, Delta Airlines
Former Mayor of Highland Village
Captain, U.S. Air Force: Pilot
M.S., Troy State University, 1989
B.S., U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO), 1979
Merchant Marine
Mr. Steven Hill of Copper Canyon – National Principal-In-Charge, KPMG
Mayor Pro Tem of Copper Canyon
Dallas Symphony Board of Trustees
U.S. Naval Reserve Officer
B.S., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY), 1986
Community
Mrs. Elaine Emery of Lewisville - Small Business Owner/Real Estate Broker
Medical Center of Lewisville Board of Trustees; Denton Co. Health Advisory Board;
Childrens Advocacy Ctr of Denton Co. Board of Directors
B.S., University of Oklahoma, 1968
Mr. Ralph McCloud, Jr. of Fort Worth – Secretariat for Pastoral & Community Services,
Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
Former Mayor Pro Tem and Fort Worth City Councilman
B.A., Paul Quinn College (Dallas, TX), 1996
Education
Ms. Wanda Hill of Fort Worth – Associate Professor of Government, Tarrant County College, South Campus
Fellowships: Tarrant County Jr. College Faculty, Hatton W. Sumners Institute, Taft Institute of Govt, UNT Teaching; USMA Military History Teaching Training
M.A., University of Texas at Tyler, 1984
M.S., 1973 & B.A., 1971, Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA)
Dr. Lee Ann Nutt of Denton – Provost, North Central Texas College, Corinth Campus
Denton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; City of Denton Zoning Board of Adjustment;
North Central Texas Workforce Development Board
Ed.D., 1996 & M.Ed., 1992, Texas Tech University
B.B.A., Texas Tech University, 1989
Congressman Burgess Reforms Medicaid for the 21st Century
Posted by Michelle Stein on October 28, 2005
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted out of committee the 21st Century Medicaid Reform Act as part of the reconciliation process. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, the only doctor on the committee, played an integral role in developing the language of the bill. The bill passed 33-17.
“The purpose of our work today is not about money,” said Congressman Michael Burgess. “It is about saving a vital, federal program.”
Medicaid is a federal-state program that provides medical care to 53 million low-income and/or elderly patients which constitutes nearly one in five Americans. Medicaid is already the biggest item in state budgets exceeding elementary and secondary education combined. Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimate that the federal government would pay $1 trillion over the next five years on Medicaid if something reforms were not made now.
“Medicaid is hemorrhaging red ink,” said Congressman Michael Burgess. “We have an historic opportunity to improve it now or ultimately risk exsanguination.”
The bipartisan National Governors Association has been pushing for reform to the Medicaid system that is overtaking the budgets of their respective states. A number of governors, both Republicans and Democrats, from across the nation, participated in committees hearings on Medicaid Reform. Each governor was constituent on the message that Medicaid, as it is currently structured, was “unsustainable.”
The goals of Medicaid reform include:
- Giving greater flexibility to provide services
- Ensuring expenditures are not misdirected from their intended purpose
- Encouraging personal responsibility
- Eliminating duplicate spending, and
- Ensuring a more rational pricing system for pharmaceuticals
Significant portions of the bill were authored by Congressman Michael C. Burgess. Language from H.R. 3757, Medicaid Health Savings Accounts is included in the mark-up. Currently, Medicaid does nothing to promote cost-conscious behavior or provide a sense of personal responsibility for health care decision-making. Medicaid Health Savings Accounts, introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-08) along with Rep. Burgess, provides flexibility to the consumer to make health care choices with their money. Beneficiaries can self-direct a pre-funded account for medical care, roll over unspent balances and retain a portion of account funds after leaving Medicaid to spend not only on medical care but also on health insurance, job training and tuition expenses. States will have the option of setting up these accounts.
“Giving Medicaid beneficiaries more control over their care will not only improve their health in the long-run, but will also help shore up a floundering Medicaid program,” said Congressman Michael Burgess. “Medicaid Savings Accounts are just what states need return the focus on Medicaid on quality health outcomes, not the same inflated program that will become more and more of a burden for all involved.”
The Medicaid reform bill also includes much needed changes on how we handle long term care in America. Originally introduced by Congressman Burgess as stand-alone legislation, H.R. 3511, the Medicaid State Long-Term Care Partnership Program Act of 2005 protects enrollees’ assets if their insurance coverage is exhausted, and they have to look to state Medicaid programs to cover their long term care expenses.
“The fact remains that most of us are anesthetized to the true cost and true value of long term care insurance,” stated Congressman Burgess. “Those of us who can should consider the purchase of long term care insurance as the socially responsible thing to do. Providing this additional incentive to the purchase of long term care coverage may allow some of the burden to be shifted from the government to the private sector.”
Congressman Burgess also addressed issues relating to Hurricane Katrina with two amendments that were accepted by the committee on voice vote. The first amendment would ensure Texas will not lose federal Medicaid dollars in the future as a result of additional income to Katrina evacuees that relocated to Texas. Assistance to evacuees in the form of FEMA payments, Unemployment Insurance and other payments will artificially inflate the state’s per capita income leading to a decline in federal Medicaid payments.
Governor Rick Perry, supports the amendment and applauds the work of Congressman Burgess. “Today’s action by the House Energy and Commerce Committee will ensure that Texas’ share of federal Medicaid funding is held harmless and not reduced as a result of Hurricane Katrina. I commend Representative Burgess and Chairman Barton for their work and leadership on this issue of great importance to Texas.”
Congressman Burgess’ second amendment would streamline the community health center qualification requirements and also provide immediate public health assistance to hospitals in the New Orleans metropolitan areas and give them the ability to retain essential medical personnel.
Ultimately, the bill will be brought before the House of Representatives for a final vote sometime before the end of the first session of Congress.
“This bill reforms a system so that it will not bankrupt America,” remarked Congressman Burgess. “We can make Medicaid a cost-effective, efficient and stable program for those groups of people who truly need it.”
Burgess Pushes for More Spectrum for First Responder Communications
Posted by on October 26, 2005
Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) voted in favor of legislation that will enable first responders to communicate more effectively in times of emergencies. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation setting December 31, 2008 as the “hard date” for the transition of all televisions from analog to digital transmission. By freeing the space currently used by analog transmissions, public safety officials will gain access to 24 megahertz of radio spectrum and an additional 60 megahertz of spectrum for radio.
“It was apparent after 9/11 that first responders were greatly hampered by the inability to communicate with one another,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess. “I have been a long-time advocate of making the switch to digital transmissions, but it was the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rita that made it clear to my colleagues that we could not wait another four years to take action.”
Passage of the bill will trigger a required spectrum auction to commence on January 7, 2008. The sale of the spectrum alone is estimated to bring in somewhere between $10 and $30 billion the federal treasury.
“Fort Worth, and all Texans, are grateful to the leadership of Congressmen Barton and Burgess to ensure analogue spectrum is returned for public safety purposes by a fixed date in 2008,” commented Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief. “I am also grateful for the efforts to dedicate revenue from the sale of the remaining spectrum for interoperable communications.”
“As we improve our public safety service delivery options, it's vital that we ensure and provide for efficient and effective radio communications,” said Euline Brock, Mayor of Denton, Texas. “This legislation is a huge step in that direction.”
Specifically the bill:
Sets a hard date of December 31, 2008 for the end of analog TV broadcasts.
Authorizes the use of spectrum auction proceeds to provide as many as two $40 coupons per household for converter boxes to enable viewers to watch digital broadcasts on their analog sets.
Requires the FCC to complete a series of proceedings necessary to assign broadcasters final digital channel assignments.
Mandates all new televisions of 13 inches or more must include a digital tuner by March 1, 2007.
Obligates broadcasters, cable operators, retailers and television manufacturers engage in a consumer education campaign regarding the transition.
Honoring Rosa Parks
Posted by on October 25, 2005
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I would just add to the gentleman from the State of Ohio that the State of Texas added 15,000 jobs last month.
Mr. Speaker, when she sat down, society stood up and took notice. Rosa Parks, the name is synonymous with civil rights. Often referred to as the Mother of Civil Rights, Ms. Parks, with one small act of defiance, refusing to give up her bus seat, galvanized a generation of activists, including the young Reverend Martin Luther King, who then organized a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. Finally in November of 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public transportation was unconstitutional.
Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks was then a 42-year-old seamstress, an active member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People, and had worked as its adviser to its youth council. But it was on a city bus on December 1, 1955, when her seat was demanded and when history was made. When questioned why she did not vacate her seat that day, her answer was simple. She said, ``I felt I had a right to be treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment for too long.''
Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks received many awards throughout her lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996; and then in 1999, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Ms. Parks. But Ms. Parks wanted people to remember what was most important, to understand the government, to understand their rights, and the Constitution.
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