|
Burgess Votes in Favor of Bipartisan Energy Act of 2005
Posted by on April 21, 2005
Representative Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas) today voted in favor of the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which addresses America’s serious energy shortage, unstable energy prices and national security challenges. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 249-183, which included the support of 41 Democrats. The House-passed energy plan enhances conservation, research and development, and provides for security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people.
The Energy Act of 2005 is of particular interest to North Texas because it ensures that energy production in the Barnett Shale, an unconventional natural gas source in the North Texas region, can continue to provide natural gas for Texas and the nation.
The Act also helps the State of Texas by preserving ERCOT’s (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas) exemption from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulation allowing this authority to continue to reside at the state level with the Public Utility Commission.
“In Texas, we are fortunate that the grid operation and reliability is managed by ERCOT,” stated Rep. Burgess. “ERCOT has put tough, enforceable reliability standards in place which have ensured that Texans have ample access to electricity,” stated Burgess.
Rep. Burgess also had an amendment included in the energy bill that would increase the supply of natural gas, “My amendment would authorize a study to identify and quantify low pressure/low volume natural gas resources and develop incentives to keep them in production. As natural gas demand continues to rise faster than natural gas supply, I believe that that maximizing production from low-pressure gas is an efficient, environmentally friendly way to increase our domestic natural gas supply.”
In addition, the energy bill requires that dual gasoline-alternative fuel vehicles are operated using the alternative fuel system and encourages the hybrid retrofit and conversion of conventional vehicle engines. Congressman Burgess, a proud owner of a Toyota Prius is a strong supporter of hybrid vehicles. This year's energy bill also doubles the authorization amount over last year's conference report for the hydrogen program to $1 billion in 2010.
The Act increases funding for the Department of Energy’s “Clean Cities” program, which provides grants to state and local governments to acquire alternative fueled and fuel cell vehicles, hybrids and ultra-low sulfur diesel vehicles. This will assist localities reduce emissions from automobiles and comply with the Clean Air Act requirements.
From a national perspective, the bill decreases American’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil by increasing domestic exploration and development on non-park federal lands and by authorizing expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to 1 billion barrels. One key component of this would be opening the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, commonly referred to as ANWR, to oil and gas exploration.
The bill now moves over to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Mourning the Loss of Private Aaron Hudson
Posted by on April 19, 2005
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I received an announcement this morning from the Department of the Army . It is a casualty announcement that unfortunately we all receive from time to time, and it says: ``The United States Army announces the loss of Private Aaron M. Hudson, 20, of Highland Village, Texas, who died on April 16, 2005 in Taji, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to initial reports, Private Hudson died from injuries sustained on April 15, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol.
Private Hudson was assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, the 720th Military Police Battalion out of Fort Hood, Texas.
Private Hudson's family resides in Highland Village, Texas. The Army extends heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family who have suffered this loss.''
Well, Mr. Speaker, I thought I should do something to perhaps fill in a little bit more about the life of Private Hudson; and although I did not know Private Hudson, we did reside in the same city for a while.
Private Hudson was a 2002 graduate of Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. He joined the Army a year ago and left for Iraq in January, and he was serving at the 401st Military Police Company.
Mr. Speaker, the majority of the information that I am going to tell the House tonight came from a newspaper article in the Dallas Morning News from Monday, April 18, 2005; and I will insert that into the RECORD at the conclusion of my remarks.
Private Hudson was traveling in a convoy between Baghdad and Camp Taji on Friday performing a routine patrol delivering mail, Mr. Hudson, his father, said. He was the gunner in his military police team and was charged with security at the rear of the convoy when a roadside bomb exploded. A large piece of shrapnel shot through his body armor and struck him in the chest.
Private Hudson was born May 17, 1984, in Dallas. He played baseball, soccer, and basketball growing up; but his main high school sport was golf.
Mr. Speaker, I received a phone call from a Highland Village policeman, Chuck Barr, who was a next-door neighbor of Private Hudson.
Chuck being a policeman, you might imagine is somewhat circumspect about young men as they grow up. But he had no such reservations about Aaron Hudson. He told me that he trusted Aaron completely. He and his wife, Dawn, frequently used Aaron as a baby-sitter for their young children. And the photograph provided to me by Chuck Barr, the policeman in Highland Village, shows him and Mr. Barr's son sitting at their home in Highland Village.
Officer Barr related that Aaron had fun, but he never got into trouble. He said he and his wife, Dawn, used to always know when Aaron arrived home at night because his truck was a little bit loud as it pulled into the driveway next door.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot even imagine the pain that Mark Hudson and Angela Hudson, Aaron's parents, are going through this evening and this week. I called Mark Hudson today, and even though he was suffering enormously, he did take the time to talk to me a little bit about his son and his son's life. I told him that I would be speaking on the floor of the House tonight about his son.
And he said, I want you to tell the other Members of Congress that his son, Aaron, was proud to be a soldier. He said, As a father, I could not ask for more than for my child to go and help people halfway across the world, people he had never met before, to go and help them, and to give his life in trying to extricate them from tyranny.
Mr. Hudson wanted this body to know how much he supported the other young men and women over in Iraq this evening, how much he supported them in their effort to provide freedom for the Iraqi people.
Mr. Hudson told me that Aaron loved to be called a soldier. Mr. Hudson reminded me that tonight in the Hudson household the casualty rate is at 100 percent, but still he wanted me to convey that he and his family harbored no ill will against the Iraqi people. It was clear in Mr. Hudson's mind his son had been murdered by criminals, by a criminal element in the country of Iraq and not the Iraqi people that his son had gone to help.
Mr. Hudson also asked me to say a special note of thanks to a gentleman, and unfortunately Mr. Hudson did not know this gentleman's first name or his rank, but he was with Aaron in the 401st Military Police Division. The man's name is Robertson. He went through basic training with Aaron and they deployed together in Iraq, and it was Robertson who got young Aaron onto the medivac helicopter, and probably it was Mr. Robertson who heard Aaron's last words.
Mr. Hudson said that the letters he got back from his son were always upbeat. He never complained about things like the food. He never complained about his life in Iraq. He loved the camaraderie and the structure of being around his fellow soldiers. Mr. Hudson said in the newspaper article, Let's face it, he would rather have been home, but he knew why he was there and he knew his being there was important.
Well, Mark Hudson, Angela Hudson, I want you to know that just as we heard the gentlewoman from Florida, ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, say when she was speaking of her stepson that was going to be deployed, on behalf of a grateful Nation, we say, ``Thank you.'' As Aaron comes home this week, I again would say, Thank you.
[From the Dallas Morning News, April 18, 2005]
Highland Village Soldier Killed
(By Christy A. Robinson)
An Army private from Highland Village died in Iraq on Saturday, a day after he was struck by shrapnel from a roadside bomb.
Pvt. Aaron Hudson, 20, was a 2002 graduate of Marcus High School in Flower Mound. He had joined the Army almost a year ago and left for Iraq in January. He was serving with the 401st Military Police Company.
``He liked being called a soldier,'' said his father, Mark Hudson. ``My son died doing what he wanted to do. As a father, you can ask no more for your children than to willingly help other people.''
Pvt. Hudson was traveling in a convoy between Baghdad and Camp Taji on Friday, performing a routine patrol and delivering mail, Mr. Hudson said.
He was the gunner in his military police team and was charged with security at the rear of the convoy when a roadside bomb exploded. A large piece of shrapnel shot through his body armor and struck him in the chest.
``We knew in the back of our mind that this could happen,'' Mr. Hudson said. ``The people of Iraq, did not kill my son ..... the criminal element in Iraq killed my son. He was there to help the Iraqi people.''
Pvt. Hudson was born May 17, 1984, in Dallas. He played select-level baseball, soccer and basketball growing up, but his main high school sport was golf.
He always felt at ease around people of any age, especially around his grandfather's golfing buddies. ``He loved to play golf with those men. Those men loved him, too,'' Mr. Hudson said.
Pvt. Hudson conducted extensive research into which branch of the military he would join, his father said, before settling on being a military police officer in the Army .
``The thing that makes it odd is we aren't a military family,'' Mr. Hudson said. ``He sent us a letter the fourth week into basic [training]. Basic training is supposed to be tough. And he said, `Man, Dad. This is fun.' I knew then he made the right decision.''
Pvt. Hudson spoke to his family by telephone two or three times a week. The last time that he spoke with his parents was the Tuesday before he was killed to wish them a happy 25th wedding anniversary.
Pvt. Hudson's phone calls and letters were never negative, his father said.
``The food was never terrible, the conditions were never terrible,'' he said. ``You would think the letters would start off with, `This sucks.' But they were never like that. It's made this a whole lot easier.''
Mr. Hudson said his son's best friends were fellow soldiers.
``He loved the camaraderie and the structure,'' Mr. Hudson said. ``Let's face it, he'd rather been home. But he knew why he was there, and he knew him being there was important.''
Pvt. Hudson's body was expected to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware early this morning. His body will be returned to North Texas by the end of the week, Mr. Hudson said.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Pvt. Hudson's battalion in Iraq will hold a memorial service for him Wednesday.
In addition to his father, Pvt. Hudson is survived by his mother, Annette Hudson of Highland Village; a sister, Lezlie Hudson of Dallas; grandparents David and Fredrika Hudson of Mount Pleasant, Texas; and great-grandparents Ed and Loise Huddleston of Lewisville.
 Watch Video
Barton, Burgess Lead Energy Bill Effort
Posted by Michelle Stein on April 14, 2005
Last night, U.S. Reps. Joe Barton (R-Ennis) and Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Flower Mound) voted in favor of a successful measure in the House Energy and Commerce Committee to send the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to the House floor for a vote next week. The legislation is a balanced and bipartisan bill that seeks to lower energy prices for consumers, spur the economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and take unprecedented steps to promote greater energy conservation and efficiency.
Barton, who chairs the committee, has been among the staunchest supporters of a comprehensive energy bill in Congress. “I am very proud of the bill that our committee produced,” Barton said. “It will provide an energy policy for the American people to lower our gas prices, promote a cleaner environment, increase our nation’s electric power capacity, and provide leadership in conserving energy.”
Rep. Burgess highlighted a part of the bill that is of particular interest to North Texas which ensures that energy production in the Barnett Shale, an unconventional natural gas source in the North Texas region, can continue to provide natural gas for Texas and the nation.
Burgess also offered an amendment about increasing the supply of natural gas, which the committee passed. “My amendment would authorize a study to identify and quantify low pressure/low volume natural gas resources and develop incentives to keep them in production,” he stated. “As natural gas demand continues to rise faster than natural gas supply, I believe that that maximizing production from low-pressure gas is an efficient, environmentally friendly way to increase our domestic natural gas supply.”
“In Texas, we are fortunate that the grid operation and reliability is managed by ERCOT, the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas. ERCOT has put tough, enforceable reliability standards in place which has ensured that Texans have ample access to electricity,” stated Burgess in discussing another impact that the bill will have on Texas.
The energy bill preserves ERCOT's exemption from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulation and ensures that regulation of ERCOT continues to reside with the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
The energy bill requires that dual gasoline-alternative fuel vehicles are operated using the alternative fuel and encourages the hybrid retrofit and conversion of conventional vehicle engines. This year's energy bill doubles the authorization amount over last year's conference report for the hydrogen program to $1 billion in 2010.
“I’m particularly proud of one provision which would authorize two new ‘Clean School Bus’ programs,” Barton said. “The programs would provide $100 million to retrofit existing diesel buses with new pollution control technology and authorize $200 million in grants for replacement of older school buses with clean alternative fueled and ultra low sulfur fueled buses. Last year? in Waxahachie, I personally worked with the school district to retrofit several of their school buses, and the program has been a phenomenal success,” Barton added.
“I strongly support tax incentives for the purchase of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles,” remarked Burgess, who is the owner of a Toyota Prius Hybrid car.
“Energy means opportunity because it means economic growth and jobs for working people. It means food on their tables, clothes on their backs, and college for their kids. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 will launch more jobs as we promote innovation, new conservation requirements, and new domestic energy sources,” Barton said. “I am looking forward to working with Congressman Burgess and our colleagues to pass the bill through Congress and sending it to President Bush to be signed into law this year.”
LEWISVILLE, TX
Posted by on April 8, 2005
Rep. Michael Burgess presented Shady Oaks Elementary, in Hurst, Texas, the We the People Award of fifteen classic books on the theme of “freedom” last Friday. The award is made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities’ (NEH) We the People Bookshelf program.
“I am proud that the We the People Bookshelf program is awarding these outstanding works on “Freedom” to one of my local elementary schools,” stated Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26). “These books teach our children and community our rich history of sacrifice to keep our liberty and allow freedom to endure.”
“Libraries serve as beacons of learning in schools and communities,” said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole. “The We the People Bookshelf enables younger readers to examine important themes from many perspectives. This year’s bookshelf tells the stories of freedom sought, freedom denied, freedom lived.”
The We the People Bookshelf program will distribute one thousand sets of books to neighborhood and public school libraries, as well as private schools, charter schools, tribal schools, and military schools in all fifty states. Each library will receive a set of the fifteen books, posters, bookmarks, and other promotional materials from NEH through the American Library Association (ALA), which is working in partnership with the Endowment. As part of the award, libraries are organizing programs or events to raise awareness of these classic books and engage young readers.
Rep. Michael Burgess was on-hand to present the books to a group of 4th graders at the Shady Oak Elementary library, “You can see these awards on paper, but actually handing the books over to the students is a true joy,” stated Rep. Burgess. “I fondly remembered reading many of the books, and I believe that reading makes a profound difference in a child’s imagination and education.”
The We the People Bookshelf on “freedom” contains the following books:
Grades K-3: Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley; The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble; Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter; El Cuento de Pedrito Conega by Beatrix Potter
Grades 4-6: The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton; Ben and Me by Robert Lawson; To Be a Slave by Julius Lester; The Complete Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis; El León, La Bruja & Ropero by C.S. Lewis
Grades 7-8: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; Fahrenheit 451 (in Spanish) by Ray Bradbury; Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt; The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Grades 9-12: Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen; My Antonia by Willa Cather; Mi Antonia by Willa Cather; Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell; One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
The bookshelf program is part of the NEH’s We the People initiative, which supports projects that strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture.
Congressman Burgess Begins Work on America’s Energy Future
Posted by Michelle Stein on April 6, 2005
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, began work on the mark-up of The Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Since 2001, the House of Representatives and its committee have spent a total of 179 hours of floor debate and mark-up debate on a national energy policy. There were 80 hearings, 12 mark-up sessions, and 279 amendments considered. This does not include 72 hours of House-Senate conference committee meetings. A comprehensive energy bill has previously passed the House four separate times.
Highlights of the legislation include:
Support Tom DeLay
Posted by on April 5, 2005
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, just like the gentlewoman from Texas, I returned from my district late last night.
On the plane ride up here, I could not help but reflect on how grateful I am to my constituents for allowing me the opportunity to serve here in Congress; and, Mr. Speaker, I also reflected on the fact that I was grateful for the leadership we have in this House. I am grateful for the leadership we have in the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay ), our majority leader.
The majority leader has his critics. None of us are without fault, but recently it seems we cannot pick up a paper without some half-truth or conjecture being put out there as fact. I guess the game plan is to heck with facts, just keep repeating it and eventually it will receive believability.
Mr. Speaker, our majority leader is a target because he is so effective. They cannot beat him in the arena of public debate. Their policies do not sell in the marketplace of ideas.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to look back at 10 years of electoral defeats on the other side to prove the point. Well, if they cannot outwork him and outthink him, if people are not buying what they are selling, then the game plan apparently is to tarnish our majority leader, and maybe then they can change the equation.
Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for our majority leader, and I am grateful to be working with him. This rank-and-file Member will stand with him. I would rather be working with our leader than running with the pack.
 Watch Video
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Posted by on April 5, 2005 STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD - MICHAEL C. BURGESS ENERGY AND COMMERCE MARK-UP THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005 April 5-7, 2005 Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding today's mark-up, as well as the series of hearings earlier this year, on this important legislation. I have found the process to be extremely open and informative. During the last six years, there has been a lot of debate about how to achieve energy independence. Some believe we can conserve our way into energy independence and others think that we must simply increase the supply of conventional energy sources. I believe, however, that energy supply and demand are two sides of the same coin. We can only achieve energy independence if we encourage both conservation and production, as well as technological innovation, which can lead to the development of alternative resources. I strongly support the conservation and energy efficiency measures included in the draft energy bill. Specifically, I believe that the expansion of the EnergyStar program and hybrid and alternative fueled vehicle provisions play an important role in a comprehensive national energy policy. I am currently the proud owner of a hybrid vehicle. In the two short years since I bought my Prius, Toyota has already introduced the Prius II, which has better performance, greater engine efficiency, and lower emissions than the original Prius. I point this out to simply remind my colleagues that technology is constantly changing and as technology evolves, so should our approach to public policy. I also strongly support the use of renewable energy, like wind, solar, hydrogen, biomass, etc, when it is practicable. I believe that we should put windmills off the coast of Nantucket and I'd put them in my own backyard if I could. We must also ensure that we are maximizing production of our current resources even as we look to develop unconventional resources, like shale natural gas formations and renewable resources like biodiesel. This should include oil and gas exploration on federal lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. An unconventional source that has proven to increase natural gas supply is the Barnett Shale, a natural gas shale formation located in my district in North Texas; it currently produces XX,XXX Trillion Cubic Feet a year. A comprehensive energy policy should seek to encourage the development and production of unconventional resources, like the Barnett Shale. In addition to encouraging new production, we must take full advantage of existing resources. Important natural gas resources are being lost forever as producers prematurely plug low pressure/low volume "stripper" wells. Today, these wells account for approximately 10 percent of U.S. natural gas production. I will offer an amendment that authorizes a study to examine these stripper wells and low-pressure natural gas infrastructure to determine how these resources can be captured. This will increase energy efficiency by ensuring that we fully utilize existing resources. We must also look to renewable fuels as well as alternative energy sources to fuel our future. The world’s first renewable-energy powered biodiesel facility is located in my district at the City of Denton Landfill in Denton, Texas. The facility has an initial production capacity of three million gallons of pure biodiesel per year and is powered by renewable biogas extracted from the adjacent City of Denton Landfill. This is a powerful example of the role that local governments can play in cleaning up our environment. In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to reiterate my support for a comprehensive national energy policy and thank you again for this mark-up.
Congressional "Academy Day" Set for April 9th
Posted by Michelle Stein on April 4, 2005
Representative Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) today announced that he, along with fellow member, Representative Mac Thornberry (TX-13), will sponsor an "Academy Day" on Saturday, April 9th, for students interested in attending one of the nation’s service academies.
The program, which is open to all area high school students, will be held from 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. at the Little Theatre on the campus of North Central Texas College, 1525 West California Street, Gainesville, Texas 76240.
Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY; and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT will be on hand to explain the admission process and answer questions.
"Academy Day" gives students throughout the region the opportunity to find out more about the application process to some of the nation’s top-notch educational institutions," Burgess said. "I am pleased to co-host this informational event with Congressman Thornberry."
For more information regarding Academy Day, or directions to North Central College in Gainesville, please contact:
Robin Vaughan
Congressman Michael Burgess
972) 434-9700
robin.vaughan@mail.house.gov
Patti Hamilton
Congressman Mac Thornberry
(940) 692-1700
patti.thompson@mail.house.gov
Statement by Congressman Burgess on Terri Schiavo
Posted by Michelle Stein on March 21, 2005
Statement by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26):
On Monday, March 21, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 203-58 during an emergency session of allowing a federal court to review the case of Terri Schiavo; President George W. Bush signed the bill later Monday morning.
“The right-to-life is something I stand firmly behind. As Congress has worked over the past several weeks to secure the jurisdiction of federal courts to review the circumstances concerning Terri Schiavo’s case, I am careful to remember that this situation has been a battle for the Schiavo family for 15 years.
As the House convened for a special session late on Sunday evening, I knew that we were discussing a pressing issue that faces not only the Schiavo family but also thousands of families around the country.
As a doctor, I cannot stress enough the importance of having a living will or advance directive. It is your freedom to direct your doctors or physicians to which treatments you will or won’t accept for conditions of which there is little or no hope of recovery.
What happens if you don’t provide a living will for your family? The stress associated with making these crucial decisions for a loved one can tear a family apart.
I know most people are uncomfortable thinking about a time when this decision might be necessary for them or a loved one, but it is crucial to make decisions now. Families can prevent family turmoil and emotional stress by discussing these weighty decisions.
It is a simple process that does not require an attorney – you can do this on your own. Go online and conduct a search for ‘Living Wills’ for the simple forms or ask your family physician.”
Burgess Ft. Worth District Office Open House
Posted by on March 18, 2005 |
Latest from twitter
Get the most up to date news from me on Twitter.
Five things you need to know about the #COVID19 from @DrNancyM_CDC https://t.co/SOUwnXj9AB
Katherine Johnson was a pioneer and inspiration to young women around the world. Her legacy will live on for genera… https://t.co/FwAKIYXlPk
"Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the American economy and minority-owned businesses are no exception to that fa… https://t.co/g2ReRiewHm
. @CDCgov announced an initiative to help labs in rural communities improve diagnostic excellence through… https://t.co/rMDvYlPdkt
With the announcement of another confirmed #COVID19 case, I want to thank the over 300 U.S. Public Health Commissio… https://t.co/qf9ddh9nLN