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Reflecting on the Remarks of Interim Prime Minister of Iraq Dr. Allawi
Posted by on September 23, 2004
Remarks by Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to a joint session of the United States Congress For Congressman Burgess' statement, please see the bottom of this page. The House Chamber, The Capitol, Washington, DC 10:04am (EDT), September 23, 2004 PRIME MIN. ALLAWI: "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim." Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, it's my distinct honor and a great privilege to speak to you today on behalf of Iraq's interim government and its people. It's my honor, too, to come to Congress and to thank this nation and this people for making our cause your cause, our struggle your struggle. Before I turn to my government's plan for Iraq, I have three important messages for you today. First, we are succeeding in Iraq. (Applause.) It's a tough struggle with setbacks, but we are succeeding. I have seen some of the images that are being shown here on television. They are disturbing. They focus on the tragedies, such as the brutal and barbaric murder of two American hostages this week. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families and to all those who lost loved ones. Yet, as we mourn these losses, we must not forget either the progress we are making or what is our stake in Iraq. We are fighting for freedom and democracy -- ours and yours. Every day we strengthen the institutions that will protect our new democracy, and every day we grow in strength and determination to defeat the terrorists and their barbarism. The second message is quite simple and one that I would like to deliver directly from my people to yours. Thank you, America. (Applause.) We Iraqis know that Americans have made and continue to make enormous sacrifices to liberate Iraq, to assure Iraq's freedom. I have come here to thank you and to promise you that your sacrifices are not in vain. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis are grateful. They are grateful to be rid of Saddam Hussein and the torture and brutality he forced upon us; grateful for the chance to build a better future for our families, our country and our region. We Iraqis are grateful to you, America, for your leadership and your sacrifice for our liberation and our opportunity to start anew. Third, I stand here today as the prime minister of a country emerging finally from dark ages of violence, aggression, corruption and greed. Like almost every Iraqi, I have many friends who were murdered, tortured or raped by the regime of Saddam Hussein. We -- well over a million Iraqis were murdered or are missing. We estimate at least 300,000 in mass graves, which stand as monuments to the inhumanity of Saddam's regime. Thousands of my Kurdish brothers and sisters were gassed to death by Saddam's chemical weapons. Millions more like me were driven into exile. Even in exile, as I myself can vouch, we were not safe from Saddam. And as we lived under tyranny at home, so our neighbors lived in fear or Iraq's aggression and brutality. Reckless wars, the use of weapons of mass destruction, the needless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of lives, and the financing and exporting of terrorism, these were Saddam's legacy to the world. My friends, today we are better off, you are better off, and the world is better off without Saddam Hussein. (Extended cheers and applause.) Your decision to go to war in Iraq was not an easy one, but it was the right one. (Applause.) There are no words that can express the debt of gratitude that future generations of Iraqis will owe to Americans. It would have been easy to have turned your back on our plight, but this is not a tradition of this great country. Not for the first time in history, you stood up with your allies for freedom and democracy. Ladies and gentlemen, I particularly want to thank you and the United States Congress for your brave vote in 2002 to authorize American men and women to go to war to liberate my country, because you realized what was at stake. And I want to thank you for your continued commitment last year when you voted to grant Iraq generous reconstruction and security funding package. I have met many of you, last year, and I have in Iraq. It's a tribute to your commitment to our country that you have come to see first-hand the challenges and the progress we have and we are making. Ladies and gentlemen, the costs now have been high. As we have lost our loved ones in this struggle, so have you. As we have mourned, so have you. This is a bitter price of combatting tyranny and terror. Our hearts go to the families -- every American who has given his or her life in the cause and every American who has been wounded to help us in our struggle. Now we are determined to honor your confidence and sacrifice by putting into practice in Iraq the values of liberty and democracy which are so dear to you, and which have triumphed over tyranny across our world. (Applause.) Creating a democratic, prosperous and stable nation where differences are respected, human rights protected, and which lives in peace with itself and its neighbors is our highest priority, our sternest challenge, and our greatest goal. It is a vision, I assure you, shared by the vast majority of the Iraqi people. But there are the tiny minority who despise the very ideas of liberty, of peace, of tolerance, and who will kill anyone, destroy anything to prevent Iraq and its people from achieving this goal. Among them are those who nurse fantasies of the former regime returning to power; there are fanatics who seek to impose a perverted vision of Islam in which the face of Allah cannot be seen; and there are terrorists, including many from outside Iraq, who seek to make our country the main battleground against freedom, democracy and civilization. For the struggle in Iraq today is not about the future of Iraq only, it's about the worldwide war between those who want to live in peace and freedom, and terrorists, terrorists who strike indiscriminately at soldiers, at civilians, as they did so tragically on 9/11 in America, and as they did in Spain and Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia and my country and many others. So in Iraq we confront both insurgency and the global war on terror, with their destructive forces sometimes overlapping. These killers may be just a tiny fraction of our 27 million population, but with their guns and their suicide bombs to intimidate and to frighten all the people of Iraq, I can tell you today they will not succeed. (Applause.) For these murderers have no political program or cause other than push our country back into tyranny. Their agenda is no different than terrorist forces that have struck all over the world, including in your own country on September 11th. There lies the fatal weakness. The insurgency in Iraq is disruptive but small, and it has not and will never resonate with the Iraqi people. Iraqi citizens know better than anyone the horrors of dictatorship. This is past we will never revisit. Ladies and gentlemen, let me turn now to our plan which we have developed to meet the real challenges which Iraq faces today, a plan that we are successfully implementing with your help. The plan has three basic parts: building democracy, defeating the insurgency, and improving the quality of ordinary Iraqis. The political strategy in our plan is to isolate the terrorists from the communities in which they operate. We are working hard to involve as many people as we can in the political process to cut the grounds from under the terrorists' feet. In troubled areas across the country, government representatives are meeting with local leaders. They are offering amnesty to those who realize the error of their ways. They are making clear that there can be no compromise with terror, that all Iraqis have the opportunity to join side -- to join the side of order and democracy, and that they should use the political process to address their legitimate concerns and hopes. I am a realist; I know that terrorism cannot be defeated with political tools only. But we can weaken it, ending local support; help us to tackle the enemy head-on to identify, isolate and eradicate this cancer. Let me provide you with a couple of examples where this political plan already is working. In Samarra, the Iraqi government has tackled the insurgents who once controlled the city. Following weeks of discussions between government officials and representatives, coalition forces, and local community leaders, regular access to the city has been restored, a new provincial council and governor have been selected, and a new chief of police has been appointed. Hundreds of insurgents have been pushed out of the city by local citizens eager to get with (sic) their lives. Today in Samarra, Iraqi forces are patrolling the city in close coordination with the coalition counterparts. In Tall Afar, a city northwest of Baghdad, the Iraqi government has reversed an effort by insurgents to wrest control away (sic) the proper authority. Iraqi forces put down the challenge and allowed local citizens to choose a new mayor and police chief. Thousands of civilians have returned to the city, and since their return, we have launched a large program of reconstruction and humanitarian assistance. Ladies and gentlemen, let me turn now to our military strategy. We plan to build and maintain security forces across Iraq. Ordinary Iraqis are anxious to take over entirely this role and to shoulder all the security burdens of our country, as quickly as possible. (Applause.) For now, of course, we need the help of our American and coalition partners, but the training of Iraqi security forces is moving forward briskly and effectively. The Iraqi government now commands almost 50,000 armed and combat-ready Iraqis. By January it will be some 145,000 and by the end of next year some 250,000 Iraqis. The government has accelerated the development of Iraqi special forces and the establishment of a counterterrorist strike force, specific -- to tackle specific problems posed by insurgencies. Our intelligence is getting better every day. You have seen that -- the successful resolution of the Najaf crisis and in the targeted attacks against insurgents in Fallujah. These new Iraqi forces are rising to a challenge. They are fighting on behalf of sovereign Iraqi government, and their performance is improving every day. Working closely with the coalition and other allies, they are striking their enemies wherever they hide, disrupting operations, destroying safe houses, and removing terrorist leaders. But improving the everyday lives of Iraqis, tackling our economic problems is also essential to our plan. Across the country there is a daily progress too. Oil pipelines are being repaired, basic services are being improved, the homes are being rebuilt, schools and hospitals are being rebuilt, the clinics are open and reopened. There are now over 6 million children at school, many of them attending one of the 2,500 schools that have been renovated since liberation. (Applause.) Last week we completed a national polio vaccination campaign, reaching over 90 percent of all Iraqi children. We're starting work on 150 new health centers across the country. Millions of dollars in economic aid and humanitarian assistance from this country and others around the world are flowing into Iraq. For this, again, I want to thank you. (Applause.) And so today, despite the setbacks and daily outrages, we can and should be hopeful for the future. In Najaf and Kufa, this plan has already brought success. In those cities, a firebrand cleric had taken over Shi'a Islam's holiest sites in defiance of the government and the local population. Immediately, the Iraqi government ordered the Iraqi armed forces to action, to use military force to create conditions for political success. Together with the coalition partners, Iraqi forces cleaned out insurgents from everywhere in the city, capturing hundreds and killings many more. At the same time, the government worked with political leaders and with Ayatollah Sistani to find a peaceful solution to the occupation of the shrine. We were successful. The shrine was preserved, order was restored, and Najaf and Kufa were returned to their citizens. Today -- (applause) -- today the foreign media have lost interest and left, but millions of dollars in economic aid and humanitarian assistance are now flowing into the cities. Ordinary citizens are once again free to (live ?) and worship at these places. As we move forward, the next major milestone will be holding of the free and fair national and local elections in January next. (Applause.) I know that some have speculated, even doubted, whether this date can be met. So let me be absolutely clear. Elections will occur in Iraq, on time in January, because Iraqis want elections on time. (Applause.) For the skeptics who do not understand the Iraqi people, they do not realize how decades of torture and repression feed our desire for freedom. At every step of the political process to date, the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people has proved the doubters wrong. They said -- (applause) -- we would miss January deadline to pass the interim constitution. We proved them wrong. They warned that there could be no successful handover of sovereignty by the end of June. We proved them wrong. A sovereign Iraq -- Iraqi government took over control two days early. They doubted whether a national conference could be staged this August. We proved them wrong. Despite intimidation and violence, over 1,400 citizens -- a quarter of them women -- from all regions and from every ethnic, religious and political grouping in Iraq elected a national council. And I pledge to you today we will prove them wrong again over the elections. (Cheers, applause.) Our independent electoral commission is working with the United Nations, the multinational force and our own Iraqi security forces to make these elections a reality. In 15 out of our 18 of our Iraqi provinces, we could hold elections tomorrow. Although this is not what we see in your media, that is a fact. (Applause.) Your government, our government and the United Nations are all helping us, mobilizing the necessary resources to fund voter registration and information programs. We will establish up to 30,000 polling sites, 130,000 election workers, and all other complex aspects mounting a general election in a -- in a nation of 27 million before -- before January next -- in January next -- before the end of January next. We already know that terrorists and former regime elements will do all they can to disrupt these elections. There would be no greater success for the terrorists if we delay, and no greater blow when the elections take place, as they will, on schedule. (Applause.) The Iraqi elections may not be perfect, may not be the best elections that Iraq will ever hold. They will no doubt be an excuse for violence from those that despise liberty, as were the first elections in Sierra Leone, South Africa or Indonesia. But they will take place, and they will be free and fair. And though they won't be the end of the journey toward democracy, they will be a giant step forward in Iraq's political evolution. (Applause.) They will pave the way for a government that reflects the will and has the confidence of the Iraqi people. Ladies and gentlemen, this is our strategy for moving Iraq steadily towards the security and democracy and prosperity our people crave. But Iraq cannot accomplish this alone. The resolve and will of the coalition in supporting a free Iraq is vital to our success. (Applause.) The Iraqi government needs the help of the international community, the help of countries that not only believe in the Iraqi people but also believe in the fight for freedom and against tyranny and terrorism everywhere. Already Iraq has many partners. The transition in Iraq from brutal dictatorship to freedom and democracy is not only an Iraqi endeavor; it is an international one. More than 30 countries are represented in Iraq with troops on the ground in harm's way. We Iraqis are grateful for each and every one of these courageous men and women. (Applause.) United Nations Resolution 1546, passed in June 2004, endorsed the Iraqi interim government and pledged international support for Iraq -- upcoming elections. The G-8, the European Union and NATO have also issued formal statements of support. NATO is now helping with one of Iraq's most urgent needs, the training of Iraqi security forces. I am delighted by the new agreement to step up the pace and scope of this training. The United Nations has reestablished its mission in Iraq, a new United Nations special representative has been appointed, and a team of United Nations personnel is now operating in Baghdad. Many more nations have committed to Iraq's future, in the form of economic aid. We Iraqis are aware how international this effort truly is. But our opponents, the terrorists, also understand all too well that this is an international effort, and that's why they have targeted members of the coalition. I know the pain this causes. I know it is difficult, but the coalition must stand firm. When -- (applause.) When governments negotiate with terrorists, everyone in the free world suffers. When political leaders sound the siren of defeatism in the face of terrorism, it only encourages more violence. (Applause.) Working together, we will defeat the killers, and we will do this by refusing to bargain about our most fundamental principles. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, goodwill aside, I know that many observers around the world honestly wonder if we in Iraq really can restore our economy, be good neighbors, guarantee the democratic rule of law, and overcome the enemies who seek to tear us down. I understand why, faced with the daily headlines, there are these doubts. I know, too, that there will be many more setbacks and obstacles to overcome. But these doubters risk underestimating our country, and they risk fueling the hopes of the terrorists. Despite our problems, despite our recent history, no one should doubt that Iraq is a country of tremendous human resources and natural resources. Iraq is still a nation with an inspiring culture and a tradition, and an educated and civilized people. And Iraq is still a land made strong by its Islamic faith, which teaches us tolerance, love, respect and duty. (Applause.) Above all, they risk underestimating the courage, determination of the Iraqi people to embrace democracy, peace and freedom, for the dreams of our families are the same as the dreams of the families here in America and around the world. There are those who want to divide our world. I appeal to you, who have done so much already to help us, to ensure they don't succeed. Do not allow them to say to Iraqis, to Arabs, to Muslims, that we have only two models of government -- brutal dictatorship and religious extremism. This is wrong. Like Americans, we Iraqis want to enjoy the fruits of liberty. Half of the world's 1.5 billion Muslims already enjoy democratically elected governments. As Prime Minister Blair said to you last year when he stood here, anywhere, anytime ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same: Freedom not tyranny; democracy not dictatorship; and the rule of law, not the rule of the secret police. (Cheers, applause.) Do not let them convince others that the values of freedom, of tolerance and democracy are for you and the West but not for us. For the first time in our history, the Iraqi people can look forward to controlling our own destiny. (Applause.) This would not have been possible without the help and sacrifices of this country and its coalition partners. I thank you again from the bottom of my heart. And let me tell you that as we meet, our greatest challenge, by building a democratic future, we the people of the new Iraq will remember those who have stood by us. As generous as you have been, we will stand with you too. As stalwart as you have been, we will stand with you too. Neither tyranny nor terrorism has a place in our region or our world. And that is why we Iraqis will stand by you, America, in a war larger than either of our nations, the global battle to live in freedom. God bless you, and thank you. (Cheers, applause.) END click here.
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Battling Terrorism Abroad: Iraq & Beslan
Posted by on September 23, 2004
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HR 1308 Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act of 2003
Posted by on September 23, 2004
H.R. 1038 Vote: 339-65 Burgess voted Yea AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE- Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Title:An act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for working families, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Thomas, William M. [CA-22] (introduced 3/18/2003) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Conference Report: 108-696 (in Congressional Record H7479-7509) Related Bills: H.RES.270, H.RES.794 Latest Major Action: 9/23/2004 Cleared for White House. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 6/5/2003--Passed Senate, amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Relief for Working Families Tax Act of 2003 - Title I: Child Tax Credit - (Sec. 101) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to: (1) accelerate the refundability of the child tax credit to the 15 percent rate to make it effective in 2003 (currently, 2005); and (2) include combat pay (otherwise excludable from gross income) as earned income for purposes of determining such refundability. (Sec. 102) Increases the threshold amount, for joint filers, applicable to the child tax credit to $115,000 for 2008 and 2009 and setting it at $150,000 beginning in 2010. Provides that such amount, for a married individual filing separately, shall be one-half the amount of a joint return. (Maintains the current threshold amount of $75,000 for single filers.) (Sec. 103) Applies the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act of 2001 to this title. Title II: Uniform Definition of Child, Etc. - (Sec. 201) Rewrites the provision defining the term "dependent" in the Code and modifies head of household, dependent care credit, child tax credit, earned income credit, personal exemption, and other provisions to be consistent with such definition. Title III: Customs User Fees - (Sec. 301) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend customs user fee authority until March 31, 2010.
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HR 1057 The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act
Posted by on September 23, 2004
H.R. 1057 Vote: 414-0 Burgess voted Yea To repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs. Title:To repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs. Sponsor: Rep DeMint, Jim [SC-4] (introduced 3/4/2003) Cosponsors: 203 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 9/27/2004 Received in the Senate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/4/2003--Introduced. The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-16) to make the sunset provisions inapplicable to section 202, which expanded and increased the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs under the Internal Revenue Code.
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H.R. 2028 Pledge Protection Act of 2003
Posted by on September 23, 2004
H.R. 2028 Vote: 247-173 Burgess voted Yea To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance. Title:To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance. Sponsor: Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] (introduced 5/8/2003) Cosponsors: 226 Committees: House Judiciary House Reports: 108-691 Related Bills: H.RES.781 Latest Major Action: 9/27/2004 Received in the Senate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 9/23/2004--Passed House, amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Pledge Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any Federal court, and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance or its validity under the Constitution. Makes this limitation inapplicable to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
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A Mission to Russia, A Visit with Survivors
Posted by on September 22, 2004
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HR 5025 Appropriations bill FY2005 Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies
Posted by on September 22, 2004
H.R.5025 Vote: 397-12 Burgess voted Yea Title:Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury, and independent agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Istook, Ernest J., Jr. [OK-5] (introduced 9/8/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations House Reports: 108-671 Related Bills: H.RES.770, S.2806 Latest Major Action: 9/22/2004 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 397 - 12 (Roll no. 465). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 9/8/2004--Introduced. Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005 - Makes appropriations for FY 2005 for: (1) the Office of the Secretary of Transportation; (2) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); (3) the Federal Highway Administration (FHA); (4) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; (5) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); (6) the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), earmarking a specified amount for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); (7) the Federal Transit Administration (8) the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; (9) the Maritime Administration; (10) the Research and Special Programs Administration; (11) the Office of Inspector General; (12) the Surface Transportation Board; (13) the Department of the Treasury; (14) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; (15) the Financial Management Service; (16) the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau; (17) the United States Mint; (18) the Bureau of the Public Debt; (19) the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); (20) the Executive Office of the President; (21) the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board; (22) the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); (23) the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (24) the Election Assistance Commission; (25) the Federal Labor Relations Authority; (26) the Federal Maritime Commission; (27) the General Services Administration (GSA); (28) the Merit Systems Protection Board; (29) the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation; (30) the National Archives and Records Administration; (31) the Office of Government Ethics; (32) the Office of Personnel Management (OPM); (33) the Office of Special Counsel; (34) the United States Postal Service; and (35) the United States Tax Court.
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Congressman Burgess Returns from Russia
Posted by on September 21, 2004
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Flower Mound) returned from a congressional delegation visit to Russia. Rep. Burgess traveled, with U.S. State Department approval, to Russia to express the sympathy of America for the recent tragedy to befall a Beslan school. “There is no just cause for the abhorrent attack on the lives of innocent children, teachers and parents,” declared Rep. Michael Burgess. “It was my honor to pay my respects, and those of Americans across the country, to the brave souls terrorized during the hostage crisis.” Before departing for Russia, Congressman Burgess asked several local schools if they would like to participate in a card giving program. The response was overwhelming. Rep. Burgess was able to present well-wishes of local students to survivors and their families through hundreds of cards. “The smiles on the faces of those injured and suffering was enough to bring a grown man to tears,” remarked Rep. Michael Burgess. “The hearts of American children truly shined in the eyes of the Russian children, and I am truly thankful for their care and cheer.” The following schools participated: Rockbrook Elementary School (Lewisville), Sanger Middle School, Calhoun Middle School (Denton), Wilshire Elementary (Euless), Florence Elementary (Southlake), Christ Our Savior Lutheran K-5 (Coppell) and Lewisville High School North (9th Grade). Over fifty cards from Lewisville High School North contained Russian phrases provided by a young Russian émigré, Sasha Watson. In addition to several political meetings, Congressman Burgess focused his time at two hospitals visiting survivors and their families. During his time in Russia, Congressman Burgess spoke on Russian national radio where he expressed sympathies and a strong commitment to battling terrorism. Congressman Michael Burgess commented on his mission overall: “The immediate connection with the Russians, after what is often described as Russia’s 9/11, is unforgettable. I will continue to monitor that aid and supplies are available to those who suffered during this attack. By bringing the War on Terror straight to children, terrorists have sunk to a new low. America will continue to build relations with those countries dedicated to combating terrorism. We will succeed.”
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Burgess is Two-Time Winner of Tax Award
Posted by on September 17, 2004
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) awarded Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) with their annual “Hero of the Taxpayer” award for the second time. On the same day, the American Shareholders Association (ASA) presented Rep. Burgess with the “Friend of the Shareholder” annual award. “I have been, and will continue to be, a consistent supporter of conservative fiscal policies,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess after receiving news of his awards. “It is an honor to be recognized again this year.” Members in both houses of Congress are eligible for Americans for Tax Reform’s “Hero of the Taxpayer” award. A “Hero,” by ATR standards, is a member who has an 85% pro-taxpayer voting record. Rep. Burgess scored a perfect 100%. Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform and prominent D.C.-based activist stated, “Looking at these votes, taxpayers back home can tell if they have a friend or an enemy in Washington. As far as Michael Burgess is concerned, they have a friend.” Votes rated by ATR this year included votes on tort reform, free trade, spending control, and overtime. In addition to votes on legislation, ATR counts its “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” as two votes in the group’s annual rating. American Shareholders Association rated votes included preserving the use of stock options, opening up new trade opportunities, tort reform, personal reemployment accounts, Alternative Minimum Tax relief, and international tax reform. “The ‘Friend of the Shareholder’ award demonstrates that Rep. Burgess stood on the side of investors during this critical time by voting for pro-growth, pro-investor legislation which has boosted investor confidence and shareholder value for Texas shareholders,” stated ASA Executive Director Daniel Clifton. Rep. Michael Burgess believes in a system where taxes are simpler, fairer and flatter. During the 108th Congress, Congressman Burgess introduced his Freedom Flat Tax legislation in an effort to reform the current, complex tax code system.
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Burgess’ Small Business & Benjamin Franklin Awards
Posted by on September 17, 2004
The Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC) presented Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) with their annual “Small Business Advocate” award. Rep. Burgess was also presented with the “Benjamin Franklin” award by The 60 Plus Association, a non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach to seniors issues. “Small business and free enterprise are the backbone of America’s business community” stated Congressman Michael Burgess after receiving news of his awards. “Both of these awards are an honor to receive.” Members in both houses of Congress are eligible for Small Business Survival Committee’s “Small Business Advocate” award. An “advocate,” by SBSC standards, is a member who has “demonstrates a strong commitment to America’s small business and entrepreneurial sector.” Karen Kerrigan, SBSC President & CEO stated, “By voting for key small business initiatives Rep. Burgess has played a vital role in encouraging job creation and business investment.” Votes rated by SBSC this year included votes on tax relief and investment incentives for small business owners and entrepreneurs; regulatory reform and modernization; access to affordable health coverage; stock option preservation for small firms and their workforce; and expanding access to international markets. Jim Martin, President and founder of 60 Plus Association, and coiner of the term “death tax” in 1993, stated this about Congressman Michael Burgess, “Besides the Franklin Award, Rep. Burgess has already earned the 60 Plus Association’s top honor, the Guardian of Seniors’ Rights Award, for his efforts to protect Social Security and Medicare and his work to abolish the 1993 tax on seniors’ Social Security benefits.” “Fundamental tax reform has always been a core legislative issue for me,” commented Rep. Michael Burgess. “The works of advocacy groups, like the 60 Plus Association, make the job of reforming America’s tax code in Congress imperative.”
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