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H.R. 2443 To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2004, to amend various laws administered by the Coast Guard, and for other purposes
Posted by on July 21, 2004
H.R.2443 Passed 425-1 Burgess voted YES Title:A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for the United States Coast Guard, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Young, Don [AK] (introduced 6/12/2003) Cosponsors: 3 Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation House Reports: 108-233; Latest Conference Report: 108-617 (in Congressional Record H6022-6048) Related Bills: H.RES.416, H.RES.730, H.R.1579, S.733 Latest Major Action: 7/28/2004 Presented to President. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 3/30/2004--Passed Senate, amended. (There are 3 other summaries) Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2004 - Title I: Authorization - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and FY 2005 for the Coast Guard (CG), under the categories of: (1) CG operation and maintenance, with a portion from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (Fund) for certain purposes under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA purposes); (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including related equipment, with a portion from the Fund for OPA purposes, and another portion for the Integrated Deepwater System program; (3) research, development, test, and evaluation of technologies, materials, and human factors directly relating to improving CG performance in search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine safety, marine environmental protection, enforcement of laws and treaties, ice operations, oceanographic research, and defense readiness, with a portion from the Fund for OPA purposes; (4) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; (5) environmental compliance and restoration at CG facilities; (6) alteration or removal of bridges constituting obstructions to navigation, and personnel and administrative costs associated with the Bridge Alteration Program; and (7) CG reserve training. (Sec. 102) Authorizes a CG end-of-year strength of 45,500 active duty military personnel for FY 2004. Authorizes average military training student loads for FY 2004 in specified numbers under the categories of Recruit/Special, Flight, Professional, and Officer. Title II: Coast Guard Personnel, Financial, and Property Management - (Sec. 201) Amends specified Federal law to permit the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating (Secretary) to provide bonuses to enlisted members who complete training in a critical skill. (Sec. 202) Increases the authorized maximum number of CG active duty commissioned officers (except commissioned warrant officers), during times when no war or national emergency has been declared by Congress or the President. Directs the Secretary, in time of war or national emergency, to establish the total number of CG active duty commissioned officers (excluding commissioned warrant officers). Increases the authorized maximum percentages of commanders and lieutenant commanders on the active duty promotion list. (Sec. 203) Gives the CG direct loan authority (as well as the current loan guarantee authority) for acquisition and construction of military housing. Authorizes the Secretary to make such direct loans to eligible entities. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the CG Auxiliary, subject to the approval of the CG Commandant (Commandant), to exercise dominion over personal property owned by Auxiliary units and dedicated solely for Auxiliary use. (Sec. 205) Provides that the CG Auxiliary and its units are U.S. instrumentalities for taxation purposes and for specified tax-exemptions. (Sec. 206) Lowers the maximum age for retention in an active status as a CG Reserve officer from 62 to 60 unless on active duty other than for training, duty on a board, or duty of a limited or temporary nature if assigned to active duty from an inactive duty status. Requires a Reserve officer serving on any of such types of duty to, if qualified, be retired on the day such officer becomes 62 or, if not qualified, be discharged on that day. (Sec. 207) Authorizes the Commandant to accept original enlistments for other than full years, and reenlistments for any term of years and months from two to six years. (Sec. 208) Reduces from three years to one year the minimum required amount of constructive credit to be given a CG Reserve Law Specialist upon assignment or designation. (Sec. 209) Authorizes CG exchanges and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) systems (which are nonappropriated fund instrumentalities) to enter into contracts or other agreements with other departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the CG or another Federal agency to provide goods and services beneficial to their efficient management and operation. (Sec. 210) Authorizes CG use of pay offsets to recover delinquent amounts owed by military members and civilian employees who hold Federal contractor-issued travel charge cards. (Sec. 211) Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to agree to provide day care services to armed forces members, with or without requiring reimbursement, in military child development centers and other supported programs. Provides children of CG members the same access as children of other armed forces members to such centers and programs. Title III: Law Enforcement, Marine Safety, and Environmental Protection - (Sec. 301) Authorizes the Commandant to waive a requirement that the marking of an underwater wreck include use of a light at night, upon determination that placing a light would be impractical and that such waiver would not create an undue hazard to navigation. (Sec. 302) Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) to authorize the Secretary to prohibit the use on the bridge of vessels of certain electric and electronic devices that interfere with communications or navigation equipment, if the CG determines they pose a threat to vessel safety. Authorizes the Commandant to enter into cooperative agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out PWSA vessel operating requirements, including vessel traffic services. Amends the PWSA to permit the Secretary to cooperate with a public or private entity for Marine vessel traffic services. (Sec. 304) Amends Federal law to revise suspension criteria, and the bases for suspension and revocation of a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document. (Sec. 309) Increases civil penalties for violations of bridge statutes and failure to comply with established safety standards. (Sec. 317) Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the owners of certain oil-laden non-tank vessels to prepare and submit to the President a plan for responding to a worst case discharge, and to a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil. (Sec. 319) Directs the CG to report to specified congressional committees with respect to issues related to implementation of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. (Sec. 320) Directs the: (1) President to establish a loan program to provide interim assistance to fishermen and aquaculture producer claimants during the claims procedure under the above Act; and (2) Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a study of the effectiveness of the claims procedures and emergency response programs under such Act. (Sec. 321) Directs the CG and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to consult with one another with respect to fisheries enforcement plans and fishery patrols and to prepare and make available to one another annual reports with respect to such plans and patrols. (Sec. 322) Requires a report from the CG to specified congressional committees with respect to performance under the first term of the Integrated Deepwater System contract. (Sec. 323) Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress regarding enforcement efforts with respect to small passenger vessel safety requirements. (Sec. 324) Directs the Commandant to report to specified congressional committees with respect to CG electronic navigational charting. (Sec. 325) Directs the Secretary to examine possible measures for the protection of North Atlantic right whales from ship strikes. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to specified congressional committees on the results of such measures. (Sec. 326) Provides conditions under which a foreign vessel will be deemed in compliance with National Maritime Transportation Security Plan requirements. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish procedures, measures, and standards to assure that foreign vessels destined for, arriving at, or departing from U.S. ports or places comply with appropriate vessel security requirements. Title IV: Miscellaneous - (Sec. 401) Amends the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 to require the Secretary to oversee the conveyances of lighthouses. (Sec. 402) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005 for capital expenses related to LORAN-C navigation infrastructure. (Sec. 403) Directs the Commandant to convey the following decommissioned CG cutters: (1) BRAMBLE, to the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History, in Port Huron, Michigan; (2) PLANETREE, to the nonprofit group Jewish Life, in Sherman Oaks, California; and (3) SUNDEW, to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Authority, in Duluth, Minnesota. Requires, as a condition of such conveyance, that the recipient agree to: (1) use the vessel for education and historical display purposes and not for commercial transportation, and make it available to the Federal Government if needed in time of war or national emergency; and (2) hold the Federal Government harmless for claims arising from exposure to hazardous materials. (Sec. 404) Designates a cove on the southern coast of Elrington Island in Alaska as Koss Cove, in honor of the late Able Bodied Seaman Eric Steiner Koss who served on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessel RAINER and died in the performance of a nautical charting mission in this cove. (Sec. 405) Declares a specified portion of the Wateree River in South Carolina, upstream and downstream from a certain railroad bridge, to not be navigable waters of the United States for purposes of bridge administration. (Sec. 406) Revises a coastwise trade authorization provision under the Maritime Policy Improvement Act of 2002 to give priority to any U.S.-built-and-documented vessel available to transport a platform jacket (offshore drilling or production structure or its components), if such vessel has the capacity to transport or launch such platform jacket (transport and launch under current law). (Sec. 407) Authorizes the CG Commandant to consult with the Office of Naval Research and other Federal agencies with research and development programs that may provide innovative construction alternatives for the Integrated Deepwater System. (Sec. 409) Authorizes the Commandant to establish a new National Coast Guard Museum on Federal lands at a location specified by the Commandant. Requests that the new Museum be supported to the maximum extent practicable with nonappropriated Federal funds or non-Federal funds. Requires the Commandant, in advance of such establishment, to submit to specified congressional committees a plan for constructing, operating, and maintaining the Museum.
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H.R. 4840 Tax Simplification for Americas Job Creators Act of 2004
Posted by on July 21, 2004
H.R.4840 Passed 424-0 Burgess voted YES Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify the taxation of businesses. Sponsor: Rep Crane, Philip M. [IL-8] (introduced 7/15/2004) Cosponsors: 18 Committees: House Ways and Means Latest Major Action: 7/22/2004 Received in the Senate.
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H.R. 3574 Stock Option Accounting Reform Act
Posted by on July 20, 2004
H.R.3574 Passed 312-111 Burgess voted YES Title:To require the mandatory expensing of stock options granted to executive officers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6] (introduced 11/21/2003) Cosponsors: 131 Committees: House Financial Services; House Energy and Commerce House Reports: 108-609 Part 1 Related Bills: H.RES.725, S.1890 Latest Major Action: 7/21/2004 Received in the Senate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 7/20/2004--Passed House, without amendment. (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 15, 2004. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Stock Option Accounting Reform Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require an issuer of registered securities to show as an expense in its annual report the fair value of all stock purchase options granted after December 31, 2004, to: (1) all individuals serving as the chief executive officer of an issuer, or acting in a similar capacity, during the most recent fiscal year, regardless of compensation level; and (2) the four most highly compensated executive officers (other than a chief executive officer) that were serving as executive officers of an issuer at the end of the most recent fiscal year ("named executive officer"). Defines the fair value of an option to purchase such stock Exempts small business issuers from the Act's requirement. (Sec. 3) Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from recognizing as "generally accepted" any accounting principle relating to the expensing of stock options unless it complies with both: (1) specified expense recomputation requirements; and (2) a required joint study by the Secretaries of Commerce and of Labor of the economic impact of the mandatory expensing of employee stock options. Requires the recomputation and re-reporting of the expense of a stock purchase option that is exercised, to equal the difference between the price of the underlying stock and the exercise price. Requires the re-reporting as a reduction of the total expense originally required to be reported if the option expires or is forfeited. (Sec. 4) Directs the SEC to require each issuer to include in its periodic report more detailed information regarding stock option plans, stock purchase plans, and other arrangements involving an employee acquisition of an equity interest in the company, including: (1) a discussion, written in accordance with the Plain English Handbook published by the SEC Office of Investor Education and Assistance on the dilutive effect of stock option plans; (2) expanded disclosure of the dilutive effect of employee stock options on the issuer's earnings per share; (3) prominent placement and increased comparability and uniformity of all stock option related information; (4) the number of outstanding stock options; (5) the weighted average exercise price of all outstanding stock options; and (6) the estimated number of stock options outstanding that will vest in each year.
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H.R. 4850 District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005
Posted by on July 20, 2004
H.R.4850 Passed 371-54 Burgess voted YES Title:Making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [NJ-11] (introduced 7/19/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations House Reports: 108-610 Related Bills: H.RES.724 Latest Major Action: 7/21/2004 Received in the Senate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 7/19/2004--Introduced. District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005 - Makes appropriations to the District of Columbia for FY 2005, including amounts for the Federal payments: (1) for District of Columbia Resident Tuition Support; (2) for emergency planning and security costs in the District; (3) to District of Columbia Courts; (4) for Defender Services in District of Columbia Courts; (5) to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (including transfer of funds); (6) to the DC Water and Sewer Authority; (7) to the Department of Transportation in the District for the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative; (8) to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; (9) for capital development in the District; (10) for a DC Public School library enhancement program; (11) for the Family Literacy Program; (12) for foster care improvements in the District; (13) to the Chief Financial Officer of the District; and (14) for a DC Public School improvement program. Appropriates specified sums out of the District's general fund and/or other funds for the current fiscal year for: (1) operating expenses (with limitations); (2) governmental direction and support; (3) economic development and regulation; (4) public safety and justice; (5) the public education system (including transfer of funds); (6) human support services (including transfer of funds); (7) public works; (8) the Cash Reserve; (9) repayment of certain loans and interest; (10) payment of interest on short-term borrowing; (11) principal and interest payments on the District's Certificates of Participation, issued to finance the ground lease underlying the building located at One Judiciary Square; (12) refunds and the payment of legal settlements or judgments that have been entered against the District government; (13) the John A. Wilson Building; (14) workforce investments; (15) certain non-departmental agency costs; (16) the Emergency Planning and Security Fund; (17) a Tax Increment Financing Program; (18) equipment lease operating; (19) the Emergency and Contingency Reserve Fund; (20) the Family Literacy Program; (21) the Pay-As-You-Go Capital funds in lieu of capital financing; (22) the Pay-As-You-Go Contingency Fund; (23) revised revenue estimate contingency priority; (24) the Water and Sewer Authority; (25) the Washington Aqueduct; (26) the Stormwater Permit Compliance Enterprise Fund; (27) the Lottery and Charitable Games Enterprise Fund; (28) the Sports and Entertainment Commission; (29) the District of Columbia Retirement Board; (30) the Washington Convention Center Enterprise Fund; (31) the National Capital Revitalization Corporation; (32) the University of the District of Columbia; (33) the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund; (34) the Other Post Employee Benefits Trust Fund; (35) the DC Public Library Trust Fund; and (36) capital outlay (including rescissions).
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MANPADS Defense Act of 2004
Posted by on July 19, 2004
 

Congressman Michael C. Burgess

Statement for the Record - MANPADS Defense Act of 2004

July 19, 2004

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4065, The MANPADS Defense Act.

In response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, Congress passed The Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) to ensure the safety of airline passengers.

This legislation expanded the federal air marshal program, required that all cockpit doors be strengthened, armed pilots, increased screening of passengers and required increased screening of passenger baggage using explosive detection systems.

Congressional efforts have, in large part, focused on in-flight safety and airport security, but an important vulnerability still exists. Commercial airliners are vulnerable to attacks from man-portable surface-to-air missiles, or MANPADS, during each takeoff and landing.

MANPADS are easily accessible and inexpensive; on the black market, the systems can be purchased for less than $100,000. Thousands of MANPADS exist around the world, many in the hands of guerrilla and terrorist groups. These groups have already demonstrated their intent to use MANPADs on civilian aircraft on more than one occasion.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, which is the sixth largest airport in the country, is located in my congressional district. Millions of airline passengers travel through DFW airport each year, and I am concerned about this vulnerability.

That is why I am a proud cosponsor of Chairman Mica's Commercial Aviation MANPADS Defense Act of 2004.

This legislation will help to protect airline passengers and crew from the MANPAD threat. H.R. 4065 requires the FAA to expedite airworthiness certification of the missile defense systems for commercial aircraft.

Additionally, it requires that the Department of Homeland Security report to Congress about the vulnerability assessment reports they are conducting at U.S. airports. DHS is also directed to report any recommendations that are issued regarding ground-based defense policies or procedures.

The MANPADS Defense Act urges the President to continue working with our international diplomatic partners to reduce or eliminate the availability of MANPADS worldwide.

Again, I would like to reiterate my support for The MANPADS Defense Act and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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Iraqi Independent Women's Group Comes to Washington
Posted by on July 15, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Florida talked about stories we will not read in the New York Times. Let me talk about another one. Today, Mr. Speaker, 20, 25 women from the country of Iraq are here on the Hill talking with various Members of the House of Representatives, and their stories are so very poignant. I just left a meeting with them, and I needed to share some of their words with my colleagues. To the question: What about the fact that America might have gone to war with Iraq under false pretenses? The first woman who raised her hand said, ``What took you so long?'' A woman who is a city leader in Karbala said 48 people in her family have been executed, and to this day they do not know where most of those family members are buried. She said to us, ``Why would you even ask this question?'' Another woman said, ``Chemical warfare has been used on my family. So many have been lost. We don't know where they have gone. You should have been here in 1991. Liberation was late. We were left to be tortured.'' On the subject of Fallujah, one woman stood up and very powerfully said, ``Please finish the job.'' I could not agree more. Click here to watch the video of Congressman Michael C. Burgess
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H.R. 4818 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005
Posted by on July 15, 2004
H.R.4818 Passed 365-41 Burgess voted YES Title:Making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kolbe, Jim [AZ-8] (introduced 7/13/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations House Reports: 108-599 Related Bills: H.RES.715 Latest Major Action: 7/19/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY AS OF: 7/13/2004--Introduced. Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005 - Makes appropriations for FY 2005 for: (1) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; (2) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation; (3) the Trade and Development Agency; (4) expenses of the President in carrying out certain programs under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; (5) U.S. Agency for International Development; (6) various bilateral economic assistance programs for foreign developing countries; (7) expenses for the Millenium Challenge Corporation; (8) the Inter-American Foundation, the African Development Foundation, and the Peace Corps; (9) global HIV/AIDS initiative; (10) international narcotics control and law enforcement and the Andean Counterdrug Initiative; (11) migration and refugee assistance; (12) nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs; (13) Department of the Treasury for international affairs technical assistance and debt restructuring; (14) certain U.S. military assistance programs for foreign countries; (15) U.S. contributions to certain international financial institutions; and (16) international programs and organizations. Sets forth certain limits and prohibitions on the use of appropriations for specified activities.
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The Burgess Bulletin - July 2004
Posted by on July 15, 2004
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Appropriations Bills – Rep. Burgess Brings Tax Dollars Home to North Texas The federal appropriations process is one of the most important parts of public policy. Unlike authorizing bills, which establish programs and policies, appropriations bills fund programs and must pass every year or the federal government shuts down. There are 13 appropriations bills in all. Both the House and Senate pass bills separately, and then they meet in what is called a “conference” to produce a single bill that will then be sent onto the President. The House has passed 8 of the 13 bills as of today. Within these bills, representatives can vie for federal dollars for their districts. In the Defense Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2005 (FY05), Congressman Michael Burgess secured $2.8 million for the University of North Texas’ Center for Advanced Research and Technology or CART. The University of North Texas’s CART research provides a unique opportunity establishing an incubator for interdisciplinary research with experimentation in the materials, computer and engineering scientific fields. “The University of North Texas had the foresight to invest in nanotechnology research,” commented Rep. Michael Burgess. “I was pleased to bring several million dollars in funding to CART last November, and I am equally proud to continue the trend this fiscal year.” For more information on the Appropriations process, please visit the House Committee on Appropriations website: http://appropriations.house.gov For an updated chart on FY05 Appropriations Bills, click here: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app05.html ________________________________________ News from Congressman Burgess We Can't Afford NOT to Fix Medical Liability – July 12, 2004 Chairman of the House Policy Subcommittee on Health, Rep. Michael Burgess hosted a hearing focused on the mounting problem of medical liability. The event brought experts from insurers, medical professionals and Members of Congress. Citing Texas as an example of how to fix the problem, Rep. Burgess is longtime advocate and critical leader in the fight for federal medical liability reform. ”Mr. Speaker, $230 billion - that is the cost last year of the medical justice system in this country. Of that figure, 20 percent went to compensate patients for actual pain and damages, 20 percent went to lawyers' fees, 20 percent went to insurance overhead, and 25 percent was paid out in non-economic damages for things like pain and suffering.” – Statement from the House Floor Texas Business Group Honors Rep. Burgess for Pro-Job Votes – June 24, 2004 Congressman Michael C. Burgess was selected as a Federal Fighter for Free Enterprise award by the Texas Association of Business (TAB). The award, the first from TAB, recognizes 17 Texas lawmakers who consistently voted for a pro-job, pro-Texas agenda in the first session of the 108th Congress. “I am honored to receive this award for my pro-job votes in Congress,” replied Rep. Michael Burgess upon hearing the news of the award. “Promoting a health economy, career growth and free enterprise is one of my main objectives in Congress.” ________________________________________ 4th of July Celebrated in the 26th District Throughout the month of July, Congressman Burgess has been seen in almost every town in the 26th Congressional District. Over the July 4th holiday, Rep. Burgess enjoyed riding in an official NASCAR Pace Car in the Flower Mound 4th of July Parade and The Colony Independence Day Parade. Medicare Town Halls Pack ‘Em In In recent weeks, Rep. Michael Burgess has addressed senior citizens at Medicare Town Hall events where he has discussed the new prescription drug benefit that saves seniors money! For more information on the new Medicare law that benefits all seniors, please visit www.Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). “Immediate relief is available to seniors under this package. Seniors have the ability to enroll in a discount drug card program. With these discount cards, all seniors could save anywhere between 10 and 25% on the cost of their prescription medications.” “Congress rose to the challenge of modernizing Medicare. We recognized it was a necessity, and we will continue our oversight. For the first time in a federal program, Congress has added a cost containment measure. The current monstrosity that is our Medicare program would bankrupt itself in the near future if these crucial adjustments to improve the program were not made. We needed to build a foundation from which we could work to refine the program and make it ready for the 21st Century. “No action” was not an option.” “Congress will remain accountable and engaged in Medicare reform for years to come thereby ensuring it is remaining a viable, worthy program. This bill exists because both sides of the aisle and both chambers understand that improving Medicare is essential.” “This Medicare bill is the future of health care in our nation.” – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. ________________________________________ Town Hall Schedule – Summer 2004 Southlake/Keller/Westlake/Colleyville July 24, 2004 10:00 a.m. Southlake Town Hall, 3rd Floor 1400 Main Street Southlake, TX 76092 Denton/Argyle July 24, 2004 1:00 p.m. University of North Texas, Gateway Center 1st Floor Ballroom #34 801 North Texas Blvd. Denton, TX 76201 Flower Mound/Double Oak/Bartonville August 14, 2004 10:00 a.m. Flower Mound Central Fire Station 3838 Forums Drive Flower Mound, TX 75028 The Colony/Hebron August 14, 2004 1:00 p.m. The Colony City Hall, City Council Chambers 6800 Main Street The Colony, TX 75056
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We Can't Afford NOT to Fix Medical Liability
Posted by on July 14, 2004
Mr. Speaker, $230 billion. That is the cost last year of the medical justice system in this country. Of that figure, 20 percent went to compensate patients for actual pain and damages, 20 percent went to lawyers' fees, 20 percent went to insurance overhead, and 25 percent was paid out in noneconomic damages for things like pain and suffering. Mr. Speaker, we can scarcely afford this continued type of expenditure in this country; and, indeed, this House has passed, twice in the past 2 years, legislation seeking to reform this system. Unfortunately, that legislation has languished on the other side of the Capitol. Mr. Speaker, it is more than just the monetary damages, though. It is the cost in terms of the human capital that we are losing today from doctors who are leaving practice early, hospitals that are having to close their doors. But even more important than that, Mr. Speaker, is the cost of human capital that will never be developed. I am talking about students in medical school, undergraduate school, and high school who will look at their medical career ahead of them and decide it is just not worth the effort. Mr. Speaker, we must act in this Congress. Click here to watch the video from July 12, 2004. Click here to watch the video from July 13, 2004. Click here to watch the video from July 14, 2004.
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H.R. 4749 United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Posted by on July 14, 2004
H.R.4749 Passed 314-109 Burgess voted YES Title: To require accountability for personnel performing Federal contracts with private security contractors. Sponsor: Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] (introduced 6/25/2004) Cosponsors: 4 Committees: House Government Reform; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/25/2004 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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