Lewisville, TX – Today Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. hosted a press conference with the Fort Worth U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to share updates on the continued progress of the repairs to the slide on the dam at Lake Lewisville. 

Colonel Calvin C. Hudson, Commander of the Fort Worth District USACE shared that the Corps has the full funding needed to complete the critical repairs to the slide on the dam at Lake Lewisville and that the completion of the Dam Safety Modification Study has been expedited to 2018.  The study will identify long-term improvements to minimize the potential for downstream flooding due to dam failure.

Following historic rainfall totals in May and June of 2015, Lake Lewisville and the surrounding areas experienced damaging floods that resulted in the formation of a slide on the Lewisville Dam. While maintaining the proper safety and operations of Lake Lewisville, which covers 29,000 acres of land in North Texas, has always been a top priority of Congressman Burgess it became clear that the need for expeditious repairs and funding was immediate.

Rep. Burgess has worked closely with the USACE and the appropriations committees in Congress to ensure the fiscal year 2016 USACE work plan included an additional $4,653,000 for the Lake Lewisville Dam. For fiscal year 2016, the Corps has a total of $8,688,000 in the Operations and Maintenance account for the dam at Lake Lewisville.

“Today we were able to share a good news story. The problem identified at Lake Lewisville is being addressed, in large part to the continued efforts from all levels of government across both parties and the dedication of the Ft. Worth Corps. Lake Lewisville has been a part of my life for its entire lifespan and thus a top priority of mine during my time in Congress,” said Burgess.

“While we have addressed the short term, immediate need at the dam, I look forward to a continued, regular dialogue with the Corps to ensure the necessary resources for repairs as well as the Dam Safety Modification Study are made available.”

The press conference was followed by a tour of the dam at Lake Lewisville led by the Fort Worth U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to view repair progress.

Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32), Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), State Representative Tan Parker (District 63), and Judge Mary Horn were also present at the press conference. 

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Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, issued the following statement in response to the terror attacks in Brussels.

“Today, I extend my deepest condolences and prayers to the victims and families impacted by the senseless and tragic terror attacks committed against the people of Belgium. These horrific acts know no race, gender or nationality.

“We must remain vigilant in the protection of Americans here at home by taking every necessary precaution to quell the fears of the American people. We must also stand with our allies across the world to unite against these abhorrent acts of terror in order to end them permanently.

“Terrorists are leveraging Europe’s open borders and the ease at which people can move from country to country undetected. As The Washington Post’s David Ignatius has pointed out, ‘What they’ve [Europe] realized is that they don’t have a firm, hard external border so that they can see who is coming into the entire [Shengen] group and then do monitoring.’

“Today, rather than become incapacitated by these acts of aggression, we join our sisters and brothers in Europe to condemn these offensive crimes and recommit ourselves to the defense of freedom and humanity.”

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The 2016 North Texas U.S. Service Academies Forum, jointly hosted by Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz, as well as Congressman Sam Johnson, Congressman John Ratcliffe, Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Congressman Joe Barton, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Congressman Kenny Marchant, Congressman Roger Williams, Congressman Michael Burgess, Congressman John Carter, Congressman Pete Sessions and Congressman Marc Veasey, will be held Saturday morning, April 2^nd.  This informational forum will provide interested students in grades 8-12 the opportunity to learn more about our nation's service academies, requirements for admission and the selection process.

North Texas U.S. Service Academies Forum

Date:               Saturday, April 2, 2016

Time:               8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon; Registration opens at 7:30 AM

                        Note: This is a “come & stay” event!

Place:               Sam Houston High School

                        2000 Sam Houston Drive

                        Arlington, Texas 76014

In addition to staff from congressional offices, representatives from all five academies (U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy) and current academy cadets and midshipmen will be on hand to answer questions.  Also present will be representatives from Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps ROTC, as well as the Department of Defense Medical Exam Review Board (DoDMERB).  North Texas students, parents and educators will be able to hear from and meet with these representatives on a one-to-one basis to become informed about the excellent possibilities associated with attending these premier educational institutions and the sorts of careers they generate.

The Forum is free and open to the public; no pre-registration is required.  It will be held from 8:00 AM – 12:00 NOON; registration opens at 7:30 AM.

For more information, please contact:           

Robin Vaughan, Deputy District Director
Office of Congressman Michael Burgess
Phone:  940-497-5031
Email:  robin.vaughan@mail.house.gov

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Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, issued the following statement on the votes in the House of Representatives to condemn the war crimes of both ISIL and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad through H. Con. Res. 75 and H. Con. Res. 121.

“The war crimes being committed by the Islamic State in the Levant and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are unimaginable and reprehensible. I am appalled that the Obama Administration has fallen silent on these actions. By remaining removed, the Administration is signaling America’s astonishing indifference to the mass killing and forced imprisonment of thousands of innocent people. The House of Representatives will continue putting pressure on the Administration to deem these actions just what they are—genocide and offensive crimes against humanity.”

Note: This week, the Obama administration is likely to miss a congressionally-mandated March 17 deadline that requires a final decision on whether ISIL is perpetrating genocide. Additionally, the administration has a duty to determine whether or not the Assad regime is guilty of war crimes.