by Bob Weir Why do we spend any time learning about history? After all, what’s past is past; so, why is it necessary for our future? Well, suppose you could go back into your earlier life. Is there anything you would do differently? Perhaps. But, inasmuch as you can’t go back, are there things you did wrong in your past that you’ve learned not to do in your current stage of life? In the same way, the history of our country can educate us about the way things used to be, so we can ensure that they never happen again. Thus, history is not merely a chronological record of significant events; it i... Read More »
Congress is getting ready to break again, and there are questions on whether or not a deal will be made for the next round of stimulus checks. Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess joined the WBAP Morning News with an update. Published here. Read More »
by Todd J. Gillman WASHINGTON -- The House voted Wednesday to remove Confederate statues and the bust of the chief justice who wrote the infamous Dred Scott decision on slavery, with most Republicans opposing the move, including 16 Texans. The other six Texas Republicans backed the measure, including the only Black Republican in the House, Rep. Will Hurd. “Confederate statues don’t belong in the U.S. Capitol. Anyone committing treason against this great experiment we call America in order to keep slavery alive doesn’t deserve a place in a building that represents freedom and unity,” tweeted Hu... Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after the House voted to pass his amendment requiring a report on the Department of Defense’s use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. “Energy Savings Performance Contracts are partnerships between a federal agency and an energy company with a goal of reducing energy and operating costs,” Burges... Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. “Providing for the common defense is one of Congress’ constitutional duties,” said Burgess. “Today, Congress came together with bipartisan support to do just that. “This bill is not perfect. There should be no funding restrictions on securing our southern border and ... Read More »
July 21, 2020 Dear Friends, Today, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce invited top officials from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna and Pfizer to testify on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. National Updates The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca reported positive data regarding the efficacy of their vaccine candidate emerging from a 1,000-person clinical trial. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reissued an Emergency Use Authorization to Quest Diagnostics for its COVID-19 diagnostic test, which is the first of its kind using pooled samp... Read More »
by Kerry Dooley Young Executives of five firms working on COVID-19 vaccines briefed federal lawmakers on their timelines for potentially winning regulatory approvals and distributing these products, with Johnson & Johnson and Merck both having target goals for major data results next year. AstraZeneca has a more accelerated target for limited distribution of its vaccine. But during a Tuesday hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations panel, representatives of all five drugmakers agreed on many points, particularly the need to begin immediately to build pu... Read More »
by Mari Serebrov A safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine may be available by the end of the year or early next year, as will the supplies needed to deliver and administer hundreds of millions of doses. That’s the message five biopharma executives delivered to a House subcommittee July 21 as they updated U.S. lawmakers on the progress their companies are making on the vaccine front. “That’s a rare bit of good news in this harrowing time,” said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. But in the next breath, she warned, “Plenty can s... Read More »
Legislation that would provide lifetime immunosuppressive drug coverage for patients who receive a kidney transplant regardless of age is heading for a House vote. H.R. 5534, the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2019, “passed a procedure hurdle in the House Energy and Commerce Committee ... and reported out” to allow the full House to vote on the legislation, according to the National Kidney Foundation’s Advocacy and Action blog. The bill was in a group of 29 other bills reviewed and marked up by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Congre... Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after a Federal Appeals Court upheld the Trump Administration’s rule regarding short-term health plans. “This decision is a step towards providing choices and allowing consumers to purchase the coverage that suits their needs, not forcing them into plans they don’t want,” said Burgess. “During these unprecedented times, individuals need the option to purchase short-term limited durat... Read More »
