by Ripon Advance News Service U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Republican leaders this week expressed support for the 5G Upgrade Order, which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will consider during its open meeting on June 9. “During these unprecedented times, connectivity has remained a key component to supporting the economy, providing access to telehealth services, and facilitating distance learning,” wrote the members in a June 1 letter sent to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “As the wireless industry continues to make upgrades to its networks, promote competition, and roll o... Read More »
June 2, 2020 Dear Friends, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced enhanced accountability measures and technical assistance for nursing homes that are violating federal infection control practices. The Food and Drug Administration updated guidance regarding preparation, manufacturing and compounding of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer products to ensure that Americans have access to safe products. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins authored an article discussing some COVID-19 considerations as we head into the summer months. The Indian Health ... Read More »
by Abby Livingston For the last seven months or so, longtime U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess of Lewisville has run a quiet campaign to be the top Republican of a House committee that is so powerful that a past chairman kept an enormous photo of the Earth in the committee's offices to illustrate its jurisdiction. Burgess is running to be the GOP leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee next term — or, if the 2020 elections break Republicans' way, the chair. The committee is the congressional arm that regulates all interstate commerce, lending to it the power to investigate everything from Ma... Read More »
June 1, 2020 Dear Friends, Tomorrow morning, I will be participating in the Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing -On the Front Line: How Governors are Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) is reminding eligible providers that they must accept the Terms and Conditions and submit revenue information by June 3, 2020 in order to receive additional payment from the general $50 billion distribution of the Provider Relief Fund. HHS awarded an additional $628 million to an existing contract with Emergent BioSolut... 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 announcement by the Trump Administration to end waivers of sanctions on Iran’s civilian nuclear activities that were included as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal. “The Iran nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama was designed for failure,” said Burgess. “It rewarded the Iranian regime before Iran even took the required steps to disman... Read More »
May 29, 2020 Dear Friends, The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions released information to guide employers in creating a safe work environment in office buildings. The Food and Drug Administration published a voluntary Emergency Use Authorization template for at-home sample collection kits to support the development of COVID-19 tests. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an updated Frequently Asked Questions document addressing Medicare Fee-For-Service billing issues related to COVID-19. Until next time, this is your doctor's note. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.... Read More »
by Andy Langer Texas congressman Michael C. Burgess says he remembers initially hearing about the novel coronavirus that would become classified as COVID-19 right around January 22, when China shut down public transportation in Wuhan and prohibited residents from leaving the city. Burgess—who represents Texas’s Twenty-sixth district, which includes the majority of Denton County and parts of Tarrant County—is the House of Representatives’ senior medical doctor, so he says he took a particular interest in the emerging virus. A few days later, he was briefed by public health officials in a member... Read More »
by Alex Samuels and Abby Livingston The death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed Monday in Minneapolis police custody, was “horrific,” Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday. Abbott, speaking during an interview with KPRC-TV, didn’t comment on the protests that have rocked Minneapolis since Floyd’s death. Over the last several days, protesters have expressed outrage after Floyd was filmed crying out for help as a white police officer pinned him to the ground with a knee to his neck. “It should not have happened,” Abbott said of Floyd’s death. “Obviously, from everything I have seen, this is a c... Read More »
May 28, 2020 Dear Friends, Today I voted in support of H.R. 7010, a bill designed to continually support small businesses by making adjustments to the Paycheck Protection Program. This bill, now sent to the Senate for consideration, gives businesses more time to spend their loan, more autonomy on how that money is paid out, and flexibility to defer on payroll taxes. National Update The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) published information on the following topics: Scaling up staffing roles Training case investigators and contact tracers Investigating a COVID-19 case Contact tra... Read More »
May 27, 2020 Dear Friends, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published interim guidelines for COVID-19 antibody testing. The CDC updated the guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in retirement communities and independent living facilities. The CDC also released guidance for communities of faith as they begin re-opening. A coalition that includes The MITRE Corporation and Microsoft launched “The Fight Is In Us” to help recruit individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 who want to donate their blood plasma. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released upd... Read More »
