A tanker truck accident last year caused one of the biggest backups in the history of Interstate 35E, which occurred just north of the Lake Lewisville bridge. With no way out, people sat in traffic for hours, which became an eye opener for many. Interstate 35E is the only link for 600,000 Denton County people to Dallas, and vice versa. That number is expected to rise to more than one million by 2030. Read more »

The Pecan Creek Project in Gainesville has been in the works for years, even before the area was hit by the flood last year. But since that happened, Washington is prioritizing the project, and U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess came to town to prove it. Read more »

Federal and state leaders, frustrated by delays on the expansion of Interstate 35E through parts of Dallas and Denton counties, said Tuesday that a private contractor and tolls could be the keys to fast-tracking the project. U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess joined with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett and Texas Department of Transportation and regional officials to announce that the 28-mile project to widen the interstate is urgent and cannot be put off. Read more »

Most people are aware that the Speaker of the House turned out the lights at the Halls of Congress and adjourned for a five-week summer recess. Instead of allowing an up or down vote on offshore drilling and alternative energy sources, Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of the Democratic majority, decided to close down until September. Well, our local Congressman, Michael Burgess, (R-26th Dist. Lewisville) took the lead last week in urging members of the House of Representatives to stay on the floor of the Congress to protest the decision made by Speaker Pelosi. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, joined Denton city leaders Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a $1.68 million refurbishing of Cedar Street off the downtown Square. Read more »

In the name of protecting the environment from increased gas consumption, Democratic leaders oppose the price-cutting strategy of more off-shore drilling while concurrently arguing that OPEC should do it for us. Doesn't this neutralize the very environmental protection they're hoping to secure by opposing domestic drilling? Read more »

Animal welfare advocates say they expect Congress to take the next step in curtailing horse slaughter by passing measures that would stop the shipment of animals to be slaughtered. If passed, a House bill would outlaw the transport and sale of any horse across state lines or international borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. Those who break the law would be fined and could serve jail time. Most Texas representatives oppose the measure. Read more »

Texas Rep. Michael Burgess gave the socialite unexpected clout in the raging policy feud on Capitol Hill on Thursday, urging colleagues to consider the energy plan she proposed in a mock campaign ad. "Even Paris Hilton had an energy plan that she's talking about," Burgess told reporters, as he and other House Republicans continued to protest Democrats who blocked a vote on offshore oil drilling before breaking for a five-week recess. Read more »

Congressman Michael C. Burgess recently offered an amendment that provides $400 million in federal money to build refineries on military bases as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs FY09 Appropriations bill. Read more »

Mayor John Harper of Rowlett has been chosen as a guest speaker at the 11th annual Transportation Summit later this month. The summit, which will take place in Irving, will focus on creative solutions to transportation and logistics problem. Events will center around critical policy discussions that could lay the foundation for future development. Read more »