One year ago, if you had asked public health experts if there would be a safe and effective vaccine to protect us against the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) less than 12 months after learning about this novel virus, they would have declared it unlikely and pointed to the lengthy approval process for prior vaccines. Had you told them there would be not one but three safe and highly effective vaccines available, they would have declared it a medical miracle. Although the development of these v... Read more

Today’s doctors and nurses have access to medical tools, therapies, and cures that I could only dream about when I was in medical school. Between my time as a physician and as a congressman, I have witnessed several public health crises, including bird flu, swine flu, Ebola, and Zika, but never a health crisis as globally devastating as the COVID-19 pandemic. Equally so, I have not witnessed anything as inspiring as the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Operation Warp Speed (OWS) allowed for ... Read more

According to available data, schools can, and should, safely reopen By Brad Wenstrup, Andy Harris, Michael Burgess and Mariannette Miller-Meeks Democratic leaders have spent months promising to “listen to the scientists;” however, when it comes to reopening schools and getting children back to in-person learning, their actions do not match their words. Being both physicians and members of Congress with direct patient care experience, we have closely followed the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemi... Read more

by Rep. Michael Burgess Originally published in the Dallas Morning News Congress’ responsibility is simple: write, pass and ensure the faithful enactment of laws. When it comes to providing America with a clean energy future, Congress has fallen short of its responsibility. In 1987, through the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Department of Energy was entrusted to build and operate a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel. Fast forward through the years of studying a variety of locations, and ... Read more

by Rep. Michael C. Burgess Originally published in The Hill U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing left a vacancy on the highest court of the land. When President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late justice, much of the debate centered not on Judge Barrett’s merits and qualifications, but around the future of the American health care system. Since the inception of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Democrats have used the inclusion of preexisting conditions ... Read more

by Rep. Michael Burgess & Bud Albright There was a time not that long ago when electricity was not universally available. Up until 1925, fewer than half the homes in the United States had any electricity, and even then, it was mainly supplied to the cities of America. Today, most of us cannot imagine life without it. Indeed, prudent planning and responsible regulation ensure uninterrupted electricity on demand throughout the country. The challenge now is transitioning from simply supplying elect... Read more

By Dr. Michael Burgess The rise of COVID-19 in many ways pushed the American healthcare system to the limit and into the future. For doctor’s visits today, instead of finding a babysitter, looking for a parking spot, and then having to sit in a crowded waiting room, many Americans are now accustomed to being able to “phone it in” for their medical appointments. Each week there are new stories about how telehealth is helping everyday Americans and making healthcare more accessible. Recently, a de... Read more

By Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR), Michael Burgess (R-TX), and Brett Guthrie (R-KY). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the world’s premiere organization for making sure new drugs and vaccines are safe and effective. That’s why when the most talented doctors and scientists in the world submit their COVID-19 vaccines for approval by the FDA, and the FDA deems them safe and effective, we will confidently get vaccinated, and we will encourage other Americans to do likewise. That’s how we can ... Read more

The Hill Education cannot be paused for a pandemic August 19, 2020 By Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. More than our physical health is being affected by this novel coronavirus. With the nation moving towards virtual living to continue social distancing, we are risking under-educating a generation. Children need the option to have an in-person education. There are lessons and experiences a student receives in the classroom that cannot be replicated via technology. Distance learning is good, ... Read more

RealClearHealth Protecting the Investment of a Kidney August 9, 2020 By: Congressman Michael C. Burgess and former Speaker Newt Gingrich Picture welcoming your newborn baby boy into the world – then not having the opportunity to bond with your child because he is immediately taken away upon showing signs of lung distress. The next thing you are hearing is that your son is in renal failure. Instead of holding him, you’re watching as he is being prepped to go into surgery and equipped with his fir... Read more