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

By Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Michael Burgess for the Midland Reporter-Telegram The entire world is reeling from the pandemic’s impact, but Texas, in particular, has been hit with a one-two punch. This coronavirus has taken a firm hold on our state, and alongside it, our energy industry – one of our state’s largest and proudest sectors – suffers from low oil prices and lower demand. In places like the Permian Basin, the effects of the downturn are more acute. A region that had been dubbed one of ... Read more

by Dr. Michael Burgess Published in RealClear Health Now more than ever before, health care is on the minds of all Americans. And now more than ever before, market-based reform for health care is more achievable – and it is because of the policies that have been put into place by the Trump Administration. Just after the 2018 election, President Trump announced his desire to be known as the health care president. While it seems counterintuitive for a Republican administration to lead on health po... Read more

Over my time in Congress, there have been several serious epidemics in many parts of the world, caused by the Zika, Ebola, MERS, H1N1 and SARS viruses. While there was concern with each of them, there should be more urgent concern for the 2019 novel coronavirus – COVID-19. Since Congress’ return to Washington at the start of this year, COVID-19 has infected over 81,000 individuals in at least 38 nations and at least 2,708 people have died. As a result, the coronavirus has proven to be more deadl... Read more