A Lifetime Dedicated to Life House Republican Conference Blog January 18, 2018 By: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. This week Washington will welcome hundreds of thousands of Americans who gather to speak out for the most vulnerable among us. Each January 22, we mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and another year of senseless loss of life. For many, this week serves as a reminder that life is a precious and sacred gift, and we must do all we can to protect it. The question of abortion, some... Read more

Twenty-two years ago, the “Contract with America” promised voters that, if elected to Congress, Republicans would advance legislation to shrink the size of government, balance the budget, and reform major entitlement programs. Americans voiced decisive support for these conservative principles at the polls in the 1994 election—Republicans won control of the House and the Senate, and Republican governors held 31 states. Congress was acutely aware of the people’s desire to return to a limited fed... Read more

Gene editing provides significant possibilities for treating and even curing diseases. It also confers tremendous power over the genetic makeup of individual human beings and humanity itself. With great potential comes great responsibility to use this genetic power wisely. Gene-editing tools, such as the new CRISPR-Cas system, are just that — tools that can be applied to solve various problems, or to create problems. It's our choice as to how we apply those tools. Improving health complications... Read more

Every holiday season, millions of Americans pick up their credit cards in search of the best deals or the perfect gift for a loved one. Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping has become a tradition as time-honored as pumpkin pie for many families and pumps billions of dollars back into the economy. Whether shopping at a brick-and-mortar store or from a tablet this year, the assumption is that retailers are doing everything they can to keep consumers’ personal information safe and secure. However... Read more

As the nation observed Veterans Day last week, we were reminded of the brave Americans who defend our freedom and way of life. For many veterans who served on faraway battlefields, their return home is often in large part due to the first-rate trauma care providers in our military. Unfortunately, one in seven Americans do not have access to a trauma care center within the first hour of suffering a life-threatening, traumatic injury. Whether it is one of our service members injured on the battlef... Read more

It’s become common practice that federal oversight and regulation emerge following innovation and — more often than not — these regulations can’t keep pace with the technological advances being reached in the private sector. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade has spent this Congress exploring ways to foster innovation and growth, while preserving consumer protection and limited government. The Subcommittee has oversight jurisdiction of agencies such a... Read more

A mere year ago, Zika virus was an unfamiliar pandemic that was plaguing the countries of South America and Asia. However, just last week the first Zika-related death in the continental United States occurred. Americans are faced with the very real threat of this potential public health crisis on our own soil. In response to this impending crisis, Congress advanced legislation to provide $1.1 billion in funding for Zika virus preparedness and response efforts, including health care and contracep... Read more

Healthcare policy and the economic health and future of our nation are inextricably linked. We can no longer afford to make decisions on how healthcare is delivered and paid for without understanding how it affects jobs and economic growth. Congress hasn’t always followed this approach. In fact, we have enacted legislation that has stymied growth and prompted employers to either lay people off or curtail hiring. In medicine, it’s malpractice. In politics, it’s business as usual. With unemployment hovering above 8 percent, we no longer have the luxury of pursuing legislative and regulatory initiatives that stall or undermine job creation. We need policies that make sense for patients and add American workers to our economy. Read more

Note: When you click "more" you will be directed from Rep. Burgess' website to the publication's site By Michael Burgess and Gabrielle Giffords Spring is when motorcyclists from the northern half of the country dust off their boots and get on their motorcycles for the first ride of the year. Riders from the South take road trips to escape the heat. That is why state and federal agencies recognize each May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month...more Read more