Last night, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), introduced an amendment that would allow 100-watt lighbulbs to continue to be sold past the January 1 ban date. The amendment would prevent the Department of Energy from enforcing the Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which bans the 100-watt lightbulb. The amendment passed with a voice vote and without objection. After the vote, Dr. Burgess released the following statement. Read more

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX-26), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17), Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX-08), and Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY-15), introduced The Equal Access and Parity for Multi-Campus Hospitals (HITECH) Act, HR 2500. The legislation would ensure that multi-campus hospitals that adopt and use health IT systems that meet appropriate standards are treated fairly under federal rules receiving incentive payments that take into account their higher costs of implementation. The legislation was introduced with over fifty bi-partisan co-sponsors. Read more

Washington, D.C. – Today, the United States of Representatives voted on the Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), helped lead legislation efforts to repeal the Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which bans the 100-watt lightbulb. The legislation failed with a vote of 233 to 193. After the vote, Dr. Burgess released the following statement. Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed ruling that would establish health insurance exchanges and implement additional regulations for states to follow to be in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) released the following statement regarding the unemployment numbers released by the U.S. Department of Labor this morning. “The latest unemployment numbers provide further evidence that the failing policies implemented by the Obama administration continue to be unsuccessful, and come at a cost to the American people. After the $830 billion stimulus package, twenty-eight straight months of unemployment over eight-percent, and eight hundred days since Democrats have passed a budget, Americans are still asking, where are the jobs? America can’t afford more spending, more debt, and more regulations while not seeing growth. America needs jobs. House Republicans are committed to putting Americans back to work and have offered our plan to create jobs and boost economic growth. Read more

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) will host a summit on energy efficiency and conservation, on Saturday, July 9 at the University of North Texas. Local and state officials, as well as industry experts and businesses, will attend and speak at the summit and will highlight steps North Texans can take to become more energy efficient while saving on their energy costs. Read more

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) released the following statement in recognition of Independence Day. “On July 4th, 235 years ago, our Founding Fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence. This document marked a historic step in our country’s founding, and established “freedom” as a core principle of this great nation. Read more

In February eighty-eight Members of the House and the Senate, led by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX-26), Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-08), Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), sent bipartisan letters to Dr. Donald Berwick, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging him to delay and review enforcement of a new requirement that was included in the 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. Today, the provision that would require laboratory requisition forms to be signed by the ordering physician was proposed to be rescinded. Read more

This week, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (Texas-26) sent a letter to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), requesting that the “mystery caller” program that HHS had proposed to see if there is adequate access to primary care and whether private insurance beneficiaries receive different service than those with public insurance be halted until further evaluation of program’s approach be conducted by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ways and Means, as well as the Senate Finance Committee. Read more

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (Texas-26) has announced that he will hold a town hall meeting in Trophy Club. The town hall will provide residents of Texas’ 26th Congressional District the chance to learn more about what is happening in Washington and how legislation will impact North Texans. Issues such as health care reform, taxes and spending are expected to be discussed. Read more