Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) invites area students who are interested in learning more about our nation’s service academies to attend the 2011 North Texas U.S. Service Academies Forum. The event, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Sam Johnson, Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Congressman Joe Barton, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Congressman Bill Flores, Congressman Kenny Marchant, and Congressman Pete Sessions. Read more

Today marks one year since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) released the following statement marking the one year anniversary: “It has been one year since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law. As a physician I am the first to admit we must reform America’s health care system, but the way the last Congress and President Obama approached the challenge simply did not address the areas that needed improvement. Instead, it has created a system where we will pay more to get less. Read more

Washington, D.C. –Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) has reintroduced his popular Freedom Flat Tax legislation to fundamentally reform America’s tax system. HR 1040 introduces an optional flat-rate tax system. “Each year Americans spend 6.1 billion hours preparing their tax forms and the IRS has 1,176 forms and instructions listed on their website,” said Dr. Burgess. “It’s no wonder that even the IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman has said, ‘I find the tax code complex so I use a preparer.’” Read more

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) is pleased to announce the opening of "An Artistic Discovery," the annual Congressional High School Art Competition. Since the U.S. House of Representatives created the competition in 1982, hundreds of thousands of talented high school students have served as artistic ambassadors of their communities. Read more

In February, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) introduced the Dental Emergency Responder Act, H.R. 570. Today, it passed the House by a vote of 401 to 12. “Today Congress fixed a technical oversight that kept dentists and dental schools from being included in emergency response plans,” said Dr. Burgess. “Dentists are a vital part of our health care communities and receive a sound general medical background during their professional education.” Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) reintroduced the Medical Justice Act, which would improve patient access to doctors by putting an end to unnecessary lawsuits brought about by trial lawyers. “Physicians are forced to trim their budgets in order to cover their insurance costs, often resulting in laying off staff, limiting access to certain aspects of their practice, or closing their practice all together,” said Dr. Burgess. “We need national, across-the-board change in the tort reform system, and my bill would do just that. Runaway lawsuits are unnecessary and costly, and reforming medical liability must be a part of the national health care debate.” Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) introduced the United States War Bonds Act of 2011, which authorizes the issuance of United States War Bonds to aid in the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Our brave men and women in uniform, and their families, have given the ultimate sacrifice to defend and protect our country, and war bonds are a way for Americans to show support for our soldiers and their mission,” Dr. Burgess said. “War bonds send a strong message to those fighting to preserve freedom, that they have our unwavering and steadfast backing.” Read more

Today, Congress voted on the Continuing Resolution (CR) that will fund federal government agencies through the end of September. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) voted yes on the legislation. “We were sent to Congress to make hard decisions,” said Dr. Burgess. “Cutting funding is tough to do. No one wants to take money away from programs that serve the public. We are in a financial crisis, and over $14 trillion in debt. American families are cutting their budget and this week Congress had to do the same.” Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (Texas-26) announced the thirty-three individuals from the 26th District of Texas who have been selected as Class of 2015 nominees to our nation’s service academies. These outstanding young men and women were nominated to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY and the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO. Read more

Early this morning the amendment Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) entered into the Continuing Resolution (CR) that would provide $830 million to Texas education passed with a vote of 235 to 187. “The schoolchildren and teachers in Texas will finally have the opportunity to receive the $830 million they should have had in the first place,” said Dr. Burgess. “This money should have never been denied when the original bill passed, and it is a shame that Mr. Doggett put education funding at risk.” Read more