The last few weeks has certainly seen a great deal written about the conflict in Iraq. The middle of next month will see the third popular election held in the country of Iraq this year. Stay the course -- or pull out now. These seem to be the two recurrent themes debated in the Halls of Congress and on editorial pages across the country. Our military action, which was never popular… Read more »

By: Phuong-Khanh Jessica Nguyen-Trong Congressional Health Care Fellow in the Office of U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess (Texas-26) Not a newscast airs today that does not talk about the spread of avian flu. Is that attention warranted or has the threat been over-hyped? Attention devoted to this issue has certainly brought this virus to the forefront of everyone’s… Read more »

There is a lot of talk and debate nowadays inside the Beltway on whether America is becoming more “red” or “blue.” While that may be an issue for the punditry to argue, it is undeniable that our country is becoming more “gray.” Most Americans have some experience with nursing homes or other long term care settings, and nearly half have had a family member or close friend in a home in the… Read more »

The saying goes "some people come into our lives for just a moment and leave footprints in our heart." Well, that’s exactly what happened on the tumultuous Thursday during the first few days after Hurricane Katrina. That night, a bus load of Louisiana evacuees stepped off the bus at the Tarrant County Resource Connection in Southeast Fort Worth where Congressman Michael C. Burgess has… Read more »

In a few weeks, President Bush and Senator John Kerry will meet once again on the debate trail to describe their respective visions for America's economic future. It is my hope that they will talk about how to fix our flawed tax system. Our current income tax is unfair, complex and inefficient. Each year, the tax code costs the American people over 6 billion hours and over $180… Read more »

President Bush gave the topic of tax reform a metaphorical shot in the arm when he highlighted it during his convention acceptance speech. As a long-time advocate of fundamental tax reform, I applaud him for his attention to this issue. Since President Bush took office in 2001, Congress has passed several major tax cuts at the President's urging. This tax relief has reduced the tax… Read more »

Sixteen months after U.S. and coalition forces liberated Iraq from a murderous dictator, the dream of freedom is finally a reality. On June 28, two days earlier than originally planned, the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred full sovereignty to the Iraqi interim government. The people of Iraq are finally free and have control over their destiny. But as Iraqis turn their… Read more »

As a doctor and Member of Congress, I am often asked my opinion on the debate on drug reimportation. I have, from the beginning of my time in office, urged my colleagues to use caution and reason when approaching this issue. Several complicated and interconnected issues dominate this situation: trade relations, patient safety, drug costs and government regulation, just to name a few.… Read more »

Tired of high gas prices, let me tell you how Congress can fix it this problem. Energy independence should be a goal of this Congress. Worldwide demand for petroleum has increased in the last decade, but growth in production has been relatively flat. The inevitable result is higher prices at the gasoline pump and disgruntled Americans. The reality is it takes time to bring oil from… Read more »

One of these days, the BIG story out of Iraq will be that the media missed the big story. This is a recurrent theme I have heard during my two trips to that country this past year. Indeed, the recent prison story was available to any interested reporter at several points since the first of the year. In the first weeks of January, Army Specialist Joseph M. Darby provided photos… Read more »