Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) narrowed a request by a Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to seek more details on private negotiations that took place between the White House and industry groups on healthcare reform—but nevertheless said he would work to obtain more information on these meetings. Waxman, who chairs the panel, and others on the committee heard testimony from Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), who for some time has been seeking specific details from the White ... Read more

After months of silence – 119 days, to be exact – yesterday Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, finally received a letter from the White House in response to his September 30, 2009, request for information on meetings at the White House relating to health care reform. Specifically, Burgess asked for details on any deals made with health industry groups during a meeting in May, where stakeholders promised to reduce the health care cost curve by upwards of $2 Trillion, but offered limited details as to how this goal would be achieved. Read more

I want to thank Chairmen Waxman and Stupak as well as Ranking Members Barton and Walden. You worked with me to ensure the oversight jurisdiction of this committee in this matter. Chairman Waxman, I know transparency is very important to you. I hope we can pass this resolution on a bipartisan basis. As you know, I wrote to the White House on September 30th (I ask unanimous consent to enter my letter for the record. My staff reached out to the White House. Mr. Chairman, you reached out to the Whit... Read more

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that he supports a GOP request for White House documents relating to deals made on health care reform. The committee is taking up a resolution this afternoon that asks President Barack Obama — and directs Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — to turn records over to the House detailing negotiations on health care reform with groups including the American Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Research an... Read more

When President Obama and the Democratic Congressional majorities began their now long, drawn-out efforts to pass health care reform legislation, the president promised the process would be marked by unprecedented transparency. Not only would the public be fully briefed on the content of discussions, they would also be able to watch them on C-SPAN. Yet after a year of dirty backroom deals, opaque negotiation processes and the production of a pair of convoluted bills inaccessible to the layman, su... Read more

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1003, supporting the designation January 10th through January 16th as National Influenza Vaccination Week. I would like to thank the numerous associations and health professionals for their work. The National Influenza Vaccination Week is an important opportunity to encourage those vulnerable to seasonal flu and H1N1 to get their vaccinations. Although there has been a major decrease in the number of cases of H1N1, those who have not been vaccinate... Read more

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in favor of H.Res. 1011, which recognizes the importance of cervical health and of detecting cervical cancer during its earliest stages, and supporting the goals and ideals of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month and it is important we highlight the educational efforts that have been made to increase early detection of cervical cancer. Almost half of the women that are diagnosed with this life threatening disease are... Read more

A House Republican is trying to shine a light on the backroom deals that permeated health care reform negotiations, calling on the Obama administration to turn over its records detailing the behind-the-scenes talks on the overhaul. A House Republican is trying to shine a light on the backroom deals that permeated health care reform negotiations, calling on the Obama administration to turn over its records detailing the behind-the-scenes talks on the proposed overhaul. But even though President O... Read more

A House committee on Wednesday will consider a Republican measure demanding that President Barack Obama divulge details about his negotiations with healthcare interest groups. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to mark up the resolution authored by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) just hours before Obama’s first State of the Union address. Burgess’s resolution requests the Obama administration turn over documentation of its dealings with healthcare trade associations and a labor ... Read more

Have you ever wondered how the healthcare reform debate might be different if the lawmakers were themselves physicians? Well, 16 members of Congress are physicians and no doubt bring a unique perspective to the legislation and how it will affect practicing physicians. I recently spoke with Congressman Michael Burgess, R-Texas, who was an OB/GYN for many years before being elected to Congress. We spoke about the insight his background provides and what he thinks is missing from the legislation. R... Read more