NEWS Energy Efficiency Event at Home Depot FLOWER MOUND, TX, Mar 10 – Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary Clay Sell and Representative Michael Burgess (R-26th) visited the Home Depot in Flower Mound, Texas, to discuss the economic benefits of energy efficiency as well as the economic significance of President Bush's newly announced Advanced Energy and American Competitiveness Initiatives. After a brief tour and demonstration by Home Depot on the benefits of Energy Star products, Congress... Read more

In order to foster today’s youth to fully explore their potential, it is a worthy legacy to build healthy and safe communities for children to grow up in. In recognition of the National Public Health Week, many events will take place across the nation to focus this year on “Designing Health Communities: Raising Healthy Kids.” The role that preparedness plays in this initiative should be highlighted and incorporated alongside with other public health issues that are discussed this week. Recent na... Read more

Watch Video Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take this time tonight to talk to the House about the subject of health care, something that I have been involved with for the last 30 years of my adult life, taking in that time that I spent in residency and private practice. I think the single most important issue that we need to keep foremost in our minds as we talk about issues surrounding health care in this body over the next year and, indeed, over the foreseeable future is the overall affo... Read more

Statement by the Honorable Michael Burgess, MD Public Reporting of Hospital Acquired Infection Rates: Empowering Consumers, Saving Lives March 29, 2006 Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thank you for having this important hearing. Also, I would like to give a special welcome and thank you to two North Texans who were gracious enough to travel to DC to testify before us: Dr. Jennifer Daley and Dr. Robert Haley. Dr. Daley is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Tenet Healthcare Corpor... Read more

STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD - MICHAEL C. BURGESS ENERGY AND COMMERCE MARK-UP H.R. 4127, The Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA) March 29, 2006 Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding today's mark-up on this important legislation. Reports this year and last about the theft of personal information from databases at high-profile companies such as ChoicePoint and Bank of America have underscored the burgeoning nature of the crime of identity theft. I commend Subcommittee Chairman Stea... Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess met with U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during a closed-door, global defense briefing. The meeting took place in the U.S. Capitol building this morning. Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and India were among the discussed topics. There was a brief presentation and then Q&A from Members of Congress in attendance. Read more

Opening Statement Congressman Michael C. Burgess, MD (TX-26) Hearing on Legislative Proposals to Promote Electronic Health Records and Smarter Health Information Systems March 16, 2006 Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing today. For years, medicine, technology vendors, patient advocacy groups and policy makers have dipped their toe into the HIT waters. All too often, the temperature is to none of the stakeholders liking. HIT and Electronic Health Records do have a lot of promise: ea... Read more

WASHINGTON TIMES . . . Cost information is essential By Michael C. BurgesPublished March 16, 2006 American patients are fortunate -- they have access to the greatest health care system in the world. Unfortunately for many, the cost to access that care can be prohibitively high. It is ironic that in the world's largest free-market economy, government control and a lack of true market forces have led to diminished sophistication among medical consumers and runaway health care costs. Uwe Reinhardt... Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess participated in events supporting Texas Water Day coordinated by Texas Water Conservation Association and the Texas Water Development Board. The focus of the event is on spreading the word on Capitol Hill about pressing needs concerning water in Texas. “I trust that my Texas colleagues have benefited as much as I have from today’s office visits,” said Congressman Michael Burgess. “As we all know, water supply issues in the State of Texas and the nation pres... Read more

Opening Statement Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) Hearing on Health Care Price Transparency March 15, 2006 Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing. Outside of terrorism and the War in Iraq, the affordability of health care is among most American’s chief concerns. One reason why health care does cost so much is that it is difficult for the consumer to influence the price at any point. A myriad of payers, government and third parties have obscured the cost of care over ti... Read more