Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and I thank my colleague, the ranking member, Mr. Rangel, for his dedication and perseverance in obtaining the highest congressional honor for one of the most courageous groups of Americans, the Tuskegee Airmen. At a time when civil rights were still being denied and segregation persisted through many parts of our country, the Tuskegee Airmen bravely fought and gave their lives abroad for freedom and liberty that sadly oftentimes they did not receiv... Read more

Mr. Speaker, my committee, the committee on energy and commerce, the subcommittee on oversight and investigations, held a field hearing down in the city of New Orleans during the January break. For me, it was my second trip to that storm ravaged area, and once again, you just can't help but be overwhelmed by the size and the scope of the destruction that's happened down on our gulf coast area. But, Mr. speaker, although we were there primarily to study the health care issues going on and there w... Read more

The following is the opening statement by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) during the Energy and Commerce Full Committee Hearing "The Administration's FY '07 Health Care Priorities." Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt served as the sole witness. Read more

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I would remind the gentleman from Ohio that Tulane Medical Center opened today with a lot of fanfare. That is one of those dreadful private, for-profit corporations; and they are the first such hospital back in business in New Orleans. Ray Nagin said he wished he could bottle that and extend it to other companies. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to talk about the domestic surveillance that was in the news earlier. My colleagues may not have noticed a rather insightful op ed... Read more

Mr. Speaker, Americans, American patients, are fortunate. They have access to the greatest health care system in the world. But for many, the cost to access that care is prohibitively high. So it is ironic, Mr. Speaker, that the world's largest free market economy, government control and lack of true market forces have led to diminished sophistication among medical consumers and increased health care costs. Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, a professor of political economy at Princeton University, frames the p... Read more

As you frantically search for that last-minute Valentine’s Day card or shop for yummy chocolates, you should take note of something very near and dear to you and your loved ones – your heart. Since leaving his medical practice in Texas in 2002 to run for Congress, Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) has seen his fair share of medical emergencies back home and in Washington. These instances brought to his attention a serious need to improve public access to life-saving equipment, specifically ... Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, and other Members of the Texas delegation in Washington, met with Texas border sheriffs to discuss the problems they are currently facing on the border. Sheriffs from across Texas’ border spoke openly to the panel of representatives about the problems they are facing in their effort to control the borders. They shared first hand accounts of incidents along the border and into the counties that line the Rio Grande. Following the closed-door meeting, the sher... Read more

Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) became an original cosponsor on a resolution recognizing the NASCAR-HBCU Partnership, a partnership between NASCAR and Historically Black Colleges and Universities that will provide new opportunities for minorities to participate in the automotive industry. The resolution was authored by North Carolina Congressman Melvin L. Watt. The Partnership will focus on developing and operating a program to increase the number and quality of job opportunities for Afri... Read more

The following statement may be attributed to Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) concerning President Bush’s FY 2007 Budget proposal: “I was pleased to see that President Bush's FY 2007 Budget continues to focus our federal resources on key priorities such as securing the homeland, winning the War on Terror, and encouraging economic growth while constraining non-essential spending. The President's Budget also includes a number of new proposals that seek to maintain America's global competitiv... Read more

“I commend the International Atomic Energy Agency's decision to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for its resumption of nuclear enrichment activities. Diplomacy is always the first course of action, and I am hopeful that Iran will receive this clear message from the international community. It is imperative that globally, we speak with one voice on this issue; a nuclear Iran threatens the security not only of the U.S. and Israel but also of all democracies around the world.” Read more