Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Florida talked about stories we will not read in the New York Times. Let me talk about another one. Today, Mr. Speaker, 20, 25 women from the country of Iraq are here on the Hill talking with various Members of the House of Representatives, and their stories are so very poignant. I just left a meeting with them, and I needed to share some of their words with my colleagues. To the question: What about the fact that America might have gone to war with Iraq under fal... Read more

H.R.4818 Passed 365-41 Burgess voted YES Title:Making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kolbe, Jim [AZ-8] (introduced 7/13/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations House Reports: 108-599 Related Bills: H.RES.715 Latest Major Action: 7/19/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred ... Read more

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Appropriations Bills – Rep. Burgess Brings Tax Dollars Home to North Texas The federal appropriations process is one of the most important parts of public policy. Unlike authorizing bills, which establish programs and policies, appropriations bills fund programs and must pass every year or the federal government shuts down. There are 13 appropriations bills in all. Both the House and Senate pass bills separately, and then they meet in what is called a “confer... Read more

Mr. Speaker, $230 billion. That is the cost last year of the medical justice system in this country. Of that figure, 20 percent went to compensate patients for actual pain and damages, 20 percent went to lawyers' fees, 20 percent went to insurance overhead, and 25 percent was paid out in noneconomic damages for things like pain and suffering. Mr. Speaker, we can scarcely afford this continued type of expenditure in this country; and, indeed, this House has passed, twice in the past 2 years, legi... Read more

H.R.4749 Passed 314-109 Burgess voted YES Title: To require accountability for personnel performing Federal contracts with private security contractors. Sponsor: Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] (introduced 6/25/2004) Cosponsors: 4 Committees: House Government Reform; House Armed Services Latest Major Action: 6/25/2004 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by th... Read more

S.15 Passed 414-2 Burgess voted YES Title:A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections and countermeasures against chemical, radiological, or nuclear agents that may be used in a terrorist attack against the United States by giving the National Institutes of Health contracting flexibility, infrastructure improvements, and expediting the scientific peer review process, and streamlining the Food and Drug Administration approval process of countermeasures. Sponsor: Sen Gregg... Read more

Aviation Subcommittee Hearing: Inline Explosive Detection Systems: Financing and Deployment Michael C. Burgess - Statement July 14, 2004 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Congressman who represents a large part of the Dallas Fort Worth Airport, I would like to commend you for holding this important hearing on Inline Explosive Detection systems. Securing the safety of passengers and crew is of paramount importance to the airline industry and the Department of Homeland Security. After the September... Read more

H.R.4766 Passed 389-31 Burgess voted YES Title:Making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Bonilla, Henry [TX-23] (introduced 7/7/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations House Reports: 108-584 Related Bills: H.RES.710, H.RES.719 Latest Major Action: 7/22/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in ... Read more

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H.R.4755 Passed 327-43 Burgess voted YES Title:Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] (introduced 7/1/2004) Cosponsors: (none) Committees: House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations House Reports: 108-577 Related Bills: H.RES.707, S.2666 Latest Major Action: 7/14/2004 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. ----------------... Read more