As part of a government reform team on a recent official visit to Iraq, I witnessed that nation's true ``shock and awe'' story. I saw the progress of a fledging, free nation. I came away knowing we have every reason to be optimistic. My disappointment is that, watching the evening news since my return to the United States, I can scarcely recognize the country and situation I have just left. In Iraq, I met General James T. Conway of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. He described our effort ther... Read more

Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. voted last night in favor of legislation covering all meal expenses of certain soldiers while they are hospitalized due to injuries received while fighting in combat. H.R. 2998 overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives, 399-0. Congressman Burgess was a cosponsor on H.R. 2998. “Asking soldiers who come back from Iraq to pay for the food they eat while they recover from injuries they incurred on our behalf is wrong,” stated Burgess. Currently, upon leaving... Read more

“First, I would like to state that when I ran for Congress, I specifically sought to represent the 26th Congressional District of Texas. I have lived here for over 50 years, and I ran for office stating that I was uniquely qualified because I truly understood the local issues.” “I believe that redistricting is not now, nor ever should be, about one person. Although I have always said that I had the perfect district, I understand that redistricting must occur to create balance in our congressiona... Read more

H.R.3108 SUMMARY AS OF: 9/17/2003--Introduced. Pension Funding Equity Act of 2003 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to temporarily replace (for plan years 2004 and 2005) the 30-year Treasury rate with a rate based on long-term corporate bonds for certain pension plan funding requirements. Expresses the sense of the Congress that it must ensure the financial health of the defined benefit pension system by working to promptly impleme... Read more

H.R. 2297 SUMMARY AS OF: 7/15/2003--Reported to House, amended. (There is 1 other summary) Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 - (Sec. 2) Includes under the Montgomery GI Bill education program a program of self-employment on-job training consisting of full-time training for a period of less than six months that is needed or accepted for obtaining licensure to engage in a self-employment occupation or required for franchise ownership and operation. (Sec. 3) Extends the delimiting period of eligibility... Read more

H.R.2998 SUMMARY AS OF: 9/3/2003--Introduced. Exempts from the requirement to pay subsistence charges while hospitalized in a military facility an officer or former officer, or an enlisted member or former enlisted member not entitled to retired or retainer pay or equivalent pay, who is hospitalized in a military facility because of an injury incurred: (1) as a direct result of armed conflict; (2) while engaged in hazardous service; (3) in the performance of duty under conditions simulating war;... Read more

Government Reform Hearing – “Winning the Peace: Coalition Efforts to Restore Iraq”Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26)Wednesday, October 8, 2003 Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today's hearing to discuss the United States winning the peace in Iraq. I was honored to be apart of the Chairman Davis’ CODEL mission to Iraq where I witnessed the amazing progress we have made in a short duration of time since expelling Saddam Hussein’s regime. Upon my return from Iraq, I was saddened to see that ... Read more

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) announced today members of his Service Academy Advisory Board. The fourteen-member board will meet later this fall to advise him upon the selection of qualified service academy candidates. The board’s purpose is to comprehensively screen and interview high school applicants wishing to receive a congressional nomination; the board then makes recommendations to Congressman Burgess for final review and nominations are sent to the individual service academ... Read more

Conference Report on S. 3 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (Rule Waives all Points of Order, One Hour of Debate) - passed 281-142. Burgess voted YES. Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Defines a "partial-birth abortion" as an aborti... Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess congratulates the National Aeronautics and Space Agency as it celebrates its 45th Anniversary. NASA, founded on October 1, 1958, is dedicated to the study of life on Earth and exploring the depths of our solar system and universe. NASA has had numerous successes over the past four decades and is probably best remembered for Neil Armstrong’s walk-on-the-moon in 1969. Behind all of the televised successes and tragic failures of NASA important, often overlooked... Read more