H.R. 1276 - American Dream Downpayment Act - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to participating jurisdictions for single family residential downpayment assistance to: (1) low-income or first-time home buyers; or (2) income-qualifying uniformed employees (police, fire, sanitation and maintenance) or teachers of a participating jurisdiction. Requires a participating jurisdiction to include in its ... Read more

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the passage of the conference report of The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and a physician who dedicated over two decades of my life to a pro-life obstetrics practice, I believe this unnecessary procedure should be banned. As a physician who delivered over 3,000 babies, I am personally opposed to any type of abortion. But in particular, the only reason to select the par... Read more

Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth time the minority has offered this motion to instruct Medicare conferees. I find it perplexing that they continue to offer this motion, since by definition it would reduce the amount of funding available for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit by tens of billions of dollars. The author of this motion would have the Medicare conferees accept every rural provider increase contained in both bills. I would note for my colleagues that the House has already recog... Read more

H.R. 357 - Honoring the life and legacy of Bob Hope (Sponsored by Rep. Miller (FL) / Government Reform Committee) - passed 408-0. Burgess voted YES. Honors Bob Hope for his legendary career as an entertainer, his decades of dedicated service to the men and women of the armed forces, and his many philanthropic and humanitarian acts. Expresses condolences on his passing to his wife, children, and grandchildren. Read more

Congressman Michael C. Burgess voted last night for the passage of the Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2004. This key legislation provides more than $89.3 billion in total budgetary resources. On behalf of the constituents of 26th Congressional District of Texas, Congressman Burgess requested that several projects be considered for funding within the appropriations bill. These projects included $250,000 for the widening of Interstate 35 East b... Read more

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), led by retired Admiral Harold Gehman, Jr., released its final report today after months of independent investigation. The CAIB was tasked with determining the cause of the accident and how to improve NASA’s Shuttle program. The CAIB’s report does indicate that management flaws at NASA were a contributing cause of the Columbia accident. “First and foremost, I applaud the thorough research and analysis conducted by Admiral Gehman and the CAIB,” sta... Read more

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to add my voice to those of my fellow freshman representatives calling for increased efficiency in our federal government. Our charge is to protect precious dollars taken from the taxpayer by streamlining and improving our federal government. There are many important programs that are being hurt and neglected with the expenditures that could have been handled with much greater care. With careful stewardship, we could ensure that public servants have more prudent overs... Read more

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) issued the following statement to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee concerning the use of Federal resources to locate missing members of the Texas Legislature earlier this year as stated in House Resolution 288: “I believe House Resolution 288 is absurd and should be reported unfavorably by the Committee and ignored. “Over the past few weeks, multiple inquiries either are underway or have been completed. The Department of Homeland S... Read more

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) today announced that requests for application from students interested in attending the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York are being accepted for the class entering in the summer of 2004. “The United States Service Academies o... Read more

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a grant to the Aubrey Fire Department in Denton County under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. “This grant program is proving to be helpful to communities throughout Denton County. Aubrey is now the fifth community to be awarded money since I took office in January,” said Congressman Burgess. I am glad to see this funding for the Aubrey Fire Department and its firefighters who b... Read more