by Kara Mason Public health officials say it’s going to take a substantial number of workers to track and contain the coronavirus. The endeavor is one leaders say is necessary in completely returning the country as close to normal as possible. To coax more people into those roles in public health Tri-County Health Department Director Dr. John Douglas pitched an idea for a loan repayment program for those workers. Aurora Congressman Jason Crow introduced the bill to establish the program this wee... Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), joined by Congressmen Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Roger Williams (R-TX), Mike Conaway (R-TX), Bill Flores (R-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chip Roy (R-TX), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Ron Estes (R-KS) Tom Cole (R -OK) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will provide $3 billion in funding to purchase crude oil produced in the United States for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The legislation comes when A... Read more

April 21, 2020 Dear Friends, The American energy market is in crisis due to the impact of COVID-19, butalsothe senseless and malicious actions of the OPEC countries and the Russians. This is why I helped put forwardbipartisan, bicameral legislation that will provide $3 billion in funding to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by purchasing crude oil produced in the United States. The legislation is particularly timelyon the heels of American oil pricesgoing negative for the first time in... Read more

Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after U.S. Representatives Lizzie Fletcher and Michael Burgess introduced the House companion bill to legislation Hoeven is leading in the U.S. Senate to provide $3 billion in funding to purchase crude oil produced in the United States for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Earlier this month, Hoeven lead a bicameral and bipartisan group in announcing the legislation. Click here for the bill text. 'Our nation's oil industry is essential to o... Read more

April 20, 2020 Dear Friends, Yesterday, I joined WFAA's Inside Texas Politics with Jason Whitely to talk about re-opening Texas and the country. I told Jason that as we take the step forward, we need to be smart about it and be ready to respondif COVID-19 cases start to flare-up again. Governor Abbott and President Trump are taking the right approach by having a gradual phase-in plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on providing essential non-COVID-19 care t... Read more

April 19, 2020 Dear Friends, Last night I spoke with Jon Scott on the Fox Reportabout the steps states are taking to re-open. While I understand that we are all experiencing serious casesof cabin fever, I believe Governor Abbott's approach to phrase inre-opening is the best move.This will not be like switching a switch but morelike turning a dimmer switch. We will get there; however, it willtake some patience. National Update: The American Hospital Association announced a partnership with indus... Read more

Texas Congressman Michael Burgess joins Jon Scott to discuss his state's plan to gradually reopen amid coronavirus pandemic. Published here. Read more

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, spoke with Newsmax TV’s Chris Salcedo about the politics of reopening the country and getting Congress back to work amidst the public health crisis. > Here are the highlights: The Importance of the Paycheck Protect Program: The money is necessary. I was one of those that had my doubts when Secretary Mnuchin talked abo... Read more

April 17, 2020 Dear Friends, I sent a letter toSpeaker Pelosi,Minority LeaderMcCarthy, House Committee on Small Business Chair Velazquez and Republican Leader Chabot requesting that 501(c)(6) organizations be eligible to receive loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In the letter, I also requested that Congress act quickly to provide additional funding for thePPP. I was alerted to this issue during a conference call with Congressman Chabot and TX-26 small businesses. Local chambers ... Read more

April 16, 2020 Dear Friends, Congress has a responsibility to help get Americans back to work. By allowing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)to run dry, Democrats have committed legislative malpractice. Lenders are now forced to deny small businesses requesting PPP loans since funding for the program has been exhausted. The economy is sick because of the virus not because it was a bad economy, and the PPP is helping to protect jobs during the economic crisis. According to the Small Business ... Read more