Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess received his subcommittee assignments for the 109th Congress as a Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Michael Burgess will serve as a Member on three subcommittees: Health, Energy and Air Quality, and Oversight and Investigations.

“These are the issues that you hear about everyday on the news,” commented Rep. Michael Burgess after hearing of his assignments during a member’s only organizational meeting of the full committee. “As a doctor, I am particularly pleased to be added to the health subcommittee where I can continue my work improving America’s health care system, but I am equally honored to serve on both the energy and oversight subcommittees as they directly impact my district.”

Each subcommittee has separate jurisdiction over their focus area. The Health Subcommittee focuses on public health and quarantine, hospital construction, mental health and research, biomedical programs and health protection in general, including Medicaid and national health insurance, food and drugs and homeland security-related health aspects.

The Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee oversees the national energy policy, fossil energy, renewable energy resources and synthetic fuels, energy conservation, energy information, energy regulation and utilization, utility issues and regulation of nuclear facilities, interstate energy compacts, nuclear energy and waste and the Clean Air Act. This subcommittee is chaired by fellow North Texan Ralph M. Hall (TX-04).

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has responsibility for oversight and investigation of agencies, departments and programs within the jurisdiction of the full committee which extends over five Cabinet-level departments and seven independent agencies--from the Energy Department, Health and Human Services, the Transportation Department to the Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and Federal Communications Commission.

“I am looking forward to delving into the details of each of the subcommittee as we tackle major issues facing the 109th Congress,” stated Rep. Michael Burgess. “I’m particularly interested in reviewing medical liability, reforming Medicaid and bringing a national energy policy to fruition.”

Congressman Burgess’ three new subcommittees on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are in addition to his chairmanship of the House Republican Policy Committee’s Health Subcommittee.

“With these two separate subcommittees on health care, I’m hoping to bring profound changes to our current system,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess.