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NEWS

Responding to Avian Flu

Rep. Burgess speaks on the potential dangers of a deadly pandemic

As the Avian Flu virus spreads throughout Asia, and now with reports of the virus in Europe, the threat of an outbreak in the United States is imminent. Avian Flu (H5N1 virus) merits attention because this virus could be the world’s next pandemic. A pandemic occurs with periodic evolution of the influenza virus. The term ``pandemic'' applies when there is no underlying immunity within the community to the particular type of flu virus.

The last flu pandemic the world experienced was in 1918 and the flu affected between 20 and 40 million people. That was a pure avian or bird flu, which then adapted to humans with fatal infections as a result. There is currently a widespread bird infection throughout Asia, Russia, several former Soviet republics, Southeast Asia, and recently we have seen it make an appearance in European Union countries. However, today we have the technology and the ability to prepare, and hopefully prevent, such a dramatic and devastating pandemic.

Currently, the Avian Flu virus is not easily transferable from bird to human or from human to human. This will require further genetic mutation of the virus, but if that event does occur, a worldwide pandemic will commence. However, it is possible that this mutation will not occur, nor would efficient human-to-human transmission be developed, and the pandemic will not occur. The situation is very unpredictable, but Congressman Burgess feels that “because of the extremely wide geographic distribution of the avian flu, unlike any ever seen previously before, it is prudent to prepare for the outbreak in humans.”

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has taken action to create a plan to prepare and prevent an Avian Flu pandemic including:

• Providing leadership to the National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Task Force, created in May 2005 by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Working with the Association of Public Health Laboratories on training workshops for state laboratories on the use of special laboratory (molecular) techniques to identify H5 viruses.
• Working with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists and others to help states with their pandemic planning efforts.
• Working with other agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration on antiviral stockpile issues.
• Working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Vietnamese Ministry of Health to investigate influenza H5N1 in Vietnam and to provide help in laboratory diagnostics and training to local authorities.
• Performing laboratory testing of H5N1 viruses.
• Starting a $5.5 million initiative to improve influenza surveillance in Asia .
• Holding or taking part in training sessions to improve local capacities to conduct surveillance for possible human cases of H5N1 and to detect influenza A H5 viruses by using laboratory techniques.
• Developing and distributing reagents kits to detect the currently circulating influenza A H5N1 viruses.

In a House floor speech on October 25, 2005, Congressman Burgess stressed that “To be able to detect the outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the world is going to require a partnership of several countries that will share information and samples, but it is important to remember a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere.”

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Congressman Burgess Reforms Medicaid for the 21st Century

The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted out of committee the 21st Century Medicaid Reform Act as part of the reconciliation process. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, the only doctor on the committee, played an integral role in developing the language of the bill. The bill passed 33-17.

Significant portions of the bill were authored by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, specifically two provisions: (1) restructuring Medicaid rules dealing with asset transfers as a qualification of eligibility for Medicaid long-term care and (2) extending long-term care partnerships to any State and making Health Opportunity Accounts available as an option to States.

Ultimately, the bill will be brought before the House of Representatives for a final vote sometime before the end of the first session of Congress.

“This bill reforms a system so that it will not bankrupt America,” remarked Congressman Burgess. “We can make Medicaid a cost-effective, efficient and stable program for those groups of people who truly need it.”

Burgess Pushes for VA Outpatient Clinic Near Resource Connection

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) unanimously selected to place the Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic adjacent to the Tarrant County Resource Connection.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess worked at the federal level on this issue in conjunction with officials with the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), including Director Betty Bolin Brown and Robert Martin, Operations Administrator of the Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic, and Judi Ketchum, Director of the Tarrant County Resource Connection.

Over a year ago, Congressman Michael C. Burgess met with Robert Martin, Acting Operations Administrator of the clinic and other VANTHCS Management Officials to discuss the potential locations where the new clinic would be opened. Upon reviewing the list, Congressman Burgess was quick to throw his support and influence behind the Resource Connection location.

“Having a new, large and easily accessible facility to serve our veterans’ health care needs was a priority of mine from the beginning,” stated Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26). “The perfect scenario was constructing the clinic close to the Resource Connection where a multitude of community services are available and my Fort Worth congressional district office is located.”

Burgess Pushes for More Spectrum for First Responder Communications

Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) voted in favor of legislation that will enable first responders to communicate more effectively in times of emergencies. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation setting December 31, 2008 as the “hard date” for the transition of all televisions from analog to digital transmission. By freeing the space currently used by analog transmissions, public safety officials will gain access to 24 megahertz of radio spectrum and an additional 60 megahertz of spectrum for radio.

“It was apparent after 9/11 that first responders were greatly hampered by the inability to communicate with one another,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess. “I have been a long-time advocate of making the switch to digital transmissions, but it was the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rita that made it clear to my colleagues that we could not wait another four years to take action.”

Passage of the bill will trigger a required spectrum auction to commence on January 7, 2008. The sale of the spectrum alone is estimated to bring in somewhere between $10 and $30 billion the federal treasury.

Honoring Rosa Parks

Remarks from the House Floor: Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I would just add to the gentleman from the State of Ohio that the State of Texas added 15,000 jobs last month.

Mr. Speaker, when she sat down, society stood up and took notice. Rosa Parks, the name is synonymous with civil rights. Often referred to as the Mother of Civil Rights, Ms. Parks, with one small act of defiance, refusing to give up her bus seat, galvanized a generation of activists, including the young Reverend Martin Luther King, who then organized a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system. Finally in November of 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public transportation was unconstitutional.

Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks was then a 42-year-old seamstress, an active member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People, and had worked as its adviser to its youth council. But it was on a city bus on December 1, 1955, when her seat was demanded and when history was made. When questioned why she did not vacate her seat that day, her answer was simple. She said, ``I felt I had a right to be treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment for too long.''

Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks received many awards throughout her lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996; and then in 1999, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Ms. Parks. But Ms. Parks wanted people to remember what was most important, to understand the government, to understand their rights, and the Constitution.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES

Help with Federal Grants

The links below will provide you with a central location to search the wealth of information available from both government and private entities who offer program and project funding to nonprofit organizations as well as state and local governments. The links on this page offer helpful information that will enable you research information efficiently and will guide you on writing grant proposals.

In addition, Patricia Bostic recently joined the District Staff as Grant Coordinator. Pat joins us with 14 years in project/grant management, including experience with the Dallas Housing Authority, Dallas County Planning and Development and D/FW Airport. She brings a background and experience in the request process and local administration of various federal funding streams at the city and county levels, including HUD’s CDBG and HOME programs. For more details and help, please contact my Lewisville Office at (972) 434-9700.

Upcoming Events

Cooke County Office Hours - an opportunity to meet with the staff of Congressman Burgess:

Town Halls

Frisco Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, December 3, 2005
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Wilma Fisher Elementary Cafetorium
2500 Old Orchard Drive
Frisco, TX 75034
Google Map

Medicare Prescription Drug Forums

November 11, 2005
Tarrant County
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Resource Connection of Tarrant County
Conference and Recreation Center
2300 Circle Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76119
(Off Campus Dr., turn west on Raymond Barber, right on Circle Dr.)
Google Map

November 12, 2005
Denton County
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Denton ISD/C.H. Collins Athletic Complex
Stadium Banquet Room
1500 Long Road
Denton, TX 76207
(Loop 288, exit FM 428/Sherman Dr. north (NO entry from access road), go past Water Park, turn left at 1st street – Long Rd.)
Google Map
Map of the Facility

November 12, 2005

Cooke County
2:00-3:00 p.m.
State Theater
200 E. California Street
Gainesville, TX 76240
(corner of California & Rusk)