Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, was named by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as its 2016 U.S. Representative of the Year.A long-term champion on behalf of people affected by MS, Congressman Burgess is the founding Chair of the Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus. He has been a leader of the Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act (H.R. 292), and through his dedicated efforts in 2016 he ensured the bill was passed into law as part of the 21st Century Cures Act.

“As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional MS Caucus, we have made great strides in my tenure to strengthen MS research and improve the lives of those living with this devastating disease. I am honored to be recognized as the MS Society’s 2016 Representative of the Year and remain committed to breaking down barriers to make MS therapies more affordable,” said Burgess.

“Representative Burgess has changed the landscape of Capitol Hill’s understanding and commitment to people with MS,” said National MS Society President and CEO Cyndi Zagieboylo. “From his founding of the Congressional MS Caucus in 2007, to his impactful work on the 21st Century Cures Act, the congressman’s leadership is critical to helping us reach a world free of MS.”

The National MS Society presented Congressman Burgess with the U.S. Representative of the Year award during its 26th annual Public Policy Conference, held March 20-22. The event convened nearly 300 MS activists from across the country in Washington, D.C. to educate elected officials about the needs of people affected by MS.

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