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, released the following statement after Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

“The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse. It is our responsibility to ensure the federal government is funded, but we must do so thoughtfully,” said Burgess.

“Yesterday afternoon when I entered the Rules Committee for what was to be the only hearing on the combined appropriations and relief bills, I was shocked there was not a copy of the legislation available for the Majority or Minority Members. This was a 5,500 page bill that we were going to vote on in less than five hours.

“There were many parts of the bill - in fact some policies I have fought for, for decades - which were reasonable, and I could support. I am grateful for the diligent work by members and staff who put in long hours to get a reasonable result, but ultimately the process was so flawed that I could not support the final product. There were also several items that could have had a deleterious effect on our doctors and health professionals. The labors of our front-line medical personal should not be rewarded with reduction of reimbursement, but I was concerned this would be the inevitable result.

“In my 20 years in Congress, I have watched additions to legislation at the last minute that ultimately prove detrimental. The 26^th District of Texas sent me here to represent them, and I need to ensure that what I am voting on does just that.

“My hope is that with the beginning of a new year and a new Congress, legislators will get back to the business of legislating through regular order. It is irresponsible to push off our work on behalf of the American people to the point that we are scrambling at the end of the year.”