U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) issued the following statement to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee concerning the use of Federal resources to locate missing members of the Texas Legislature earlier this year as stated in House Resolution 288:

“I believe House Resolution 288 is absurd and should be reported unfavorably by the Committee and ignored.

“Over the past few weeks, multiple inquiries either are underway or have been completed. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General recently cleared the Department of any improper involvement in the Texas Legislature redistricting session. The Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Justice has already begun an investigation into this issue. As we have heard today, the Federal Aviation Administration also has been cleared of any improper activities.

“The U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General concluded in the report that the requested information is already available in the public domain. In fact, the FAA staff got the same exact information on the plane from the Internet within weeks. What other documents does the author of this resolution have any basis to believe exist? Do the supporters of the resolution question the objectivity or competence of the Inspector General?

“I believe these investigations, not a partisan resolution inquiry, are the proper way to obtain information on government activities. Unless we have some reason to believe that this process is not working, we have no legitimate reason to make broad demands on the three federal agencies in question.

“I believe we have wasted too much federal government time and money on this issue. Two investigations have been completed. This Committee has the Inspector General report. The Congress must now move on.

“We have very important issues to address this year in the Committee. I believe this hearing is a waste of this Committee's time and efforts. This Committee does a good job of working together in a bipartisan manner on the many matters before it. This resolution is nothing more than a political stunt to revive a non-issue, and it is not worthy of the favorable disposition.”