NEWS

Burgess Statement on Immigration Deal

“I find it earth shattering that the Senate would design legislation, behind closed doors, without input, and then plan to force it through both Houses of Congress.

“This issue is of critical importance to all Americans, and certainly, to my constituents in North Texas. Yet, Members of both parties are still waiting for the bill to be introduced so we can actually read the language of the bill.

“If the rumors are true, I will not support the bill. I do not believe in amnesty. Citizenship in this country means something, and we should not diminish its integrity by allowing those who have knowingly broken U.S. law to become citizens.

“Border security has been and remains today my preference to address illegal immigration, and I will not waiver in that conviction.”

Comments on the Price Gouging

From the House Floor

I have grave concerns about the Stupak bill, specifically regarding its lack of clarity in defining “unconscionable.” I believe that this ambiguous term could lead to severe supply shortages in a time of emergency.

Under this proposal, a gasoline station owner could receive civil and criminal penalties totaling $5 million and ten years in prison for charging “unconscionable” prices. Yet there is no clear definition for “unconscionable.”

To add insult to injury, if a gas station were to charge less than the market price, it could also be subject to charges of undercutting the market. If I were a gasoline station owner in a time of crisis, I would probably shut down my pumps and just sell Coca-Cola and Snicker’s bars to try to make a living.

I'm not defending those who would price gouge. I firmly believe that if it is determined that illegal pricing has occurred; it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In my home state of Texas, we already have tough anti-price gouging laws on the books. After the Governor declares an emergency, the Texas Attorney General can file suit. Anyone convicted of price gouging faces civil penalties of from $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000 per violation.

But we must make sure that we do not create a climate which causes business owners to stop selling gasoline rather than face losing their businesses -- and their livelihood.”

Signing of the Iraq Supplemental

Signing of the Iraq Supplemental the following statement was made by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) concerning the passage of H.R. 2206, the fiscal 2007 war supplemental:

“The passage of the Iraq Supplemental was a moment that the world watched closely. The original Democratic Leadership bill brought before the House was coupled with a withdrawal deadline for our troops. I opposed this concept, and spoke against on the House floor.

For over one hundred days, the original bill, clearly a mistake, took up time of the Congress, and hurt the work of our men and women in the theater. I voted against it. My belief was that every member of Congress had to answer two fundamental questions: Is it in our broad national interest to win this fight? And secondly: Can we prevail, and thus have an ally in the country of Iraq, assisting in the goal of stability in the Middle East?

“For me, the answer to these two questions is yes. And a real bill should have been on the table, a bill without deadlines. Deadlines undermine.

“Further, if one's answer to these two questions was no, one should demand to bring the troops home now, and assert that a time line is worthless. Only the truly cynical would say we cannot win, and thus should withdraw sometime next year.

“The Democrats offered a weak bill, with a troop withdrawal deadline, that promptly failed. So 109 days after President Bush submitted a funding request to Congress to provide for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Democratic leadership conceded and a new bill emerged without a deadline for troop withdraws.

“The Democratic Leadership owes the American people an unambiguous version of their vision for stability in the Middle East. To date they have not been forthcoming.

“But still, the Democrats managed to go on a spending spree on domestic issues not remotely related to the intention of the bill. While the conservative in me is irate about that maneuver, the larger priority in my mind was to fund and support our troops. I voted in favor of the final Iraq Supplemental legislation that is now law. The Democrats plan to continue to do what they can to undermine the effort. I frankly do not understand their rationale. Let us be serious about the fight we are in, or bring our guys home.

“My belief, based on briefings and time in both countries: we are moving ever closer to the date in which our military can hand off their responsibilities to Iraqi security forces. I pray that common sense, and a sense of our country’s moral obligation defines and leads our legislation that supports this mission, not politics.”

Protecting Our Children: Current Issues in Consumer Product Safety

Statement from Energy & Commerce Committee Hearing

I think it’s fair to say that the safety and welfare of children is a top priority for every single member of this subcommittee, and probably every single person in this room. Most of us are parents, some of us are even grandparents, and no one would ever want to see a child get hurt. The internal instinct to protect children transcends party lines, and I think that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree that our children are our most precious resource and we must nurture and protect them. So, in that regard, I do thank the leadership of this committee for their dedication to our children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is tasked with the job of trying to safeguard our society, and children in particular, from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. Of course, more can, and should, be done to protect our society. We need to have a quorum on the CPSC board so they can vote on important measures, and I don’t understand why the Senate is waiting over two months to even hold a hearing on the President’s nominee for the chairmanship. As it is with many agencies, the Senate does not act fast enough to confirm nominees. That is obviously not within the House’s jurisdiction, but I do urge my colleagues in the other chamber to have an up or down vote on crucial appointments.

Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have introduced well-meaning legislation to help protect our children. I think that some of these pieces of legislation warrant a legitimate policy debate, and I look forward to beginning that today. However, I caution my colleagues in trying to create a “nanny state.” As much as we want it to be, nothing in this world is 100 percent safe and educating parents on some inherent dangers will go along way to protecting our children. Education, on so many levels, can save lives.

Congressman Burgess made a special presentation to Mr. Donald Wilson of North Richland Hills by presenting him with the Combat Action Ribbon he had been awarded in service to his country. The award was added to the Purple Heart and other awards he has already received for his honorable service in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam in 1967-68. Mr. Wilson was given a standing ovation by the crowd in honor of his sacrifice and dedication.

Summit on Aging Answers Questions about the Future

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) hosted a Summit on the Issues of Aging on Saturday, May 5^th in Hurst. The event attracted over 100 participants to learn about planning for their financial, medical and legal future needs.

“The event was designed to have individuals think through those decisions that inevitably we all face,” said Congressman Michael Burgess. “Although none of us likes to think about getting older, we must plan for that eventuality. I know that if my mother had not pestered me about purchasing Long Term Care, I too would have found myself in a position where the cost would be exorbitant or I might not be able to purchase it at all.”

In addition to brief remarks by the Congressman, the event included experts in their field discussing what lies ahead and what decisions should be made now.

Emcee Gary Cumbie, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, Tarrant County College kicked off the event and handed the reigns over to Congressman Burgess who made a special presentation to Mr. Donald Wilson of North Richland Hills by presenting him with the Combat Action Ribbon he had been awarded in service to his country. The award was added to the Purple Heart and other awards he has already received for his honorable service in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam in 1967-68. Mr. Wilson was given a standing ovation by the crowd in honor of his sacrifice and dedication.

The first discussion centered on the personal side of aging with author Jim Comer who shared his struggle to help his parents as they aged and learned several lessons along the way. Mr. Comer’s rousing presentation set the tone for the important information to follow. The next discussion explored several legal issues, including how to plan trusts, power of attorney, and formulating wills presented by Steve Katten a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Next was a discussion on financial issues led by Glenn Bishop, a qualified financial planner with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. The final presentation was by Rod Perkins with Genworth who discussed the many options to cover future health care expenses.

In addition to the formal presentations, a health and financial fair took place at Tarrant County College’s Northeast Campus including the Tarrant County Area Agency on Aging, Tarrant County Health Department, Fort Worth Meals-on-Wheels, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Tarrant County Bar Association, and the Social Security Administration.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES

Passport Delays
If you have a U.S. Passport Application pending and are within 10 days of your travel and you have not received your passport, do not hesitate to call my district office so I can initiate a Congressional Inquiry on your behalf. Local calling information is available below under “Contact the Congressman.”

As you are probably aware, the United States Department of State has been experiencing record backlogs in processing passports for constituents who are traveling by air to destinations in the Western Hemisphere. I have been working with several of my fellow Texas colleagues who are experiencing similar backlogs.

Click here to view the bipartisan Texas Delegation letter I signed that has been sent to Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice highlighting the problem. I will continue to monitor this issue and look for more immediate solutions.

Rep. Burgess reads to students at Van Zandt Guinn Elementary School

H.R. 395, Do-Not-Call Reauthorization

In 1991, Congress first passed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to remedy the growing number of unsolicited telephone marketing calls and automated prerecorded messages. In June 2003, the Federal Communications Commission supplemented its original rules implementing the TCPA and established, along with the Federal Trade Commission, the national Do-Not-Call List.

The Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003 gave the FTC the authority to collect fees from telemarketers to establish and run the Federal Do-Not-Call List. However, due to the inclusion of a sunset provision, the FTC’s authority to collect fees necessary to continue facilitating the Do-Not-Call List expires on September 30, 2007. I am sponsoring a bill to extend the FTC’s fee collecting authority thereby helping to ensure that customers receive the best support possible in combating Do-Not-Call violators.

Ever wonder what legislation Congressman Burgess has introduced?

Visit the Library of Congress’ THOMAS website for more information. Under the “Browse Bills by Sponsor” portion of the website, select Rep. Michael C. Burgess. It will immediately take you to a page displaying the bills and amendments he has personally introduced this 110^th Congress. You can learn more about each individual bill by clicking on the bill number.

Gasoline Prices

With the summer driving season upon us, I thought you might be interested to know how the price of gasoline breaks down. Each month, the Energy Information Administration publishes a monthly “Short Term Energy Outlook,” which forecasts energy prices, including the projected price for gasoline.

The May 2007 outlook forecasts suggested a peak at $3.01 per gallon this summer, but we have already hit that mark. Like all forecasting, it is not an exact science, but I am hopeful that these documents can provide you a better understanding of how prices are determined. For more information on how the price of gasoline is determined, please view the Energy Information Administration’s “Gasoline Primer.”

High gas prices make proper vehicle maintenance all the more important. For more information visit Fuel Economy to learn ways that you can make your vehicle more efficient and save money on gasoline this summer.

If you suspect illegal price gouging, please contact the Texas Attorney General’s office.

CONTACT THE CONGRESSMAN

“Cooke County Community Office Hours”

Congressman Burgess holds “Community Office Hours” in Cooke County twice each month; on the second and fourth Mondays. On the second Monday of each month, his staff will be at Gainesville City Hall; on the fourth Monday of each month, staff will be in Oak Ridge, Lake Kiowa or Callisburg. Representatives of Burgess’ office are available to take opinions on various issues and assist individuals with claims through federal agencies. Please contact Robin Vaughan in the Lewisville District Office at (972) 434-9700 for more information.

The 2007“Office Hours” dates and locations are below; please note the time is always 9:00 -11:00 a.m. If a federal holiday occurs on a scheduled Monday date, “office hours” will be held the following day on Tuesday.

Congressman Burgess speaks with Tim Creek, Boy Scout, at the Lantana Community Coffee

“Write Your Rep” - - you can write Congressman Burgess
To email Congressman Burgess, please click on the above link and follow the simple directions outlined on the website. This process ensures that we receive emails from 26th Congressional District of Texas residents only.