Congressman Michael Burgess

Always dedicated to improving America’s health care system, Dr. Burgess decided to run for the vacated U.S. Congressional seat of Texas’ 26th District in 2002. Alongside modernizing our health care, Dr. Burgess also believes in building a strong defense, protecting our Homeland, cutting wasteful government spending and advocating for tax relief while reforming the tax code into a simpler, fairer system.

Congressman Burgess is a Member of the prestigious House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 109th Congress. It is one of only three exclusive committees in the House of Representatives. Its jurisdiction is arguably the broadest (non-tax-oriented) jurisdiction of any Congressional committee. It maintains principal responsibility for legislative oversight relating to telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health, air quality and environmental health, the supply and delivery of energy, and interstate and foreign commerce in general. This jurisdiction extends over five Cabinet-level departments and seven independent agencies--from the Energy Department, Health and Human Services, the Transportation Department to the Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, and Federal Communications Commission.

In the 109th, the Energy and Commerce Committee will look to improve the Medicaid program, the National Institutes of Health, and monitor the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit enacted by the 108th Congress. In addition, the Energy and Commerce Committee will devote time to the creation of a robust national energy policy and modifying the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which are high priorities for Congressman Burgess.

Congressman Burgess also sits as Chairman of the Republican House Policy Committee’s Subcommittee of Health . The Policy Subcommittee on Health has jurisdiction over House GOP policy as it affects public and private health facilities; healthcare tax policy; the Medicare and Medicaid programs; healthcare activities of the Department of Health and Human Services; and activities of the National Institutes of Health.