Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is a bold scientific step to pass this legislation today, and I am pleased that the Senate released their hold on it and passed this bill. It is good legislation. We heard during the arguments on the previous bill that was debated here on the floor, science certainly moves a lot more swiftly than the legislative process, and that is certainly true in this case today. By allowing this bill, we are going to allow hundreds, perhaps thousands of Americans the opportunity for a cure that we were withholding by delaying passage of this bill. I have heard diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's referenced. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, unfortunately, are unlikely to be cured by umbilical cord stem cells, but they are also unlikely to be cured by embryonic stem cell research. The promise for cure for these diseases lies in protein science and our understanding of the human genome, not in stem cell research. This bill is a good bill because it authorizes a significant amount of money for the collection, the documentation and the maintenance of 150,000 new stem cell lives. These are pluripotential cells. What has changed since we had our debate on the stem cell lines here last spring? Well, we have read a lot of stuff in the newspapers just the past 2 weeks about some of the changes, some of the research that has now been withdrawn. Think about this, Mr. Speaker: We do not even know what research is just out there over the horizon. What if we unlock some of the proteinemic keys that allow us to understand what signals one cell to another? What if we could make the umbilical cord stem cell behave more like the embryonic stem cell? Think of that, Mr. Speaker. Then we have got 150,000 lines banked and ready to go when that research which is being done in my home State of Texas at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, if that research shows the promise that it one day may, we will have 150,000 cell lines banked and ready to go. Mr. Speaker, this procedure, this technique, this ability to bank umbilical cord cells allows for there to be greater diversity within the marrow donor pool than was previously known. It has been difficult to get minority populations to become marrow donors. Now we will be able to collect that cell material at the time of birth painlessly, at no risk to anyone, material that was otherwise going to be discarded, and it will be put into these stem cell lines. And the database will be there for people to reference and find these life-saving cures that will be now available by umbilical cord stem cells. We are expanding America's inventory of cord blood cells today, and that is a good thing for all Americans. Whether they are sick or not, one day they may need this technology. We have the ability and the capacity within our hands to expand this program and save American lives, and I say that is a good thing.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), someone who has really been a leader in this issue.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt). (Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, just in closing, I would say that I do appreciate Mr. Shadegg bringing this bill to the floor today. I appreciate him bringing up the concept of the refundable tax credit. I, too, think this is important legislation, that we in the Chamber today have some of the best minds on the health subcommittee. I hope we can work together to get that passed next year. I hope we can look at other opportunities such as what Governor Jeb Bush is doing down in the State of Florida for purchasing insurance for those working poor who cannot afford it. But this is a good bill; this is good legislation. It will be very helpful back in my home State of Texas.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg). (Mr. SHADEGG asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are on the verge of passing H.R. 4519, the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act. Simply put, this bill will help more people get health insurance. People with preexisting conditions or high health care expenses face major difficulties when they seek to purchase health insurance. This is especially true for workers in small businesses or those who are self- employed, so they often go without health insurance and turn to government programs like Medicaid when they become sick or disabled. This bill authorizes Federal grant money to help fund the initial startup and operation of State high risk pools. Risk pools allow eligible individuals to purchase health insurance, pay premiums and receive health coverage through private insurers. This grant money will allow States with these pools to cover more individuals and reduce the premiums they must pay. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Texas was left out of the Federal funding when this program was created, and now States like my State of Texas will have the ability to access these Federal funds. This bill will help reduce the number of uninsured and provide affordable health insurance for more Americans. That is an important part, affordable health insurance, one of the things we talk about every day in this body. I want to thank the bill's sponsors, John Shadegg and Ed Towns, and I want to thank their staffs for their hard work on this bill. I would also note that the bill before us today is the result of bipartisan and bicameral compromise, and I want to additionally thank the staff at the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee for their efforts on this legislation. Lastly, I would like to thank the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee, including Bill O'Brien on the majority staff, Amy Hall and Bridgett Taylor on Ranking Member John Dingell's staff for their efforts to develop this bipartisan proposal that will help States to insure individuals who would otherwise not have been able to get affordable health coverage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4519) to amend the Public Health Service Act to extend funding for the operation of State high risk health insurance pools.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this relevant and important piece of legislation to the floor today. It is probably the cervical cytology that has been more responsible than any other medical test for the foundation of preventative medicine in the United States. I cannot tell you of the change that has taken place in the science of cervical cytologies from 1988, when this language was first written, until the time I left practice in 2002. The change has been so rapid in the science of cytology; and the language in this legislation being over 10 years old, over a decade old, is inappropriate for the 21st century. In this day and time, we now have thin-layer cytologies. We have liquid-based cytologies, none of which were available in the late 80s or early 90s. The accuracy of these tests is light years ahead of what it was. If you add to that the ability to do DNA typing on abnormal cells, a lot of problems with false negatives have been eliminated. The CLIA standards to affect this language at this point would be inappropriate. They would be draconian. In fact, they would be a big step backward. I look forward to working with my chairman. I look forward to working with the committee with my fellow members to develop language that more accurately measures the performance of cytopathologists and pathologists.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the collective grief of the people of North Texas on the death of Fort Worth Officer Henry ``Hank'' Nava, Jr. who died of a gunshot wound to his head while in the course of duty. Officer Nava, recognizable by his military hairstyle, Oakley sunglasses and electric smile, was a dedicated servant of the community. The grief from his loss is shared not only by his fellow police brethren, but by the greater Fort Worth community. Hank Nava was the first Fort Worth officer killed in the line of duty in 11 years. He served as an officer in Austin, Plano and Fort Worth, where he was most recently assigned to the 10-member North Side Crime Response Team. This team is directed to handle particularly difficult cases. He was always first to volunteer and enthusiastic to accomplish the tasks ahead of him. A natural leader, he was a source of encouragement for his fellow police officers. Officer Nava's personality and bravery made him a trusted friend, devoted husband and father, and a hero to other police officers. Gianni Ghilespi, a Fort Worth police captain, said that Officer Nava gave him a home during his darkest moment and helped him work through his problems stating, ``God sent a hero to me,'' he said. ``It was Hank Nava.'' His generous personality extended beyond his call to service as a police officer. Officer Nava could often be found working out in the community especially with children. The impact of his death left a wounded community. Currently, the Fort Worth police are having difficulties reassigning his patrol unit. It seems that citizens just started showing up and signing condolences on the vehicle. But truly, he will be missed most by his family. Hank Nava is survived by his wife, Teresa and his two children Kayleigh, age nine, and Justin, age four. We were blessed to have had him protecting us all from the evils of this world. His courage and dedication brought hope of a safer community. He will be remembered as a husband, a hero, and a friend.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to represent these All- American heroes. Their dedication to democracy and their strength of character are to be admired and emulated: SPC Michael Wayne Bennett, SSG Roy Edgar Bowers, SGT Shawn Michael Porter, SGT Carlos Antonio Garcia, SPC Terry Davinci Mitchell, SGT Eric Arthur Stevens, SGT Jason Eiron Sternberg, SGT Jerome Joseph Koehler, SPC Jacob Sterling May, SGT Warren Keith Moore, SPC David Frank Denbek, SPC Johnathan Lee Hicks, 1LT Brian Marsh Gallavan, 1LT Matthew Vance Isch, 1LT Richard Joseph Sabe, SFC David Edwin Hewett, SFC Hudson Martin Roberts, SSG James Alson Fountain. SFC David Wayne Harris, SSG Jose Manuel Orozco, SSG Douglas Ray Taylor, SFC Robert Lloyd Thomas, SFC Mark White, SGT Jose Arias, SGT Robert James Bush Jr., SGT Anthony Ellis, SGT Paul Douglas Ford, SGT Christopher Joe Henry, SGT Jason Lee Martin, SGT Archie Lamont Price, SGT Edward E. Roelofs, SFT Kristopher Erik Townsend, SGT Curtis Lloyd VanHusss, SPC Joseph Ray Calhoun, SPC Joseph Andrew Carten, SPC Robert Junior Downs. SGT Gregory Wayne Horn, Jr., SGT Nathan Andrew Lemmon, SGT Wayne Douglas Melton, II, SPC Victor Cazares Mozqueda, Jr, SPC Daniel Patrick Rico, PFC Eric Alejandro Stanley, SPC Seth Thomas Tackett, SGT David Thomas Tolan, SPC Phillip James Easterling, SPC Ariel Daniel Garcia, SPC Matthew Alan Germain, SPC Nagaris Traion Johnson, SPC Raymond Gene Leger, SPC Keith Ryan McGriff, SPC Ernest Ronald McMichael, SGT Thomas Nelson Miner, SPC Joshua Roland C. Pierce, SGT Jeffrey Paul Rico, PFC Joshus Lee Walterscheid, SPC Robert Christopher Willis.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated group of soldiers from Denton, Texas, who have devoted their lives to saving our country and bringing freedom to the people of Iraq--the soldiers of Company Alpha, 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor of Denton. Denton's Company A is part of the 3,000 members of the 56th Brigade Combat Team of the Texas National Guard's 36th Infantry Division, which recently turned over its command to the Georgia Army National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team in Macon, Georgia. Deployed in August of 2004, the soldiers from Denton trained at Fort Hood, Texas, through December of last year before embarking to Iraq. While in Iraq, they were stationed at Al Taqaddum, or ``TQ'' Airbase between Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq. During the year-long deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 56th Brigade took part in combat missions, humanitarian relief, convoy security and the recovery and destruction of munitions. They were engaged in more than 7,000 combat patrols, escorted convoys over 1.3 million miles and protected more than 150,000 civilian trucks. Most of the operations took place at night, and patrols lasted 12 to 14 hours. The soldiers encountered more than 330 improvised explosive devices while traveling on Iraqi roads, and the patrols were involved in more than 250 small-arms engagements. These brave soldiers from Denton include: CPT Mark Christopher Grahmann, 1st LT Chester Lee Harbert, 1st SG Charles George Piatt, SFC Kevin Jay Brown, SSG Lonnie Ray Fuller, SGT Ryan Colby Erwin, SSG Michael Samson Bowen, SGT Andrew Culloden Bell, Chris William Coufal, SGT Ashley Brant Acevedo, SGT Shane Benjamin Walter, SPC John Christopher Britton, SPC Scott Alan Dolat, SSG Mark Steven Sims.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from Pennsylvania is exactly right. In fact if my arithmetic is correct, the polls in Iraq closed just a little over an hour ago. Of course, we owe the great success of three successful elections in Iraq to the dedication of our troops that have served so well over there. In fact, this past weekend in Waco, Texas, citizens of Texas welcomed back the 56th Combat Brigade, over 2,000 Texans from the Texas Army National Guard who have been serving for 11 months in the country of Iraq. This is especially important to my hometown of Denton, Texas. Seventy-eight members of the Denton-based Company A, 2nd Battalion of the 112th Army, have returned to their homes in north Texas. This is the first deployment of the Denton-based Texas National Guard since World War II, according to an editorial in the Denton Record Chronicle last week. The 56th Battalion was not without its casualties. There were six who died in combat, two who died in training accidents, and 58 were wounded. Fortunately, none of the soldiers that left from Denton, Texas, were killed in action in Iraq. Only one was wounded. During that time they performed 7,000 combat patrols, escorted convoys for 1.3 million miles, and built 15 schools. There is a parade in Denton this Saturday morning. We may not be done voting, I may not be able to attend, but my heart will be with my citizens in Denton as they welcome their sons and daughters home.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for helping us move this legislation expeditiously. Of course, I thank Chairman Hyde for his role in that. I thank the gentleman from California as well. Two years ago yesterday, December 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured and his tortured reign was finally and officially and completely at an end. While that was a significant turning point in this war, we all knew the path to a free and democratic Iraq would not be easy. Yet after years of oppression and torture, the Iraqi people are growing closer to having a nation ruled by their people instead of a nation ruled by fear. Earlier this year, the passage of the Iraqi constitution marked a significant milestone in the recovery of the sovereign nation of Iraq. In excess of 60 percent of the people of Iraq braved the terrorists, braved the threats of violence to be able to cast their vote. Indeed, at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time tomorrow morning, the polls will close in Iraq and the Iraqi people will have reached another historic milestone. Iraqi men and women worldwide are going to the polls in droves to be able to democratically elect the nation's first permanent constitutional parliament in decades. While there will still be hurdles for the Iraqi people to overcome today, we celebrate with our friends as they continue to take courageous steps in becoming their own sovereign nation. Mr. Speaker, a free and democratic Iraq will equal a safer world. And for the safety of our own Nation, I firmly believe that we must continue to support the sovereign endeavors of the Iraqi people and this developing nation. Tonight I rise to speak about an important House resolution, H. Res. 534, that enables this body to boldly support the governing efforts in Iraq. We are all well aware of the current trial of Saddam Hussein; and while this trial is important, a strong, independent Iraqi judicial system is of even greater importance. A crucial component to a free and democratic nation is its judicial system in which alleged criminals can be indicted; prosecuted; if convicted, punished in a fair and impartial manner. As Members of Congress, we have an obligation to uphold and support this principle especially in a land that has been inflicted with egregious crimes against humanity. The Iraqi Special Tribunal has been impaneled to bring swift and impartial justice to both the victims and the nation of Iraq, and I call on my colleagues to support H. Res. 534, which recognizes the importance and credibility of an independent Iraqi judiciary. The people of Iraq, the people of a sovereign nation, deserve true justice, which can only be obtained through a recognized and credible judicial system. The judges, the lawyers involved face daily peril for their courageous stand. And we have an opportunity to stand firmly with the Iraqi people and support the ongoing trials and efforts of the Iraqi Special Tribunal. Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity, the privilege, to travel to Iraq four times during the past 2 years. During every mission, I have been able to witness firsthand the progress that is being made by our troops on the ground and by the Iraqi Government. Mr. Speaker, I have a picture, a picture from my last trip to Iraq in August of this year, and I want to point out this was a picture, Mr. Speaker, that I took flying over in a Blackhawk helicopter. These helicopters are menacing vehicles. They travel low. They travel fast. They have guns sticking out the side. I stuck my camera out the window to take a picture, and mostly I wanted to take a picture of the satellite antennae that were on the rooftops. Of course, satellite television was prohibited under Saddam's regime, and, in fact, a year in prison was the punishment, as I understand. I took a picture because there were satellite antennae on a lot of the rooftops. But as I looked at this picture when I got home, I noticed that there were two figures on the rooftop. So I blew this picture up considerably. And, Mr. Speaker, as we look at this, we can see two apparently children standing on the rooftop. The larger child, who appears to be a girl, is waving; and a smaller, more inquisitive child, which I think is a boy, is sort of leaning over and looking at this impressive Blackhawk helicopter going over. And the girl is waving. She has an expression of absolute joy of seeing the helicopter flying over her city. And why would this be? Why would she be happy about seeing a menacing Blackhawk helicopter with guns sticking out the side flying over her city? Well, Mr. Speaker, I submit the reason for her joy is the small boy at her side. The small boy at her side is the reason for her joy because this child knows that 3 years ago, 3 years ago, there is probably a crawl space in this house somewhere where this small boy could be hidden if Saddam's conscriptionists came down the street trying to find people for his army. And that is the reason for her joy. That is the reason why this country should rejoice about what we have been able to do for the people of this long-suffering nation. Mr. Speaker, significant progress is being made, and it is imperative that they have our continued support. And today, tonight, we can continue to help provide that support through H. Res. 534. Throughout our efforts in providing continued support to Iraq, I would be remiss if I did not mention the determination, the skill of our Armed Forces and their resolution in continuing their mission in Iraq. It is due to the bravery and the perseverance of the U.S. military members and their coalition allies that the tyranny of Saddam is over, over forever. I applaud our troops and our leadership for their success.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, another 2-year anniversary that we observed this week is the passage and signing of the Medicare Modernization Act. A part of that act which really has not received the notice that it deserves is the part that expanded health savings accounts to more Americans. A lot of the restrictions were removed, and these changes allowed more people to be covered by health savings accounts that resulted in more coverage, coverage for people, and more choices for those people with insurance products. Mr. Speaker, I know this, because I had this before coming to Congress, and at that time there were only two companies that offered MSA-type coverage in my State. Now, the field has grown so that many companies offer coverage, and the prices for health savings accounts have dramatically reduced in my area. Today, Chief Deputy Whip Cantor is going to be introducing a bill that is going to remove some more restrictions that will allow for the adaptability for what are called flexible spending accounts and health reimbursement accounts so they can more seamlessly interact. This is good legislation, and I urge my colleagues to look into it.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the Honorable Garfield W. Thompson, 89, a former state representative, a labor leader, and a friend to the Fort Worth community. Mr. Thompson passed away on Wednesday, December 7, 2005. Garfield W. Thompson was born June 29, 1916, in Grandview, Texas. His family made Fort Worth its home when he was a young boy. He was a 1934 graduate of historic I.M. Terrell High School. At the outbreak of World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he bravely served and was honorably discharged. In 1942, he married Dorothy Ruth Williams. He worked as a waiter for Texas and Pacific Railroad until retirement after 28 years. He then worked as a custodian at the Tarrant County courthouse. There, he served as the president of the Tarrant County Courthouse AFL-CIO union, and he was later elected regional representative of the Tarrant County Central Labor Council. Mr. Thompson was elected to the Texas House in 1984 and served District 95 for 10 years until his retirement from public office. In addition to his years in public service, Mr. Thompson was chairman of voter registration for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and was an active member of the American Legion, a member and former president of the Ambassadors Club, an elder of St. Peter's Presbyterian Church and a former president of the Men of the Church. He was granted an honorary doctorate in government from the University of Houston and was a dedicated public servant. He loved and was particularly proud of his Stop Six community. Through all of his grand pursuits, nothing ranked above the love he had for his family. Today, I would like to recognize and celebrate Garfield W. Thompson's life. It was an honor to represent him in Washington. He was intelligent, thoughtful and a true American. Mr. Thompson will be deeply missed by his family and the people of Fort Worth.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michelle Cunningham for receiving an Outstanding Community Service Award from the 16th Annual University of North Texas Latinos in the 21st Century Conference. Ms. Cunningham was selected as an individual whose contributions foster and enhance education for Hispanic students and promotes community values. The Latinos in the 21st Century Conference was held on October 14, 2006 at UNT. The theme was ``Reaching La Raza: Catering to the Future.'' The conference promotes higher education among Latinos/ Hispanics/Chicanos in the North Texas region and discusses issues relevant to this growing population. The UNT Division of Equity and Diversity who works to develop a supportive environment for a culturally diverse faculty, staff, and student body at the University of North Texas sponsored the conference. Michelle Cunningham is the Community & International Relations Coordinator for the City of Denton Economic Development. She has been employed with the City for seven years. Factors leading to Ms. Cunningham's selection included her long-term support of educational outreach initiatives sponsored by the UNT Center for Outreach and Community Involvement, her vocal advocacy for educating Denton's underrepresented students, and her mentorship and leadership of Hispanic students and families. The Denton LULAC Council has also recognized her initiatives and she was a nominee for the Dallas region LULAC woman of the year. I extend my sincere congratulations to Ms. Michelle Cunningham on receiving this award and commend her dedication and desire to help her community.