Michael Burgess

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, 101 years ago today, the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan, was born. It's a tribute to the man that there is bipartisan agreement to the greatness of Ronald Reagan as President. We hear from both sides of the aisle about his fortitude, his encouraging smile, his positive attitude. He handled the weight of the Presidency with such ease. I remember, as a young physician in north Texas, watching as this individual led our country from the travails that were Vietnam, Watergate, stagflation, and not only gave us a reason to believe in ourselves, he said it was okay to believe in yourselves as Americans again, and we did. And, as a consequence, we reestablished America as a force in the world and we reestablished our prosperity. Everyone has their favorite Ronald Reagan quotes. Mine is, as we watch some of the difficulties and arguments between conservatives during this Presidential year: Remember that if we agree with each other 80 percent of the time, we're on the same side; and if it's a 100 percent, one of us is suddenly unnecessary. Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members of the House today will acknowledge the 101st anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan. The Nation is forever in his debt.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, this year the Supreme Court agreed to hear and issue a decision on the Affordable Care Act. Of course, I'm eager to see what happens, and I'll be following the case very carefully, as will millions of Americans. But important steps will need to be taken depending upon how the Court rules. Right now, we do not know if the Court will rule solely on the individual mandate or say that the entire law is unconstitutional. Either way, this House must be prepared. Now, House conservatives have been working for at least the past 3 years, well before the Affordable Care Act was even passed, to craft policies that focused on patients instead of payments, that focused on quality instead of quantity, innovation instead of stagnation, and affordability as opposed to just being cheap. I'm fully committed to continuing this work and producing alternative legislation that will benefit the American people without putting an undue burden on the economy. The Congressional Health Care Caucus discussed this issue today at a briefing. James Capretta and Thomas Miller discussed and shared ways on which we can prepare in the coming months with specific policy ideas. Although no one has a clear idea of how the Court will rule, we do know that we need to work together to consider ideas and craft policies to take care of the American people when their decision is rendered.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, Congress is now back into session and reconvening, hitting a dubious milestone. The national debt is now larger than the entire economy of the United States. Earlier this month, USA Today reported on this, and the numbers are daunting. The amount of money the Federal Government owes to its creditors tops $15.23 trillion. President Obama's own budget from last year shows the debt increasing by $1 trillion a year over the next 10 years, topping out at $26 trillion a decade from now. Put into perspective, other countries have similar situations: Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan--the very countries that are responsible for the European debt crisis. At the same time, the administration, over the last 3 years, has pushed a very aggressive spending agenda which includes a government takeover of health care, government takeover of banks, and $800 billion in stimulus funding. House Republicans passed well over 20 jobs bills last year that have yet to come up for a vote in the Senate. I encourage the other body to take up these pieces of legislation. We have got to get our country back to work. We need to grow more taxpayers, not raise taxes.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize FEMA Region 6 Deputy Regional Administrator Gary Jones as he retires from public service. Mr. Jones retired at the end of 2011 after forty-six years of state and federal service. Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Arkansas and a Master's Degree in Public Health Administration from Tulane University, Mr. Jones began his public service with the State of Arkansas. This state career spanned thirteen years, including three years as the Director of Arkansas' Emergency Medical Services Program. He then went into federal service in 1977 with the U.S. Public Health Service where his role as Arkansas State Coordinator for Physician Recruitment to identify doctors, dentists and nurses for rural Arkansas communities federally designated as medically underserved. In 1983 Mr. Jones joined FEMA and moved to Denton. By 1987 he was Branch Chief for Region 6 Technological Hazards Branch where he was responsible for the region's Radiological Emergency Preparedness, Radiological Defense, Hazardous Materials, Earthquake Preparedness, Hurricane Preparedness, Dam Safety and the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness programs. In 1994 Mr. Jones was promoted to his current position as the FEMA Region 6 Deputy Regional Administrator, during which he served on five separate occasions as the FEMA Region 6 Acting Regional Administrator for a span of time that exceeded four years. During the seventeen years he served as Deputy Regional Administrator, he provided executive leadership and oversight in over three hundred federally declared disasters including his roles as Deputy Principal Federal Official for Hurricane Rita (2005) and Federal Coordinating Officer for Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Georges (1998) as well as service in Hurricane Andrew, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster, Tropical Storm Allison, and the duration of 2008 which featured Hurricane Ike and proved to be a record-breaking year for the region in presidentially declared disasters. Several of these disasters have directly impacted the 26th District of Texas, and with each I and my staff have come to rely on his timely and thorough briefings during which he patiently shared the progress and challenges unique to each situation. As Mr. Jones enters retirement, the region loses a reliable and dedicated public servant. I wish for him many well-earned years to spend time with his wife Mary, daughter Shea Hutchison, and his granddaughter. I am honored to represent Gary Jones and FEMA Region 6 in Washington, D.C., and on behalf of the constituents of the 26th District of Texas I rise to thank him for his service.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of doctors around the country. As a physician, and now a legislator, I am personally devastated at the way our government continues to treat those who care for America's patients, particularly those who care for America's seniors. Physicians have staff to pay, electricity bills, building leases, and numerous other costs associated with running a practice. The 2-month patch that the Senate sent back to us as part of the payroll tax package does not provide doctors and their practices with the stability that they need to do their job--caring for America's seniors. At a time when American businesses need certainty, Congress gives them a brief, unpredictable, and unreliable timeline. Two months of tax payment relief is just another short-term fix, and it's simply not good enough. Physicians deserve better. Patients deserve better. The American people deserve better. I will vote ``no'' on the Senate bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. Then let's come back with a policy that will, for heaven's sakes, at least take us through the year ahead.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Fire Chief Mack Borchardt for his dedicated service to the Frisco Fire Department and to the people of the 26th Congressional District of Texas. Chief Borchardt first became a volunteer Frisco firefighter in 1973; at that time, Frisco had an all-volunteer fire department. In November 1987, Chief Borchardt became Frisco's first fulltime fire chief. Through his leadership, diligence, and organization, the Frisco Fire Department now has more than 140 fulltime department members. Under Chief Borchardt's leadership, the Frisco Fire Department has expanded to become an outstanding example to departments nationwide. They are one of the select few departments in the country that have an ISO 1 rating, which is a testament to their superior standards and procedures. The Frisco Town Council recognized Chief Borchardt with a resolution proclaiming December 2011 as Aubrey ``Mack'' Borchardt Month in Frisco. His service to his community, society, and peers throughout the past 30 years is indeed an inspiration. I am honored to represent the city of Frisco and many of its residents in the United States Congress. I, along with his family, friends, and the citizens of the 26th District celebrate his tireless commitment to his community. Please join me in recognizing and thanking this exceptional community leader for his selfless commitment to our society.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, health savings accounts have been shown to lower health care costs and allow Americans to have more control over their money and their health care decisions. Recently the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 14 percent of all workers in the private sector now have access to a health savings account. The number of people with HSA-type accounts rose to over 11\1/ 2\ million in January, up from 10 million a year before and 8 million the year before that. But, Mr. Speaker, health savings accounts are at risk. Under the Affordable Care Act passed in this House of March of 2010, by 2014 there will be a phase-in of what's known as the medical loss ratio rules that may eliminate the ability of HSAs to continue to exist. It's all in the hands of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who, in the past, has not been favorably disposed to HSAs. Now, Governor Mitch Daniels understands the power of consumer- directed health care. Governor Daniels, when he came and talked to our Health Caucus a little over a year ago, talked about his Healthy Indiana plan, a plan that in his State has allowed him to provide for his State workers health care benefits that receive a positive approval rating by 94 percent of his workers and, at the same time, lowering costs by 11 percent. This is the type of innovation that the Affordable Care Act should have fostered. Instead, it stands in the way of this groundbreaking way to deliver health care to our Nation's folks.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, it was about a week ago that the Joint Select Committee announced that they were unable to reach an agreement in finding $1.2 trillion in cuts before their deadline. Now, could they have done this without really breaking a sweat? And the answer is yes, they could have. The entire target for which they were reaching, the $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion, could have been cut with a single act: repealing the Affordable Care Act. One point five trillion dollars in new spending that this country cannot afford is contained within the confines of the Affordable Care Act. Now, look, Washington needs to quit pointing fingers and get back to work if we expect to put America back on a path to prosperity. American families are making cuts at home, and Washington should do the same thing. Families do not have the luxury of missing their deadlines, and neither should Washington. Americans must reduce our deficit, and we need to put people back to work. The House has passed more than 25 bills that would affect employment. Twenty of these House-passed jobs bills are stalled in the Senate. You can find out more about them going to jobs.gop.gov. Let's get people back to work and focus on ways to reduce the deficit. That means creating more taxpayers, not more taxes.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Brigadier General Stephen G. Sanders for his dedicated service as the Deputy Commanding General for the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard and welcome him home to the 26th District of Texas. I met BG Sanders on my last two visits to Iraq. Like so many other great men and women of our armed forces, BG Sanders and his family have repeatedly sacrificed time together for extended periods to answer the call to serve his country. Commissioned in May 1980 through the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps at Sam Houston State University, BG Sanders began his military career with Texas Army National Guard. His subsequent duties included various tactical, operational and strategic assignments, including commands of a combat engineer company, battalion and brigade. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Stabilization Force (SFOR) 7 and on active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2004. Most recently, he was deployed to Iraq with his division headquarters where he assumed responsibilities to establish the U.S. Consulate in Basrah; assess, plan and build-out oil and gas infrastructure; and establish logistical conditions for the withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraq. BG Sanders has served honorably through each of his assignments and deployments and has received the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal among additional commendation and service medals. It is due to the selfless actions and sacrifices of the men and women like BG Sanders that we enjoy the quality of life and freedoms that are the envy of nations around the world. I am honored for the privilege to represent Brigadier General Stephen G. Sanders in the United States Congress. I, along with his family, friends, citizens and his safe return.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, today the Supreme Court announced plans to take up a judicial review of the President's health care law, the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This was signed into law in March of 2010. Now the Justices will consider if the Federal Government--indeed, the United States Congress--exceeded its authority by requiring that every American purchase health insurance by 2014. The American people have made it very clear throughout this process: Give us the reforms that will address the problems, but don't tinker with what is already working well. What people wanted was not a 2,900- page bill that shatters the system that was working well for the vast majority of Americans. What Congress should have done was to tackle the problems that Americans who need help were requesting. We could have addressed and accomplished reform in stand-alone bills at a much lower cost. We've seen that the new health care law is not what the American people wanted, and I am encouraged that this law will now be heard before the highest court in the land, and I am hopeful for their expeditious and judicial removal of the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of a remarkable public servant, Alonzo Jamison, Jr. On October 29, 2011, Mr. Jamison passed away, leaving behind a memorable example to be followed. A long time resident of Denton County, Mr. Jamison was in the farming and cattle-raising business for twenty-five years, a faculty member of the University of North Texas and Texas Women's University, and was as a Member of the Texas State House of Representatives from 1955-1969. Mr. Jamison proudly served his country during World War II as a First Lieutenant. He earned a bronze star while courageously serving in an anti-aircraft unit in Germany, France, Italy, and North Africa and would go onto to retire as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1974. In 1954, Mr. Jamison was elected to represent Denton County in the Texas State Legislature, where he served seven consecutive terms. After retiring from this role he joined the faculty of Texas Women's University. As a government professor and chairman of his department, he would be an inspiration to all students seeking life as a public servant in government. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise to remember the life and legacy of Alonzo Jamison, Jr. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. He was a great Texan, a devoted husband, and we are all thankful for his brave and dedicated community service.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation. Since their establishment in 1991 the Frisco EDC has recruited over 200 companies to the Frisco area which has resulted in over 24,000 jobs and over $2.8 billion in capital investments. This is creating an environment ripe for opportunity in the Frisco community and the surrounding areas. The work done by the Frisco EDC has caused the city of Frisco to be one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. The population has grown over 210 percent since 2000. The Frisco EDC is not only helping to bring in quality new jobs of all levels to the community, but they are also raising the standard of living for the residents of Frisco. The Frisco EDC is doing this by cultivating entrepreneurship and creating an innovative atmosphere that makes Frisco an attractive place to live, work, play, and grow. I know that they will continue to bring diverse new businesses and responsible economic development to Frisco in the years to come. This anniversary is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the Frisco EDC and its members for all that they have done for the Frisco community and its surrounding areas. I am proud to recognize the Frisco EDC on their 20th anniversary, and I know the Frisco community appreciates their many years of service.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced that despite her Department's best efforts, what is known as the CLASS Act is not fiscally viable and will not be implemented. The CLASS Act would have created a long-term care insurance option for employees. But you know what? It had been called a Ponzi scheme of the first order. Not my words, not even my Governor's words. Those are the words of Senator Kent Conrad, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Mr. Speaker, this is just another example of bad policy that was caused by the rushed approach to create and pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Instead of focusing on reducing the price of long-term care insurance, the CLASS Act would have cost the taxpayers more money for the creation of yet another Federal program. Now, incredibly, the CLASS Act is being abandoned by the Department of Health and Human Services, but the President refuses to let it go. We'll have a hearing on this in my committee later this week, Energy and Commerce. But, Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do better. We need to repeal this health care law and replace it with commonsense market-based solutions that enhance our medical system, put the patient at the center of care, and drive down the cost of health care.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the students, faculty, and staff at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2010, US News and World Report ranked Texas Wesleyan University number 71 out of all tier one regional comprehensive universities in the western region of the United States. More recently, the university was recognized in the top 50 among all tier one regional comprehensive institutions, jumping 23 spots up to number 48. They should truly be proud of this wonderful accomplishment. Texas Wesleyan University was established in 1890 as a private institution with a focus on empowering and developing students to their full potential through the personal attention that each student receives from the faculty. The small class sizes are designed to foster learning and success amongst the students, and ensure that the faculty and staff are able to best serve and inspire the students. Their ranking in the past two years as a top university demonstrates that they continue to go above and beyond for their students. Texas Wesleyan University has all of the tools to continue to grow and enrich the surrounding Fort Worth community. I am truly proud of all of the students, faculty, staff, and administration of Texas Wesleyan University for achieving this prestigious accomplishment, and it is an honor to represent them in the United States Congress.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the chairman. I won't take the full minute. I just simply wanted to respond to what we just heard here on the floor of the House. H.R. 358 does not change current law or any standard related to section 1867 of the Social Security Act, commonly referred to as EMTALA. The section states that a hospital must provide such treatment to stabilize the medical condition. Paragraph (e) of section 1867 defines an emergency medical condition as a medical condition of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could be reasonably expected to place the life and health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy. EMTALA currently recognizes both lives. Therefore, the Protect Life Act provides conscience protection that is consistent with the emergency treatment requirements of current law under EMTALA.

Mr. BURGESS. I thank the gentleman for the recognition. Let's be clear about the Affordable Care Act. The EMTALA provision of the underlying law, the Affordable Care Act, is not actually the EMTALA provision because it puts in a great big loophole. The loophole is in the language of the law, and it said providing emergency services as required by State or Federal law, which may be changed; and therein is the problem. Most of us remember the night before the Affordable Care Act passed. We remember the drama of Bart Stupak going down to the White House. We remember the drama of the Executive order. So what Mr. Pitts is providing us today is the ability to put the language of the Executive order into legislative language and make it law so that it may not be arbitrarily changed by this President or some other President at a future time. Now, I want to take just a few moments and read into the Record from doctors who have written to our committee, doctors who provide emergency services, obstetric services, who tell us over and over again that they have never been required to do something that was against their conscience and put someone's life in danger. A doctor from the University of Minnesota writes in: During my years of practice, I have worked under informal and formal conscience rights protections that permit me to provide the best pregnancy care without being forced to perform abortions. In my years of practice, I have never seen a woman denied appropriate care because of the exercise of the rights of conscience in this regard. Another letter, from a Virginia hospital: As a physician who has worked in emergency rooms for over 30 years, I am well-versed in the Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and similar policies. I continue to practice emergency medicine. I teach it. Based on three decades of experience, I see absolutely no merit in the claim that conscience laws on abortion pose any risk of allowing pregnant women to die in emergency rooms. Another letter, from the University of North Carolina: My personal conscience directs me to provide the best of care to pregnant women and their unborn children, and I am able to do so without performing abortions, as are several of my colleagues, and a proportion of the residents we train each year. I have not seen a situation where an emergent event or urgent abortion was needed. No one in my entire 20 years of clinical practice has ever been denied appropriate care because of the exercise of my rights of conscience. Our committee receives these letters all of the time. I submit them for the Record, and I urge an ``aye'' vote on the Pitts bill. Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University, Charleston, WV, October 12, 2011. Representatives Joe Pitts and Dan Lipinski, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representatives Pitts and Lipinski: I am writing in support of Sections 2(a)(6) and 2(a)(7) of H.R. 358 that provide federal legal protection of conscience regarding abortion for those who care for pregnant women. My experience includes 20 plus years of clinical care, research, and instruction as a Board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and Maternal-Fetal medicine. I daily provide care for women and babies who have medically complicated, life-threatening, and uncommon pregnancy complications. Further, as the originator of ``perinatal hospice'', I have cared for (and still do) dozens of women with babies who have terminal prenatal diagnoses who will die shortly after birth. No one in my entire 20 plus years of clinical experience has ever been denied appropriate care because of the exercise of rights of conscience in the provision of abortion. Women and babies may die in spite of our best efforts, but this is not related to abortion availability or provision. In my understanding of this new federal statute, conscience will now be formally and legally protected. There is no need for additional exceptions or amendments to this law as it is written. I am more than happy to discuss this issue with either of you or with one of your colleagues. I may be contacted by email at byron.calhoun@camc.org or directly on my cell phone at xxxxxxxxxxxxx. Sincerely, Byron C. Calhoun, M.D., FACOG, Professor and Vice Chairman of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston Division, Charleston, WV.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Day of the Republic of China. October 10, 1911 marked the day of the Wuchang Uprising, which served as the beginning to the Xinhai Revolution. The Xinhai Revolution established the present day Republic of China thus bringing an end to the Qing Dynasty. Dr. Charles Ku is close friend of mine and the committee chair to the DFW Chinese Double Tenth Centennial Celebration Committee. I am a strong supporter of Dr. Ku and his activeness within our Chinese community. The DFW Chinese Double Tenth Centennial Celebration Committee sponsors the Dallas Chinese Community Center whose mission it is to promote Chinese culture and diversity through recreational programs and enrich the lives of Chinese immigrants. As a result, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has a thriving Chinese culture. It is worth recognizing and commending the DFW Chinese Double Tenth Centennial Celebration Committee, the Dallas Chinese Community Center, Dr. Ku, and the entire Chinese community for standing by this county's tradition and value of maintaining a diverse cultural presence. So, it is with great honor that I congratulate the Republic of China and the Chinese community on their 100th anniversary of the National Day of the Republic of China.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, just before we left last week, two executives from a company called Solyndra came before the Energy and Commerce Committee voluntarily, but ultimately did not testify, invoking their Fifth Amendment rights. Most Americans by now are becoming aware of the Solyndra story, a company that was initially denied a loan guarantee in the last days of the Bush administration but was hastily added to a list of projects that were covered by what was called the stimulus bill in February of 2009. In a rush to get the money out the door--ahead of a photo op with the Vice President--apparently mistakes were made, and in the early days of September of this year Solyndra filed bankruptcy. This is a story that is yet to be completely understood. But, Mr. Speaker, here's the important part: For almost 6 months' time, between February and July, the Committee on Energy and Commerce sought, unsuccessfully, to have records delivered to it from the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Energy. It should not take a subpoena from a congressional committee for branches of the executive branch to supply us those documents. When we have questions, they need to respond. When we ask for information, they need to produce. And certainly, when we have a hearing, they need to attend. It's time for the Secretary of Energy to come before our committee, explain what he knew about this process, and clear the air once and for all for the American people.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Good Samaritan Society's Denton Village. The Good Samaritan Society operates a number of nursing homes around the country. Denton Village's inception in 1976 marked the beginning of their exceptional service offerings in long-term care and senior living complexes. The Denton Village has since expanded their services to include twin homes, assisted living, and a second senior living apartment building. My parents lived in a duplex at Denton Village. The facilities and staff at Denton Village allowed my parents, Harry and Norma, to enjoy a more fulfilling and carefree life. When it comes to providing individualized care the people at Denton Village go above and beyond for their residents. Denton Village is a place that cares for people, and is one of the best nursing homes in Dallas Fort-Worth Area. This anniversary is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate and recognize the values of the Good Samaritan Society and the delivery of those values at the Denton Village. I am truly proud to recognize everybody at Denton Village for their 35th Anniversary of excellent service, and I know the Denton community appreciates their years of service.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent of the 26th District of Texas, Kelly Kraft. Mr. Kraft graduated from Ryan High School in Denton, Texas after lettering for four seasons and serving as captain of their golf team; he is currently a senior at Southern Methodist University where he has just completed his last season as an accomplished member of the Mustangs golf team. One of Mr. Kraft's most recent achievements includes beating a top ranked opponent from UCLA as the national tournament came down to the wire. In the end, Mr. Kraft persevered and defeated his opponent to win the 111th U.S. Amateur Championship. This victory was enough to solidify his spot on the U.S. Walker Cup team. The Walker Cup is a biennial golf tournament between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the U.S., Great Britain and Ireland. As the U.S. Amateur champion, Mr. Kraft has also qualified for next year's U.S. Open, Masters, and the British Open. Mr. Kraft intends on finishing his Bachelors in Sociology this upcoming year at Southern Methodist University. Kelly Kraft excels in athleticism and perseverance, and I am proud to represent him in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the North Hills Hospital as it has been providing excellent health care services to northeast Tarrant County for 50 years. Originally named Glenview Hospital, North Hills Hospital was founded by six family physicians in 1961 with initial funding provided by Rice University of Houston. When the hospital opened, it was the first suburban hospital in Northeast Tarrant County, and only the second hospital within the county to be located outside of downtown Fort Worth. In 1983 the facilities were moved to the current location in North Richland Hills and renamed as North Hills Hospital. In the late 1990s the North Hills Hospital accomplished the impressive fete of becoming one of the only hospitals to score a perfect score on the Joint Commission Accrediting Survey. This hospital's commitment to stellar healthcare service is evident as it became the first hospital in the United States to achieve a Level 2 Chest Pain Center as well as the first hospital in Tarrant County to be named a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery. In order to improve upon their already outstanding healthcare services, North Hills Hospital now offers less invasive and highly innovative robotic surgery. Additionally, the hospital has implemented a $33 million hospital expansion to provide better convenience for their patients. Since its inception, North Hills Hospital has grown more than three- fold, expanding from a 50-bed facility to a 176-bed hospital with 700 employees and 400 physicians. I am honored to represent the staff, physicians, administration and patients of North Hills Hospital as the representative of Texas's 26th district and celebrate the hospital's 50 years of commitment to health care.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of John Howard Wells, Jr. Mr. Wells was a patriot, veteran, and had a love of country. Mr. Wells fought in the Korean War aboard the USS Hollister, DD-788. He was a Cold Warrior in the 60's and 70's and at one point in his career his security clearance was so high that the level of clearance was classified. Mr. Wells also spent part of his career working for NASA. During the 80's and 90's he was a Ground Controller for the Space Shuttle Project and worked in the original Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center. He also took a major role in the design, engineering, construction, and start-up of the New Mission Control Room which recently closed in July following the last flight mission of Atlantis. His family will tell you that even these accomplishments are not what made him great. The titles of husband, father, and grandfather are what defined him in life. He taught his children how to have confidence in their talents. He wrote love letters to his wife. He loved and doted on his daughters and was joyous in the grandchildren they brought to him. He helped his son through the toughest years of his life with loving honesty and helped him never lose sight of the realities and obligations of being a man and father. He also taught his children about politics, but would never let the discussions get hotter than what was necessary to properly forge and hone their positions. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise and remember the veteran, and above all a husband, father and grandfather.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fire Chief Richard Lasky of Lewisville, Texas for his 30-year commitment to the fire rescue service and to celebrate his retirement. Chief Lasky began his career as a firefighter in the outskirts of Chicago, where he also taught for the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute and at the Illinois Fire Chiefs' Association. There, Chief Lasky received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors' prestigious ``Innovator of The Year'' award. He has been a trail blazer in learning and leading on the job ever since. Chief Lasky later moved to Lewisville where he continued his career in the fire service. He has held numerous positions in the fire service including earning the distinguished title of command-level officer. Although he has held many positions in the fire and police service, Chief Lasky is best known as being a family man whether at home or at the station. Soon after he began his position in Lewisville, tragedy struck our great Nation on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Centers were attacked. Chief Lasky came to the aid of his fire fighter brethren in New York City. In addition to his tenure as a firefighter, Chief Lasky has also experienced a successful career as both a motivational speaker and an author. He has written over 150 technical articles and published a best-selling book entitled ``Pride and Ownership: A Firefighter's Love of the Job.'' To add to his already impressive career, Chief Lasky also works as a co-host for the radio show ``The Command Post'' heard on the Fire Engineering Talk Radio. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this exceptionally courageous patriot and his professional and personal dedication to our community. It is my honor to represent him in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ernest L. Thomas for his career and commitment in academia and educating America's youth. Dr. Thomas, who has been the President at Tarrant County College South Campus since 1998, graduated with a major in Sociology from Washington State in 1971. He received his master's from the University of Massachusetts in 1976 and his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in the Community College Leadership Program in 1996. From 1975 to 1990, Dr. Thomas was the Director of Educational Support Programs and Dean of Student Development at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Before holding his current position, Dr. Thomas was the Vice-President of Student Development at Brookhaven College in the Dallas County Community College District for almost eight years. Dr. Thomas has been involved with numerous professional committees and organizations including the American Association of Community Colleges and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In addition to his professional involvement, Dr. Thomas is actively involved with several community and civic organizations such as the Fort Worth Independent School District and the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce where he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for nearly five years. In addition, Dr. Thomas serves as a motivational speaker for numerous community events. Dr. Thomas' outstanding service has been well documented and has earned him a long list of achievements and awards. These honors include the Kellogg Fellow Award from the Community College Leadership Program of the University of Texas at Austin, and the Silver Scholar award from the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education. Please join me in recognizing and thanking this exceptional educator and community leader and his lifelong commitment to education.

Mr. BURGESS

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, every household in America knows this: The easiest money to save is money you haven't yet spent. That seems like common sense. We could reduce the deficit by eliminating spending that is to begin in the future, spending Americans simply cannot afford. This new select committee could easily achieve almost their entire target of reducing the Nation's deficit, and, most surprisingly, almost every dollar would come from benefits that do not yet exist. New mandates in the Affordable Care Act give the Federal Government far too much control, and taxpayers far too much responsibility, for financing health care in this country. Given our deteriorating debt, the simple truth is we simply cannot afford this new spending. The select committee will look to strengthen existing entitlement programs--Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security--but also these existing entitlements are on the table. So why shouldn't new entitlements created by the Affordable Care Act be as well? We have this choice moving forward: We can make the select committee negotiations as painful as possible or we can have a logical discussion about cutting back on spending that we simply cannot afford. The select committee is getting to work, and I encourage both parties, all 12 members, to put the Affordable Care Act on the table alongside other entitlements in need of reform. Failure to stop will simply threaten the very fabric of our Republic.