Michael C. Burgess

Last updated
Laura Burgess
​
(m. 1976)​
Michael Burgess
Michael Burgess 117th Congress.jpg
Chair of the House Rules Committee
In office
April 10, 2024 –January 3, 2025
Children3
Education University of North Texas (BS, MS)
McGovern Medical School (MD)
University of Texas, Dallas (MS)
Signature Michael C. Burgess Signature.png
Website House website
Burgess's voice
Burgess honoring former President George H. W. Bush
Recorded December 10, 2018

Michael Clifton Burgess (born December 23, 1950) is an American physician and politician who represented Texas's 26th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2025. The district is anchored in Denton County, a suburban county north of Dallas and Fort Worth. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Contents

Before his election, he practiced as a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology. In 2002, Burgess defeated Scott Armey, the son of House Majority Leader and then-U.S. Representative Dick Armey, in a primary runoff election. As a congressman, he was a member of the congressional Tea Party Caucus. Burgess has been involved in the debates over health care reform and energy policy. He opposes abortion, is unsure of the extent of the contribution of human activity to global warming, supported President Donald Trump's restrictions on travel from Muslim-majority countries and refugee immigration, and supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Burgess declined to seek a 12th term during the 2024 election cycle, and left Congress in 2025. [1]

Early life, education, and medical career

Michael Burgess was born in Rochester, Minnesota, the son of Norma (née Crowhurst) and Harry Meredith Burgess; his paternal family emigrated from Nova Scotia, Canada. [2] He graduated from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in 1972 and from the medical school at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 1977. [3] He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. [4] Over the course of his career, Burgess delivered over 3,000 babies. [5] He is an Episcopalian. [6]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Burgess, who had never held any public office entered the 2002 Republican primary election to replace House Majority Leader Dick Armey. His opponent was Armey's son, Scott. The district, comprising almost all of Denton County (except a sliver in the southeast), was strongly Republican, and pundits predicted that whoever won the primary would not only win the general election, but be assured of at least a decade in Congress. [7] Using the campaign slogan "My dad is NOT Dick Armey", Burgess touted the support of medical Political Action Committees and organizations like the National Beer Wholesalers Association. [7] [8] Burgess took second place in the primary, with 23% of the vote to Armey's 45%. Since neither candidate earned the required majority of votes, a runoff election ensued. Before the runoff, The Dallas Morning News released a series of articles alleging that Armey used his influence as a judge to procure county jobs and contracts for his friends. The report hurt Armey's campaign, and Burgess won the runoff with 55% of the vote. He won the general election with 75% of the vote. [9]

Burgess's vote shares include:

Burgess won his eighth term in the U.S. House in 2016. With 211,730 votes (66.4%), he defeated Democratic nominee Eric Mauck and Libertarian Mark Boler, who polled 94,507 (29.6%) and 12,843 (4%), respectively. [15]

Burgess in 2013 Michael Burgess official photo.jpg
Burgess in 2013

Burgess won a ninth term in 2018. With 185,268 votes (59.4%), he defeated Democratic nominee Linsey Fagan, who polled 121,584 (39%). Another 5,008 (1.6%) went to Boler, who also ran in 2016. [16]

Burgess was elected to a tenth term in 2020. He received 261,963 votes to Democratic nominee Carol Iannuzzi's 161,009 and Boler's 9,243, winning the election with 60.6% of the vote to 37.3% and 2.1%, respectively. [17]

Tenure

Rep. Burgess speaks to Senators John Kerry and John McCain in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol before the 2011 State of the Union Address Kerry Burgess McCain Udall Lieberman 2011 crop.jpg
Rep. Burgess speaks to Senators John Kerry and John McCain in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol before the 2011 State of the Union Address

A member of the Republican Party and the Tea Party caucus, Burgess is considered a conservative member of the House. Through 2011, he had a lifetime rating of 93.59% from the American Conservative Union. [18] Burgess is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge. [19]

Impeachment of Obama

On August 9, 2011, Burgess met with a Tea Party group in Keller, Texas, to discuss his vote to raise the debt ceiling. When a constituent asked whether the House was considering impeaching President Barack Obama, Burgess responded, "It needs to happen, and I agree with you it would tie things up ... No question about that." [20]

Abortion

In 2013, Burgess voted for legislation to ban abortion after the 22nd week of pregnancy. [21] [22]

Burgess has been a staunch pro-life advocate over the course of his career.

Immigration and refugees

Burgess opposed the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. [23] In 2010, he voted against the DREAM Act. [24]

Burgess supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying that Trump was "well within his authority" to issue the order and that "Congress should remain involved in the process and provide legislation to strengthen not only border security but vetting those who wish to enter the country through any means." [25]

Burgess sponsored H.R. 6202, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021, introduced by Representative Jim Banks. The legislation would establish a wage floor for the high-skill H-1B visa program, thereby significantly reducing employer dependence on the program. The bill would also eliminate the Optional Practical Training program that allows foreign graduates to stay and work in the United States. [26]

Health care

Burgess was one of nine medical doctors in Congress, and one of seven in the House of Representatives. In May 2009, Congressional Quarterly wrote that Burgess had "become a prominent voice on health care issues" in the House. [27] Since the 111th United States Congress, he has chaired the GOP Doctor’s Caucus, a group of 19 medical professionals in the House Republican Conference.

Burgess supports the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA or Obamacare. At the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference, he said he favored covering fewer Americans with health insurance. Burgess said, "If the numbers drop, I would say that's a good thing, because we've restored personal liberty in this country." [28] [29]

Energy and the environment

As a member of the United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Power, Burgess has been active in the debate over energy policy. In 2011, he submitted an amendment to the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act to defund part of the act that established higher efficiency standards for household light bulbs. [30] Burgess's claims that the standards represented a "ban" on conventional light bulbs were rated as "Mostly False" by the fact-checking website PolitiFact.com. [31] On April 30, 2015, Burgess again introduced an amendment to the $35.4 billion fiscal 2016 energy and water spending bill that would defund the Department of Energy enforcement of incandescent light bulb efficiency standards, which passed 232–189, largely on party lines. [32]

Burgess denies the scientific consensus on climate change. In a March 8, 2011, hearing before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases, Burgess said "My opinion, for what it is worth, is that the science behind global temperature changes is not settled." [33]

Lowering the voting age

In March 2019, Burgess was the lone Republican to vote to lower the voting age to 16. [34]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Burgess was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania , a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated [35] Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state. [36] [37] [38]

Financial disclosures

In January 2022, Business Insider reported that Burgess had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, by failing to properly disclose a sale of stock in Cigna Corp. [39]

Iraq

In June 2021, Burgess was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq. [40] [41]

Syria

In 2023, Burgess was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days. [42] [43]

Israel

Burgess voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. [44] [45]

Legislation

On February 25, 2014, Burgess introduced the Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4080; 113th Congress), a bill that would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for public and private entities that provide trauma and emergency care services and for the administration of the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS). [46] [47]

Committee assignments

Burgess's committee assignments included: [48]

Caucus memberships

Works

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Simpson</span> American politician & dentist (born 1950)

Michael Keith Simpson is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Idaho's 2nd congressional district since 1999. The district covers most of the eastern portion of the state, including Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Sun Valley, Twin Falls and the northern two-thirds of Boise. A member of the Republican Party, Simpson was first elected to public office in 1984, and was elected to the House in the 1998 elections, succeeding Mike Crapo. He served as Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kay Granger</span> American politician (born 1943)

Norvell Kay Granger is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 12th congressional district from 1997 to 2025. She is a member of the Republican Party, and was chair of the United States House Committee on Appropriations from 2023 to 2024. She did not seek re-election in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Tipton</span> American politician (born 1956)

Scott Randall Tipton is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2021. A Republican, he was previously a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011. Tipton was first elected to the House in November 2010 when he defeated three-term Democratic incumbent John Salazar, and he was re-elected four times. In 2020, he lost renomination to Republican primary challenger Lauren Boebert in what was considered a major upset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Lamborn</span> American attorney & politician (born 1954)

Douglas Lawrence Lamborn is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district was based in Colorado Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Griffith</span> American politician (born 1958)

Howard Morgan Griffith is an American lawyer and politician who has been the U.S. representative for Virginia's 9th congressional district since 2011. The district covers most of Southwest Virginia, including the New River Valley and the Virginia side of the Tri-Cities. He is a member of the Republican Party and the Freedom Caucus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Wittman</span> American politician (born 1959)

Robert Joseph Wittman is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 1st congressional district since 2007. The district contains portions of the Richmond suburbs and Hampton Roads area, as well as the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Daines</span> American politician and businessman (born 1962)

Steven David Daines is an American politician and former corporate executive serving since 2015 as the senior United States senator from Montana. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Guthrie</span> American politician (born 1964)

Steven Brett Guthrie is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 2nd congressional district since 2009. The district is in central Kentucky and includes Fort Knox, Owensboro, Bowling Green, and a portion of eastern Louisville. Guthrie previously served as a Republican member of the Kentucky Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Huizenga</span> American politician (born 1969)

William Patrick Huizenga is an American politician serving as a U.S. representative from Michigan since 2011, representing the state's 4th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Huizenga served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. His district, numbered as the 2nd from 2011 to 2023, covers much of Southwestern Michigan, including Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Holland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Balderson</span> American politician and businessman (born 1962)

William Troy Balderson is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district since 2018. He served as an Ohio state senator representing the 20th district from 2011 until his election to Congress. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Duncan (politician)</span> American politician (born 1966)

Jeffrey Darren Duncan is an American politician who served as the United States representative for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2025. His district comprised nine counties, two of these counties being manufacturing centers for the state. On January 17, 2024, Duncan announced that he would not run for re-election. Duncan previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010 when he retired to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Hudson (American politician)</span> American politician (born 1971)

Richard Lane Hudson Jr. is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, his district covers a large part of the southern Piedmont area from Concord to Spring Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debbie Lesko</span> American politician (born 1958)

Debra Kay Lesko is an American politician from the state of Arizona. Lesko, a member of the Republican Party, serves on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors representing the 4th district. She previously represented Arizona's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2018 to 2025. The district is in the West Valley portion of the Phoenix metropolitan area and includes Glendale, Surprise, Sun City, Peoria, and part of western Phoenix. A member of the Republican Party, Lesko previously served in the Arizona State Legislature from 2009 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Hill (politician)</span> American politician (born 1956)

James French Hill is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district since 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicente Gonzalez (politician)</span> American politician (born 1967)

Vicente Gonzalez Jr. is an American lawyer and politician who serves as the United States representative for Texas's 34th congressional district since 2023 and served as the representative for Texas's 15th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Ferguson (politician)</span> American dentist & politician (born 1966)

Anderson Drew Ferguson IV is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Georgia's 3rd congressional district from 2017 to 2025. The district stretches from the southern suburbs of Atlanta to the northern suburbs of Columbus, including a sliver of Columbus itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Dunn</span> American surgeon & politician (born 1953)

Neal Patrick Dunn is an American surgeon and Republican Party politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 2nd congressional district since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Fitzpatrick (American politician)</span> American politician (born 1973)

Brian Kevin Fitzpatrick is an American politician, attorney, and former FBI agent who has served as a U.S. representative from Pennsylvania since 2017. His district, which was numbered the 8th district during his first term and the 1st district since 2019, includes all of Bucks County, a mostly suburban county north of Philadelphia, as well as a sliver of Montgomery County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Guest (politician)</span> American attorney and politician (born 1970)

Michael Patrick Guest is an American attorney and Republican politician. He has represented Mississippi's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. He became the ranking member of the United States House Committee on Ethics upon the August 2022 death of Jackie Walorski, and became its chair in the 118th Congress after Republicans won a House majority that November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariannette Miller-Meeks</span> American physician & politician (born 1955)

Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks is an American physician and politician who has served as a U.S. representative from Iowa since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, she represents the state's 1st congressional district. Her district, numbered as the 2nd district in her first term, includes most of Iowa's southeastern quadrant, including Davenport, Bettendorf, Burlington, and Iowa City. Miller-Meeks previously served as the Iowa state senator from the 41st district from 2019 to 2021.

References

  1. ↑ Fechter, Joshua (2023-11-13). "Longtime U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess will not seek reelection". Texas Tribune . Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  2. ↑ "burgess". Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "Congressman Michael C. Burgess M.D." Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  4. ↑ "Rep. Michael Burgess (R–Texas)". Congressional Quarterly . Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  5. ↑ Burgess, Michael (2006-02-12). Burgess: The Question of Abortion, Sometimes Reduced to Yet Another Political Issue to Debate, is Personal for Me (Speech). Dallas, Texas . Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  6. ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. January 3, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Michalski, Dan (2002-11-01). "The Rise and Fall of Scott Armey". D Magazine . Archived from the original on 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  8. ↑ "Michael Burgess Campaign Finance". Open Secrets. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  9. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX District 26 Race - Nov 05, 2002" . Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX - District 26 Race - Nov 02, 2004" . Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX - District 26 Race - Nov 07, 2006" . Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX - District 26 Race - Nov 04, 2008" . Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX - District 26 Race - Nov 02, 2010" . Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "Election results". Huffington Post.
  15. ↑ "Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Texas Election Results: 26th Congressional District". The New York Times. 3 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "2011 Congressional Votes by Delegation". American Conservative Union. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  19. ↑ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List" (PDF). Americans for Tax Reform . Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  20. ↑ Batheja, Aman (2011-08-09). "Burgess meets with unhappy Tea Party group". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  21. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W. (June 18, 2013). "In Partisan Vote, House Approves Ban on Abortions After 22 Weeks". The New York Times .
  22. ↑ "House Vote 251 - Approves New Abortion Restrictions". ProPublica. June 18, 2013.
  23. ↑ Crisis at the Border, Office of U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess (last accessed April 7, 2017).
  24. ↑ House Vote 625 - Approves DREAM Act, Pro Publica Represent Project.
  25. ↑ Blake, Aaron (January 31, 2017). "Whip Count: Here's where Republicans stand on Trump's controversial travel ban". Washington Post.
  26. ↑ "Cosponsors - H.R.6206 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): American Tech Workforce Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". U.S. Congress. December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  27. ↑ Armstrong, Drew (2009-05-06). "Luntz Shapes GOP Messages on Health Care". Congressional Quarterly. Archived from the original on 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-08-21.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  28. ↑ Tracer, Zachary; House, Billy; Edney, Anna (February 24, 2017). "GOP Obamacare plan would cover fewer people". The Boston Globe . Bloomberg News . Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  29. ↑ Tracy, Abigail (February 24, 2017). "A Leaked Blueprint for Trumpcare Reveals Millions Could Lose Coverage". Vanity Fair . Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  30. ↑ French, Lauren (2011-07-15). "Michael Burgess' Light Bulb Amendment Passes House". Houston Chronicle . Texas on the Potomac. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
  31. ↑ Selby, Gardner (2011-06-15). Seaborn, Jody (ed.). "Michael Burgess Says Stores Will be Barred from Selling 100-watt Bulbs in 2012" . Retrieved 2012-09-24.
  32. ↑ Marcos, Christina "House adopts proposal to halt incandescent light bulb standards", The Hill, May 01, 2015, Retrieved May 3, 2015
  33. ↑ "Climate Science and EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulation". United States Government Publishing Office. March 8, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  34. ↑ Budryk, Zack (March 27, 2019). "GOP rep who supports lowering voting age: 'It's on us' if 16-year-olds vote Democratic". The Hill . Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  35. ↑ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News . Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  36. ↑ Liptak, Adam (2020-12-11). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  37. ↑ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. 2020-12-11. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  38. ↑ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN . Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  39. ↑ Rojas, Warren (2022-01-11). "Reps. Pat Fallon, Michael Burgess, and Dwight Evans Violated STOCK Act". Business Insider . Archived from the original on 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  40. ↑ "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News . 17 June 2021.
  41. ↑ "Final vote results for roll call 172". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  42. ↑ "H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023".
  43. ↑ "House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria". Associated Press. March 8, 2023.
  44. ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (2023-10-25). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  45. ↑ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (2023-10-25). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2023-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ↑ "CBO – H.R. 4080". Congressional Budget Office. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  47. ↑ "H.R. 4080 – All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  48. ↑ "U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess : 26th District Of Texas". burgess.house.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  49. ↑ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  50. ↑ "Republican Governance Group PAC to PAC/Party". OpenSecrets.
  51. ↑ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 26th congressional district
2003–2025		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the House Rules Committee
2024–2025		Succeeded by
TBD
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.