Michael Burgess: “I was elected to Congress just a little over 2 years ago, and our economy was in tough shape when I got in Congress. I…”

“I was elected to Congress just a little over 2 years ago, and our economy was in tough shape when I got in Congress. I did not really realize how tough a shape it was in. But under the leadership of this House, the leadership of the Speaker, the majority leader, we have worked on the problems of high unemployment, the low stock market. We made the tough choices and invested in our economy in 2003, and the result was a significant job growth. Now in this Congress we have taken on additional good work. We have passed a highway bill, class action reform, bankruptcy reform. And this week, Mr. Speaker, we are going to work on our energy bill. This is important and timely legislation. Every member on our committee was heard on their concerns. Every amendment was made in order and voted on, most on a roll call vote; and the bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support. We had an energy bill 2 years ago, and that energy bill unfortunately was derailed by a procedural motion in the other body, and it was largely derailed by trial lawyers who felt that they were not getting their just desserts from the energy bill. Mr. Speaker, that is why it was outrageous to read in ``Roll Call'' yesterday that the senior vice president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America said that they were upset with the asbestos bill over in the other body and it may have an impact on fund-raising from this particular bar. Mr. Speaker, this is outrageous.…”