mr. burgess: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. burgess: i thank you, mr. speaker. april 1, just a few days ago, most people don't realize it but the center for medicare and medicaid services reduced physician reimbursement for medicare patients by 21%. this occurred as a matter of law. this is a deadline that we've been up against before, a drama we've seen played out in this house multiple times during my tenure here. this time it's different because the house of representatives right before the end of march, chose to act and passed by vote of 392 individuals to repeal this formula that crops up every year and threatens our medicare patients and those that provide care for them. this bill is sitting over in the other body. the chaplain talked about this being a season for renewal and indeed it is. it is my hope that in the other body t

mr. burgess: i thank the chairman. mr. chairman, i rise today to offer an amendment that actually maintains current law. since its passage in 2007, i've heard from tens of thousands of constituents how the language in the 2007 energy independence and security act will take away consumer choice when deciding what lightbulb to use in your home -- light bulb to uasi your home. they're right -- in your home. they're right. the government has never jumped so far and lowered standards so drastically. it is to a point where technology is still years away from making light bulbs that are compliant with the law at a price point that the average american can afford. opponents to my amendment will claim that the 2007 language does not ban the incandescent bulb. it's true. it bans the sale of the 100-watt, the 60-watt and the 45-watt bulb. the replacement bulbs are far from economically efficient, even if they are energy efficient. a family living paycheck to paycheck can't afford to he wills i -- to replace every bulb in their house,

mr. burgess: mr. speaker, i rise to ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. burgess: mr. speaker, it's been more than five years since the 2009 shooting in fort hood texas. the whole country was shocked by this senseless activity. finally earlier this month the 47 soldiers and surviving family members of this tragic event did receive purple heart medals for their sacrifice. and they will be provided with every benefit that this commendation obliges. following the shooting back in 2009 i went to fort hood. i met with families of this attack's victims, i saw firsthand the devastation and sacrifice. none of them, none of them should have had to wait this long for the recognition. and although the delay can never be made right i'm relieved that these families and victims have finally received the recognition for their sacrifice. mr. speaker, senator cornyn from

mr. cook: let me do one or two below my own, and it will go to eric watson, michael, burgess, phil, francine, sue davis, and lisa to start. let me do a constitutional question or two in the thought that my colleagues might have other topics in mind. as reid wilson recently noted in "the washington post," legislators in 27 states have passed applications for a constitutional convention to pass a balanced budget amendment, and proponents in another state where republicans control both legislative chambers are pushing for passage. do you support the move to a convention? a lot of people think there are dangers because it is not clear how it would operate and what subjects it could deal with. senator lee: i am one of those people that think there are dangers there because all 27 times we have amended the constitution we have followed one procedure, where congress proposes, the states ratify. the alternative is where two thirds of the state call for congress to convene a convention, congress convenes such a convention, and they become ratified. i was taught growing up by my late father that there