Morgan Griffith RSS Articles

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S DOJ SIDES WITH SOLYNDRA

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today regarding the recent action of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Solyndra bankruptcy proceeding:

“Last week the Department of Justice joined Solyndra in opposing several motions in bankruptcy court. Among the motions opposed by DOJ and Solyndra was a request for discovery made by the WARN claimants, some of the 1,100 former Solyndra employees who abruptly lost their jobs when the company went bankrupt.

“On both the 20th and 31st of last month, attorneys for the WARN claimants filed motions requesting discovery materials. Discovery is a legal process asking for information. In Interrogatory (also known as a question) #12 in the request for discovery, the laid-off workers ask Solyndra to identify all communications and discussions with Argonaut. Argonaut is a private equity firm which operates with significant funding from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Interestingly, George Kaiser, for whom the family foundation is named, is a businessman who raised more than $250,000 for President Obama’s campaign in 2008.

“First, the Administration continues to stonewall the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s request for information on the collapse of Solyndra and the involvement of the Administration and Argonaut in the illegal subordination of $75 million of taxpayer dollars. What role did the White House play and when did they play it?

“Now, the Administration is helping to stonewall the WARN claimants, some of the fired Solyndra employees. It appears the Administration is protecting the Solyndra elite and private financier Argonaut at the expense of the out-of-work former employees.

“If the White House has nothing to hide in Solyndra’s dealings with Argonaut, why would the Administration want to block the release of information?

“Why is the White House continuing to stonewall the House Energy and Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee’s search for information?

“If all of their dealings have been above board, why the need for the Administration to hide?

“The Obama Administration needs to come clean with the American people. And they need to help the fired Solyndra employees get the information they deserve.”

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Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 02.20.12

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Scouting: Training the Leaders of Tomorrow

I had the distinct honor of speaking at the Pellissippi District of the Sequoyah Council Boy Scouts of America Awards Banquet in Abingdon on Saturday evening. At this event, the volunteers and leaders were recognized for their dedication, accomplishments, and service.

While there, I reflected on my volunteer involvement in the Boy Scouts of America and the positive impact scouting, particularly my Cub Master, Mr. Dick Giarla, had on my life. Although I was only a Cub Scout for a few years in my youth, later in life, well before I ever even had children, I became an adult volunteer for the organization. I have seen firsthand the benefits of the scouting movement – the shaping of our youth by focusing on building character and instilling a sense of civic responsibility. I look forward to experiencing scouting with my two sons. Davis, my six-year-old, is already excited about becoming a Tiger Cub in September.

It is important to remember that the work of the Boy Scouts of America is heavily reliant upon volunteers. So thank you to the men and women who have dedicated their time and talents to helping nurture our future leaders. Thank you for leading by example and caring enough to make a difference in the lives of our youth. Your volunteer work is appreciated.

Using American Energy

Last week the House of Representatives took another big step towards American energy independence by passing the PIONEERS Act (H.R. 3408). This bill would cut through the bureaucratic red tape to ramp up energy exploration and production in the United States creating new jobs in the process. Specifically, the bill would open up the most promising offshore areas for oil and gas exploration, including waters off the shore of Virginia. Additionally, this bill would open a small part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska to energy development. At less than 3 percent of ANWR’s total size, this relatively small area could supply up to 1.45 million barrels of oil daily, which is about the same amount of oil that the U.S. imports from Saudi Arabia each day.

The PIONEERS Act would also clear regulatory hurdles and set rules for the U.S. to use its vast oil shale resources. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, we have more than half of the world’s oil shale, estimated to amount to more than 1.5 trillion barrels of recoverable oil. Some suggest that amount could provide, at today’s usage levels, the United States with energy for nearly 200 years.

In last month’s State of the Union Address, President Obama stated that “this country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy - a strategy that's cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.” The PIONEERS Act answers the President’s call by accessing American energy and creating American jobs. I hope the President will encourage the Senate to pass the bill quickly so that he can sign it into law.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my offices. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.

Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 02.13.12

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Debunking the Myths

While conducting Telephone Town Hall meetings in the Ninth District, I heard from constituents concerned about the retirement benefits and health care plans for Members of Congress. These are not uncommon questions. There is a good deal of information out there, some of which is misleading, that circulates around the Internet and pours into our email inboxes. Let’s look at the facts.

Myth or Fact? Members of Congress have exclusive retirement plans, which allow them to retire after one term.

Myth.

Contrary to popular belief, Members of Congress don’t get a retirement plan after serving one term. Since 1984, those elected to Congress are covered under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), the same retirement plan all other federal workers have received since that time. FERS is funded by a combination of employee and employer contributions. Under FERS, Members of Congress are not eligible (vested) for some pension benefits until serving at least 5 years. Like most pension plans, the longer you serve the more pension benefits you receive. The vast majority of Members of Congress cannot receive pension benefits before the age of 62.

Myth or Fact? Members of Congress have a special health care plan.

Myth.

You may have read that Members of Congress have special, premium health care plans. That is simply not true. Members of Congress are entitled to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program under the same rules as other federal employees. I pay a portion of the premium, just like every other federal employee. This is the same type of plan that businesses have. I am thankful to have a health insurance plan, but I want to clarify that it is not a plan created solely for Members of Congress.

Myth or Fact? Members of Congress get large salaries.

Fact.

The salary is large, and while the cost-of-living is different throughout the country, Congress needs to cut back. That is why I have proposed a 10 percent pay cut (H.R. 335) for Members of Congress. This year, the House of Representatives cut office and committee budgets by about 6.4 percent. Last year’s cut was 5 percent. The House also recently voted to freeze pay for Members of Congress. While these are steps in the right direction, more can be done. For example, I am looking for ways to reduce the employee savings plan for Members of Congress and federal employees to make it more in line with plans offered by private businesses while saving taxpayers money.

The Rising Cost of Keeping the Lights On

Southwest Virginia families may have more trouble keeping their homes heated to healthy temperatures. Last week, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on the costs and impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Utility MACT (maximum achievable control technology) rule. Strict regulations on emissions from coal-fired power plants threaten to increase electricity rates and decrease the amount of power, hitting the pocketbooks of American families.

According to the EPA’s own estimates, the Utility MACT rule is estimated to cost $9.6 billion annually. These costs will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher electric bills. In terms of power supply, EPA predicted that the Utility MACT rules would cause 4,700 megawatts to be shut down. However, the final Utility MACT has not even been published in the Federal Register and American Electric Power (AEP) has announced a compliance plan that would shut down nearly 6,000 megawatts of coal-fired power generation. Unfortunately, AEP’s announced closures include the Glen Lyn Plant (335 megawatts) and Unit 3 of the Clinch River Plant (235 megawatts) in Russell County. Over the next decade, AEP expects to spend between $6 and $8 billion complying with the Utility MACT rule. They have told me that they expect this will cause between a 10 and 15 percent increase in the cost of power in their service area. Can we really afford this increase on top of the steep rise in the cost of electricity over the past decade? I think not.

Another company, FirstEnergy, recently announced plans to shut more than 3,300 megawatts because of Utility MACT’s high costs. Between AEP and FirstEnergy, roughly 9,300 megawatts are expected to be retired. Between these two companies, that’s nearly double the lost power EPA estimated for the whole country. So, clearly the EPA estimates are flatly wrong or based on faulty standards. Expect more power plants to close, supply to be affected, and prices to rise. Rising costs put a strain on working families and those on fixed incomes. Higher electric prices make it more expensive to manufacture goods in America. When American goods are more expensive, they are less competitive in the global economy. American jobs are at stake as a result of these rules.

Higher energy costs and fewer jobs make it hard to explain why the EPA insists on expensive and burdensome rules without a clear accounting of the consequences. They would argue health concerns, but why do the EPA’s estimates not take into account the health impacts of not being able to heat your home to a healthy temperature?

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my offices. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.

GRIFFITH STATEMENT ON STOCK ACT

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement regarding his vote to support the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012 (S. 2038):

“I'm pleased to support a commonsense measure,” said Congressman Griffith. “Using insider information for personal financial gain is a crime and should be treated as such. This Act makes clear that Members of Congress are going to be held to a higher standard than the average American. Strengthening rules against illegal financial transactions will give the public confidence that their representatives are to be above reproach in public matters, and that D.C. insiders aren't allowed to trade financial secrets for influence.”

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NRV hero trooper talks after receiving Congressional Badge of Bravery

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

By Lindsey Ward
February 9, 2012
Hyperlink

HILLSVILLE, VA -- A heroic local state trooper talks to 10 On Your Side about his latest honor.

Back in January of 2010, Trooper Matthew Cochran, a Carroll County Sheriff's deputy, and a Hillsville Police Officer went beyond the call of duty helping rescue seniors from a fire at their Hillsville apartment complex.

In October of 2010 Parade Magazine featured Trooper Cochran’s story. He was also named National Policeman of the Year for 2010.

In January of 2012, Trooper Cochran received the Congressional Badge of Bravery.

Throughout all of the attention he's received Cochran has remained humble.

I spoke with Trooper Cochran at the site of his heroic rescue, where he pulled Ms. Bowman from a burning building.

“We could hear a lady screaming inside. And myself and Deputy Lyons both went in several times, and I think on my third going in, is when I found Ms. Bowman and got her out,” Trooper Cochran explained.

That night was more than two years ago and Briar Leigh Court Apartments has since been rebuilt. A lot of time has passed, but recognition continues for Trooper Cochran.

“I was incredibly honored," said Cochran about receiving the Congressional Badge of Bravery. "It was a unique experience, and more than likely something I won't get to experience again. But I had a great time.”

Trooper Cochran snapped a picture with Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-9th) while holding the award last month. Rep. Griffith says the young man is more than deserving of the first time award.

“He goes in and he gets [Ms. Bowman] out, and just after they get out the roof collapses. There's no question without his action many more would have been put into greater danger and that lady would probably be dead,” Rep. Griffith said.

The 9th District Congressman from Salem added that Trooper Cochran went beyond the call of duty.

That's something the law enforcement officer would politely disagree with.

He says of all the awards he's received the Congressional Badge of Bravery is his proudest.

“I never knew police officers got awards for doing this type of thing. I just always assumed it was a part of our job, and what we were expected to do,” Cochran said.

Ms. Bowman has already thanked Cochran for saving her life.

GOP Freshmen Hone Their Message

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

By Ben Terris
Hyperlink

Does the Republican Party have a messaging problem?

Members of the House freshman class seem to think so. And in order to try and remedy the situation, seven of them met on Thursday morning in a Longworth House Office Building conference room, to discuss what they needed to be better at communicating to the American people. They also invited one member of the media to hear them message about messaging. It was all very "meta."

Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C., organized the meeting with Reps. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Morgan Griffith of Virginia, Steve Southerland of Florida, Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Trey Gowdy and Jeff Duncan, both from South Carolina.

“The party’s messaging could be better,” said Scott. His belief, he said, is that the 87 freshmen elected in 2010 “formed a firewall” to keep the economy from getting worse, and that they needed to be better at “owning part of the ship.”

Everyone in the room expressed the sentiment that they had helped change the conversation in Washington from how much to spend to how much to cut. It has been the mantra of the class.

But is that a strong enough message? Having stormed Congress last year, the expectations were incredibly high for the class. It’s something that Gowdy said in the meeting he wished they’d nipped in the bud: "We should have tempered the euphoria from the fall of 2010.... The people saw this wave of freshmen, and we should have done a better job of saying the best we can do is stop bad ideas from happening.”

Duncan suggested that the GOP would benefit by spending a little extra money on some outside help.

“We have money at our discretion as far as our conference goes,” he said. “Why not hire the best in the business and help really craft our message?”

It’s advice that the class is already looking into. According to Scott, within the next month pollster Frank Luntz will join the freshmen in one of their closed-door class meetings to figure out the best way to market their ideas. Luntz's office so far hasn't returned National Journal's calls.

The group discussed a number of areas they’d like to focus on. Gardner mentioned that it made sense to hammer President Obama on his “all of the above unless it’s really all of the above” energy policy, and Southerland said he believed they should “heighten” the conversation about health care.

Gowdy said it’s all about trying to “draw the causal link” between issues like energy independence and jobs. It was at this moment that the former trial lawyer leaned back in his chair to think about what he said for a quick moment. He then told the group there was one pitfall that could arise if they talked about jobs too much -- something no new member wants to have happen.

“We may begin to sound like politicians,” he said.

GRIFFITH ANNOUNCES CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today announcing the 2012 Congressional Art Competition for the Ninth District of Virginia:

“Each year, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors the Congressional Art Competition for high school students. This competition is a great opportunity for a local student to represent the Ninth District in our nation’s capital. Last year, Jessalyn Mullins, a student at J.I. Burton High School in Norton, won the competition with her drawing entitled ‘Miner of the Ages.’

“This year’s theme for artwork submitted to my office is ‘Celebrating Virginia’s History.’ All submissions are due by April 6th. I know we have exceptional artists in the Ninth District. If you have children or grandchildren of high school age, I encourage you to pass this information on to them. I look forward to reviewing the submissions.”

Jessalyn Mullins of Norton won the Ninth District's 2011 Congressional Art Competition.

A photograph of the final artwork and a signed release form must be submitted to either the Abingdon or Christiansburg office by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6th. The winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. In addition, the second and third place selections will be on display in one of the Ninth District offices. To read the complete listing of rules and guidelines or download the Student Release Form for the Congressional Art Competition, please visit www.morgangriffith.house.gov. If you have any additional questions about the competition, please contact the Washington office at (202) 225-3861.

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GRIFFITH STATEMENT ON LINE-ITEM VETO VOTE

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today after casting his vote against H.R. 3521, the “so-called” Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011:

“I am supportive of a line-item veto process in order to make further cuts to federal spending. However, this bill does not provide for a true line-item veto. Instead, it is more of a group veto concept. The president could veto spending items, but under this bill he or she could lump any number of diverse cuts into one or two packages. These packages would be considered as a whole instead of each proposed cut receiving an individual vote.

“Under this proposal, a president could create a package of cuts – some good, some bad, and force Congress to take it or leave it. A smart president would put cuts that Congress didn’t approve of together with a few really good cuts. The good cuts would be like candied apples, used by the president to divert attention away from the really bad cuts. He could use this technique to target a particular region or industry. And frankly, I am tired of the coal industry being targeted by the current Administration. We need to be able to vote on proposed cuts individually in accordance with what’s best for the Ninth District of Virginia and the nation as a whole rather than an all or nothing approach.”

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Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 02.06.12

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Freezing

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to extend the pay freeze for Members of Congress and federal employees for an additional year and cut the budgets of House committees. This year, the House also reduced personal office budgets by 6.4 percent. While small measures themselves, these votes are a starting point. I encourage the Senate to pass the pay freeze legislation as well and send that measure to the President. Freezing pay is a step in the right direction, but more can and must be done. That’s why I introduced H.R. 335, a bill to cut Members’ pay by 10 percent. While millions of Americans continue to struggle with high unemployment and paying their bills, government bureaucrats and Members of Congress should not get a pay raise.

American families know that you can’t keep spending more money than you have. Businesses in the Ninth District know that if you’re continuously operating in the red, you won’t be in business for long. But has anyone in the White House or Senate gotten the memo? We cannot continue to spend money we do not have.

But don’t take my word for it. The numbers tell the story. Last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the United States is on track for yet another trillion dollar budget deficit for fiscal year 2012. From our nation’s beginning until recent history, we never had a trillion dollar deficit. Now, we’ve had three in a row and another predicted. The CBO also forecasts that the national unemployment rate will continue to remain above or near 8 percent both this year and next. Despite President Obama’s assertion that passing the stimulus plan would keep unemployment below 8 percent, we spent close to a trillion dollars with failed job results. To top it off, the Senate hasn’t even passed a budget in more than 1,000 days. In other words, they’re content to blindly spend without a plan.

I want my three children to live in an America where they have every opportunity I did and more. Continuing to spend, borrow, and run trillion dollar deficits will not allow for that. Our spending jeopardizes the future of our children and grandchildren. There are commonsense ways to rein in spending. I hope the Senate and the President will join the effort.

2012 Congressional Art Competition

Each year, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors the Congressional Art Competition for high school students. This competition is an exciting way for a student from our region to represent the Ninth Congressional District in Washington.

High school students (grades 9 – 12) residing in the Ninth Congressional District are invited to participate in this competition. The chosen theme for submissions from my office is “Celebrating Virginia’s History.” Each original composition must highlight an aspect of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s rich history. I encourage students to put some thought into their work and be creative. The following types of entries will be accepted: paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art, and photography. Entries may not exceed 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep when framed. Students may also want to work with their art teachers if they need assistance meeting specific guidelines.

A photograph of the original artwork and a signed release form should be submitted to either my Abingdon or Christiansburg office by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6th. All submitted works will be evaluated by a panel of impartial judges from the Ninth District based on creativity and conformity to House regulations.

The winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for a year. The student will also be invited to Washington to celebrate the unveiling of his/her work. In addition, the second and third place selections will be on display in our offices. In 2011, Jessalyn Mullins, a student a J.I. Burton High School in Norton, won the competition for the Ninth District with her drawing entitled “Miner of the Ages.”

I know we have exceptional artists in the Ninth District. If you have children or grandchildren of high school age, I encourage you to pass this information on to them. I look forward to reviewing the submissions. To read the complete listing of rules and guidelines for the Congressional Art Competition, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my offices. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.

GRIFFITH STATEMENT IN REMEMBRANCE OF CHANCELLOR PRIOR

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today regarding the passing of David J. Prior, the seventh chancellor of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise:

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chancellor Prior,” said Congressman Griffith. “As a lifelong educator and researcher, Chancellor Prior’s continued dedication to the importance of higher education was seen throughout the Commonwealth. Since coming to UVa-Wise in 2005, Chancellor Prior worked diligently to grow the College and support economic development in Southwest Virginia. My prayers are with his family and the UVa-Wise community at this difficult time. Chancellor Prior will be greatly missed, but his legacy will not be forgotten.”

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