U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith, Representing Virginia's 9th District

The world watched on April 15 as Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burned. No one was killed in the blaze, but the cathedral’s spire collapsed, and the wooden interior was consumed. The damage was calamitous. People across the world expressed their sorrow and have contributed to the rebuilding effort. The flames have been extinguished, but it is still worth considering how an accidental fire in one building without any loss of life could capture the world’s attention. Notre Dame Cathedral has countl... Read more

In February, I wrote in this column about a series of hearings that were planned in the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The Subcommittee, on which I serve, wanted to launch an in-depth examination of rising insulin prices. Insulin is a necessity for millions of Americans suffering from diabetes, and soaring prices are a hardship for them. We have since had two hearings, the first featuring testimony from advocates for diabetes patients and medi... Read more

The men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces are among the finest our nation has to offer. It is essential that we provide them with the best equipment and supplies available. In Shakespeare’s Richard III, the king famously laments, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” He loses a battle, his realm, and his life because he lacks a horse at the pivotal moment. We cannot allow our liberties to be lost because of a similar lack of quality supplies when they count the most. Southwest V... Read more

When not in Washington, D.C., voting in the U.S. House of Representatives during March, I was able to visit several sites where exciting research projects are underway. Previously, I wrote about some of them at Virginia Tech. More recently, I visited a farm site where scientific accomplishments once seemingly from the realm of a futuristic novel promise to make a difference in our daily lives. You may remember Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned with an adult cell. Dolly was cloned in Scotl... Read more

During the recent congressional district work period, I had a chance to spend some time at Virginia Tech. While on campus, I met with some of the talented people who work and study there and heard firsthand about their important research and development projects. Some of their work promises great benefits for the economy and the quality of life, both here in Virginia and across the country. My first appointment was with Dr. Roe-Hoan Yoon and the team at the Center for Advanced Separation Technol... Read more

FDA Commissioner Gottlieb Dr. Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced his intention to step down from his post. President Trump originally appointed him to the position in 2017 at the beginning of his term. Before Dr. Gottlieb departs, I would like to offer my thanks for his service and his notable accomplishments. I have worked with numerous executive branch officials, but Dr. Gottlieb stands out for his outstanding performance in his job. As a... Read more

We Must Call Out Anti-Semitism On March 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning hate, including anti-Semitism. It is unfortunate that a resolution and a vote on the topic was even necessary. Religious liberty is a bedrock principle in our country. We understand this in Virginia, where Thomas Jefferson wrote, and the General Assembly passed, the Statute for Religious Freedom. This resolution was the first of its kind in the world and the blueprint for religious protect... Read more

Jobs in the Energy Sector “There’s no place like home.” Many Americans understand what Dorothy means when she says those words in The Wizard of Oz. We certainly do in Southwest Virginia, which is a fine place to live, work, and raise a family. Southwest Virginians are ready to work in the economy of the 21st century. Part of this economy will no doubt include energy production. Energy has long been a major industry in our area, and with our abundant natural resources, there is no reason why it c... Read more

Insulin Prices I recently held a meeting in the Ninth District with board members of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as well as children who live with juvenile diabetes. They told me their stories. One of the challenges of living with juvenile diabetes is unfortunately too familiar to many, even those with other medical conditions. That problem is high costs for medicine. According to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 million Americ... Read more

Anti-Semitism Has No Place in America I have been discouraged by an increase in anti-Semitism during recent months. The most horrifying example was the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last October, but anti-Semitic rhetoric has also become more commonplace in public life. Often, this hate is directed at our close ally, Israel. Treating a steadfast friend and the only democracy in the Middle East with such vitriol is disgusting. I strongly believe Israel has a right to exist,... Read more