The Fightin’ Ninth and the Father of our Country As we enjoy parades, cookouts, and fireworks, we should also reflect on Independence Day itself and that inspired document written predominantly by Virginia’s own Thomas Jefferson. I encourage each of you to pull out a copy of the Declaration of Independence and see how many of the grievances listed by the colonists you can recall from history class... Read more »
Making Government More Responsive Since being elected to Congress, a constant among my priorities has been improving the way the federal government operates. This includes protecting you from an overreaching government, making the budgeting process better, increasing transparency, reclaiming and defending the authority of the legislature, etc. As part of my ongoing efforts to change Washington and... Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement regarding the passing of bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, a native of Dickenson County: “Though many might try to emulate him, no one will be able to replicate Dr. Stanley’s long and lonesome Appalachian sound. He is irreplaceable. He was loved and revered by bluegrass fans throughout the world, myself included, and I join southwes... Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Texas, which left in place a lower court order blocking President Obama’s controversial immigration actions: “For the second time in as many days, the courts have confirmed: it is Congress that has the authority to write laws, not an overreaching Administration by Obama’s ... Read more »
Mental Health – An Update I am pleased to report that my colleagues and I on the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed on a bipartisan basis the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646) on June 15, following a multi-year effort which included many hearings and forums about America’s mental health care system as well as much bipartisan negotiation. At one such hearing in ... Read more »
Orlando The tragic and horrific terrorist attack in Orlando is a sobering reminder that we are living in a dangerous world. As we mourn, we first turn to prayer, and pray for those killed or injured, for their loved ones, and for the people of Florida. In the days ahead, as our fight against terrorism continues, we must remain vigilant and, without sacrificing our civil liberties, work to protect ... Read more »
“One Health” Work in the Ninth District A recent Washington Post story picked up by the Roanoke Times touches on what is a fairly new phrase, though it has long been accepted as a concept: the “One Health” concept, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describes as recognizing “…that the health of humans is connected to the health of animals and the environment.” For further explanation, the... Read more »
Updates Civil Liberties, Lawful Transportation of Firearms, and Accessing Public Lands In my column of February 29, I wrote of an amendment I successfully added to the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (H.R. 2406), legislation which protects Second Amendment rights and guarantees Americans ample access to federal lands in order to hunt, fish, and recreationally shoot. M... Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) was chosen to serve on the conference committee with the Senate to resolve the differences between House and Senate energy legislation. Griffith, who has served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Subcommittee on Energy and Power since he was elected to the House of Representatives, issued the following statement after the announcement of his selec... Read more »
Combating Zika On March 2, my colleagues and I on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations convened a hearing examining the public health crisis involving the Zika virus, which has affected Africa and Asia for decades but last year reached the Americas. This virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes are known as “... Read more »
