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… Read more »
Redemption or Politics?
As you may know, Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) signed an executive order on April 22 that restores “…the rights of every Virginia felon who completed his or her sentence and all other requirements as of April 22nd, 2016. The total number of Virginians impacted by the Governor’s order today is 206,000.”
According to a piece in the National Journal, this… Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary M. Collyer ruled in the case of United States House of Representatives v. Burwell that the Obama Administration is improperly funding a portion of Obamacare without a separate Congressional appropriation:
“This court and I believe the Obama Administration unlawfully bypassed… Read more »
EPA: “Okay to kill thousands of eagles”
According to a recent Associated Press (AP) story picked up by the Roanoke Times, “The Obama administration is revising a federal rule that allows wind-energy companies to operate high-speed turbines for up to 30 years, even if it means killing or injuring thousands of federally protected bald and golden eagles.”
The story continues, “Under the… Read more »
United States Must Present A Strong Face
Individuals can often be judged by how they perceive those around them.
To his credit in foreign affairs, President Obama seems to view his fellow world leaders as people who want a fair deal and who want to do what is right. This, I believe, reflects well on the President’s core beliefs. To me this indicates he truly wants fair deals,… Read more »
Puerto Rico
Among the issues being debated in Washington is the situation in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico – which is a territory of the United States – has more than $118 billion in debt in the form of bonds and unfunded pension liabilities. Puerto Rico has already defaulted on portions of its debt, and also has not produced audited financial statements for two years.
Puerto Rico… Read more »
IRS Reform
This week – the week Americans are expected to file their taxes – the House is planning to vote on four measures that would make some initial reforms at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The following paragraphs will elaborate on the bills, though the legislation may not be voted on in this order.
H.R. 1206, the No Hires for Delinquent IRS Act would prevent the IRS from… Read more »
Veterans Hospitals' Wait Time
According to a story published last week by USA TODAY, “Supervisors instructed employees to falsify patient wait times at Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities in at least seven states…”
The story continues, “Employees at 40 VA medical facilities in 19 states and Puerto Rico regularly ‘zeroed out’ veteran wait times, the analysis shows. In some cases,… Read more »
A Symposium on the Future of Coal
The morning of April 4 from 9:30am until 11:30am, I will be holding a Symposium on the Future of Coal-Focused Technology, Innovation, and Industry at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA-Wise) Convocation Center. I am looking forward to engaging communities in our region with federal officials, industry, and researchers and discussing… Read more »
This column would ordinarily be for the week of March 28, 2016, but we have prepared it ahead of schedule in anticipation of Easter.
Peace
When the House of Representatives is in session in Washington, D.C., members of the House Republican Conference meet regularly to discuss legislation on the floor that week or in coming days, longer-term strategies, etc. I believe these… Read more »
