The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018, a bill that expands access to experimental treatments for patients with terminal illnesses. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), an original cosponsor of the bill, issued the following statement:
“Many Americans have long sought the ‘right to… Read more »
Everyone knows something is wrong with prescription drug prices. I hear frequently from constituents struggling to pay exorbitant prices for drugs. What is to be done in this situation and who is to blame are hot topics in public discourse.
It’s worth keeping this background in mind when pondering what to make of insurance giant UnitedHealthcare’s announcement on March 6 that it “will… Read more »
Members of Congress gathered together on the morning of Wednesday, February 28, not to vote or meet in committee, but for another important purpose: to honor the life of Reverend Billy Graham, who died on February 21.
Billy Graham was only the fourth person to “lie in honor” (distinct from lying in state) in the Rotunda of the Capitol. As an expression of the nation’s respect for him,… Read more »
Committees are the engines that drive Congress. At the committee level, Members of Congress learn about issues, carefully consider legislation, and conduct oversight to see what works in the Federal Government and what doesn’t.
Serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as I do, means a busy schedule. We have a broad jurisdiction that covers policy areas of great importance to… Read more »
President Adds Momentum for “Right to Try”
Longtime readers of this column know that I am a strong advocate for changing the law to permit the “right to try” – the right for patients facing life-threatening illnesses to try experimental treatments.
I believe this approach is both compassionate and commonsense. If a person facing the end of his or her life opts for an experimental… Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the end of the government shutdown today:
“Although this shutdown never should have happened in the first place, I am glad that the Senate has finally passed a measure to fund the government. This vote means that the government will reopen and our military will be paid. Importantly, it also means that the Children’s… Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the United States Senate failed to pass a measure to fund the government, thus triggering a partial government shutdown:
“The Senate has failed to govern. The House of Representatives passed a measure that funded the government for four weeks and provided six years of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance… Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement about the government shutdown caused by a Senate Democratic filibuster:
“Senator Schumer and his Democratic Senate colleagues have chosen to shut down the government for their own political purposes. There is nothing in the continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House of Representatives on January 18 that they object to.… Read more »
CHIP: The Rest of the Story
Yogi Berra is said to have commented once, "It's déjà vu all over again." I think I understood what he meant after I, along with the Republican House majority, voted yet again on January 18 to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is the third time I have voted for an extension of CHIP and the second time the entire House has done so, in… Read more »
Marijuana and the Rule of Law
In the very cold first week of 2018, marijuana became a burning public policy issue. As a CNN headline captured, many people found themselves thrown into confusion on the question: “Is weed legal or not?”
Regular readers of this column likely know my position on marijuana. I support legalizing it for medicinal use but oppose legalization for recreational… Read more »