Right-to-Try Update
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, on which I serve, recently heard testimony from Dr. Scott Gottlieb, head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about expanding access to new, unapproved treatments for patients with life-threatening illnesses. I have long supported the idea of “right-to-try,” having introduced bills on the issue since… Read more »
Disaster Relief and the Debt Ceiling
In the span of a few weeks, the U.S. mainland has faced two storms of immense power in Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have faced the wrath of these hurricanes and must now rebuild after the destruction they caused.
Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland in 12 years and Irma… Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted on his amendment to H.R. 3219 abolishing the Budget Analysis Division of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO):
“While a majority of the House did not agree with my amendment, the debate succeeded in bringing scrutiny to the repeated failings of the CBO. Even colleagues who did not… Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), along with Congressmen Jim Jordan (R-OH), Mark Meadows (R-NC), and Scott Perry (R-PA), today submitted to the Rules Committee an amendment to the Make America Secure Appropriations Act of 2018. This amendment would abolish the Budget Analysis Division of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and transfer its duties to the Office of the Director through… Read more »
The Trouble With the CBO
If you have been watching the news coming from Washington in recent months, you will likely have heard mentioned again and again “the CBO score.” The release of the CBO score on a federal legislative proposal is treated as a marquee event. When a score is released, it is treated by the media as the definitive cost assessment of a proposal’s impact.
Because the… Read more »
Coal
They said it wasn’t a war on coal, and
They said it wasn’t the anti-coal policies.
They said it’s just the market. Natural gas prices are just too cheap.
But, with a new President and a new attitude towards the coal industry, coal is starting to see signs of revival.
Norfolk Southern reported that coal earnings increased 20% in the first quarter of this… Read more »
March Madness
Each spring, Americans across the country fill out brackets, select winners, and root for their favorite teams in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In Washington this time of year brings a different type of March Madness, the federal budget and appropriation process.
Although there aren’t catchy names for the steps in the process, like the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight,… 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… 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… 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 »
