John Wilkes, Rand Paul, and Mike Lee I noted with interest last week that Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) took to the Senate floor to talk against the Patriot Act provisions that allow the National Security Agency (NSA) to gather data on all Americans. As you know, I feel this is a violation of the United States Constitutional provisions against unlawful search. I have spoken previously about that in thi... Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement today after learning that affiliates of coal producer Alpha Natural Resources will be reducing their workforce in Tazewell and Wise Counties: “I am saddened by news of workforce reductions at mines in Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District. My heart goes out to the hardworking coal miners who will be losing their jobs, and to the... Read more »
Protecting Coal Miners The Labor Department’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) has published a proposed Black Lung Benefits Act rule which, according to a press release, would give “…coal miners greater access to their health records and [require] coal miner owners to pay all benefits due in a claim before the award can be challenged through modification.” This proposed rule has bee... Read more »
Death, Taxes, and Bureaucratic Overreach Using a phrase attributed to Benjamin Franklin, “…In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” I would submit that in modern times, nothing is certain except death, taxes, and bureaucratic overreach. On Thursday, April 16, oral arguments were heard in a U.S. Court of Appeals in cases challenging the Environmental Protection Agenc... Read more »
Today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, oral arguments were heard in two cases challenging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s so-called “Clean Power Plan.” These separate though related cases argue that the EPA is acting outside its authority in seeking to regulate existing power plants under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act because the EPA already regu... Read more »
A Message from Communications Director Andie Pivarunas Touring Deep Mine #41 On Monday, March 30, Congressman Griffith, myself, and other members of “Team Griffith” visited Deep Mine #41 near McClure in Dickenson County. Congressman Griffith has toured a number of mines over the years, but this was a first for many on his team, including myself. As such, we thought it may be interesting if I were ... Read more »
EPA: “Burning the Constitution” Last week at an Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing, I was honored to hear testimony regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) so-called “Clean Power Plan” from legal experts including Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe. Tribe is a liberal, environmental, legal rock star. In fact, the POLITICO inside-the-beltway news journal describes Tribe as a "lib... Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today released the following statement on the President’s veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act: “Though he wants his words to indicate otherwise, President Obama’s actions – today and previously – indicate that he has always been opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline. Put simply: I believe the President’s decision to veto the Keystone XL pipeline is based ... Read more »
Electricity from Mexico – Dirty Coal, Drug Gangs On February 11, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz testified before and took questions from me and my colleagues on the Subcommittee on Energy and Power in a hearing covering a wide range of energy-related topics. Responding to a question from Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Secretary Moniz discussed a D... Read more »
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement regarding the SunCoke Energy, Inc. downsizing plan: “In less than two months’ time, SunCoke has reduced its workforce in Southwest Virginia by 325 employees. These are jobs that are badly needed by hardworking Americans, their families, and their communities. I am very saddened by this announcement – my heart goes out to those min... Read more »
