Morgan Griffith

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today after the release of the May jobs report showed unemployment ticked up to 8.2%: “Unfortunately for the American people, this latest jobs report is just more evidence of an economy that remains static. I, for one, am ready for change. This month marks the 40th consecutive month of more than 8% unemployment even though we were all told that the $787 billion dollar stimulus would keep it below that. In addition to the President... Read more

Coal Issue Catches Fire In Presidential Campaign By Pierre Bertrand, International Business Times Link The Obama administration is increasingly under fire for its policy on coal. At a conference hosted by the Eastern Coal Council on Monday in Kingsport, Tenn., speakers said President Barack Obama's Environmental Protection Agency is "at war with the coal industry." The share of power generation in the U.S. by burning coal has fallen to near a 35-year low. Energy will likely become one of the ma... Read more

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after one of the country’s largest regional power grid operators, PJM Interconnection, announced the results of its annual auction that locks in electricity capacity prices three years in advance: “The Obama Administration’s war on coal has consequences. This auction, which establishes capacity prices for 2015-2016 – also, the first year electric generators will be required to comply with EPA’s costly Utility MACT rule – demonstra... Read more

Griffith Attends Graduations This past weekend many young men and women closed a very special chapter in their lives. From Virginia Tech and Wytheville Community College to Mountain Empire Community College and The Appalachian College of Pharmacy, hundreds across the Ninth District received their college degrees. The students and faculty at Mountain Empire Community College and at The Appalachian College of Pharmacy gave me the distinct honor to join them at their commencement ceremonies on Fri... Read more

By Congressman Morgan Griffith Hyperlink After just a short time in Congress, I find myself more keenly aware of the research and reporting failures of the modern mainstream media. If a story gets more depth and attention than the typical 10 second sound bite, I admit, I’m surprised. Solyndra is no different. There are a number of facts surrounding the Solyndra story that don’t seem to be getting any attention. A significant part of the public outrage regarding the bankrupt company isn’t centere... Read more

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement today after joining his colleagues to unanimously pass the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reform Act of 2012: “Despite what you may hear in the news, the House of Representatives continues to pass necessary and needed reforms to the government. Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the FDA Reform Act. This is a complex, lengthy piece of legislation, but Democrats and Republicans sat down and worked togeth... Read more

A Wise & Frugal Government Last week, in honor of the National Day of Prayer, our nation once again took a moment to reflect on the many blessings God has bestowed on us. “A rising nation, spread over a wide and fruitful land, traversing all the seas with the rich productions of their industry,” said Thomas Jefferson in his first inaugural address. He went on to say, “…with all these blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and a prosperous people? Still one thing more, fellow-citiz... Read more

Last Year’s Devastating Storms & Tornadoes On Saturday, April 28th, I was very thankful to have been invited to speak in Glade Spring at the candlelight vigil, which reflected the revival of the community. Below are a summary of my comments: This month, one year ago, devastating storms and tornadoes wreaked havoc across Southwest Virginia. The damage was extensive. Hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed. But most tragically, beautiful lives were lost and countless others changed foreve... Read more

ENERGY EQUALS JOBS In a well coordinated photo, now featured on the Department of Energy’s website, President Obama recently stood amid a sea of solar panels at the Copper Mountain Solar Project, located just outside of Las Vegas, NV. The President was there in support of his Administration’s efforts to promote “green energy.” This one million solar panel facility, built on public lands, is said to be the largest of its kind in the United States. According to Reuters, it powers 17,000 homes – r... Read more

ENERGY EQUALS JOBS On April 18, 1977, President Jimmy Carter said, “Because we are now running out of gas and oil, we must prepare quickly for a third change, to strict conservation and to the use of coal and permanent renewable energy sources, like solar power.” Two things about this statement shock me. Nearly forty years have passed since Carter made these remarks and oil and natural gas continue to supply more than 60 percent of our nation’s energy needs, and even Jimmy Carter understood the... Read more