Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced a total of $14,300.00 in grant funds awarded to the Public Guardian Partnership, Inc in Alleghany County: “This investment in the work of the Public Guardian Partnership in Alleghany will improve the quality of life for senior citizens in our communities. The $14,300.00 awarded in grant funds will be put towards the purchase of a vehicle for the visi...
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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 year, driven by significant volume increases in the export and utility markets. The U.S. Energy Information Administration tracks the Henry...
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Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) today announced that they have reintroduced the Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act, which would ensure our community pharmacists receive reimbursement at the rate posted at the time prescriptions are filled. Congressman Griffith said, “Many residents of the Ninth District depend on their community pharmacy to fill their prescriptions. This simple bill ensures that community pharmacies are treat...
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Zika – An Update Florida health officials recently reported that several individuals were infected with the Zika virus by local mosquitos, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states “…are likely the first known occurrence of local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in the continental United States.” In response, Senate Democrats are calling for Congress to act on Zika. However, in June, Senate Democrats voted to block a Zika funding measure. Up to now, it has appeared to me ...
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Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) tonight voted in favor of a resolution (H.J.Res.88) to override the President’s June 8 veto of legislation to repeal the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule. This rule, which was finalized in April, will impose costly new mandates and burdensome regulations on financial advisors that provide retirement advice. The rule would require these advisors to act as fiduciaries, and therefore they could not receive a fee from the companies providing insurance products ...
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Defending the Second Amendment Rights of Law-Abiding Citizens As you may know, last week President Obama released a set of executive actions relating to firearms. These include a number of rule changes, additional staffing and funding for certain initiatives, and recommendations to state and federal officials, among other things. Many Ninth District residents contacted my office to relay their thoughts, and I share the concerns of those who expressed worry about efforts to needlessly limit the f...
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The Green Climate Fund and Us Recently, I spearheaded a letter to House Appropriations Committee leaders signed by 110 Members of the House in which we expressed our opposition to President Obama’s unilateral pledge of U.S. taxpayer funds for use in the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund. This fund, launched in 2009 with the goal of raising $100 billion a year in financing, is a fund intended to help developing nations catch up with the U.S. in addressing climate change. Despite serious domestic...
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Defeating ISIS I continue to be horrified and heartbroken by the November 13 coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris. I mourn the innocent victims, pray for them and for their loved ones, and pray for the people of France. I strongly condemn these attacks. Mr. President, the world needs strong leadership from the US. Unfortunately, it is all the more clear that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) – which claimed responsibility for these attacks – must not be underestimated. Merely 12 hours...
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Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6) in a vote of 344-77: “Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act is the culmination of more than a year’s worth of work by the Energy and Commerce Committee, led by Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO). This important effort is about saving more lives, keeping this country the...
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Helping Patients – An Update As you likely know, one of my priorities as your representative is advancing legislation that would help patients receive quality, affordable health care that meets that patient’s individual health care needs. Among my efforts to help patients are the Patient Choice Act (H.R. 1376), the Compassionate Freedom of Choice Act (H.R. 790), etc. More information on these proposals and others – including the Energy and Commerce Committee’s 21st Century Cures initiative – c...
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