E-Newsletter

Regulatory Reform

As we approach Labor Day 2011, why can’t Washington understand how to create more jobs in the USA? It seems basic to me. Get out of the way and the American spirit will find ways to create jobs. Businesses could get the certainty they need to create jobs if Washington would assure businesses that if they invest in America today, the rules and regulations that apply to that business will not change for the worse tomorrow.

In Washington, some actually make the argument that more regulations = more jobs. That has not been the observations made to me by businesses in Southwest Virginia. Further, it doesn’t make sense. To me, burdensome regulations mean it is easier to do business in Sri Lanka, Singapore, or Shanghai than it is in Saltville, St. Paul, or Staffordsville. That means more burdensome regulations = less jobs. Less jobs = less payroll.

After months of advocating for new costly regulations, the Obama Administration announced the release of its agencies’ regulatory reform plans.

In contrast, Speaker John Boehner sent a letter to the White House last week concerning the Administration’s current regulatory agenda and the 219 planned regulations that have been estimated to cost more than $100 million each. According to the Speaker, that’s nearly a 15 percent increase from last year. In fact, one proposed rule from the EPA regulating ozone standards is estimated to cost up to $90 billion per year. At a time when even the President at least says we should be reducing the regulatory burden, the number of new regulations coming from his agencies does not seem to show it.

We all recognize the need for reasonable regulations, but unreasonable regulations are costly job-killers.  I have a bill, H.R. 2250 (EPA Regulatory Relief Act), which will ensure more reasonable regulations related to industrial boilers and heaters. Along with my legislation on boilers, I will continue to combat those regulations that threaten jobs and our economic recovery. Stopping new regulations that are burdensome, costly, and unreasonable will provide confidence to businesses and investors that the United States is not going to keep increasing the cost of operating here at home and allow them to harness the American spirit in order to create new jobs. New jobs we desperately need as we approach Labor Day 2011.

Military Service Academy Nomination Applications due October 15

Applications for 9th District residents seeking a congressional nomination to one of our nation’s military service academies are due October 15. As your representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, each year I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of people to service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The honor and educational experience of attending a service academy comes with a commitment to serve in the respective branch of the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.  By nominating highly qualified and committed candidates to each academy, I hope to have as many young men and women from the Ninth District as possible admitted to the service academies.

All completed applications should be sent to the Abingdon District Office. Any applications submitted via mail must be postmarked by October 15 in order to be considered. If you would like an application packet or more information on the nomination process, please contact Terry Sivert at (276) 525-1405. To download a PDF version of the application, please click here. Best wishes to those pursuing a nomination to one of the U.S. military service academies.

As always, if you have concerns or comments or wish to inquire about legislative issues, feel free to contact my offices. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.