E-Newsletter

All or Something?

Following President Obama’s address to Congress, I got the impression that his jobs plan was an all or nothing proposition. I am pleased that the White House has now signaled that the President would sign into law individual components of his plan agreed to by both chambers of Congress while the remaining parts are considered.  This is the proper approach. I commend the White House for recognizing that the all or nothing approach lessens the chances of success. I look forward to working with the President in getting job creating measures signed into law that will provide meaningful benefits to the American people.

Solyndra Investigation

One of the responsibilities of Congress is to provide oversight of agencies, departments, and programs in the federal government and conduct investigations when necessary. A principle goal of oversight is to make sure your taxpayer dollars are not being abused. Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (O&I), on which I serve, held a hearing regarding the Department of Energy’s (DoE) $535 million stimulus loan guarantee to the now-bankrupt solar energy company, Solyndra.

For the past several months, the O&I Subcommittee has been investigating the Solyndra loan guarantee, which was finalized by the Obama Administration in September 2009. Two years later, after an FBI raid on the now-bankrupt company, taxpayers could be on the hook. I am greatly concerned by the actions relating to this loan and whether proper procedures were followed to protect taxpayers’ money. A chain of emails and documents obtained by the O&I Subcommittee demonstrate that the Obama Administration may have had concerns about the financial health of Solyndra even as they rushed to finalize the loan guarantee in 2009.  As more information is uncovered regarding the finances of this failed company, I will keep you informed. Haphazardly loaning taxpayer money and putting the American people on the hook for this failed company is unacceptable.

EPA Regulatory Relief Act Clears Subcommittee

The EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250) is gaining steam in the House. Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power approved my bill, which would protect thousands of American jobs by making sure the EPA gets regulations right on boilers for businesses, manufacturers, hospitals, universities, and municipalities. Real jobs are at stake in communities throughout the 9th District.

H.R. 2250 is a compromise. This language brought together a group of legislators from both sides of the aisle with a reasonable approach and reasonable language. The bill currently has 120 cosponsors, including 25 Democrats. The full House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider H.R. 2250 this week. I look forward to continuing the fight to protect jobs and provide regulatory relief for job creators as H.R. 2250 continues to make its way through the legislative process.

Businesses need certainty regarding regulation, which my bill provides. They need to know that we are going to get the rules right when imposing such expensive and comprehensive rules that could have real consequences for thousands of hardworking Americans.  As the EPA told the court last December, investments required by these rules are irreversible. For those businesses that cannot or will not make those investments, and decide to stop producing their product at a particular location, the job losses are also irreversible.

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.