E-Newsletter

Scouting:  Training the Leaders of Tomorrow

I had the distinct honor of speaking at the Pellissippi District of the Sequoyah Council Boy Scouts of America Awards Banquet in Abingdon on Saturday evening.  At this event, the volunteers and leaders were recognized for their dedication, accomplishments, and service.  

While there, I reflected on my volunteer involvement in the Boy Scouts of America and the positive impact scouting, particularly my Cub Master, Mr. Dick Giarla, had on my life.  Although I was only a Cub Scout for a few years in my youth, later in life, well before I ever even had children, I became an adult volunteer for the organization.  I have seen firsthand the benefits of the scouting movement – the shaping of our youth by focusing on building character and instilling a sense of civic responsibility.  I look forward to experiencing scouting with my two sons.  Davis, my six-year-old, is already excited about becoming a Tiger Cub in September. 

It is important to remember that the work of the Boy Scouts of America is heavily reliant upon volunteers.  So thank you to the men and women who have dedicated their time and talents to helping nurture our future leaders. Thank you for leading by example and caring enough to make a difference in the lives of our youth.  Your volunteer work is appreciated.

Last week the House of Representatives took another big step towards American energy independence by passing the PIONEERS Act (H.R. 3408).  This bill would cut through the bureaucratic red tape to ramp up energy exploration and production in the United States creating new jobs in the process.  Specifically, the bill would open up the most promising offshore areas for oil and gas exploration, including waters off the shore of Virginia.  Additionally, this bill would open a small part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska to energy development.  At less than 3 percent of ANWR’s total size, this relatively small area could supply up to 1.45 million barrels of oil daily, which is about the same amount of oil that the U.S. imports from Saudi Arabia each day. 

The PIONEERS Act would also clear regulatory hurdles and set rules for the U.S. to use its vast oil shale resources.  According to the U.S. Geological Survey, we have more than half of the world’s oil shale, estimated to amount to more than 1.5 trillion barrels of recoverable oil.  Some suggest that amount could provide, at today’s usage levels, the United States with energy for nearly 200 years.

In last month’s State of the Union Address, President Obama stated that “this country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy - a strategy that's cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.”  The PIONEERS Act answers the President’s call by accessing American energy and creating American jobs.  I hope the President will encourage the Senate to pass the bill quickly so that he can sign it into law. 

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, 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.