E-Newsletter

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 forever.  My prayers remain with those who have suffered, especially those who lost loved ones.

The people of Southwest Virginia remind me of the saying, “man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.” While time may have brought comfort to some, for many, the healing process continues.

I want to commend the countless volunteers, law enforcement agencies, first responders, local and county officials, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for coming together to rebuild.  I want to thank the Gilliam family for their generous contributions to the rebuilding efforts through the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund created by Governor McDonnell.  And, I want to thank all of Virginia’s leaders who stood together to help those in need.  

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it,” said Helen Keller. The strength, courage, determination, resilience, and character demonstrated by the people of Pulaski, Glade Spring, Chilhowie, and the greater Southwest Virginia community truly demonstrated that even in the face of horrendous adversity, hope ultimately can prevail.  I am honored and blessed to represent such an incredible community.

A Victory for Farmers

Thankfully, though a rare occurrence with President Obama in office, the farmers of Southwest Virginia received some good news this past week.  On Thursday, the Department of Labor withdrew a proposed rule – most negatively impacting extended family farms – trying to place new restrictions on children who work in agriculture.  I’m pleased that our four-month long fight – taken up by American farmers from across the country and dozens of my colleagues and me in Washington – resulted in this victory.

As you know, agriculture is an integral part of Southside and Southwest Virginia’s economy and heritage.  That heritage extends to families working together on their farms.  While safety is always a priority, unelected Washington bureaucrats are not in the best position to issue a one-size-fits-all rule stating how kids can and cannot help on extended family farms.  Had this rule been adopted, kids who work on a grandparent’s, uncle’s, or aunt’s farm would’ve been limited in working with farm animals, operating certain types of farm machinery, and prohibited from working country grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions.  Fortunately for us, the Washington bureaucrats got the hint that America is fed up with Washington, D.C. decrees.

I assure you I will continue to monitor this situation because – depending on the next administration – you never know how much flexibility it may have.

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.