E-Newsletter

American Workforce 

Another year has gone by and America has spent another Labor Day disappointed.  While celebrating Labor Day with folks in Covington, I was struck when I saw a once bustling factory with an “Absolute Auction” sign posted in front of it.  Though the MeadWestvaco plant is doing fine, it’s truly a shame that another plant in the area is not.

It’s also a shame that the same, sad record is on repeat in Washington – more regulations, more taxes, and more uncertainty.  The Ninth’s coal miners, farmers, and numerous other businessmen all seem to have a government bureaucrat looking over their shoulder, shrewdly waiting to slam them with a fine.

For the federal government, the best path forward is clear.  It must unleash our energy potential – we need to drill, dig, discover, and deregulate.  Coal, natural gas, oil, wind, solar – whatever the source may be, if it’s economical, let’s harvest it.  We need to overhaul our tax code – make it simple, competitive, and efficient.  We need to comprehensively reduce the regulatory burden Washington places on businesses and its workers.  Environmental laws, compliance laws – you name it, we need to curb the federal government’s meddlesome policies if we want our businesses to expand and compete in the global market.  Finally, we need to return to the policies of the 90s – we must cut spending.

Like I’ve said countless times, American workers are the best in the world.  American workers are more innovative and harder working than anybody else.  Unfortunately, they are being held back by Washington’s policies and politics.  With the greatest workers in the world, we should have great Labor Days.  Let us hope the future is better than the present.  I hope you had a good Labor Day. 

This Week in History – American Revolution Officially Ended

On September 3, 1783, the American Revolution officially ended when representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and France signed the Treaty of Paris. 

Beginning in September of 1782, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay started peace talks with the British.  Though not all of their demands were met (for example, Franklin insisted that the British give us Canada, which obviously did not occur), America did benefit greatly in the negotiations.  America doubled its territory (thanks to the victory of the frontiersmen at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, which allowed Daniel Boone to lead numerous settlers through the Cumberland Gap into the Kentucky Territory) and secured important fishing rights in Canadian waters.

On November 30, 1782, the United States and Britain signed the preliminary articles of the treaty.  Two months later, on January 20, 1783, France signed its own preliminary peace agreement with Britain.  Finally, in September of that year, the final treaty was signed by all three nations and Spain. On January 14, 1784, The Treaty of Paris was ratified by the Continental Congress.  [Click here for more information.]

September Traveling Staff Office Hours

To better serve you, throughout the month, members of my STAFF will be holding traveling offices hours around the Ninth District.  To see the dates, times, and locations of upcoming office hours, please click here.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office.  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.

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