E-Newsletter

Over the last few weeks, there have been big legislative wins for the nation.

For me, one of these wins is the signing, at last, of the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Along with Congressman Bob Latta, we began the quest in 2021 to permanently designate fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.

HALT’s language would change some over the years, as with all legislation, but it is substantially the same. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of convincing colleagues in the House and the Senate that this was the proper policy action to take.

Although the bill signed was the Senate version, I am proud to have drafted significant components of the bill and attend the White House for the bill signing.

Upon signing the bill, President Trump said HALT is “one of the more important things we will ever sign, I suspect.”

It was a big win. 

You have also heard about the reconciliation wins for families and businesses on tax cuts. You have heard about the reconciliation wins on protecting our borders.

What you have not heard about are other wins in the big reconciliation bill. 

One great thing is this bill prohibits federal taxpayer dollars from backdoor funding of abortions.

The provision affects only larger abortion providers. This applies even if they provide other health care services. 

By providing other “health care services,” larger abortion providers have been using federal taxpayer dollars to pay a portion of their overhead costs, which helps to facilitate performing abortions.

It has been a longstanding policy that taxpayers should not be forced to pay for abortion.

Only providers that received more than $800,000 in federal and state monies under the Medicaid program in Fiscal Year 2023 are affected by the provision.

This does not apply to cases where an abortion is performed because of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

The initial House-passed reconciliation bill kept the provision in effect for 10 years, but the Senate reduced it to one year.

While this provision only lasts for one year, it is a step in the right direction to prohibit federal funding of abortion.

I will continue to support measures that protect the sanctity of life, such as the Hyde Amendment.

The reconciliation bill also makes significant investments in our country’s military and national defense.

We deliver critical funding to resources for integrated air and missile defense.

Funding will also go towards a “Golden Dome,” a major defense proposal pushed under Trump. 

Much like the Iron Dome missile defense system employed by Israel, beginning the creation of a “Golden Dome” will help bolster security of our homeland from potential missile threats.

As I noted in a recent column on Greenland, the closest polar route between Washington DC and Moscow is over the Arctic Circle.

As the Russians continue to test their missile stockpile, a “Golden Dome” that detects and destroys potential incoming missiles from our North protects American safety and life.

Additional defense funding directs $500 million for national security space launch infrastructure, $2.2 billion for acceleration of hypersonic defense systems, and $800 million for accelerated development of next-generation intercontinental ballistic missiles, among other essential funding upgrades.

We also invest in our defense shipbuilding capacity.

The Navy is in dire need of help to meet increasing demands for new ships. 

As China expands aggressive naval activities in the South China Sea and tries to undermine America’s Panama Canal deal, we need to address this national security issue.

Billions of dollars from the reconciliation bill go towards confronting this crisis by revamping the manufacturing of our ships. 

Steel is a major component in shipbuilding. To make the best steel, you need metallurgical coal, and Southwest Virginia has got lots. 

Metallurgical coal can go a long way in providing our defense forces with the necessary steel to build ships and ensure that America’s Naval fleet is the strongest in the world.

American coal stands to benefit from the reconciliation bill as part of a larger effort to unleash American energy dominance.  

To achieve dependable, affordable and secure energy, we cannot continue with policies that shun reliable forms of baseload power. 

This is why in the reconciliation bill we also phase down a number of the expensive green tax credits which disincentivize coal and natural gas power plants and make us overly dependent on renewables.

There is plenty to like about the reconciliation bill.

I look forward to touting these major provisions as we put America on a path towards greatness and prosperity.

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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