Griffith, Morgan RSS Articles

Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 8.21.26

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers have intensified scrutiny of laboratory biosafety and research facilities that receive federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

As the former Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman and current Health Subcommittee Chairman on Energy and Commerce, I continue to help lead investigative work of federal research labs and the NIH.

The NIH consists of 27 Institutes and Centers. The NIH maintains a vast and expansive network of labs inside and outside the United States.

One such lab is Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana.

Rocky Mountain Laboratories exercises a massive research portfolio. The lab studies various diseases, including but not limited to Salmonella, chronic wasting disease, relapsing fever and plague.

POLITICO reports that scientists there are credited with breakthroughs involving Lyme disease and Ebola, among others.

Rocky Mountain operates as a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, which is the highest safety designation. Scientists at Level 4 labs tend to deal with diseases that are life-threatening and must follow the most stringent security requirements.

According to a webpage from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), only a handful of U.S. labs are qualified Level 4 labs.

However, within the last year, the Montana lab was linked to two concerning events.

One incident occurred in November 2025, when a Rocky Mountain worker was bitten by an infected lab monkey!

The monkey was infected with a lethal tickborne illness known as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the severe illness as the most widespread viral hemorrhagic fever.

After news broke of the monkey bite incident, questions swirled about the Montana lab, its safety protocols and how such a lab incident could happen.

Controversy did not stop there.

In June 2026, two NIH researchers from Rocky Mountain were criminally charged by the Department of Justice!

Their crime?

Smuggling monkeypox into the United States!

According to the Department of Justice, the two scientists were traveling on a commercial plane back to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. The Congo is the epicenter of a current Ebola virus outbreak.

When the scientists arrived in Detroit, they lied to Customs and Border Patrol officers about the contents of a black case. The scientists claimed their case contained diagnostics and testing equipment.

Federal law enforcement discovered and tested 113 vials, many of which contained deactivated monkeypox virus. Another vial contained chickenpox and a couple contained human DNA.

It is clear that both researchers have experience working with infectious pathogens. In fact, Dr. Vincent Munster led Rocky Mountain’s virus ecology section at that time.

Upon hearing about these incidents, I wanted to get answers.

This August, I traveled to Montana, where I received a tour of the Level 4 lab and a briefing. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who was a vocal opponent of COVID-19 lockdown policies, joined me to hear from the lab’s researchers.

Explaining the monkey bite incident, the researchers had put the lab monkey under anesthesia. As one worker held the monkey up to their chest, the worker accidentally tapped the back of the monkey’s jaw.

On reflex, the monkey subconsciously bit the worker.

The worker received immediate treatment for their minor wound, and after appropriate precautions, returned to Rocky Mountain to continue research.

In research settings, animal-handling incidents can occur despite established safety and handling protocols.

Researchers I met with at Rocky Mountain also said they were ashamed and felt betrayed by Munster’s actions.

The Munster case seemed to be a case of arrogance.

Because he was a leading scientist, the theory goes that Munster felt like the normal rules should not apply to him. But more will become clear as the criminal charges proceed.

We have seen too often recently that some scientists share this philosophy, which is why we need to pass specific rules banning risky research, such as my legislation, the Risky Research Review Act.

Rogue activity in the “name of science” must always be confronted. Thanks in part to my efforts to confront these issues, the group responsible for funding dangerous coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, was debarred from getting contracts with the U.S. government.

As infectious disease research develops, Congress has a responsibility to protect the American people. I will continue my vigilance on improving safety compliance, my investigative work and my exploration of additional Congressional action that can be taken regarding biolaboratory safety.

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 https://morgangriffith.house.gov/. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives.

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Griffith Statement on NASA Selection of Virginia Tech for Aviation Research

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is tapping a research team from Virginia Tech to help transform the future of aviation. NASA will deliver federal funding through the University Leadership Initiative to support the Virginia Tech three-year project focused on next-generation aircraft design.

In response to this news, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Virginia Tech is one of four university teams in the United States selected to help NASA advance transformative aviation solutions.

“American scientists, engineers and innovators will contribute to the development of the next fleet of aircraft. NASA believes that respected institutions like Virginia Tech can make a difference in this development.”

BACKGROUND

The NASA announcement can be found here.

This follows a July announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense that Virginia Tech will host a revamped fellowship program for senior military officers.

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Griffith Celebrates $1,415,000 for SWVA Nuclear Energy Project

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In accordance with H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026., the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will deliver federal funds that U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) helped secure for Virginia’s Ninth District.

The following Ninth District project will receive funds from NIST:

Project Name: Energy DELTA Lab – Utilization of Former Mine Lands for the Deployment of Advanced Nuclear Project

Recipient Name: Energy DELTA Lab, located in Wise, Virginia

Amount Received: $1,415,000

“Southwest Virginia is fertile ground for an energy renaissance. One project that will contribute to our region’s energy future is led by Energy DELTA Lab. That is why I am a proud advocate of this project, which I helped support by securing more than $1.4 million in federal funding.

“This NIST site assessment brings Energy DELTA Lab one step closer to carrying out its goals for an innovative and timely project.

“As someone who is a leading proponent of redeveloping former mine lands for new uses, I am excited to see Energy DELTA Lab advance nuclear energy solutions.”

BACKGROUND

The above community project funding request was submitted by Rep. Griffith for fiscal year 2026.

Congressman Griffith’s statement on January approval of the above appropriations package can be found here.

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Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 8.14.26

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The 118^th Congress served as a launching pad for numerous actions taken in the 119^th Congress.

House Republicans reintroduced commonsense policies that first secured House passage in the 118^th Congress.

One bill, the Laken Riley Act which I repeatedly voted for, makes it easier for law enforcement to arrest criminal illegal aliens for certain crimes. This bill received swift consideration and passage in both the House and Senate.

A second bill is the HALT Fentanyl Act. I was the proud House sponsor of this legislation to permanently designate lethal fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. The bill also made researching Schedule I drugs easier so that we can work to better understand the impacts of these substances on human health.

Like the Laken Riley Act, this bill received swift consideration in both chambers of Congress.

Both of these bills not only won support in the 119^th Congress, but from the President as well. President Trump signed these bills into law to help protect American communities.

Some of my actions in the 118^th Congress have influenced further action at the federal level.

During that time, I served as the Chairman of the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Moreover, I was a leading Energy and Commerce member on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

During my leadership on these panels, I routinely participated in oversight of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with particular interest in American public health agencies engaged in risky research and gain-of-function research projects.

Our investigative work demanded answers from public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci.

My findings led me to introduce the Risky Research Review Act. This bill outlines key reforms to make American-funded research more safe, more transparent and more accountable.

To continue momentum on this front, I reintroduced the bill in the 119^th Congress with Senator Rand Paul. But the Trump Administration is actively responding to my concerns.

In July 2026, the Trump Administration announced a new government policy for stopping high-risk life sciences research.

The federal policy prohibits American funding of dangerous gain-of-function research in both domestic and foreign settings and aims to establish stronger oversight for life sciences research that could present significant risks to human health.

The Trump Administration further limits federal support for research in countries or institutions that lack appropriate biosafety, biosecurity and oversight standards.

While I will still push for my legislation to enshrine necessary guardrails into law for federally funded risky research, these federal actions are steps in the right direction.

A separate health care policy I investigated under my Chairmanship in the 118^thCongress concerned the implementation and oversight of the organ donation and transplant system.

I led a hearing to spotlight issues with our organ transplant programs and discuss the failures of the groups responsible for the procurement of organs, Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs).

In particular, I highlighted alarming allegations that were previously raised to my Subcommittee’s attention.

We received reports that an OPO had planned to operate on prospective organ donors who showed signs of life!

Another allegation claimed that somebody mouthed the words “help me” just before doctors were ready to commence an organ harvesting procedure.

The patient survived, but this disturbing detail reinforced Congressional desires to make the organ transplant process more safe and less risky.

These reports reflected concerns about Network for Hope, one federally designated OPO, and its management and operating procedures.

Upon hearing these troubling allegations, my Oversight Subcommittee brought in medical experts to understand the organ transplant health care landscape and determine the frequency at which these incidents happen.

Following my investigation on the issue, the Trump Administration has worked to protect prospective organ donors and patients awaiting lifesaving treatments.

In August 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made steps to decertify Network for Hope! This means the OPO can no longer do business with the federal government, and it loses a primary source of income.

This action is another critical federal step in working to ensure the safety and integrity of organ donation and securing U.S. health care programs to better protect patients.

I am proud to have been an early advocate on these issues to help sway federal action. I will continue to shine a light on issues that deserve attention from Congress, the President and the American people.

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Congressman Griffith’s Weekly E-Newsletter 8.7.26

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The end of our schools’ summer break means children return to school in Virginia’s Ninth District.

A new school year represents new opportunity for students to develop friendships, connect with fellow classmates, recount family summer vacations and more. For some, it means changing to a new school.

Connections in school are important for a child’s development. As the son of a schoolteacher, I like to stimulate classroom conversations by visiting schools and talking with students.

For my school visits this year, I went to Council High School in Buchanan County, Cornerstone Christian Academy in Washington County, Floyd County High School and Patrick County High School.

This May, I had the privilege to address the graduates of Thomas Walker High School in Lee County.

These settings are opportunities for me to engage our student populations and educate them on the duties of lawmakers.

As a Congressman, I share my experiences as a policymaker and as an ombudsman.

I clarify that my role as a policymaker focuses on matters of drafting legislation, committee debate discussing proposals, amendment recommendations and the final votes on bills.

But what is an ombudsman?

An ombudsman is one who interfaces with the federal government on behalf of others.

I act as an ombudsman for you on many occasions.

Thus, my office communicates with scores of federal agencies to address agency issues that constituents ask us about.

These issues vary by agency. But among the matters that demand our attention include passport requests and renewals, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) disputes and social security assistance.

In 2025, my office opened more than 1,175 constituent cases. Through this casework, we worked with more than 40 federal agencies.

There are multiple ways for us to open a case for you. An easy route is for you to give one of my district offices a phone call and speak with a representative in my office. Please refer to the end of this e-newsletter to access those phone numbers.

However, I recognize that you may prefer an in-person alternative.

Every month, my staff travels to all corners of Virginia’s Ninth District, which happens to span more than 10,000 square miles.

You can view when my staff next visits your locality by checking on my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/ or my Facebook page at Congressman Morgan Griffith.

These pages help people stay engaged on issues impacting my work in Congress and on behalf of the Ninth District.

My leadership on issues includes federal funding for Ninth District communities.

One program that I champion at the federal level is the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. As the leading Virginia advocate, AMLER projects identify idle mine land property and explore potential improvements and site redevelopment.

In late 2025, I attended an AMLER check presentation to support a nearly $2 million project in Buchanan County. This project will create the Southern Gap Office Park Building, a commercial office space within Buchanan County’s Regional Office Park. I left DC at 8:30 pm to make it to Grundy the next day because I considered the announcement so important.

AMLER delivers millions of federal dollars to our regions every year. With new projects set to be announced later this year, I will continue to fight for additional AMLER opportunities that benefit Virginia’s Ninth District.

A second federal program targets brownfields, which are properties or sites whose redevelopment are complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program delivers various federal grants to clean up these polluted sites.

When I served as Environment Subcommittee Chairman earlier in the 119^th Congress, I held a hearing to spotlight the EPA Brownfields Program. As part of this, I invited Duane Miller of Scott County, who serves as Executive Director of the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission, to testify.

Since then, the EPA Brownfields Program continues to deliver funds for local projects in our communities.

This June, the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, Giles County and the City of Martinsville received EPA Brownfields grants.

I believe in serving the constituents of Virginia’s Ninth District. Accordingly, my office remains ready to help you access the support, resources and opportunities you need from federal agencies.

Whether I am in the classroom or in a DC committee room, I will continue to remind people that you can always count on my voice and my office as a resource.

Further, if your local high school wants me to speak to students, please have them contact our office.

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Griffith Urges Spanberger to Protect SWVA Coal, Lower Energy Costs in Proposed NextEra Dominion Merger

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger recently announced she is going to intervene with the State Corporation Commission regarding the proposed merger between NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy. This merger will impact electric ratepayers, utility jobs and Virginia’s energy future. It would affect control over one of Virginia’s last remaining coal-fired power plants, the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in St. Paul, Virginia. Currently, Dominion Energy owns the clean coal facility, which has supported local jobs and cleaned up millions of tons of waste coal in Southwest Virginia since Dominion opened the facility in 2012.

In response to the proposed merger and recent government intervention, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued a letter to Governor Spanberger urging her support for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center.

In addition to his letter, Congressman Griffith released the following statement:

“Governor Spanberger says she is participating in the NextEra Dominion merger case to protect the interests of all Virginians.

“I agree that our regulators must carefully examine electric rates and enhance our Commonwealth’s energy security. Therefore, what also must be considered during this review process is the impact that such a merger would have on the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County.

“Growing electricity demands and electric grid constraints mean we need to have more, not less, sources of energy available. I urge the Governor to work to ensure this merger does not prematurely close a world-class coal plant that supports Southwest Virginia communities.”

BACKGROUND

In February 2026, Congressman Griffith attended a White House event touting Beautiful Clean Coal.

Congressman Griffith is Co-Chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus.

In April 2025, Congressman Griffith attended a White House event where President Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at boosting the American coal industry.

Later in 2025, Congressman Griffith voted to codify one of these executive measures to reestablish the National Coal Council.

In May 2025, Congressman Griffith celebrated the Department of Energy’s announcement to designate metallurgical coal as a critical material.

In June 2025, Congressman Griffith penned an op-ed on federal policies that can help bolster America’s electric grid.

Coal continues to play an essential role in meeting domestic energy demands. During Winter Storm Fern this year, a 31% jump in coal generation helped the electric grid meet peak demand. For PJM Interconnection, which serves Virginia and 12 other states, coal accounted for a major portion of the energy generation mix.

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Griffith Announces More Than $1.9 Million in HHS Grants to Virginia Tech

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, four research related grants worth $1,936,905. The funding breakdown of the grants is as follows:

$774,123 to support trial on safe drinking water in Appalachia
$667,837 to support research related to brain development in children and humans
$451,417 to support research into development of new painkiller treatments
$43,528 to support research into therapies for osteosarcoma, a bone cancer

In response to these grant notices, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Scientific discoveries contribute to new treatments and better health outcomes.

“These HHS grants for more than $1.9 million help Virginia Tech use research results to better inform American scientists, doctors and patients.”

BACKGROUND

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee.

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Griffith Announces $80,921 HHS Grant for SWVA Black Lung Clinic Program

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded St. Charles Health Council Inc., based in Jonesville, Virginia, a grant of $80,921. The funding supports Stone Mountain Health Services and its black lung clinic program. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Black Lung clinics serve coal communities affected by this devastating illness.

“This HHS grant for more than $80,000 helps Stone Mountain Health Services promote Black Lung treatment resources for our coal communities.”

BACKGROUND

In May 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.1 million in federal funds for Stone Mountain Health Services and its black lung program.

Earlier this year, Congressman Griffith announced a separate grant of more than $5 million to St. Charles Health Council Inc. to support its health care center operations.

In a previous Health Subcommittee hearing with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Congressman Griffith expressed his support for working with the Trump Administration to help fight black lung disease.

The HHS National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently provided free, confidential black lung screenings to coal miners in the region.

The awarding office of this grant is the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee with jurisdiction over HRSA.

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Griffith Celebrates $3.6 Million Manufacturing Expansion in Bland County

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced a $3.6 million industrial investment from Virginia Steel and Fabrication, Inc. to expand operational capabilities in Bland County, Virginia. According to a press release, this investment will support 52 new jobs. Following news of this announcement, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Earlier this year, I participated in a tour of the Virginia Steel plant in Bastian with Bland County Administrator Cameron Burton. We appreciate Virginia Steel leadership and officials for serving the interests of Virginia’s Ninth District with local manufacturing jobs, successful business practices and quality products.

“This $3.6 million investment by Virginia Steel and Fabrication represents a bright future for Bland County, which is hungry to make a difference in our economy.

“I will continue to support federal policies that help domestic manufacturing growth in rural America.”

BACKGROUND

In April 2026, Congressman Griffith toured Virginia Steel.

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Griffith Statement on USDA Disaster Action for Expanded Ninth District Drought Relief

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is designating more localities in Virginia’s Ninth District as primary natural disaster areas due to recent drought. As part of this action, the Counties of Bland, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke and Russell are set for primary natural disaster area designations. Additional localities eligible for drought assistance include the Counties of Bedford, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Franklin, Patrick, Scott, Washington, Wise and Wythe and the City of Radford.

In response to this USDA action, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Challenges to the sustainability and operations of our local farms demand federal attention. In response to severe weather and drought events in Virginia, more USDA relief is on the way to farmers in Virginia’s Ninth District.

“With this expansion in primary natural disaster area designations, more eligible Ninth District farmers can access the drought assistance they need.

“I will continue my work to support resources for our farming communities.”

BACKGROUND

Congressman Griffith helped lead federal engagement to secure separate USDA Secretarial natural disaster declarations for Virginia farmers.

In June, Secretary Rollins approved Virginia’s request.

In July, Tazewell County also received a primary natural disaster area designation due to recent drought.

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