News and opinions from our elected officials
You probably hear a lot about the disagreements in Washington, and that’s not surprising. Having two major parties that disagree on some bedrock principles, such as the role of government, means a lot of give and take. But there are some things on which we largely agree. Solving the opioid crisis, which takes the lives […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after voting against the $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill: “I could not vote for the omnibus on the floor today. In the roughly seventeen hours between the release of the text and the vote on the bill, I was not able to complete reading it, nor was […]
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018, a bill that expands access to experimental treatments for patients with terminal illnesses. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), an original cosponsor of the bill, issued the following statement: “Many Americans have long sought […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) has been inducted into the bipartisan House Liberty Caucus. He issued the following statement: “I believe public officials have a duty to defend the liberties guaranteed by our Constitution. Whether fighting for the repeal of laws and regulations that infringe on peoples’ rights or calling for Congress to take back its […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 4909, the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act: “Schools should be safe havens for students as they learn and grow. This legislation would authorize funding efforts to prevent violence and improve security at schools across the country. […]
Everyone knows something is wrong with prescription drug prices. I hear frequently from constituents struggling to pay exorbitant prices for drugs. What is to be done in this situation and who is to blame are hot topics in public discourse. It’s worth keeping this background in mind when pondering what to make of insurance giant […]
Members of Congress gathered together on the morning of Wednesday, February 28, not to vote or meet in committee, but for another important purpose: to honor the life of Reverend Billy Graham, who died on February 21. Billy Graham was only the fourth person to “lie in honor” (distinct from lying in state) in the […]
Traveling Across the Ninth When the House of Representatives is not voting in Washington, I use the time I have to travel across the Ninth District to hear your stories, your questions, and your concerns. So far this year, I have visited all 29 jurisdictions that make up the Ninth. These visits covered topics from […]
Committees are the engines that drive Congress. At the committee level, Members of Congress learn about issues, carefully consider legislation, and conduct oversight to see what works in the Federal Government and what doesn’t. Serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as I do, means a busy schedule. We have a broad jurisdiction that […]
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in mid-December and signed into law by President Trump on December 22 of last year, was crafted with a few important goals in mind. That you deserve to keep more of your hard-earned money. That we should encourage businesses to invest and grow in the United […]
Friday, February 9, 2018 – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after voting no on the budget deal announced on Wednesday by Senate leaders: “While there are some good things in the Senate amendments to the House Continuing Resolution, I voted against the Senate amendments. Earlier this week, I voted for the House […]
Longtime readers of this column know that I am a strong advocate for changing the law to permit the “right to try” – the right for patients facing life-threatening illnesses to try experimental treatments. I believe this approach is both compassionate and commonsense. If a person facing the end of his or her life opts […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement on the release of a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence memo detailing abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): “As an attorney who practiced for 28 years in criminal law, I believe the Intelligence Committee memo is of deep concern. “When the FBI and the […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after President Trump’s first State of the Union Address: “President Trump’s address presented to the American people the accomplishments of his Administration from the past year and offered a blueprint for further progress. Tax reform has led to more money for workers and investment in our country. […]
Washington, D.C. has been the nation’s capital for over 200 years. The Capitol Building, the White House, and the Supreme Court Building are all located there. So are the headquarters of most federal agencies. Because of the explosion of government agencies and programs since World War II, Washington, D.C. and its suburbs have grown in […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement about the government shutdown caused by a Senate Democratic filibuster: “Senator Schumer and his Democratic Senate colleagues have chosen to shut down the government for their own political purposes. There is nothing in the continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House of Representatives on January 18 that […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith voted on January 18, 2018 to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. He issued the following statement today about President Trump’s handling of the #SchumerShutdown: “Today, President Trump had to start dealing with a government shutdown. I commend him for recognizing there are many tools available to the executive branch to […]
Yogi Berra is said to have commented once, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” I think I understood what he meant after I, along with the Republican House majority, voted yet again on January 18 to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is the third time I have voted for an extension of […]
MLK “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” – Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963 I agree with the sentiment of Mr. Joe Sheffey, former chairman of […]
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after voting for a continuing resolution (CR) funding the government until January 19: “I voted for today’s CR in order to keep the federal government open. I am not happy with this process or this legislation, but as the Senate has failed for 98 days to take […]
In a country whose war for independence was to some degree a tax revolt, taxes can be a touchy subject. A lot of complicated questions are involved. How do we encourage economic growth? How do we raise revenue to pay for spending? What is a fair tax rate? Answering these questions means setting priorities and […]
