Priorities for the New Congress
On January 20, Joe Biden will be sworn in as president of the United States. I will attend his inauguration, which I consider one of my duties as a Member of Congress.
I also consider it my duty to conduct rigorous oversight of any Administration to ensure it upholds the Constitution and carries out the laws we enact.
Earlier this year, I was sworn in for a new term. I am honored to represent you for another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The new Congress presents a chance to renew my work on priorities for the constituents of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District.
Improving access to and lowering costs of health care remain among the topmost items on my agenda. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic obviously poses the most significant challenge in the health care space. Monitoring the rollout of new vaccines and therapeutics are a task for this phase of the pandemic, but this same task also points forward to a health care agenda beyond the pandemic.
The development of multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Operation Warp Speed was a landmark accomplishment. It came about through a partnership between the Federal Government, private sector, and scientific institutions. Likewise, policies of the Federal Government must be geared toward promoting the development of new cures and treatments for other diseases and medical conditions through cooperation of these various sectors.
At the same time, the high cost of prescription drugs has long been a problem borne by Ninth District residents and a top concern. I have worked throughout my time in the House of Representatives on commonsense measures with bipartisan backing to address this problem.
In the last Congress, the bill passed by House Democrats pursued a different path, purporting to make drug prices affordable but only by a socialistic-style price control scheme that would have stifled innovation and new cures. That bill went nowhere. In this Congress, we have the chance to return to the bipartisan path that addresses costs without sacrificing development of new drugs and treatments.
Before the pandemic, I championed telehealth as a way to provide access to health care to more people, especially in rural and isolated areas such as those found in the Ninth District. The pandemic has increased the use of telehealth and shown just how valuable it can be. I will continue to advocate policies that encourage the use of telehealth to care for patients.
For telehealth to work at its best, communities need reliable internet access. Such access also enables economic growth, educational opportunities, and higher quality of life for residents.
I have supported legislative and regulatory measures that encourage the building out of broadband networks and promote other creative solutions, such as use of TV white spaces and satellite technology, to bring better service to more people. The work of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under outgoing Chairman Ajit Pai has been very beneficial in this effort. I will encourage the FCC to continue its efforts to close the digital divide as well as work on legislation in the halls of Congress.
Job creation and economic growth are essential so constituents of the Ninth District can support themselves and their families, communities can attract new residents, and local jurisdictions can fund their services. In Congress, support for this effort means calling for the right tax and regulatory policies that lead to investment, hiring, and wage growth.
I have introduced legislation on a regulatory change that I believe would support efficiency and productivity in manufacturing. The current New Source Review (NSR) program, meant to prevent pollution emissions from industrial facilities, actually discourages these facilities from making upgrades that would ultimately lead to lower emissions. My bill would reform these counterproductive rules so manufacturers and others can make pollution-reducing upgrades to their facilities without running afoul of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The new Congress and Administration may look different, but my objective in the House of Representatives remains the same: to be a voice for the liberties, priorities, and needs of the people of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District.
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. 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.
January 15, 2021 @ 9:51 am
So he should ignore the incredible amount of election fraud evidence. You must have your head in the sand to ignore fact.
January 15, 2021 @ 1:38 pm
John, there is an incredible amount of allegations regarding the November elections which are very easy to make up out of thin air. Tragically, there are news channels, and websites that make a lot of money making up these allegations.
Regarding the November 2020 election, what matters is evidence that stands up under Justice Department investigation.
Attorney General William Barr sent out 16 investigators countrywide to search for election fraud in November 2020. Barr reported on December 1, 2020 after the Justice Department’s extensive searches that there is NO evidence of voter fraud or other irregularities that would have changed the outcome of the November 3rd election.
Morgan Griffith should have respected the truth of the Justice Department’s finding of NO election fraud. John, there is no election fraud that would have changed the outcome. Biden legally won, Trump legally lost. That is the truth.
John, please read McConnell’s January 6, 2021 speech:
https://www.newsweek.com/full-text-mitch-mcconnells-speech-before-most-important-vote-his-career-1559426
“If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side our democracy would enter a death spiral. We’d never see the whole nation accept the election again.”
Allegations are not proof. Allegations are not evidence. Allegations are not fact.
They are lies which undermine our democracy.
January 14, 2021 @ 7:13 pm
I agree with the above comments. One party only sees the others faults, but not their own. And the TRUTH HURTS!
January 14, 2021 @ 11:48 am
Rep. Griffith has betrayed our democracy. He should resign immediately.
January 13, 2021 @ 1:32 pm
You need to resign, Morgan Griffith. You betrayed the oath you took the Sunday before the 1/6/2021 insurrection. You betrayed our country. You betrayed our region. You are a liar. You are an embarrassment, Morgan Griffith.
Below are Representative Lamb’s words that Morgan Griffith actively tried to stop from being in the Congressional record by interrupting Rep. Lamb (look at the youtube of this early morning January 7th fiasco by Griffith, that nearly resulted in a fist fight):
“We know that that attack today, it didn’t materialize out of nowhere, it was inspired by lies — the same lies that you’re hearing in this room tonight,” he said. “The members who are repeating those lies should be ashamed of themselves, their constituents should be ashamed of them.” Rep. H. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) took exception to Lamb’s words. Moments later, Griffith raised a point of order and attempted to have his colleague’s words struck from the record.”
There will be future movies — perhaps one called “The Big Lie” — that will most surely have this scene of Griffith trying to hide the truth. It is a Big Lie, Morgan Griffith — and you know it.
You voted to object a legally won, fraud-free election, so you could attempt to overthrow the will of the people, by pretending the Big Lie was “truth” so you could truly be the one trying to “steal the election” with a decertification.
And, you did this lie immediately after the invasion of the Capitol which was meant to do the same thing you intended which was to overthrow a legal election and give it to the loser — a clear attack on our democracy.
You should resign, Morgan Griffith. Don’t be a hypocrite; you should not attend the Biden inauguration when you actively tried to overturn the election so you could hand it to the loser — with your LIES. There was ZERO major election fraud, which Morgan Griffith KNOWS, in November 2020 — only the handful of illegal voters that happens each election year. Lawsuit after lawsuit, recount after recount, over multiple weeks showed there was NO election fraud.
McConnell warned you not to pull this stunt, and you did it anyway, Morgan Griffith. Resign.
Soon, the nation’s eyes will be turned on to the 147 Republicans like Morgan Griffith with revulsion.
January 13, 2021 @ 11:08 am
God willing this will be your last term. You are a traitor and a liar.
January 12, 2021 @ 12:39 pm
Maybe one of your priorities should be declaring the truth that the election wasn’t stolen?
January 12, 2021 @ 12:29 pm
Has he made any statement denouncing the insurrection of the Capital building or condolences for police officers who were beaten with everything from fire extinguishers to the American flag on a metal pole?
January 12, 2021 @ 12:21 pm
You are going to “conduct rigorous oversight of any Administration to ensure it upholds the Constitution and carries out the laws we enact.”
Why didn’t you conduct that rigorous oversight while trump was president? Didn’t trump break all kind of rules? You didn’t step up.