Latest news with #MorganGriffith
E&E News
12-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
GOP says Clean Air Act must change to keep pace with AI
House Republicans are again pushing legislation to rewrite the Clean Air Act, but with a fresh argument: that a battery of changes are needed to keep up with the explosive demand for data centers and the power plants to run them. Overly restrictive air regulations 'could jeopardize America's ability to be able to compete in the global artificial intelligence race,' Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) said at the outset of a Wednesday hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee that he chairs. On the table were two draft bills that together would profoundly reshape a critical EPA regulatory task: setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for soot, smog and four other pollutants. Advertisement Reviews of those standards take years and incorporate sheaves of scientific research. For decades, that framework has helped drive progress towards dramatically cleaner air and huge public health gains. On Wednesday, subcommittee Democrats repeatedly labeled the draft legislation a boon to polluting industries.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EnCircle's Minnick Schools receives $570K USDA grant
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – EnCircle's Minnick Schools in Roanoke is excited to announce the continued investment in local area students and their future with a grant awarded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. 'This grant will help provide instructors with distance learning technology so they can support hundreds of students with special education needs, including those in the most rural districts I am honored to serve. These students will have an even richer experience because of this technology,' said U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith. EnCircle Minnick School officials said they have received the Distance Learning and Telemedicine award and $570,892 that will go toward the development of telehealth and advanced telecommunications technology in the classroom. Roanoke Minnick School opens new food pantry This generous grant will provide technology and expand access for students and their families to 'critically needed behavioral health care' at Minnick locations. Teachers and behavioral support from all Minnick Schools will also now be linked in real time, enhancing professional development opportunities, according to school officials. 'We are excited about the innovative ways we will be able to connect all students and staff, particularly those in our most rural locations, to new learning and wellness opportunities. It enables us to connect classrooms in Roanoke, Wytheville, and Grundy with a primary focus on Career and Technical Education (CTE) but also provides support in Grundy from our larger schools where there is a wider range of educators with specific specialties,' said enCircle CEO Ray Ratke. To learn more about enCircle's Minnick Schools, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
E&E News
09-06-2025
- Business
- E&E News
House Republicans plan scrutiny of Clean Air Act rules
House Republicans are again taking aim at the Clean Air Act, citing the need to bolster the United States' global competitiveness. The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing this week titled 'Short-Circuiting Progress: How the Clean Air Act Impacts Building Necessary Infrastructure and Onshoring American Innovation.' 'American innovation should not be stifled by unreasonable government red tape and regulatory overreach,' said committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) in a statement. Advertisement The hearing will be the latest in recent years to focus on various aspects of the landmark environmental law, which was last amended in 1990.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Griffith likes budget bill, wants 3-judge panel to oversee injunctions
bluefield – U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., admits there is no such thing as a perfect bill. But he believes there is much to like in the so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Griffith, who represents Virginia's Ninth Congressional District in the House, spoke on a wide range of issues during a visit to the Daily Telegraph, including the budget bill and the growing debate over whether district court judges have the power to block much of President Donald Trump's agenda. In recent months, district court judges have issued injunctions blocking many of Trump's executive orders. Those injunctions will eventually make their way to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Griffith. But until then Griffith said legislation already passed by the Republican-controlled House — and awaiting action in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate — would address the issue of judicial overreach. That bill would establish a three-judge panel that would consider any nationwide injunction. 'We passed it out of the House a month and a half ago,' Griffith said of the proposed legislation. 'It's sitting in the body of the Senate. It's hard to predict what the Senate will do. They may or may not move it forward.' Using Southwest Virginia as an example, Griffith said a district court judge in the Western District of Virginia shouldn't be able to issue a nationwide injunction blocking the actions of the President of the United States. Griffith said the district court should be making local decisions that impact Bluefield, Va., Richlands and Roanoke Va. — three cities that are located in the Western District — but should not be empowered to issue a nationwide injunction blocking a presidential order. Under the proposed legislation, Griffith said a component of the U.S. Supreme Court would select three judges at random that would consider any cases involving a nationwide injunction of a presidential order. 'I think it gets you a better decision,' Griffith said of a three-judge panel. 'You should have more than one judge making that decision.' As it stands now, Griffith said those who are seeking nationwide injunctions also are seeking out district court judges that they think may be more favorable to their viewpoint. By having a component of the Supreme Court to select three judges at random, it helps to ensure there will be no inherent biases in any decisions that are rendered, according to Griffith. Griffith also talked about the federal budget bill recently passed by the U.S. House, and its chances of remaining intact in the U.S. Senate. 'The bill is not perfect,' Griffith said. 'There is things in the bill I don't like, particularly the SALT tax increase.' The debate over the SALT tax surrounds the cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes. The House passed a bill increasing the cap to $40,000. But some conservatives argue the move is essentially a federal subsidy for blue states at the expense of red states. Griffith said the citizens of Southwest Virginia don't support providing a tax break to California or New York. 'In the Senate, there are not senators who represent SALT states,' Griffith said. 'So will the Senate pull SALT out? I think they will pass something similar to what we passed, or nothing at all.' Parts of the budget bill that Griffith said he likes includes taking the tax off tips and taking the tax off hourly wage overtime. The bill also includes a provision to help with the development of coal, natural gas and nuclear facilities. Griffith described it as a 'revolving loan fund' that would provide protection to those developers if a future Democrat-led administration is elected and orders those coal, natural gas and nuclear facilities to be closed. Griffith said Democrats also continue to misrepresent the work requirement for abled-bodied adults in Medicaid and those cuts that are proposed for Medicaid over a 10-year period in the budget bill. According to Griffith, the traditional Medicaid population consists of individuals with disabilities, pregnant mothers, children and seniors. He said the work requirements in the reconciliation budget bill do not apply to this traditional Medicaid population. The work requirement in Medicaid expansion would only apply to able-bodied people aged 19-64 who do not have a young child, a disabled person or an elderly relative in need of care living in the home, according to Griffith. Griffith said the bill requires these able-bodied adults on Medicaid expansion to be engaged in their community for 80 hours a month. With 4.33 weeks in a month, that means an average of 18.47 hours a week. Griffith said those requirements promote community engagement, adding that community engagement can be community service, pursuing educational programs, participating in a rehabilitation program or a job. By working to improve their communities and their own lives, Griffith said some of these individuals will be lifted out of poverty, depression and isolation. 'But if you are able-bodied and sitting at home, you should be trying to get out there and educate yourself, help your community with community service or find a job for a small part of the week,' he said. At the end of the day, Griffith said Republicans had to compromise in order to get the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' passed. It's passage in the Republican-controlled House was by a slim margin of 215-214. Griffith also was asked about the auto-pen investigation by the House, and whether or not former President Joe Biden was fully aware of a number of pardons and executive orders that were signed by the so-called auto-pen. A number of individual who are not charged with any type of crime were pardoned by Biden anyhow in the waning days of his presidency. House Republicans are investigating a number of pardons and executive orders that were signed using the autopen. Griffith said the courts will have to take a 'serious look' at the issue, adding that the question will center around the former president's mental state when those pardons and executive orders were issued. If Biden was unable to act upon those executive orders and pardons on his on, Griffith said the responsibility of those decisions should have then fallen upon former Vice President Kamala Harris. Griffith also was asked about this November's gubernatorial election in Virginia, and a handful of polls that show Democrat Abigail Spanberger with a large lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the closely-watched governor's race. Incumbent Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin can't seek re-election. In Virginia, a candidate can only serve as governor for a single term. Griffith said the polls will tighten as it gets closer to Election Day. He said voter turnout in Southwest Virginia will be key to Republicans winning the governor's race — just as it was four years ago when voters across Southwest Virginia came out in large numbers to support Youngkin. That large voter turnout across Southwest Virginia tipped the scales in favor of Republicans, Griffith said. 'There is no question that Southwest Virginia put Youngkin over the top,' Griffith said. 'There is no question about it. It was a big turnout. We've got to have the same thing now. If the turnout happens in Southwest Virginia, Winsome Sears who I have known for 20 years can win.' Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abingdon PD responds after town placed on Homeland Security's ‘sanctuary jurisdictions' list
ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — The Abingdon Police Department and Congressman Morgan Griffith are speaking out after the town was placed on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions.' DHS describes sanctuary jurisdictions on as 'cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities.' Cattle stolen from Glade Spring farm, reward offered Sanctuary jurisdictions are detailed on the under its 'Making America Safe Again' campaign tab. The department claims that sanctuary cities and communities 'protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.' The by state that is considered a sanctuary jurisdiction. Under Virginia, two cities in News Channel 11's viewing area are included: Abingdon and Duffield. Nearby Tazewell and all of Tazewell County are also on the list. The Abingdon Police Department to its inclusion on the list on Friday afternoon. According to the police department, the town was not notified or informed as to why it was classified as a sanctuary jurisdiction. 'Upon learning of the listing, we immediately contacted the Office of the U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith for assistance in correcting the error,' the post states. 'We also contacted our federal law enforcement partners and have been advised that Abingdon will be removed from the list.' The Abingdon Police Department stated that it has and will continue to fully comply with federal law and cooperate with all law enforcement agencies. Griffith issued his own statement in response to the inclusion of the Southwest Virginia communities on the list. The U.S. representative called the designation surprising and claimed that local law enforcement has always cooperated with the federal government, and he claimed the issue was likely due to paperwork problems. 'Ninth District law enforcement organizations and localities are very cooperative with the federal government in the handling and detainment of illegal aliens. 'It is a surprising development to see some of our localities listed as 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by DHS. My office has been in contact with our liaisons in the federal government for an explanation and solution. As of now, we do not have a definitive answer. However, it appears that there may be some paperwork anomalies related to federal detainers, particularly at some regional jails. 'I will continue to monitor the situation and hope I will have specific answers within the next week.' Congressman Morgan Griffith No towns or counties in Northeast Tennessee were included on the DHS list. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
