What H. Morgan Griffith said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Tammie Bebout, my Director of Constituent Services since I began in Congress in 2011. This month, Tammie is retiring from public service as a Congressional staffer after serving Members of Congress for more than 24 years.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable patriotism and service of John Knox Burton, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who resides in Virginia's 9th District. In 1968, Mr.”

“Rules Committee, with final selections being made by congressional leadership. This model is not unprecedented. It closely follows the appointment process Congress previously adopted for the Architect of the Capitol, a reform enacted on a bipartisan basis and the one that has helped strengthen congressional control over a key legislative branch institution.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the service of Fallen Deputy Logan Utt. The 9th Congressional District of Virginia and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia mourn the loss of Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Logan Utt.”

“As part of a welfare check, Deputy Utt responded to a law enforcement request on Friday, May 29, 2026. However, what Deputy Utt and his colleague faced next was a tragedy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, American soldiers raced into the mouth of the Nazi war machine, storming the beaches of Normandy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Carter Family descendant, Ms. Rita Forrester, who worked for years in Southwest Virginia to preserve the storied legacy of an American country music icon, the Carter Family.”

“Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.”

“Mr. Speaker, I left this out earlier, and I apologize. It is a big part of the bail system. It is also to ensure their good behavior while out on bond.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my friend Ms. Sandra Jean Caldwell ``Sandy'' Davis, who passed away on March 17, 2026, at the age of 79.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize March 23, 2026 through March 27, 2026, as National AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) Week. The AHEC program was originally authorized in 1971 and worked in conjunction with other Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) programs to provide health professionals to staff the brick-and mortar Community Health Centers.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and public service of Harry Fleisher Collins, Jr., who passed away on March 1, 2026, at the age of 74.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of my friend and former colleague of the Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Charles Poindexter, who passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 83.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a landmark moment in both American aviation history and rural health care innovation: the 10th anniversary of the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved drone delivery, which took place in Wise County, Virginia, on July 17, 2015.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Prestar Packaging of Christiansburg, Virginia, on achieving the top honor in the 2025 Virginia Manufacturing Cup. This accomplishment has earned their product, the Pop-Up Gift Card Box, the honorary title of ``The Coolest Thing in Virginia.'' The Virginia Manufacturers Association celebrates the passion and innovation that drive Virginia's manufacturing sector forward.”

“Governors, doctors, and patients have been sounding the alarm. Instead of working with us, they decided to shut down the government. Instead of trying to partner with us, Donald Trump is calling affordability a con job.”

“We don't share the same values when it comes to making sure the people in this country have healthcare that is affordable and that is quality. That is the difference.”

“Republicans have promised a better healthcare system, a replacement for the ACA, something, anything that would justify taking coverage away from people who need it. Ten years later, there is still no plan, no replacement, no solution.”

“Sec. 5. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 4305) to direct the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to establish a Red Tape Hotline to receive notifications of burdensome agency rules, and for other purposes.”

“Whether they are working overtime jobs where they are able to take a tax credit for that as well, whether they are doing tips, or whether they are just trying to buy some new equipment and want to be able to write that off in the first year instead of having to amortize it over a number of years--as used to be the law and it is what my colleagues on the other side advocated for last summer--they will start paying that again so that they can't take that write-off.”

“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle may have been involved in small businesses. I was too, not just family, but I ran a small business for many, many years.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am going to surprise you. I am actually going to talk about what we are supposed to talk about, and that would be the rule.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and work of Bedford County icon Lucille Hoback Boggess, who passed away on November 19, 2025, at the age of 96.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable legacy of the Grundy High School wrestling program, a program which has proudly served as a cornerstone of Buchanan County athletics for decades.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Americans celebrate National Rural Health Day. According to the Virginia Department of Health, 88 percent of Virginia is rural, including much of Virginia's Ninth District.”

“Mr. Speaker, the 9th Congressional District of Virginia and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia mourn the loss of Virginia Department of Corrections Officer Jeremy Hall. On Monday, November 17th, Officer Hall was working a morning shift at the North River Correctional Center in Independence, Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and longtime service of a dedicated public official, Jack McCrady, Jr., who passed away on Thursday, October 2, 2025.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional dedication and service of legendary coach Phil Robbins, a dedicated football coach in Southwest Virginia who helped build legacies across the district.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. James W. ``Jim'' McGlothlin who passed away on August 6th, 2025, at the age of 85. Mr. McGlothlin was born on June 18, 1940 in Richlands, Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome to America one of our world's significant religious leaders--Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Spiritual Head of Orthodox Christians, the second largest Christian Church in the world.”

“Mr. Chairman, my amendment is a necessary amendment. It addresses the importance of all types of energy research and development, R&D, funding at the Department of Energy, DOE, specifically, the energy research being conducted at the Office of Fossil Energy.”

“Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.”

“Mr. Speaker, I believe that would apply to Members of Congress being called names, would it not. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and work of Southwest Virginia racing icon Larry McClure, who passed away on June 25 at the age of 81.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional dedication and service of Sheriff Charles Foster of Wythe County, Virginia, who retired on August 1 after a 38-year career in law enforcement.”

“Mr. Speaker, I offer these remarks in honor of Mr. Durward W. Owen, a beloved member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and a giant in the interfraternal world, who passed away on Easter Sunday April 20th at the age of 94.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional courage and service of Lieutenant Brandon Hall of Buchanan County, Virginia. On May 1st, Lieutenant Hall responded to an emergency in which a camper had filled with dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.”

“Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, June 6, marks the 81st anniversary of D-day, June 6, 1944. In my district, Bedford County, Virginia, is designated as a World War II Heritage City by the National Park Service, the only such World War II Heritage City in Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of a colleague and member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Barnie Day, who passed away on May 12th at the age of 72.”

“Mr. Speaker, as I said in the point of order--which I didn't have the rule in hand, but it is 17(1)(b). As I said then, if they want to complain that they didn't like the process, if they don't like the bill, if there is a piece of the bill they don't like, save that for the debate on the bill itself.”

“Mr. Speaker, referencing my previous comments related to the GAO, et cetera, I will not yield to the GAO on what the responsibilities of the United States Congress are.”

“Mr. Speaker, I yield ========================= END NOTE ========================= myself the balance of my time.Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey, is a great guy, and he is a good friend.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Kathy Gearheart Smith, who passed away on March 12th at the age of 70. Of the important roles Ms. Smith embraced in her life, perhaps one of the most meaningful was as a wife.”

“Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to ``Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications''.”

“Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee met and reported out a rule providing for consideration of four measures: S.J. Res. 18, disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Customer Financial Protection relating to ``Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions''; S.J.”

“Committee hearing to discuss his efforts to protect West Virginia elections. His State has removed 400,000 names from voter registration rolls and implemented voter ID requirements. This bill attempts to fix the various loopholes and ensure that only eligible United States citizens are voting in our country's Federal elections.”

“Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman apologized for the noises on the floor. I love the noises and greatly appreciate having babies around. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Brenda Faye Graham Johnson, who passed away on March 26th at the age of 77. On March 31, 1947, Ms. Johnson was born in Christiansburg, Virginia, but was raised in nearby Salem, Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of George Lester, who passed away on January 31st at the age of 85. Mr. Lester is regarded as one of the most important business leaders and community advocates in the Martinsville-Henry County region of Southside Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the courageous service of Bristol, Virginia's Swift Water Rescue Team. Formed in 2019, the group operates under the Bristol Fire Department and is the only such swift water team in Southwest Virginia, a region that encompasses more than twenty localities and is bigger in landmass than some U.S. states.”

“Regardless, if Congress were to pass this joint resolution, rubber tire manufacturers will still be subjected to pollution regulations. The EPA can always come back with an updated hazardous air pollutant standard if they can ever get actual data indicating specific and significant pollution.”

“Reclaiming my time, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly). Is the gentleman trying to tell the American people that it is only a minor rule, as one of our colleagues said, it is only a minor rule if it doesn't apply to you?”

“Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: I meant no offense and no criticism. As the gentleman from the other side of the aisle and from New Jersey knows, I love parliamentary procedure.”

“Small businesses want affordable, abundant, and reliable energy. NFIB strongly supports H.J. Res. 35 and will consider support for H.J. Res. 35 a Key Vote for the 119th Congress.”

“Mr. Speaker, I understand there are all kinds of concerns on the other side of the aisle, but we are talking about the HALT Fentanyl Act. I could stand here and talk about Burma.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I offer the gentleman from Massachusetts an opportunity for whatever comments he has remaining. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”

“Are you on the side of law enforcement or the guy who pardoned the drug dealer who let in all the fentanyl? Are you on the side of workers or the robber barons who want to fleece people out of their paychecks and rob them of their hard-earned benefits?”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Edwin Randolph ``Randy'' Leach, who passed away on January 12th at the age of 68. Randy is remembered for his sound legal mind and dedicating a great legal career in the Roanoke Valley.”

“Following his childhood and adolescent years in North Carolina, Mr. Leach attended academic institutions in Virginia. He earned a B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College before graduating from the renowned law school at William & Mary.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gerald ``Tom'' Clemens, who passed away on December 26th at the age of 88. Mr. Clemens is remembered for his sophisticated legal background and as an overwhelmingly caring family member.”