As the final quarter of the 118th Congress progresses, there are pressing issues that will come to the attention of federal lawmakers.
Among the issues likely to be addressed is the question of government funding for fiscal year 2025.
Outside of Washington, DC, I reflect with pride on the work my district team has done this Congress to support our constituent services.
Since my first day in office, my mission has been to provide the people of Virginia’s Ninth District with responsible leadership, principled representation, and exceptional service to their constituents.
These services include, but are not limited to, assisting with passport applications, working with people to navigate red tape related to Social Security and veterans benefits, and communicating with the IRS during disputes. Since January 2023, my office has closed or processed over 3,600 cases for voters.
The ninth district includes 28 cities and counties and covers an area larger than nine U.S. states, including New Jersey. The ninth district is the largest congressional district in Virginia.
Despite the District’s considerable size, I have made 350 visits to various parts of the District over the past twenty months. Keep in mind that I spend a significant amount of my time in Washington, DC, representing you there.
Help for veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that over 47,000 veterans live in the Ninth District.
Since January 2023, my office has worked to resolve over 380 veterans cases.
These cases often involve assisting veterans in applying for disability compensation, pensions and other benefits.
We have also tracked down our veterans’ medical records to help them and their families find treatment and medals.
Medals and replacement medals may be awarded based on the veteran’s experiences in conflicts such as World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm, among others.
I had the honour of attending the 80th anniversary of the landings at the Bedford Memorial this year. More than a dozen Second World War veterans were present.
Supporting and recognizing the achievements of our veterans has always been important to me.
AMLER
As a leading proponent of Virginia’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, it is encouraging to see additional efforts being made in Southwest Virginia to revitalize old mining areas and breathe new life into coal communities.
Managed by the Virginia Department of Energy, millions of federal funds go toward AMLER projects, including infrastructure improvements and site redevelopment, among others. This work may also include removing landfills and demolishing high walls to make the area safe and developable.
I was proud to recently announce a new round of AMLER projects totaling $10 million!
In addition, this year I succeeded in introducing an amendment to the Interior Ministry’s budget law to increase the efficiency of the program.
In 2024, I attended ceremonial opening events to recognize completed AMLER projects, most recently Devil’s Bathtub in Scott County and improvements at Breaks Interstate Park.
AMLER’s support of these Southwest Virginia attractions will increase tourism interest and attract new visitors to the region.
I will continue to look for new opportunities to repurpose disused mining areas to create new jobs and economic growth.
Rural Health
I regularly visit various medical facilities in the district.
These experiences allow me to speak with healthcare professionals and learn first-hand about the difficulties and challenges they face, as well as the problems their patients face.
A concerning problem is the trips patients make to see their doctors and other health care providers. In some cases, people in the 9th Ward must drive nearly an hour or more to receive care!
One solution for our region is better access to telemedicine.
In the Health Subcommittee, we passed HR 7623, the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024, this year to permanently enshrine certain telehealth flexibilities in the Medicare program and expand Americans’ access to telehealth services.
In the full Committee on Energy and Commerce, we voted to pass HR 7858, the TELEMH Act of 2024, to improve telehealth for mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries.
Promoting solutions to complex rural health issues will continue to be one of my priorities, and I look forward to continuing to engage with our region’s hard-working and dedicated health professionals.
These are some of the ways my team and I help our constituents. Let us help you! Please contact my office. You can reach my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office by email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov. My website also contains the latest materials from my office, including information on recent votes in the House of Representatives.
