H. Griffith

Howard Morgan Griffith is a Republican politician representing Virginia's 9th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born on March 15, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Salem, Virginia. He graduated from Andrew Lewis High School before attending Emory & Henry College, where he earned a B.A. in 1980. He later received his J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1983. Following law school, Griffith returned to Salem to practice law, a career he maintained for nearly three decades before his transition into federal office. Griffith's legislative career began in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he served from 1994 to 2011. In 2000, he became the first Republican to be elected House Majority Leader in Virginia's history. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, unseating a long-term incumbent. Since taking office in January 2011, he has served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he has held several leadership roles, including Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. Throughout his tenure, Griffith has focused on issues impacting rural Southwest Virginia, including energy production and healthcare access. He is a member of the Freedom Caucus and the Conservative Climate Caucus. His legislative efforts frequently target federal overreach, particularly regarding environmental regulations affecting the coal and manufacturing sectors. He also founded the Congressional Friends of Wales Caucus, reflecting his personal heritage.

Griffith advocates for an "all-of-the-above" energy policy that strongly supports the continued use and production of coal, natural gas, and nuclear power; he frequently criticizes EPA regulations as burdensome to local industry. On healthcare, he supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act but has advocated for increased federal research into medical marijuana. His economic platform emphasizes reducing federal spending, lowering taxes, and deregulation. Regarding immigration and election integrity, Griffith supports increased border security, ending birthright citizenship in U.S. territories, and requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. He maintains a "pro-life" voting record and is a vocal supporter of Second Amendment rights.