While serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, Griffith supported a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage by defining marriage as between one man and one woman.^[23] He voted in favor of a motion to effectively kill a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for government employees in Virginia.^[24]

Upon taking office in 2011, Griffith supported significant funding cuts for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Griffith suggested that “many scientists do not even believe” in anthropogenic climate change. In a congressional hearing on climate change, Griffith told scientists that they should consider the possibility that the Vikings and the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia were successful because of global warming. He further suggested that the melting of the ice caps on Mars disproved the theory that humans were responsible for climate change on Earth.^[25][26] Griffith introduced an amendment to a spending bill that would have prohibited EPA regulation of surface coal mining operations, and the EPA Regulatory Relief Act, which would have blocked federal regulations on boilers.^[27][28]

In 2017, Griffith voted to nullify the Stream Protection Rule, which included improvements in the protection of water supplies, water quality, streams, fish and other wildlife that can be negatively affected by surface coal mining.^[29] The same year, he joined other members of the House of Representatives in passing an amendment to H.R. 3354, which undermined the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce environmental standards in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which covers six states and the District of Columbia.^[30][31]

Griffith is a proponent of “an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy” that utilizes both fossil fuel and renewable energy sources.^[32] In 2011, he joined other GOP members in urging Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to reconsider the ban on offshore drilling off Virginia’s coast.^[33]

Griffith voted in favor of several bills to reduce restrictions on gun ownership, including a bill to allow concealed weapons in vehicles without a permit^[34] and to allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry their firearms in restaurants and bars.^[35] He also voted to prohibit consumption of alcohol while in possession of a concealed weapon.^[36] In 2004 Griffith voted to prohibit carrying firearms or ammunition in non-secure areas of airport terminals, including baggage claim areas.^[37][38]

Early in 2010, Griffith voted in favor of a bill to prohibit any individual mandate to purchase health insurance.^[39] This law passed Virginia’s legislature before the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted, which Virginia has used to challenge the individual mandate in federal court.^[40] On July 17, 2013, Griffith was the lone GOP member of the House to vote against delaying the implementation of the individual mandate.^[41]

Just before the United States federal government shutdown of 2013, Griffith issued a press release in which he endorsed the final House version of Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014, which would have continued funding for federal government operations while delaying implementation of the Affordable Care Act.^[42] He voted against the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, the Senate-proposed compromise that ended the shutdown without defunding the ACA.^[43]

Griffith has consistently voted for expansions of the death penalty to include eligibility for accomplices to a murder, as well as for those who murder a judge or a witness.^[44][45][46]

When surveyed in 1999 on his political positions by Project Vote Smart, Griffith indicated that he supports legalized abortion in the first trimester and to save the life of the mother,^[47] while favoring the restriction of abortion through parental notification laws and prohibition of partial-birth abortion. His voting record has generally been consistent with that survey, voting in favor of restrictions such as parental-notification and parental-consent, restricting state funding of abortions,^[48] and requiring abortion clinics to meet the same licensing requirements as surgical centers. In 2006 Griffith voted to restrict state funding for fetal stem cell research.^[49]

In 2007 Griffith voted against^[50] a bill in the Virginia General Assembly, HB 2797, which stated “That life begins at the moment of fertilization and the right to enjoyment of life guaranteed by Article 1, § 1 of the Constitution of Virginia is vested in each born and preborn human being from the moment of fertilization”.^[51]

Griffith’s 2010 campaign website reported that Griffith has a “100% pro-life” voting record and an “A” rating from the Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL). But VSHL’s report on 2007 legislation in Virginia omits reference to HB 2797.^[52] Project Vote Smart indicated that Griffith declined to retake their survey in 2010.^[47]

Griffith supports raising the retirement age and reducing the number of American troops serving overseas as means of reducing the federal budget deficit.^[53] Most recently, he voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.^[54]

In 2014, Griffith introduced legislation to move marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II narcotic, which would effectively make the drug legal for medical purposes under federal law.^[55]

Griffith voted to support Israel following the October 7 attacks.^[56][57]

Griffith and his wife, the former Hilary Davis, have three children. He is an Episcopalian.^[58]

In 2014, Griffith founded the Congressional Friends of Wales Caucus in honor of his Welsh heritage.^[59]

• Congressman Morgan Griffith official U.S. House website
• Morgan Griffith for Congress
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress




• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission




• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress




• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• H. Morgan Griffith at The Virginia Public Access Project
• Albo & Oblon L.L.P.