Capitol Commentary Capitol Commentary: Keeping Our Feet on the Ground and Reaching for the Moon (copy) (copy) US Rep. Morgan Griffith Oct 12, 2026 Oct 12, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save American leadership in space represents a new frontier for technological progress.kAmt=@? |FD<’D 4@>A2?J[ $A246)[ C646?E=J F?56CE@@< 2? @C3:E2= >:DD:@? H:E9 E96 =2F?49 @7 :ED $E2CD9:A C@4<6E] }@E E@ 36 4@?7FD65 H:E9 E96 t?E6CAC:D6 @7 $E2C %C6< 72>6[ E96 $E2CD9:A =2F?49 :D 2 DE6AA:?8DE@?6 7@C D@>6E9:?8 8C62E6C] $A246) 2?5 }2E:@?2= p6C@?2FE:4D 2?5 $A246 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? W}p$pX 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@86E96C E@ =625 >2??65 7=:89ED E@ E96 >@@?] k^AmkAm%96 7:CDE DE6A :? C6249:?8 E9:D 8@2= H:== C6=J @? =@H\t2CE9 @C3:E W{t~X] {t~ C676CD E@ E96 =@H6DE C6249 @7 DA246 4=@D6DE E@ t2CE9 2?5 E96 D2>6 2=E:EF56 H96C6 E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= $A246 $E2E:@? @A6C2E6D] %96 $E2CD9:A =2F?49 DF446DD7F==J C624965 {t~ 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ D6EE:?8 :? >@E:@? E96 ?6IE A92D6 7@C p>6C:42?D E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 >@@?]k^Am People are also reading… Cuts to schools, social services on Smyth supervisors' agenda Smyth voters convey their priorities Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Would listless MLB team trade unicorn shortstop? Blockbuster possibilities Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Susan Smith seeks release 32 years after killing sons David Hoffmann: Thank you, Dad, and thanks to all the others who have served this great country Social worker issues appeal for more foster families Gift of a Guitar: FG4K provides free guitars to Wytheville Minnick School Democrats capture Congress in sweeping setback for Trump Smyth School Board considers changes to athletic policy for trying out Chilhowie chief shares ideas state can adopt to help with disaster response How did Virginia Tech football grade in its loss at SMU? 3 takeaways from Virginia Tech football's loss at SMU kAm$A246)’D {t~ D2E6==:E6 E649?@=@8:6D 2C6 ?@E ;FDE D66? 2D 4C:E:42= E@ @FC AC@DA64ED :? DA246]k^AmkAmpE E96 7656C2= =6G6=[ x 4@?E:?F6 E@ 25G@42E6 7@C {t~ E649?@=@8:6D H:E9 96=A:?8 CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D 2446DD D2E6==:E6 :?E6C?6E] k^AmkAm|@DE C646?E=J[ x 56=:G6C65 @A6?:?8 C6>2C<D 2E 2? @?=:?6 6G6?E 9@DE65 3J E96 r@??64E tG6CJ@?6 r@2=:E:@?] %96 H63:?2C 7@4FD65 @? E96 EH@\J62C 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 wFCC:42?6 w6=6?6 2?5 4@??64E:G:EJ =6DD@?D 7C@> E96 ?2EFC2= 5:D2DE6C]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 >J C6>2C<D[ x 9:89=:89E65 E96 4@??64E:G:EJ :DDF6D E92E :>A24E65 }:?E9 s:DEC:4E 4@>>F?:E:6D] k^Am kAmw6=6?6 56G2DE2E65 @FC AF3=:4 4@>>F?:42E:@?D ?6EH@C<D] %96 5:D2DE6C 5:D23=65 D6CG:46D AC@G:565 3J @FC 46== A9@?6 42CC:6CD] uFCE96C[ E96 7=@@5D E92E DH2>A65 @FC C68:@? 2=D@ H2D965 2H2J 7:36C @AE:4 :?7C2DECF4EFC6]k^AmkAmq642FD6 @7 E96 =@DD @7 4@>>F?:42E:@?D[ 72>:=J >6>36CD DECF88=65 E@ 4@?7:C> E96 D276EJ @7 E96:C =@G65 @?6D 2?5 7:CDE C6DA@?56C 4C6HD 72465 492==6?86D H:E9 6>6C86?4J @A6C2E:@?D] k^AmkAm%96D6 :DDF6D H6?E @? 7@C 52JD]k^AmkAmxE H2D F?4=62C H96? :?E6C?6E 2?5 46== A9@?6 4@G6C286 H@F=5 36 C6DE@C65[ D@ @?6 8C@FA C6=:65 @? $A246) 7@C 96=A]k^Am kAm(:D6 r@F?EJ’D w62=E9 (28@?[ H9:49 EC2G6=65 E@ s2>2D4FD E@ 96=A D6CG6 2?5 EC62E E9@D6 27764E65 3J w6=6?6[ EFC?65 E@ $A246)’D $E2C=:?<]k^AmkAm$E2C=:?< 4@?D:DED @7 2 ?6EH@C< @7 {t~ D2E6==:E6D H9:49 D6CG6D 9:89\DA665[ C6=:23=6 3C@2532?5 :?E6C?6E E@ 4@>>F?:E:6D @? t2CE9] %9:D ?6EH@C< C65F46D 4@??64E:G:EJ 5625 K@?6D 2?5 AC@G:56D >@C6 4@G6C286 :? C68:@?D =:<6 $@FE9H6DE ':C8:?:2]k^AmkAm%9FD[ $E2C=:?< :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 96=A7F= 7@C >@F?E2:?@FD 2?5 CFC2= C68:@?D H96C6 7:36C :?DE2==2E:@? :D 6IEC6>6=J 5:77:4F=E 2?5 4@DE AC@9:3:E:G6] p>2K@? :D =2F?49:?8 2 D:>:=2C {t~ AC@8C2> H9:49 D9@F=5 36 2G2:=23=6 :? ':C8:?:2 :? =2E6 a_af]k^Am kAm%92?<D E@ 2 A@CE23=6 $E2C=:?< F?:E[ 2 C2C:EJ :? @FC 2C62 2E E96 E:>6[ E96 w62=E9 (28@? 4@F=5 2446DD :?E6C?6E D6CG:46]k^Am kAm%9:D 6A:D@56 D9@H65 E92E 6G6? :? E:>6D @7 6>6C86?4J[ 46== A9@?6 FD6CD 42? E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 {t~ E649?@=@8:6D]k^AmkAmpD E96 C64@G6CJ 7C@> w6=6?6 4@?E:?F6D[ x C6>2:? 4@>>:EE65 E@ 6IA2?5:?8 @FC 3C@2532?5 42A23:=:E:6D E9C@F89 {t~ E649?@=@8:6D E@ AC6A2C6 @FC C68:@? 7@C E96 ?6IE w6=6?6]k^AmkAmu656C2= :?:E:2E:G6D E@ DFAA@CE 3C@2532?5 :??@G2E:@?D =:<6 {t~ E649?@=@8:6D :?4=F56 E96 qC@2532?5 tBF:EJ[ p446DD 2?5 s6A=@J>6?E WqtpsX AC@8C2>]k^Am kAmx? a_ac[ x 25G@42E65 7@C v@G6C?@C *@F?8<:?’D qtps u:?2= !C@A@D2=] %9:D D6E :? >@E:@? G2C:@FD @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 6IA2?5 3C@2532?5 :? ':C8:?:2]k^Am kAm%96 7656C2= 6?E:EJ E92E CF?D qtps :D E96 }2E:@?2= %6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D x?7@C>2E:@? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? W}%xpX]k^AmkAm%9:D DF>>6C[ }%xp p5>:?:DEC2E@C pC:6==6 #@E9 E6DE:7:65 367@C6 E96 w@FD6 r@>>:EE66 @? t?6C8J 2?5 r@>>6C46 $F34@>>:EE66 @? r@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 %649?@=@8J[ @? H9:49 x D6CG6]k^Am kAmsFC:?8 E96 962C:?8[ D96 5:D4FDD65 qtps 2D H6== 2D D:8?2=65 DFAA@CE 7@C {t~ E649?@=@8:6D]k^Am kAm{2E6C :? E96 DF>>6C[ p5>:?:DEC2E@C #@E9 G:D:E65 q657@C5 r@F?EJ E@ E@FC =@42= 3C@2532?5 AC@;64ED]k^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `[e__ q657@C5 r@F?EJ 255C6DD6D E92E H:== 82:? ?6H 2446DD E@ 3C@2532?5 E9C@F89 qtps 7F?5:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }%xp] (9:=6 ?6H 7:36C :?DE2==2E:@? H:== D6CG6 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96D6 q657@C5 r@F?EJ =@42E:@?D[ $A246) 2?5 p>2K@? H:== >2<6 {t~ 3C@2532?5 2G2:=23=6 E@ 6=:8:3=6 92C5\E@\C6249 =@42E:@?D]k^Am kAmpD:56 7C@> qtps[ {t~ 3C@2532?5 H:== 86E 2? 255:E:@?2= 3@@DE 7C@> 2 3:A2CE:D2? r@?8C6DD:@?2= 3:==]k^AmkAmx? E96 r@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 %649?@=@8J $F34@>>:EE66[ x DFAA@CE65 E96 k6>m$p% $EC62>=:?:?8 p4Ek^6>m] u@==@H:?8 $F34@>>:EE66 2AAC@G2=[ x G@E65 7@C E96 3:== 282:? :? E96 7F== t?6C8J 2?5 r@>>6C46 r@>>:EE66] k^AmkAm%9:D 3:== H@F=5 >@56C?:K6 2 7656C2= 286?4J’D D2E6==:E6 =:46?D:?8 AC@46DD 3J D6EE:?8 >@C6 AC64:D6 E:>6=:?6D 2?5 2 >@C6 AC65:4E23=6 =:DE @7 C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C D2E6==:E6 2AA=:42E:@?D]k^Am kAmx? 67764E[ H6 >2<6 :E 62D:6C 7@C 8C@FAD E@ 3C:?8 {t~ E649?@=@8:6D E@ E96 >2C<6E E@ 36EE6C AC@G:56 C6=:23=6 2?5 D64FC6 :?E6C?6E 2446DD]k^Am kAmx 2> AC@F5 E@ 92G6 E2<6? E96D6 24E:@?D E@ 3C:586 E96 5:8:E2= 5:G:56 :? ':C8:?:2 2?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] k^Am kAmqC@2532?5 :? CFC2= p>6C:42 42? 96=A @FC 9@DA:E2=D[ D49@@=D[ 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 >@C6]k^AmkAmpD J@FC 7656C2= C6AC6D6?E2E:G6[ x H:== <66A 7:89E:?8 7@C @FC CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D E@ 86E 2 72:C D9@E 2E 3C@2532?5 2446DD]k^Am kAm(:E9 E96 D2>6 E649?@=@8:6D[ H6 42? DF44665 H:E9 3C@2532?5 H9:=6 <66A:?8 @FC 766E @? E96 8C@F?5 2?5 C6249:?8 7@C E96 >@@?]k^AmkAmx7 J@F 92G6 BF6DE:@?D[ 4@?46C?D[ @C 4@>>6?ED[ 766= 7C66 E@ 4@?E24E >J @77:46] *@F 42? 42== >J p3:?85@? @77:46 2E afe\dad\`c_d @C >J r9C:DE:2?D3FC8 @77:46 2E dc_\bg`\def`] %@ C6249 >J @77:46 G:2 6>2:=[ A=62D6 G:D:E >J H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^FC=5676?D6]4@>^Gb^009EEADi^>@C82?8C:77:E9]9@FD6]8@G^00jPP{G*K:4xP8K~F3A0q%@&(_4d_w)CvsD"}w\xE<I(HBGI2u<zz%*87A+gu!H3x*tDF|3@<E(|A8}$ptB6f"*Fu(pD~Hc=c%bEy5_sx(0v~SQm9EEADi^^>@C82?8C:77:E9]9@FD6]8@G^k^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Cuts to schools, social services on Smyth supervisors' agenda When it came to school services directly impacting children, the Board of Supervisors balked at a proposed budget cut. They’ll talk about thei… Smyth voters convey their priorities With more than 10,200 people casting ballots in Smyth County on Tuesday, voters spoke decisively. They significantly changed the face of Mario… Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations A Marion citizen has filed a complaint in Smyth County Circuit Court, asking the court to order the Board of Supervisors to repeal the portion… Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Northwood High School was built nearly 70 years ago. The windows in the auditorium may be the original ones. Would listless MLB team trade unicorn shortstop? Blockbuster possibilities It is a question almost any wannabe contender in MLB faces: Trade a core player nearing the back end of their club control years, or keep them…
Cuts to schools, social services on Smyth supervisors' agenda When it came to school services directly impacting children, the Board of Supervisors balked at a proposed budget cut. They’ll talk about thei…
Smyth voters convey their priorities With more than 10,200 people casting ballots in Smyth County on Tuesday, voters spoke decisively. They significantly changed the face of Mario…
Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations A Marion citizen has filed a complaint in Smyth County Circuit Court, asking the court to order the Board of Supervisors to repeal the portion…
Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Northwood High School was built nearly 70 years ago. The windows in the auditorium may be the original ones.
Would listless MLB team trade unicorn shortstop? Blockbuster possibilities It is a question almost any wannabe contender in MLB faces: Trade a core player nearing the back end of their club control years, or keep them…