{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=352210", "Griffith Speaks on House Floor: Defy Obama and Visit the Parkway Shops", "2013-10-02", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, October 4, 2013 \u2013 This evening Congressman Griffith (R-VA) spoke on the House Floor about President Obama\u2019s Park Service and how they are needlessly blocking access to private businesses that adjoin the Blue Ridge Parkway.\u00a0 These businesses lease land from the federal government, but do not receive money from the federal government.\u00a0 Most of the \u201cconcession\u201d businesses actually pay the federal government.\u00a0 The current debate in Washington is about federal spending and is not about private businesses located on or near national parks.\u00a0 \r\nAdditionally after speaking on the Floor, Congressman Griffith asked, \u201cWhy is the Park Service using \u2018essential\u2019 personnel to try to close these taxpaying businesses?\"\u00a0 Further he said, \"I hope everyone will visit the shops on and around the Parkway this weekend.\" Video of Griffith\u2019s remarks can be found by clicking here. \r\nTo see information on the North Carolina situation, click here.\r\nTo see the Washington Times article, referenced in Congressman Griffith\u2019s one minute speech, click here.\u00a0\r\n \u00a0###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=352210"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8191938288509846, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}