District Update  Click here if you have trouble viewing this email
U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie
August 12, 2019

Friend, 

I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day and enjoyed the last three weeks of July, despite the grueling heat wave. It has been a long month in Washington, D.C. Below, I've included some highlights from July. In case you didn't know, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. 

                                                                                                       
  Washington, D.C. Interns Meet President Trump
 
 


With my family’s permission, I took three of my D.C. interns instead of my family to the annual White House Congressional Picnic last month. We were all pleasantly surprised that the President and First Lady took the time to meet them!



  Rep. Massie Cosponsors Second Amendment Protection Act  
 


I am excited to announce that I am the first cosponsor of Congressman Alex Mooney's Second Amendment Protection Act (H.R. 2071). This bill removes the existing federal prohibition of the sale, purchase, shipment, receipt, or possession of a firearm or ammunition for medicinal marijuana patients, as long as they are using medicinal marijuana in accordance with state law.

The current federal prohibition against firearm possession for all marijuana users creates millions of felons in the 33 states where medicinal marijuana is legal. Law-abiding, medicinal marijuana patients in those 33 states should not be penalized for exercising their Second Amendment rights in accordance with state law. This legislation is a constitutional step in the right direction.

You can read the bill here.

 

  $9 Million Airport Improvement Program Grant for Gallatin County  
 


Last month, it was my pleasure to announce that a $9 million Airport Improvement Program (AIP) discretionary grant has been awarded to Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.

The funds from this grant will be designated for construction at the new Sparta airport in Gallatin County, Kentucky. Funding for this grant comes from taxes levied on users of this infrastructure. That is to say, its main source of revenue is taxes on airline tickets and aviation fuel.

I've been a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since I came to Congress in 2012. This Congress, I serve on the Aviation Subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and the Subcommittee on Water Resources (locks and dams). I sought to serve on these committees because the federal government has a legitimate role in maintaining interstate infrastructure. I'm excited to see how the new construction in Gallatin County will improve transportation for Kentucky's 4th district.

You can read more here.

 

  Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Cosponsors Rep. Thomas Massie's Audit the Fed Bill  
 


In January, I reintroduced my bill to audit the Fed. Congress created the Federal Reserve, so it is Congress’s responsibility to audit the Federal Reserve. I want to thank the newest cosponsor, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, for supporting this important legislation! The American people benefit when Republicans and Democrats work together to increase government transparency.

Here’s a link to the full list of cosponsors.

 

  Kentucky Educational Television Interview  
 


In a recent interview with Kentucky Educational Television, Renee Shaw and I talked about my time on the House Committees on Oversight and Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure. We also discussed my latest legislative objectives, my support for a constitutional approach to foreign policy, and how to encourage secure elections in Kentucky.

You can watch the full interview here.

 

Massie Leads Tour for MIT and UVA Students


I was delighted to meet with a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Virginia students recently. The students are completing internships in Washington, D.C. this summer. This is the third year I’ve been fortunate enough to lead a tour for this group and it has become something I look forward to.

One of my favorite things about serving in Congress is occasionally having the time to share the rich history of our nation’s Capitol by giving personal tours of the buildings.. I’ve learned a lot about the Capitol building over the last few years and I enjoy teaching others about it. I was thrilled the students were interested as well. In the rotunda, I pointed out an often overlooked detail in John Trumbull’s painting of the presentation of the Declaration of Independence—Thomas Jefferson appears to step on John Adams foot! Jefferson and Adams were enemies their entire political careers. It’s a nice, and somewhat humorous, reminder that conflict and pettiness in American politics isn’t new.

The students also asked about my scientific background and how it influences my political ideology, the way I operate in Congress, and how I interact with other members. We talked about climate change and why it is important to have an honest discussion—especially since it has become a politically charged topic. I encouraged the students to consider not just the potential negative effects of climate change but the positive ones as well, including the farming efficiency gains we’ve seen in the last several years thanks to increased levels of CO2.

I was impressed by how attentive and inquisitive the group was about the legislative process, the power structure of Congress, and how a congressional office operates. The group brought up how it seems too easy for members of congress to get sucked into the swamp and forget about the constituents that elected them. I shared the checks I’ve implemented in my own office to prevent this. When I consider how to vote on a bill, I first consider the oath I’ve taken to uphold the Constitution. Then I consider what my constituents have to say by reviewing the office call log—every call from a constituent gets logged in a database that I read each evening.

These students have great things ahead of them as they finish school and begin their careers. There aren’t many scientists in Congress but I’m hoping we might see a few more like them!


   
  Renaming the Bipartisan Budget Bill: "A Bill to Kick the Can Down the Road, and for Other Purposes"


Imagine if bills were named based on what they actually did. 

Before members of Congress left D.C. for August recess, I forced a vote to rename the budget bill that suspends the debt limit, “A Bill to Kick the Can Down the Road, and for Other Purposes.”

47 representatives voted to name this bill honestly. You can view the roll call here

Click here to watch my motion to rename the bill. 


I am looking forward to spending the month of August in the district! Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. 

In Liberty, 


Thomas Massie
Member of Congress
Kentucky's 4th District
 
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Washington, DC Office
2453 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3465
Ashland District Office
1700 Greenup Ave
Suite 505
Ashland, KY 41101
Phone: (606) 324-9898
LaGrange District Office
108 W. Jefferson Street
LaGrange, KY 40031
Phone: (502) 265-9119
Fax: (502) 265-9126
Northern Kentucky District Office
541 Buttermilk Pike
Suite 208
Crescent Springs, KY 41017
Phone: (859) 426-0080
Fax: (859) 426-0061
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