May 3, 2019
Friend,
I hope you had a great week. Last month, I spent two weeks in D.C. and the other two in Kentucky. It felt good to be home for a bit! In the coming weeks, I'll spend most of my days in session at the Capitol because the summer months tend to get pretty busy around here, so I will do my best to keep you updated along the way. In case you didn't know, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more frequent updates.
Below, I've included updates from the month of April:
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A Foreign Policy Panel Discussion at the “Future of War Powers” Conference |
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Last month I participated in a panel discussion at the “Future of War Powers” conference, co-hosted by the Committee for Responsible Foreign Policy and the American Conservative.
Many of my colleagues in Congress don’t want to go on the record and vote on matters of war. At this panel discussion, I explained how I often work across the aisle with Democrats to demand a debate and vote regarding our military’s involvement in foreign conflicts. For example, I am currently the only Republican cosponsor of a bill that would require congressional authorization for any military action in Venezuela (H.R. 1004).
I also discussed the ongoing effort to force a vote regarding whether the United States should be involved in Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. Last Congress, I worked with a bipartisan coalition in the House to request a vote on our participation in this tragic conflict, but our efforts were repeatedly thwarted by House Leadership. Our coalition did not give up, however, and this Congress both the House and Senate have already voted to end U.S. military support for this war.
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New Cosponsors on Massie's Bill to Audit the Federal Reserve |
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In January, I reintroduced my bill to audit the Fed (H.R. 24). Congress created the Federal Reserve, so it is Congress’s responsibility to audit the Federal Reserve.
Thank you to the newest cosponsors, Congressman Ralph Norman, William Timmons, Tom Graves, and Ron Estes, for supporting this important legislation! We now have 71 cosponsors for H.R. 24 this Congress.
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Acela CBD BioMedical Community Day |
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I had the opportunity to speak at the Acela CBD BioMedical Community Day ribbon-cutting ceremony last month in Maysville, Kentucky.
At the ceremony, I spoke about my sponsorship of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, and my amendment to the 2014 Farm Bill that legalized industrial hemp research and pilot projects. Congressman Ron Paul was the original sponsor of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, and when he retired in 2012, I was honored to pick up where he left off. Allies in Congress and in the grassroots worked hard for many years to pass this bill and amendment, and their efforts paved the way for last year’s hemp legalization in the 2018 Farm Bill.
It's exciting to see how the new industrial hemp industry has boosted the economy in Kentucky. Acela CBD is a particularly innovative startup. This company is entirely local, contracting with Kentucky farms to supply industrial hemp, honey, lemongrass, lavender, and other ingredients to use in their own products. After speaking, I was able to take a tour of their unique biomedical facility!
Thanks to Acela CBD CEO Andrew Culbertson and Karen Swolsky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, for the invitation and tour. Many thanks to Kentucky State Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, State Representative John Sims, and Mason County Sheriff Patrick Boggs for their help in making this a successful event.
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U.S. Service Academy Day 2019 |
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As your United States representative, I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of qualified candidates to attend one of the U.S. Service Academies. The honor of attending a Service Academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.
Students and their parents attended our seventh annual U.S. Service Academy Day last month to learn more about the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy.
The U.S. Service Academies offer an opportunity for young men and women to serve their country while improving all facets of their character through a rigorous scholastic curriculum and a disciplined moral and physical regimen. Competition for entry into a Service Academy is high, and nominees are chosen based on several factors including character, leadership, academic excellence, physical aptitude, and extracurricular activities.
Congratulations to Nolan Sabotchick (United States Air Force Academy), Patrick Merse (United States Naval Academy), Jacob Smith (United States Naval Academy), Samuel "Wyatt" Smith (United States Naval Academy), and Samuel Harney (United States Military Academy) for accepting their appointment to one of the Academies! To all of the attendees who are veterans or active duty - thank you for your service! Thank you for attending academy day and relating your experience with the application process to the prospective applicants. Thank you to Kentucky Senator John Schickel for your kind words at this event and to all the students interested in serving our country.
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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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