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Dear Friend,
Thank you for signing up for my newsletter. I am writing to update you on my work as your U.S. Representative over the past few weeks.
I come back to Kentucky at the end of every week so I can spend time with constituents (and Sundays with my family). Listening to you is a very important part of my job. In this issue of my newsletter, I have included a few pictures of the many good people I met recently. If you live near Ashland, I hope you can attend the upcoming town hall described below. If not, I will have many more town halls across the district this year, and I hope to see you there.
As your Congressman, I am a member of three committees: Transportation, Oversight, and Science. Most Congressmen are only on one or two committees, so you can imagine the amount of work I do on Capitol Hill! It is worth it though, because in addition to voting, committee work is how I represent Kentucky's many interests in Washington. In this newsletter, you will find links to brief C-SPAN videos of my work on these committees.
So far, I have not missed a single vote in the House of Representatives, and I have voted over 100 times since last November. I picked out a few of the most important ones to explain in this newsletter. Even if you and I don't agree on all of the issues, I hope you will appreciate that I am using newsletters to explain my positions to you.
Finally, I think it is important to tell you that I appreciate your phone calls to my office. I am listening! In the past few weeks, I have received dozens of calls about gun control. Based on the phone calls, I know most of you feel as I do. We do not need any more federal gun laws. You can trust that I will always defend your right to keep and bear arms. In this newsletter, you can read about a bill I introduced on the first day of this congress to repeal an unconstitutional gun law.
I hope you enjoy my report! If you find it informative, please encourage your friends to sign up too by forwarding this newsletter to them.
Sincerely,
Thomas Massie
District Announcements
Rep. Massie to host Ashland Town Hall Meeting
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013
Event: Ashland Town Hall
Time: 6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Location: Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC)
1400 College Dr.
Ashland, KY 41101
Everyone is encouraged to attend the Ashland Town Hall Meeting. Town Halls are a great way to meet with Rep. Massie and openly discuss your concerns.
Rep. Massie Announces Academy Day
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2013
Event: Academy Day
Time: 10:30 A.M. Registration
11:00 A.M. Program
Location: Dixie Heights High School
3010 Dixie Highway
Edgewood, KY 41017
Academy Day is an occasion to learn about the opportunities provided by the U.S. Military Academies.
Congressman Massie encourages all interested high school students and their parents to attend.
Representatives from the U.S. Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Military, and Naval Academies will be available to answer questions.
Rep. Massie Votes Against Continuing Resolution
Congress recently voted on the CR to fund the federal government until September of this year.
Representative Massie voted against the CR because it perpetuates an unbalanced budget and allows the federal government to spend even more money than it did last year. It also funds Obamacare and keeps the deficit over $1 trillion.
Along with 29 other members of Congress he sent a letter to House Leadership calling on them to defund Obamacare in the CR. The members also attempted to offer an amendment to strip funding for Obamacare from the CR, but House leadership prevented the effort.
Rep. Massie was also one of 16 Republicans who voted to prevent this bill from coming to the floor at all.
Take a look at this graphic that gives more details regarding the vote.
Rep. Massie Stands with Rand
Last week, Senator Paul took to the Senate floor for 13 hours to filibuster the nomination of John Brennan as the head of the CIA. Rep. Massie was on the Senate Floor to show his friend support.
Sen. Paul was fighting to defend liberty and protect Americans from the government's threatened unconstitutional use of drones over American soil.
The Federal Reserve
The American people deserve to know how their money is spent. The Fed's monetary policy decisions and operations need transparency. The central bank's unsustainable trajectory has already cost American taxpayers trillions in bailouts and loans.
During an Oversight & Government Reform hearing on transparency, Rep. Massie had the opportunity to ask the following question:
Should the Freedom of Information Act be updated to clarify unambiguously that the Federal Reserve is subject to FOIA?
To hear the panel's response, click on the video below.
(Click on the picture to watch the video)
Rep. Massie Introduces Industrial Hemp Bill to Boost Kentucky Economy
On February 6th Rep. Massie introduced legislation that would require the federal government to respect state laws on industrial hemp. Less than a week later, he testified for industrial hemp in front of the Kentucky Senate Agriculture Committee alongside Senator Paul, Representative Yarmuth, and former CIA Director James Woolsey.
Industrial hemp is a sustainable crop and could be a great economic opportunity for Kentucky farmers. It is used in hundreds of products including paper, lotions, clothing, canvas, rope, and can be converted into renewable bio-fuels more efficiently than corn or switch grass. The Kentucky State Senate bill passed the senate 31-6.
Rep. Massie in Frankfort with Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Rep. John Yarmuth, State Senator Damn Thayer, Senator Rand Paul, and State Senator Dan Seum.
Rep. Massie on the Second Amendment
Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook, many gun control advocates have proposed new legislation to limit our 2nd amendment rights. But Representative Massie knows that a bigger federal government couldn't have prevented such an event.
This is why Rep. Massie introduced the Citizens Protection Act of 2013 as his first bill in Congress. This piece of legislation would repeal the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990, thus allowing local law enforcement and school boards to tailor their firearm programs to meet the needs of their communities.
Rep. Massie on Sequestration
Twenty months ago Congress voted for the automatic spending cuts known as ‘sequestration’ as part of the debt ceiling debate of 2011. But as the deadline approached, Congress struck the ‘fiscal cliff deal,’ which postponed the sequester for another two months. The deal also raised taxes and increased spending, so Congressman Massie voted against the fiscal cliff deal.
The sequester took effect on March 1, and some folks would have Americans believe that the sequester is going to be disastrous. In fact, the sequester involves no absolute cuts in spending but simply reduces the spending increases already scheduled.
If Congress continues on its current fiscal path our children's future will be jeopardized. Instead of blaming each other for the sequester, Democrats and Republicans should work together to find more ways to cut spending, simplify the tax code, and reform entitlements.
Perspective: This graph shows the sequester cuts are simply reductions in the growth of spending.
Rep. Massie Signs on as Original Cosponsor of the PRO-LIFE Act
Congressman Massie recently co-sponsored the PRO-LIFE Act. Some states allow abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to offer on-campus guidance within school systems. Programs like Planned Parenthood rarely encourage patients to seek alternatives to abortion: between 2009 and 2011, the organization performed 242 abortions for each adoption referral.
Congressman Massie opposes the use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund programs that ignore the sanctity of human life.
Mayor Chris Moriconi of Independence, KY and thirteen Covington Catholic seniors traveled to DC to participate in the 2013 March For Life. View Rep. Massie's statement on the March for Life here.
Rep. Massie Signs on to Preserve Military Valor Awards
Rep. Massie recently sat down with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to discuss what they considered to be the most important issues facing them.
One piece of legislation they brought up was H.R. 833, a bill that would preserve the integrity of the military awards process. The Defense Department recently announced that the new Distinguished Warfare Medal for drone operators would rank above awards for direct-combat troops such as the Bronze Star or Purple Heart. The Veterans of Foreign Wars contend that such action is disrespectful to generations of service members. This bill would grant the Purple Heart precedence over the Distinguished Warfare Medal.
Rep. Massie decided to cosponsor the legislation because military men and women engaged in direct combat accept tremendous personal risk to protect our country. Congress must preserve the rewards system so that we can award service members who have sacrificed both on and off the field without devaluing the bravery of those who put themselves at risk to serve others.
Rep. Massie meets with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. From left to right: Joe Schnitterbaum, State Sr. Vice Commander, 3rd. Congressional District; Rep. Massie; Jim MacDonald, State Quartermaster-Adjutant, 3rd. CD; Martha Cassity, State Jr. Vice Commander, 3rd. CD; John Ranson, National Legislative Committee member for Ky., 4th. Cong. Dist.
Rep. Massie Cosponsors Sugar Reform Act Bill
Rep. Massie and two of his children recently had the chance to visit the Perfetti Van Melle candy factory in Erlanger. Perfetti Van Melle produces and distributes candies in more than 150 countries world wide. This factory makes favorites such as Airheads and Xtremes.
The Congressman recently cosponsored the Sugar Reform Act of 2013. This bill would protect jobs in Kentucky, and make this factory even more competitive, encouraging expansion in the United States.
Rep. Massie would like to see the company manufacture more of their products in the district.
Rep. Massie's daughter Sarah (9) advises Mehmet Yuksek (President and CEO of Perfetti Van Melle USA) on Airhead product quality.
Committee Work
Rep. Massie received key committee assignments that allow him to address the needs of the 4th district directly. Here's more information on his latest activity.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Given that the 4th district borders 280 miles of the commercially rich Ohio River and houses the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, Rep. Massie looks forward to being the only member of Kentucky's delegation on this important committee.
Rep. Massie feels there is a constitutional nexus for spending on interstate infrastructure projects like bridges, waterways, and aviation. Recently, he took the opportunity to express a few of his opinions on strengthening our country's transportation infrastructure.
Rep. Massie Discusses Drones' Effect on Federal Budget
(Click on picture to watch video)
Rep. Massie Discusses the Brent Spence Bridge
(Click on the picture to watch video)
Oversight & Government Reform
Rep. Massie's selection to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee will enable him to continue the work he did as Lewis County Judge Executive: find and eliminate wasteful government spending.
The Committee on Oversight & Government Reform Introduces Rep. Massie
(Click on the picture to watch video)
Science, Space & Technology
Rep. Massie's time at MIT and as a high-tech business entrepreneur will certainly be useful in his work in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Rep. Massie Chairs Technology & Research Subcommittees Joint Hearing on Cybersecurity
(Click on picture to watch video)
Photos from Back Home
Rep. Massie stands 1,000 feet underground during a visit to Carmeuse's Lime & Stone operation in Maysville. Carmeuse has operated underground mines and lime-manufacturing operations in Mason and Pendleton Counties since 1998. The company employs nearly 400 people at both locations. The limestone they mine is primarily used to scrub sulfur from Coal power plants. Rep. Massie is standing with some of the finest miners in the world.
Rep. Massie toured the DHL Express Facility at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport. He stands with Government Liason Steve Elkins and General Manager Eric Landers. DHL employs 2,000 people at its Northern Kentucky facility, which serves as DHL's North American Hub.
Rep. Massie and District Director Chris McCane visit the 'Engineers of Tomorrow' High School Robotics Team in LaGrange. Thank you to Dave Wingert for setting this up.
Intern for Representative Massie
Here to Serve You
We look forward to serving Kentucky's 4th District. As we work together to promote liberty and get our families back to work, please reach out to any of our offices with any questions:
Washington, D.C.: (202) 225-3465
Northern Kentucky Office : (859) 426-0080
Ashland Office: (606) 324-9898
Oldham Co. Office: (502) 265-9119
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