Friends,
I invite you to read this newsletter to learn about several issues I am working on for Kentuckians. If you're short on time, here's a top line summary of some of my recent activities:
- Passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) through Congress and thanked President Trump for signing EFTA into law.
- Hosted Interview Day for U.S. Service Academy Applicants.
- Received the Defender of Biblical Business Award from the Christian Employers Alliance.
- Spoke on reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and related legislation to eliminate loopholes that currently allow the federal government to unconstitutionally spy on Americans.
- Introduced legislation to remove the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- Supported the War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove armed forces from hostilities in Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.
Here are the in-depth articles: |
Rep. Massie's Epstein Files Transparency Act Signed into Law by President Trump |
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Rep. Massie's Epstein Files Transparency Act passed the House 427 to 1 |
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After five months of sustained effort and much opposition, my bill to release the Epstein files passed the House 427 to 1, passed the Senate 100 to 0, and was signed by the President in less than 36 hours!
A special mention goes to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Nancy Mace, and Rep. Lauren Boebert for having the guts to sign my discharge petition to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA). They stood strong even in the face of an intense pressure campaign from the White House. In the end, their signatures on my discharge petition were vital to getting us to the 218 signatures needed to force a vote.
The Epstein survivors deserve justice, and the American public deserves transparency. EFTA is a step towards delivering these results.
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A copy of the Epstein Files Transparency Act as signed by President Donald J. Trump hangs in Rep. Massie's office |
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The Epstein Files Transparency Act, now forever known as “Public Law 119-38,” is the 38th bill President Trump has signed into law during his second presidency.
According to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Attorney General must release to the public the Epstein files in possession of the DOJ and FBI by Friday, December 19.
In advance of the law's December 19th disclosure deadline, the EFTA is already getting results. Three federal judges who previously could not release grand jury material have now ruled that the Epstein Files Transparency Act has changed the legal landscape and they will be releasing all material with redactions to protect victims.
Speaking of Epstein's victims, several of the survivors joined Rep. Ro Khanna and me on CNN to discuss the importance of releasing the files. You can watch our appearance at this link.
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Rep. Massie's successful work on the Epstein Files Transparency Act is detailed in Politico |
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I also thanked President Trump for signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, and for encouraging my colleagues to vote YES on this important legislation.
In mid-November, Politico wrote about my effort to get the bill across the finish line. Their takeaway? "There were emerging signs that it was Massie, not Trump, who had his fingers closer to the pulse of the MAGA base."
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Rep. Massie leads the debate on the Epstein Files Transparency Act on the House floor |
Before the House vote, I led the debate on the floor to ask my colleagues to support the Epstein Files Transparency Act. During the debate, I was joined by Rep. Greene and Rep. Mace. The video embedded above contains our remarks.
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Rep. Massie Hosts Interview Day for U.S. Service Academy Applicants |
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Rep. Massie's Interview Panel (pictured above) uses its expertise to pick the most qualified and dedicated candidates |
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On November 15, my staff and I hosted Interview Day for U.S. Service Academy applicants from Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District. Each year, Members of Congress have the privilege of recommending exceptional young men and women for admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy, known collectively as the U.S. Service Academies.
The U.S. Service Academies offer a unique opportunity for motivated young adults to serve their country while improving all facets of their character through a rigorous scholastic curriculum and a disciplined moral and physical regimen. In place of tuition, the academies require military service after graduation. Cadets and midshipmen graduate as officers in the United States military, and many have gone on to be great leaders in our nation’s history.
An interview panel of academy graduates, officers, and academy liaisons from all branches of the military evaluated applicants to make recommendations on who will receive a nomination from my office. I met with the panel to answer questions, to give an update on what's happening in Washington, D.C., and to thank them for dedicating their Saturday to this effort.
The panel interviewed each of the applicants throughout the day. I wish each of the applicants the best and know the panelists will use their expertise to pick the most qualified and dedicated individuals. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the panelists and applicants for being willing to serve our country.
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Rep. Massie Receives Defender of Biblical Business Award |
I am honored to receive the Defender of Biblical Business Award from the Christian Employers Alliance (CEA).
CEA ranks elected officials based on a Scripture-guided analysis of how well they support pro-faith, pro-business policies. I have CEA's highest ranking of all Kentucky Congressmen.
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Rep. Massie: "The Intelligence Agencies Will Use These Loopholes to Spy on Americans." |
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has been used to unconstitutionally spy on American citizens. In the House Judiciary Committee, we recently discussed ways to reform FISA.
I pointed out we must also reform or repeal other constitutionally flawed statutes and executive orders.
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Rep. Massie Introduces Legislation to Remove the United States from NATO. |
I recently introduced HR 6508, the NATO Act, to remove the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
NATO is a Cold War relic. We should withdraw from NATO and use that money to defend our own country, not socialist countries. NATO was created to counter the Soviet Union, which collapsed over thirty years ago. Since then, U.S. participation has cost taxpayers trillions of dollars and continues to risk U.S. involvement in foreign wars. Our Constitution did not authorize permanent foreign entanglements, something our Founding Fathers explicitly warned us against. America should not be the world’s security blanket—especially when wealthy countries refuse to pay for their own defense.
The NATO Act:
- Requires the President to formally notify NATO of U.S. withdrawal under Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
- Concludes that NATO’s original Cold War purpose no longer aligns with current U.S. national security interests.
- Finds that European NATO members have adequate economic and military capacity to provide for their own defense.
- Prevents use of U.S. taxpayer funds for NATO’s common budgets, including its civil budget, military budget, and the Security Investment Program.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced companion legislation, S.2174, in the United States Senate.
The text of the NATO Act is available at this link.
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Rep. Massie: "Do We Want a Miniature Afghanistan in the Western Hemisphere?" |
I spoke for the War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove armed forces from hostilities in Venezuela unless Congress authorizes it.
When war-making power devolves to one person, liberty dissolves. Congress needs to vote before the President attempts regime change.
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Thomas Massie
Member of Congress
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