Massie, Thomas RSS Articles

Rep. Massie Introduces the "Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act" to Require All Foreign Lobbyists to Register Under FARA

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces the introduction of the Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act. Rep. Massie’s legislation closes a loophole in the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA) that has been exploited by certain organizations to avoid registering as foreign agents despite lobbying on behalf of foreign interests.

"Americans have a right to know when powerful lobbying organizations are advancing the interests of foreign governments in Congress," said Rep. Massie. "The Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act does not ban speech, restrict advocacy, or prohibit Americans from supporting foreign allies. It simply ensures transparency. If an organization is heavily engaged in influencing U.S. policy in ways that principally benefit a foreign country, it should be required to register under FARA.”

The bill:

Clarifies that U.S.-based organizations may qualify as foreign principals under FARA when their lobbying activities principally advance the interests of a foreign nation;
Establishes objective indicators for determining foreign political alignment, including coordination with foreign officials and repeated advocacy consistent with foreign diplomatic objectives;
Creates a private right of action for American citizens to file complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting investigations into potential FARA violations.

The text of the Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act is available here.

###

Rep. Massie's NICS Data Reporting Act Passes House

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces that legislation he authored, the NICS Data Reporting Act of 2026 (HR 2267), passed the House of Representatives today by a unanimous voice vote.

"The NICS Data Reporting Act requires the Attorney General to submit to Congress a report that includes the aggregate demographic data of individuals determined to be ineligible to purchase a firearm based on a background check performed by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)," said Rep. Massie. "Presently, NICS results in too many false denials, and I believe it creates a racial disparity. By showing this with data that’s already collected, but not currently reported, I hope to generate bipartisan interest in making NICS less prone to false denials so Americans of all backgrounds are not deprived of their right to keep and bear arms."

Legislative text for the NICS Data Reporting Act is available at this link.

###

Representatives Massie and Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to End Capital Gains Taxes on Family Farms

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact:
John Kennedy, 202-225-3645 (Rep. Massie)
Vince Morris, 202-225-3536 (Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez)

Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces the introduction of H.R. 8591, the No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act. The bill removes capital gains on the sale or exchange of a farm between family members (including children, siblings, cousins, and their spouses). Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) is the co-lead on the legislation.

"This bill will allow farmers to sell their land to family members without being forced to pay punitive capital gains taxes," said Rep. Massie. "This change to the tax law will help sustain America's multi-generational family farms by reducing the financial pressure on landowners to sell productive farmland to real estate developers and data center operators."

“The wealth and health of our nation is married to the soil health and vitality of our farms-this bill recognizes that we need to change financial structures to advance the generational work of good farming,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “When a loved one dies and ag land is split up for taxation, it disrupts the generational work that it takes to build healthy soil. By its very nature, the work of building healthy soil can’t be done on the same cycle as a 30-year mortgage. We can’t treat land like any other financial asset, as though we’re just dividing nickels and dimes, and expect good results. Current tax policy breaks up generations of work and planning. The end result of that approach is an erosion of national health- I’m glad to work with my colleague on a solid step towards keeping farmland together and working.”

Under current law, if a farmer were to sell their land to a child and retire, the transfer would incur steep capital gains taxes. The No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act changes this by allowing qualifying family-to-family transfers to happen without incurring capital gains tax. Under the terms of the legislation, gains from the sale of qualified farm property are excluded from gross income.

To discourage the immediate resale of farmland to property developers, the farm recipient retains the original basis of the property for a 10-year holding period. After that period, the basis steps up to the fair market value at the time of transfer, encouraging long-term family ownership while deterring short-term speculation.

Original cosponsors of H.R. 8591 include Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).

The text of the No Capital Gains Tax on Family Farms Act is available at this link.

###

Rep. Massie's PRIME Act Included in House-Passed Farm Bill

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie announces a pilot program for HR 4700, the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act (PRIME Act), is included in the Farm Bill (HR 7567) passed in the House of Representatives today. The House approved the Farm Bill on a vote of 224-200, with Rep. Massie voting in favor of the legislation. The PRIME Act is Rep. Massie's signature legislation.

"I am excited to announce that a pilot program for the PRIME Act is included in this year’s Farm Bill," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "This means consumers can soon expect increased access to locally raised and processed beef, pork, and lamb sold directly from farmers, and farmers will no longer be burdened by the hefty and costly U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) constraints that force them to drive hundreds of miles with their animals to the few and sparse USDA facilities, as currently required."

"A healthy America begins with what we eat," Rep. Massie continued. "I am committed to making better food accessible for all families and advancing policies that empower consumers, support local farmers, and strengthen our nation’s food system."

The PRIME Act pilot program is included as Section 12114 of the Farm Bill. Under its provisions, upon application from a custom-exempt slaughter facility, a state may operate a pilot program allowing the facility to sell slaughtered meat and meat food products directly to consumers within the state in which the facility is located.

The pilot program includes a labeling regime requiring that all products are clearly labeled to indicate the name and address of the processing facility, the name and address of the animal's owner from which the meat products are derived, the location where the animals were raised, the date of slaughter and the period of time over which the owner raised the animals, notice that the meat was not subject to federal inspection, and an advertisement that the product shall not be resold.

Custom-exempt slaughter facilities participating in the pilot program are required to comply with the Humane Methods Slaughter Act of 1958, all applicable state and local laws, section 23(d) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and federal regulations about sanitation standards, recordkeeping, and the handling of specified risk materials.

Facilities participating in the program remain subject to periodic on-site inspections by the USDA to ensure compliance with the pilot program's requirements, as well as to regular inspections conducted by either local authorities responsible for restaurant inspections or the state Department of Agriculture.

Legislative text for the PRIME Act pilot program is available at this link.

Additional Background:

Rep. Massie's PRIME Act is designed to make it easier for small farms and ranches to serve consumers. Under the PRIME Act, local inspectors––rather than USDA inspectors––could inspect meat production facilities, and regulations governing meat distribution could be adjusted to allow more convenient access for consumers. The PRIME Act would give individual states the freedom to permit intrastate distribution of locally grown and slaughtered meat to consumers, restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, and grocery stores.

The PRIME Act is bipartisan legislation. Reps. Massie (R-KY) and Pingree (D-ME) introduced the legislation on July 23, 2025. Companion legislation, S.2409, has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY).

Legislative text for HR 4700, the PRIME Act, is available at this link. A current list of cosponsors is available at this link.

Rep. Massie raises cattle on his off-the-grid farm in northeast Kentucky.

Rep. Pingree raises grass-fed beef and chickens on her island farm in North Haven, Maine.

###

Reps. Massie and Boebert Introduce the "Surveillance Accountability Act" to Require Warrants for Government-Initiated Searches

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Today, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) introduced H.R. 8470, the Surveillance Accountability Act (SAA). The legislation requires government-initiated searches be conducted with a warrant based on probable cause as required by the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In addition, the legislation creates a private cause of action that allows individuals whose Fourth Amendment protections are violated by government employees to sue for damages. Rep. Boebert is the co-lead of the legislation.

“The Bill of Rights is not a suggestion, and Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless searches conducted by the government are not optional,” said Rep. Thomas Massie. “The Surveillance Accountability Act requiresgovernment employees to first obtain a warrant based on probable cause before searching Americans’ personal information—even if the information sought is stored on a phone, in the cloud, or held by a third party. Warrantless searches are unconstitutional, and this does not change when the data the government seeks is in digital formats or held by a third party."

“Our bill forces the government to obey the Fourth Amendment in the digital age," said Rep. Lauren Boebert. "No more warrantless searches of your phone, cloud data, bank records, or internet history. No more hiding behind the 'third-party doctrine.' No more creepy warrantless facial recognition or tracking. If feds violate your rights? You can sue them for damages. The Bill of Rights isn’t a suggestion—it’s the law. Time to make Big Brother get a warrant.”

The Surveillance Accountability Act imposes a universal warrant requirement for any government search that significantly intrudes on an individual’s privacy or security and closes the “third-party doctrine” loophole by requiring warrants for access to data held by internet service providers, banks, cloud services, and data brokers. The bill defines “search” for the modern, digital era to include metadata collection, geolocation tracking, financial records, and internet activity. It also prohibits the warrantless use of facial recognition, biometric tracking, and license plate reader systems tied to individuals, while preserving traditional and limited exceptions such as consent, exigent circumstances, plain view, identity verification, and other ordinary policing authorities.

The SAA also creates a statutory cause of action that allows individuals to sue federal employees who violate their Fourth Amendment privacy protections for damages. This provision ensures that federal employees who violate a person's rights can be held accountable for unlawful surveillance.

The text of the Surveillance Accountability Act is available at this link.

###

Representative Thomas Massie to Host 2026 U.S. Service Academy Day

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Crescent Springs, KY- Representative Thomas Massie announces that he will host his annual "Academy Day" event on Saturday, April 18th at the Marriott Cincinnati Airport in Hebron, KY. On "Academy Day" interested students of all ages and their parents have the chance to meet with Service Academy representatives 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, known collectively as the U.S. Service Academies. More information about the program, including answers to "Frequently Asked Questions," can be found at this link.

By attending a U.S. Service Academy, young men and women have the opportunity 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 admission to a Service Academy is high, and nominees are chosen based on several factors including character, leadership, academic excellence, physical aptitude, and extracurricular activities.

Any high school student who is interested in learning more about attending a U.S. Service Academy is encouraged to attend "Academy Day" and should RSVP at this link.

CONGRESSMAN MASSIE’S ANNUAL U.S. SERVICE ACADEMY DAY

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

Time: Registration 10:00 AM -11:00 AM
Program 11:00 AM -12:30 PM

Where: Marriott Cincinnati Airport
2395 Progress Drive
Hebron, KY 41048

For more information, please contact Representative Massie’s Northern Kentucky District Office by calling 859-426-0080.

###

Representatives Massie and Pingree Introduce Bipartisan Bill Allowing Interstate Traffic of Raw Milk

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces the introduction of H.R. 7880, the Interstate Milk Freedom Act. The bill prohibits federal interference with the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products that are packaged for direct human consumption. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is the co-lead on the legislation.

"Executive branch agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), do not and should not have the power to shut down trade between peaceful farmers and willing consumers," said Rep. Massie. "It is Congress's job to legislate. The Interstate Milk Freedom Act would make it easier for families to buy the milk of their choice by reversing the criminalization of specific dairy farmers."

"So many people across the country want to make sure their food is fresh and local—including fruits, vegetables, and even their milk," said Rep. Pingree. "Raw milk is currently the only food banned for interstate commerce—an onerous regulation that hurts small farmers for selling milk straight from their cows to the consumer."

If two states have legalized the sale of unpasteurized milk, the Interstate Milk Freedom Act prevents federal departments, agencies, or courts from taking any action to prohibit or restrict the traffic of milk between those two states. Although Congress has never passed a ban on raw milk, the FDA issued a regulation banning the interstate sale of raw milk in capitulation to a lawsuit decided in 1986.

This legislation was introduced as an amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill. It was also introduced as a standalone bill in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2024.

Original cosponsors of H.R. 7880 include Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA).

Rep. Massie owns 50 head of beef cattle on his off-the-grid farm in northeast Kentucky.

Rep. Pingree lives on a farm that raises grass fed beef, chickens, and vegetables on an island in Maine.

The text of the Interstate Milk Freedom Act is available at this link.

###

Representatives Massie and Pingree Introduce Bipartisan “No Immunity for Glyphosate Act”

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Contact:

John Kennedy, 202-225-3465 (Massie)

Gabrielle Mannino, 207-509-5904 (Pingree)

Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces the introduction of the bipartisan No Immunity for Glyphosate Act (HR 7601). The legislation will undo the February 18 Executive Order that promotes the use of glyphosate and insulates manufacturers of the chemical from liability. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is the co-lead on the legislation.

"If the goal is to 'Make America Healthy Again,' the federal government should not be using its authority to promote or protect the production of glyphosate," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "The February 18 Executive Order expands production of this chemical while granting liability protections to manufacturers. Congress should ensure that Americans retain their right to seek a remedy in court if they believe they have been injured by this product."

"If there was ever any doubt about whose side this Administration is on, this Executive Order makes it crystal clear: Big Chemical comes first, and the health of Americans comes last,” Rep. Chellie Pingree said. “Calling glyphosate production a matter of ‘national security’ is absurd. Invoking wartime authorities to ramp up production while opening the door to liability shields for chemical companies is dangerous and indefensible. This Executive Order has nothing to do with protecting farmers or feeding the country—it’s about protecting corporate profits and insulating polluters from accountability. The No Immunity for Glyphosate Act draws a firm line: chemical companies do not get immunity or government-backed profit boosts because Washington cut them a deal, and Americans do not lose their right to seek justice when they’ve been harmed. I’m proud to work with Rep. Massie and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to uphold that basic principle, because protecting people from toxic exposure should never be a partisan issue."

The February 18 Executive Order invokes wartime authorities to expand and prioritize domestic glyphosate production and confers liability protections for companies participating in federally mandated manufacturing. Because the order explicitly directs and compels the production of glyphosate, manufacturers may argue that their production, formulation, and distribution were undertaken pursuant to federal directive - a defense that could be raised in litigation involving alleged injuries linked to glyphosate exposure, potentially shielding manufacturers from liability.

HR 7601, the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act:

Prohibits the use of federal funds to implement the Executive Order, preventing federal agencies from using appropriated funds to administer or enforce the directive; and
Affirms that glyphosate manufacturers are not immune from civil liability, ensuring that manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers cannot claim immunity under the Defense Production Act, federal contractor defenses, or other federal authorities, while preserving the right of injured individuals to pursue claims under federal and state law.

Original co-sponsors of the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act include Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).

The No Immunity for Glyphosate Act has been endorsed by Farm Action Fund.

The text of the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act is available at this link.

###

Rep. Massie Introduces Bill to Remove the United States from NATO

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Today, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) 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,” said Rep. Thomas Massie. “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.

###

Massie-Khanna "Epstein Files Transparency Act" Passes House of Representatives

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Washington, D.C.- Rep. Thomas Massie announces that his Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) passed the House of Representatives today on a vote of 427-1. EFTA received a vote after Rep. Massie successfully gathered 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force the legislation onto the House floor for consideration. EFTA requires the Attorney General to release all documents and records in possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

"Today's overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives to release the Epstein files is a major victory not only for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, but for victims of sexual abuse throughout the country," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "EFTA's passage brings Epstein's victims one step closer to receiving justice and Americans one step closer to receiving transparency."

"The Epstein Files Transparency Act now moves to the Senate," Rep. Massie continued. "The Senate should not add an amendment to EFTA to avoid disclosing those rich and powerful men who have evaded justice for so many years. Senators should quickly send the House-passed bill to the President for his signature."

Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act. President Trump has said that he will sign the legislation.

Before today's vote, Reps. Thomas Massie, Ro Khanna, and Marjorie Taylor Greene held a press conference at the Capitol with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse. The press conference is available in its entirety at this link.

###