Thomas Massie

Rep. Massie Forcing House of Representatives to Vote on Impeaching Secretary Hegseth

Position: Rep. Massie is forcing a House vote on impeaching Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, asserting that Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution by engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, along with other alleged constitutional violations. He also argues the President should replace Hegseth.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, announces he is forcing a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth. Among his charges, Rep. Massie asserts that Secretary Hegseth is violating three specific provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Rep. Massie's actions today will force the House to vote on eight specific impeachment charges against the Secretary of Defense. "By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "Secretary Hegseth's constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran. He is abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders, and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration by retaliating against them for exercising free speech. If we are to remain true to our oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States,' the House of Representatives must act." "My effort to impeach Secretary Hegseth is a much gentler version of what's coming when the Democrats assume control of the House and Senate next year," Rep. Massie continued. "They will hold hearings and trials. President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate." The impeachment charges brought against Secretary Hegseth are summarized as follows: The text of the charges is available at this link.

Reps. Massie, Pingree Introduce the Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act

Position: Representatives Massie and Pingree introduced the Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act, which would create a federal meat-inspection exemption allowing small livestock producers to slaughter and sell meat directly to consumers, with the stated aim of lowering red meat prices and easing regulatory burdens on small farms.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. "Americans are concerned about the rising cost of red meat and are looking for solutions that will lower prices," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "The Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act will reduce the regulatory burden placed on small meat producers and enhance their ability to sell directly to local consumers. President Trump announced this great idea, but pressure from the international meat packing lobby and limits on executive power prevent him from making good on his promise. It’s up to Congress to change the law and deliver relief to American farmers and ranchers. Under U.S. law, poultry farmers are already allowed to process their own birds, so why not let small-scale livestock farmers do the same?" "Americans increasingly want to know where their food comes from. Maine has established a constitutional right to food, with rural communities across the state adopting direct farm-to-consumer sales. Our bipartisan bill would build on that work," said Congresswoman Pingree. "By allowing producers to process a limited number of animals on their farms and sell meat directly to consumers, this bill will strengthen access to locally-raised meat and provide another avenue for farmers to sell their products. Farmers and consumers have waited long enough for relief, and this bill will deliver." "The biggest obstacle to a prosperous local food system in this country is the lack of slaughterhouse infrastructure," said Pete Kennedy, consultant for the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF). Kennedy continued, "This situation has primarily been brought on by the 1967 Wholesome Meat Act which preempted state laws on meat regulation and generally prohibited the sale of on-farm slaughtered meat. This bill restores a deeply rooted historical tradition, the sale of meat from livestock slaughtered on a farm direct from the farmer to the consumer, which can help strengthen food security and the rural economy. Many thanks to Representatives Massie and Pingree for taking a significant step towards food emancipation and improving the quality of the American food supply." "Why is beef so expensive? Because beef processors act as a cartel, paying farmers too little for their herds and charging customers too much," said Dr. Meryl Nass, M.D., President, Save Our Food and Farms, a project of Door to Freedom. "All three of the largest beef processors in the US (JBS, Tyson, and Cargill) were forced to settle with the DOJ for price-fixing in 2025 and 2026. Isn't it time our local farmers and ranchers were allowed to compete with them? This bill throws a life raft to America's small farmers. Between 2017 and 2022 the US lost 142,000 farms. Providing farmers a chance to avoid being squeezed by the Big 4 meat processors will give them another chance at prosperity." The Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act creates a federal meat-inspection exemption for small livestock producers who slaughter and process animals raised on their own farms for direct distribution to consumers. Producers seeking an inspection exemption may slaughter no more than 25 cattle, 60 swine, 250 sheep, or 250 goats annually. The legislation requires that meat exempted from inspection requirements must be labeled “Exempt—21 U.S.C. 623,” must include the name and address of the producer, must remain subject to federal adulteration and misbranding standards, and must comply with any food-safety or special-handling requirements established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill also expressly preserves state laws that provide broader exemptions for on-farm slaughter, processing, or sale of meat. The text of the Red Meat Inspection Exemption Act is available at this link.

Rep. Massie Forces Vote to Impeach Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth

Position: Rep. Massie states that Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth has violated the War Powers Resolution by engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, and announces he will force a House vote on articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. For Immediate Release Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov Contact #: 202-225-3465 Washington, D.C.- Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces he is forcing a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth. Among his charges, Rep. Massie asserts that Secretary Hegseth is operating in contravention of three specific provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Representative Massie is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. "By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "Secretary Hegseth's constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran. He is abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders, and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration by retaliating against them for exercising free speech. If we are to remain true to our oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States,' Congress must not turn a blind eye to Secretary Hegseth's unconstitutional and illegal actions." Rep. Massie will force the House to vote on eight specific charges against the Secretary of Defense. The charges are summarized as follows: The text of the charges against Secretary Hegseth is available at this link. ###

Reps. Massie, Burlison Introduce the "Flock-Off Act" to Defund Surveillance State Cameras

Position: Introduces the Flock-Off Act (H.R. 10221), which would prohibit federal funds from being used to purchase, install, maintain, operate, or upgrade automated license plate readers and biometric surveillance cameras. The sponsors state that the bill responds to privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns about surveillance technology.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. For Immediate Release Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov Contact #: 202-225-3465 Washington, D.C.- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces the introduction of H.R. 10221, the Flock-Off Act. The legislation responds to Americans' concerns about the growing surveillance state by prohibiting the use of federal funds to purchase, install, maintain, operate, or upgrade automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and biometric surveillance cameras. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) is co-leading the legislation. "The federal government shouldn’t provide 'security' grants to cities and police departments that have gone beyond the pale and turned their communities into a version of 1984," said Rep. Thomas Massie. "The Flock-Off Act withholds federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock cameras to surveil law-abiding citizens. Federal taxpayers should not be forced to fund the surveillance state." "Technology may change, but our constitutional rights do not,” said Congressman Eric Burlison. "The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches, and advances in surveillance technology should not come at the expense of our privacy and liberty. The federal government should not use taxpayer dollars to build a surveillance state that tracks law-abiding Americans. Our rights are unalienable, and Congress has a responsibility to protect them." Original cosponsors of the Flock-Off Act include Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN). The text of the Flock-Off Act is available at this link.

Massie, Khanna, Leger Fernández, Merkley, Luján Introduce the "Epstein Files Transparency Act II"

Position: Introduces legislation (H.R. 9694, Epstein Files Transparency Act II) that would give state attorneys general, Epstein victims, and members of Congress standing to sue the Department of Justice to compel compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act's disclosure requirements. The release also calls for the Attorney General to resign or not be confirmed.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. For Immediate Release Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov Contact #: 202-225-3465 Washington, D.C.- Rep. Thomas Massie announces the introduction of H.R. 9694, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. This bill gives standing to state attorneys general, the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators, and members of Congress to challenge the Department of Justice (DOJ) in court for the DOJ's failure to comply with the disclosure of materials required by Public Law 119-38, the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA). Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, are co-leading the House legislation. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) are leading the Senate version of the bill. "Since the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law on November 19, 2025, the Department of Justice has flagrantly and consistently ignored EFTA's disclosure requirements," said Rep. Massie. "The Department of Justice continues to unlawfully withhold over 3 million Epstein files that should be released to the public. In addition, the DOJ is unlawfully maintaining heavy redactions on the files it is releasing. State attorneys general and victims should have the right to sue the Attorney General of the United States to compel compliance with a transparency law President Trump signed." "Rep. Massie and I introduced our bill to release the Epstein files nearly a year ago. Since then, the DOJ has violated our law, delayed the release of millions of files, botched the redactions, and denied the survivors justice. That’s why I’m joining Rep. Massie and my colleagues to introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act II that allows state attorneys general and survivors to sue the U.S. Attorney General and demand transparency," said Rep. Khanna. "Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice have refused to release as many as 3 million Epstein files: they are hiding the truth from the American people and creating even more injustice and trauma for survivors," said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. "When Trump’s administration does not comply with the law, there must be consequences. Attorney General Blanche is not fit to serve, should not be confirmed, and should instead resign. In the meantime, we must pass this bill to put power where it belongs—with survivors. No administration, no Attorney General, and no Department of Justice is above the law." "At Trump’s bidding, the Department of Justice’s highest-ranking officials continue to break the law, denying justice to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims with an unprecedented cover-up of the abuse of our most vulnerable," said Sen. Merkley. "As long as those in power continue to side with the Epstein Class and shield abusers from accountability for their horrific crimes, we need the Epstein Files Transparency Act II to strengthen the original law we wrote, crack down on the DOJ’s illegal non-compliance, and stand with survivors and those seeking justice. The rich and powerful cannot be allowed to escape justice, and the American public deserves the transparency it is crying out for." "Nearly eight months after our Epstein Files Transparency Act became law, the Trump Department of Justice has failed to comply with the law by releasing the Epstein files and delivering justice for survivors,” said Senator Luján. "That is why I am partnering with my colleagues to introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act II to ensure accountability, transparency, and justice for survivors. Our legislation empowers state attorneys general and victims to challenge this Department of Justice for failing to provide the transparency and accountability that Epstein’s victims deserve." New Mexico's Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, offered the following statement in support of EFTA II: "Survivors have waited too long for answers, and my office has waited too long for the federal government to turn over the unredacted records we need to complete our criminal investigation," said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. "This legislation gives state law enforcement the access this investigation requires, and it gives survivors control over their own records. Every day of delay is another day survivors are denied the justice they are owed." The Epstein Files Transparency Act II: If the House does not consider EFTA II within seven legislative days, a discharge petition will be circulated. The text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II is available at this link.

Rep. Massie Introduces House Resolution to Honor the Crew of the USS Liberty

Position: The release states that Israel's June 8, 1967 attack on the USS Liberty was unprovoked, and calls on the President to declassify and publicly release all related records and for the House to honor the crew by resolution. It also expresses the sense that the lives and safety of U.S. citizens and servicemembers should be paramount in U.S. foreign policy.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. For Immediate Release Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov Contact #: 202-225-3465 Washington, D.C.- Today, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced legislation to honor the men of the USS Liberty. The Massie resolution recognizes the fallen members of the USS Liberty's crew by name and urges the President to declassify and publicly release all records related to Israel's unprovoked attack on the ship. "59 years ago, on June 8, 1967, Israel attacked the USS Liberty in international waters," said Rep. Thomas Massie."34 Americans were killed, and 174 were wounded by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during this unprovoked attack. It is long overdue for the House of Representatives to pass legislation recognizing the sacrifices made by the USS Liberty crew. I am asking the House to urge the President to declassify and publicly release all records related to Israel's attack on the USS Liberty." Rep. Massie's resolution reads as follows: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in honoring the men of the USS Liberty, urging the declassification of all records relating to the June 8, 1967, attack, and affirming that the lives and safety of United States citizens and servicemembers shall be paramount in the conduct of United States foreign policy. Whereas, on June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty and her crew of 294 was operating in international waters; Whereas, an unprovoked attack by Israeli warplanes and torpedo boats resulted in the death of 34 Americans and the wounding of 174 others; Whereas, Israeli mirage jets conducted multiple sorties, attacking the USS Liberty with rockets, cannons, and napalm, and following the air assault, three Israeli motor torpedo boats fired multiple torpedoes, one of which struck the Liberty on the starboard side; Whereas, eyewitness accounts from crew members of the USS Liberty testified that three lifeboats that had been launched in an attempt by crew to save the most seriously wounded were machine-gunned by Israeli torpedo boats; Whereas, upon receiving distress signals from the USS Liberty, the USS Saratoga and the USS America launched aircraft in response to the attack to defend the Liberty; Whereas, all of the aircraft were recalled before they were able to assist the Liberty; Whereas, under the command of the severely wounded Captain William L. McGonagle, the officers and crew of the USS Liberty fought alone for 17 hours to save their ship, care for their wounded shipmates, and overcome severe battle damage, often placing themselves in extremely hazardous situations with complete disregard for their own safety, until they finally rendezvoused with the USS Davis, USS Massey, and USS Little Rock; Whereas, having suffered through the attack and subsequent recovery, the crew were informed that under penalty of arrest, fines, and imprisonment, they were forbidden to speak about the incident which further compounded the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress; Whereas, Captain Ward Boston, Jr., Senior legal counsel to the Navy Court of Inquiry reviewing the USS Liberty incident, in a signed sworn affidavit, attested that he and Admiral Isaac Kidd believed the attack was a “deliberate effort to sink an American ship and murder its entire crew… that the Israeli attack was planned and deliberate, and could not possibly have been an accident”, but were pressured politically to conclude otherwise; Whereas, Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in a 1997 letter that he, “never believed the attack on the USS Liberty was a case of mistaken identity. That is ridiculous…Israel knew the Liberty could intercept radio messages from all parties… to the ongoing war... and that Israel was preparing to seize the Golan Heights from Syria despite President Johnson’s known opposition”, that Israel wanted to prevent Washington from interfering in that campaign, and “the result was a wanton sneak attack”; Whereas, Admiral Thomas Moorer wrote, “What is so chilling and cold-blooded, of course, is that [Israel] could kill as many Americans as they did in confidence that Washington would cooperate in quelling any public outcry”; Whereas, Dean Rusk, former Secretary of State, wrote, “there is every reason to believe that the U.S.S Liberty was identified, or at least her nationality determined, by Israeli aircraft approximately one hour before the attack. In these circumstances, the later military attack by Israeli aircraft on the U.S.S Liberty is quite literally incomprehensible,” Richard Helms, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said he did not think there could be “any doubt that the Israelis knew exactly what they were doing,” and Bobby Ray Inman, former Director of the National Security Agency, “flatly rejected” the Israeli explanation that the attack on the USS Liberty was a case of misidentification, stating, “it is just exceedingly difficult to believe that [the Liberty] was not correctly identified”; Whereas, during the attack, the USS Liberty flew a 5x8 and a 7x13 foot American flag, with the English letters L-I-B-E-R-T-Y on the ship’s stern, making it distinguishable from Egyptian vessels; Whereas, despite the valor displayed by the crew of the USS Liberty and the decorations awarded for their actions, many aspects of the attack and its aftermath remain shrouded in secrecy and controversy; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the gallant service and sacrifice of the crew of the USS Liberty in defense of their ship and fellow sailors during the attack of June 8, 1967; (2) honors the lives, service, and memories of William B. Allenbaugh of Baltimore, Maryland; Philip McCutcheon Armstrong, Jr. of Detroit, Michigan; Gary R. Blanchard of Wichita, Kansas; Allen M. Blue of Yakima, Washington; Francis Brown of Albany, New York; Ronnie J. Campbell of Sevierville, Tennessee; Jerry L. Converse of Puyallup, Washington; Robert B. Eisenberg of St. Paul, Minnesota; Jerry L. Goss of North Vernon, Indiana; Curtis A. Graves of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; Lawrence P. Hayden of Houston, Texas; Warren E. Hersey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Alan Higgins of Weymouth, Massachusetts; Carl L. Hoar of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Richard W. Keene, Jr. of Batavia, New York; James L. Lenau of Washington, Missouri; Raymond E. Linn of Adamsville, Ohio; James M. Lupton of Shreveport, Louisiana; Duane R. Marggraf of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; David W. Marlborough of Waterville, Maine; Anthony P. Mendle of Waterbury, Connecticut; Carl C. Nygren of Williamsport, Pennsylvania; James C. Pierce of Clinton, North Carolina; Jack L. Raper of Cedartown, Georgia; Edward E. Rehmeyer III of York, Pennsylvania; David Skolak of Gary, Indiana; John C. Smith, Jr. of Ithaca, New York; Melvin D. Smith of Alamance, North Carolina; John C. Spicher of Tarentum, Pennsylvania; Alexander N. Thompson, Jr. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Thomas R. Thornton of Springfield, Ohio; Philippe C. Tiedtke of Santa Cruz, California; Stephen S. Toth of San Diego, California; Frederick J. Walton of Niagara Falls, New York who died as a result of the attack; (3) urges the President to declassify and make publicly available all records, documents, reports, memoranda, communications, photographs, recordings, transcripts, intelligence assessments, operational records, after-action reports, investigative files, briefing materials, diplomatic communications, and internal communications of the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and any other department or agency of the United States Government relating to the June 8, 1967, attack on the USS Liberty; and (4) affirms that the lives and safety of United States citizens and servicemembers shall be held paramount in the conduct of the foreign policy of the United States and shall not be subordinated to the interests of any foreign nation. A copy of the resolution is available at this link. Rep. Massie has previously delivered remarks on the House floor to honor the fallen members of the USS Liberty's crew and to recognize survivors of the attack who were present in the House gallery. Video of Rep. Massie's remarks is available at this link. ###

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

Position: Rep. Massie introduced legislation to close a loophole in the Foreign Agents Registration Act so that organizations lobbying on behalf of foreign interests must register under FARA, framed as a transparency measure.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. 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 text of the Americans Insist on Political Agent Clarity Act is available here.

Rep. Massie's NICS Data Reporting Act Passes House

Position: Rep. Massie states that NICS background checks produce too many false denials and a racial disparity, and supports requiring the Attorney General to report aggregate demographic data on NICS ineligibility determinations to Congress.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. 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

Position: Representatives Massie and Gluesenkamp Perez introduced legislation to exempt capital gains taxes on the sale or exchange of farm property between family members, with a 10-year holding period to discourage immediate resale to non-family entities.

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. 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

If you would like to set up a tour of the White House or the Capitol, please use this link. 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. 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.