Hello, Friends —
Earlier this year, after the House of Representatives passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I was appointed to serve on the NDAA conference committee. In a conference committee, members from the House and the Senate are supposed to reconcile the differences between the two separate versions of the NDAA passed by their respective chambers into one uniform bill that can be passed by both the House and Senate and then sent to the president.
Unfortunately, for the most part, this process was abandoned. Instead of the House and Senate conferees meeting to deliberate and negotiate on differing provisions in the bills, conferees were cut out of the process as House and Senate leadership huddled with lobbyists behind closed doors to reach a "deal." Essentially, the conference committee was a sham, representing business as usual in Washington.
The result was that the final NDAA dropped many of the conservative reforms to end "woke" ideology within the Department of Defense (DoD) that the House-passed bill included. The provision to prohibit the DoD from carrying out its unlawful policy of paying for travel to obtain an abortion was left out. The prohibition on taxpayer-funded gender-transition surgeries was also removed. Additionally, my amendments to eliminate the position of Chief Diversity Officer at DoD and prohibit drag shows or drag-queen story hours were dropped as a part of this "compromise."
Moreover, egregiously, an extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through April 19, 2024, was tacked onto the new bill, even though such an extension was not in either the House or Senate version of the NDAA. FISA section 702, which is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, authorizes surveillance of foreign individuals, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used it as an end-around on the Fourth Amendment to search the communications of Americans without a warrant. It is simply unacceptable to include an extension of this widely abused authority in the NDAA, especially when the House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, overwhelmingly passed on Wednesday a bipartisan bill that would reform FISA section 702 to require the FBI to get a warrant to spy on Americans.
For these reasons, when asked to sign the conference report in my capacity as a conferee, I refused to do so.
REP. GAETZ REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO HOLD SAUDI ARABIA ACCOUNTABLE FOR 2019 NAS PENSACOLA TERRORIST ATTACK
Four years ago, Mohammed Alshamrani, a Saudi terrorist, shot and killed three U.S. Navy sailors and wounded many others at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola in Florida’s First Congressional District. Those killed in the NAS Pensacola terrorist attack were Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Airman Mohammed Haitham, and Airman Apprentice Cameron Walters.
Alshamrani was participating in a Pentagon-sponsored training program, which granted him access to the base. Prior to his enrollment in the program, the Saudi government was negligent in properly screening Alshamrani and derelict in monitoring and reporting his radicalization. The Saudi government also failed on its promise to compensate the victims of Alshamrani's attack.
That's why on Wednesday, the fourth anniversary of the attack, I reintroduced the "Saudi Arabia December 6, 2019, Anti-Terror and Accountability Act." The legislation, if enacted, would hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accountable for aiding and abetting the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola and provide financial support to the victims.
This legislation includes the following provisions:
- Ends support to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
- Halts any military officer-exchange programs with Saudi Arabia.
- Prohibits the export of weapons and munitions to Saudi Arabia.
- Authorizes that the victims of the NAS Pensacola terrorist attack may seek damages from the Saudi Arabian government through 34 USC 20144: Justice for United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund.
- Withdraws $1 billion from U.S. military aid to Ukraine and deposits the same amount to the Justice for United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund to provide compensatory damages to the victims of the NAS Pensacola attack.
- Makes available any unused funds to all victims of state-sponsored terror to include September 11th victims.
Additionally, I sent a letter to President Joe Biden last month, renewing my call for a National Day of Remembrance. The letter requested Biden to order flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide on December 6th to honor the victims and surviving family members of the service members killed in the 2019 terrorist attack on NAS Pensacola.
Full text of the bill can be found here and full text of the letter to President Biden can be found here.
REP. GAETZ: "ARE DEMOCRATS GREEN-LIGHTING AN ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP?"
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On Monday, I joined "America First with Sebastian Gorka" on Salem News Network to discuss the performance of House Speaker Mike Johnson, how Democrats' desperation to stop President Trump could result in violence, breaking developments regarding the Biden impeachment inquiry, and more!
CONGRESSMAN GAETZ REACTS TO EXPULSION OF GEORGE SANTOS
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Last week, I joined "The Charlie Kirk Show" on Real America's Voice to discuss the expulsion of George Santos from the House of Representatives, why renewing the FISA program would be terrible for our country, Air Force officials who called Turning Point USA an "alt-right" organization, and more!
FIREBRAND EP. 137: REP. GAETZ AND MARK KAYE DISCUSS THE SEMINOLE SNUB
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On Monday's episode of Firebrand, radio host Mark Kaye joined me to discuss how the Florida State Seminoles were snubbed of their rightful spot in the College Football Playoffs, the rapidly intensifying Biden impeachment inquiry, and his new book, "The Untold Story of Christmas."
FIREBRAND EP. 138: MCCARTHY QUITS CONGRESS
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On Wednesday, I hosted an episode of Firebrand, where I reacted to the announcement from Kevin McCarthy that he is resigning from the House of Representatives this month — PLUS breaking news of a bomb threat at Naval Air Station Pensacola, war crimes in Ukraine, and more!
AROUND THE DISTRICT
UPCOMING UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY SUMMER SEMINAR
Every summer, the United States Service Academies host a "summer seminar" to show students who are interested in becoming cadets or midshipmen the lifestyle and opportunities that are associated with these prestigious institutions. Applications are now open through January 15, 2024.
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) has recently released its dates for this upcoming Summer Seminar for current high school juniors hoping to enter the Class of 2029. The times and dates for the USAFA Summer Seminar Sessions are below:
Session A: June 4-6, 2024 (Virtual)
Session B: June 11-14, 2024 (In Person)
Session C: June 18-21, 2024 (In Person)
For more information on the selection process and how to apply, click here.
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
WEAR Pensacola — December 6, 2023
Gaetz reintroduces legislation to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for NAS Pensacola terrorist attack
"Gaetz's office says if enacted, the legislation would hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accountable for aiding and abetting the terrorist attack and provide financial support to the victims. Four years ago, Saudi national Mohammed Alshamrani shot and killed three U.S. Navy sailors — Ensign Kaleb Watson, Airman Mohammed Haitham and Airman Apprentice Cameron Walters — and wounded eight others at NAS Pensacola. Alshamrani was participating in a Pentagon-sponsored training program, which granted him access to the base."
The Hill — December 7, 2023
Speaker Johnson takes heat from House conservatives over short-term extension of warrantless surveillance powers
"Section 702 allows for the warrantless surveillance of foreigners located abroad. But Americans who are in touch with targets also have their communications swept up on the search, a dynamic of alarm to both Republicans and Democrats passionate about privacy rights. 'We were talking about the elements of our reform bill, and the need to get that passed and sent over to the Senate,' said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has worked on a House Judiciary Committee 702 proposal that would require a warrant to review information collected on Americans — something vehemently opposed by the intelligence community."
BizPac Review — December 5, 2023
Matt Gaetz accuses WaPo op-ed of 'green-lighting' Trump's assassination
"The anti-Trump left is in panic mode over recent polling showing Donald Trump beating out President Joe Biden and has been countering with full-on fear-mongering, claiming 'democracy' would cease to exist in America if the former president is granted another term. 'Like Caesar, Trump wields a clout that transcends the laws and institutions of government, based on the unswerving personal loyalty of his army of followers,' Kagan wrote. According to the Florida Republican, there is a sinister plot at play here. 'They're obviously green-lighting assassination,' Gaetz tweeted while sharing Kagan's column."
WEAR Pensacola — December 4, 2023
Fans, officials voice disappointment over FSU's snub from College Football Playoff
"'I am incredibly disappointed on behalf of student athletes, our coaches and the many FSU fans that thought winning all the games would be enough to get a spot in the College Football Playoff,' Rep. Matt Gaetz told WEAR News on Monday.'"
WHAT WE'RE READING
Revolver News — December 5, 2023
Is the Washington Post looking for a “lone wolf” to assassinate President Trump? Matt Gaetz seems to think so…
Fox News — December 7, 2023
Hunter Biden's ex-business associate Tony Bobulinski demands Biden 'stop lying' about 2017 meeting
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