October 2, 2015 Dear Friends, Thank you for taking the time to read my weekly newsletter. This week Congress passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government through December 11, 2015. While this legislation passed Congress, I was unable to support the measure. The House also passed legislation to prevent President Obama from lifting sanctions on Iran until they pay legal judgments owed to U.S. victims of Iranian terrorism and legislation to provide for the common defense of our nation.  ACTIONS IN THE HOUSE Continuing Resolution (CR) The House voted on the Senate amendment to H.R. 719 (CR) to provide funding for current government functions through December 11, 2015. I voted in opposition to the CR. I could not support a bill that simply delays action and leadership for ten weeks. Congress lurches from financial crisis to financial crisis because of short-term stopgaps that enable the new normal of dysfunction and ineffectiveness. I was sent to Washington to fix these problems not contribute to them. I look forward to working with my colleagues over the next ten weeks to draft a funding plan that addresses the fundamental drivers of our debt, reins in the executive branch's rules and regulations, and protects the right to life.  Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act The House passed and I was proud to cosponsor and support H.R. 3457, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. Iran owes U.S. victims more than $43 billion in legal judgments for damage caused by Iranian state-sponsored terrorism. Despite this, the Government of Iran will receive over a $100 billion in sanctions relief under the Iran Nuclear Agreement. This common sense legislation prohibits President Obama from lifting Iranian sanctions or releasing Iranian assets until Iran has paid all legal judgments to U.S. victims of terrorism. These victims and their families deserve justice and this bill gets them a step closer to that goal.  National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 The primary responsibility of Congress is to provide for the common defense. I supported and the House passed the Conference Report for H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. This legislation authorizes and prioritizes funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other select national security programs within the Department of Energy for FY2016. While there are many important provisions in the report, I want to highlight some of the concerns I heard most frequently:   Pay raise: Supports a 2.3% pay raise for FY2016, in accordance with current law, to ensure military pay raises keep pace with the private sector. Personal Carry of Firearms: Empowers post commanders to permit a member of the Armed Forces to carry appropriate firearms, including personal firearms, at DoD installations, reserve centers, and recruiting centers. Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (GTMO): Prohibits transferring detainees to the U.S., bars building detention facilities in the U.S., further limits the Secretary of Defense's ability to transfer detainees by reverting to stronger transfer policy established in the FY13 NDAA, and blocks the transfer of detainees to Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. If you would like to read more, the House Armed Services Committee has put together a fact sheet highlighting major provisions: Fact Sheet: Highlights of National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2016.  STAY IN TOUCH Let me know if there is anything my office can do to assist you. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for my newsletter and following me on Facebook and Twitter. SURVEY Do you support the CR passed by Congress? Let me know. Thanks for reading,  Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01) Member of Congress

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