{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"KY\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=79C900B3-96D4-4F0C-8070-3AFE4E35463B", "The Pacific Islands Embassy Act Becomes Law", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014The Pacific Islands Embassy Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at countering the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through increased American diplomacy in the Pacific is now law. The legislation establishes physical U.S. Embassies on the Pacific Island nations of the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Tonga, and authorizes expanded physical presence on Vanuatu to reinforce American leadership in the Pacific region.\n\nThis legislation was included as an amendment to the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. U.S. Congressmen Andy Barr (R-KY) and Ed Case (D-HI) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. U.S. Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) was an original cosponsor and proponent of the bill in the House. U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) were the Senate sponsors of the bill. U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) were key supporters and voted for the legislation in the Senate.\n\n\u201cExpanding America\u2019s diplomatic footprint in Asia is a simple but powerful way we can reaffirm our longstanding bilateral partnerships in the Pacific. Strengthening our relationships in the Pacific will help counter the CCP\u2019s predatory Belt and Road Initiative and show that the U.S. remains a partner of choice. I thank all of my colleagues who supported this legislation,\u201d said Congressman Barr.\n\n\u201cThe Indo-Pacific is a region of active competition with China, and our Pacific Island partners are especially vulnerable to Chinese coercion. This legislation will strengthen our diplomatic presence in the region and signal our resolve to our partners and allies,\u201d said Senator Young.\n\n\u201cStrong U.S. diplomacy in the Pacific is essential. We brought Democrats and Republicans together to establish a robust physical diplomatic presence in these strategic island nations,\u201d said Senator Ossoff.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5BC15ACF-D074-4C72-98B6-93D5AAFCEE42", "Barr\u2019s Blue Grass Army Depot Study Becomes Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Richmond, KY\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr\u2019s (KY-06) provision to conduct a feasibility study at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) is now law. Barr\u2019s legislation was included as an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was recently enacted into law.\n\nIn addition to its primary role managing and shipping conventional munitions, BGAD\u2019s chemical demilitarization mission employs nearly 1,450 highly skilled, highly paid workers and has contributed more than $1 billion in local payroll since 2006. The feasibility study will assess potential missions, plants, or industries feasible for Army or the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) needs at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-destruction Pilot Plant following the completion of the chemical demilitarization mission at BGAD. This amendment requires the feasibility study to be completed and submitted to Congress no later than March 1, 2023.\n\n\u201cFor over a decade, BGAD has housed an essential chemical demilitarization project in addition to being a significant part of Madison County\u2019s economy. Kentuckians working at BGAD have served the DOD and our country well. This feasibility study will accelerate the process of examining ways the facility could transition to other key projects that would benefit the DOD or the federal government once the demilitarization project has concluded,\u201d said Congressman Barr.\n\n\u201cThe Bluegrass Army Depot, and all of its operations, is an important part of Madison County and I am appreciative of Congressman Barr\u2019s championing this amendment in the NDAA to prepare for a post-CSEPP Madison County. Our team in Madison County has also been preparing for this, and this feasibility study will be a boost for our efforts and help us continue to prepare for the future,\u201d said Reagan Taylor, Judge Executive of Madison County.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2DE5A309-1131-4666-A68B-0D9A6E0BC896", "HISA's Rulemaking Authority Confirmed", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement upon passage of fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations legislation which confirmed the rulemaking authority of Congressman Barr\u2019s Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).\n\n\u201cI opposed the Omnibus spending bill for a variety of reasons, predominantly because of its excessive level of non-defense spending, which will only perpetuate the fiscally reckless policies that have burdened American taxpayers with 40-year high inflation and a $30 trillion national debt.\n\n\u201cNevertheless, I strongly supported and applaud the inclusion in the bill of language clarifying the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s oversight of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority\u2019s rulemaking authority. This technical correction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act confirms congressional intent \u2014and my intent, as the bill\u2019s author\u2014 to adhere to the nondelegation doctrine, removing any doubt about the constitutionality of this law.\n\n\u201cNow, HISA can continue to fulfill its mission to improve the safety of jockeys and our equine athletes by establishing uniform rules of competition and drug safety standards that will increase the popularity, public confidence, and international competitiveness of the sport.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A083C2F5-46D0-4832-A01F-52123ACDD661", "Barr Opposes Nearly $2 Trillion Democrat Spending Bill", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement after voting in opposition to Democrats\u2019 reckless $1.7 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations package.\n\n\u201cToday, Congress passed a nearly $2 trillion Omnibus spending bill that continues the reckless fiscal policies of the last two years which have burdened American taxpayers with 40-year high inflation and a $30 trillion national debt.\n\n\u201cTo be sure, I support a number of key features of the legislation, including much needed investments in national defense, critical security assistance to Ukraine and Taiwan, a number of grants I helped to secure for my district, the Secure Act 2.0 which will enhance retirement savings, and a technical correction to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act that will clarify the congressional intent and constitutionality of the law I authored.\n\n\u201cNevertheless, I cannot in good conscience support a broken, rushed, end-of-year appropriations process, resulting in an inflationary spending blowout written largely by only a handful of lawmakers, behind closed doors, and with zero House Republican input. This unpaid-for spending spree not only worsens the debt crisis we are handing down to future generations, it also reflects the misguided priorities of Washington, D.C., increasing funding for the IRS to harass law abiding Americans while effectively ignoring the illegal immigration crisis at our southern border.\n\n\u201cFor these reasons, and many more, I voted against the Omnibus spending bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3A5BE4B6-42AE-4AD9-A76D-7E9A2CB50E87", "Barr's CAROL Act Signed Into Law", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 The Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act was signed into law today. Last year, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced this legislation in the House to honor the legacy of his wife, Carol Leavell Barr, who passed away tragically from sudden cardiac death brought on by mitral valve prolapse, an underlying heart condition that causes death in .2% of cases.\n\n\u201cI am excited to announce that today, the CAROL Act, my legislation in honor of my late wife Carol Leavell Barr was signed into law,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cThis bill unlocks critical funding through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to further research on valvular heart disease to prevent countless other families from facing the same loss that my family did. I cannot thank enough all the many advocates who championed this bill to passage and enactment, and I am excited to see the impact this legislation has on countless families across the United States!\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to Andy\u2019s hard work and persistence, the CAROL Act was signed into law. The research authorized by this bill on valvular heart disease will save countless American lives and is a touching tribute to Carol Barr,\u201d said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. \u201cAndy\u2019s tenacity and determination continues to inspire all of us here in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cHistory has been made \u2013 the CAROL Act has been signed into law thanks to the hard work of Andy Barr in memory of his late wife Carol,\u201d said House Republican Whip Steve Scalise. \u201cValvular heart disease is rare, but it can be deadly. This bill will be a huge step in helping the thousands of women who suffer from this disease and invest in research and treatment towards saving lives. I am proud that Carol\u2019s memory will be honored in such a significant way, and I want to applaud Andy for turning his personal tragedy into meaningful change.\u201d\n\nThe CAROL Act was also endorsed by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, WomenHeart, the Adult Congenital Heart Association, the Alliance for Aging Research American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Association of Black Cardiologists, CardioVisual, Caregiver Action Network Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF), HealthyWomen, Heart Valve Voice US, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Medical Management Associates, Inc., Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the Society for Women's Health, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, StopAfib.org/American Foundation for Women's Health, Sustainable Cardiovascular Health Equity Development Alliance, The Marfan Foundation, The Mended Hearts. Inc., and the Women First Research Coalition.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/12/on-house-floor-comer-honors-judge-wade-white-on-his-retirement", "Comer Honors Judge Wade White on House Floor", "2022-12-19", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON- On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman James Comer (R-KY.) honored Judge Wade White of Lyon County on his retirement. Judge White has served as the Lyon County Judge Executive for twelve years. Congressman Comer highlighted the many awards and nominations Judge White has received throughout his career and thanked him for his dedication to the community.\n\nBelow are his remarks as prepared:\n\nMr. Speaker,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=154CA1C0-7679-4199-821F-39A4831AE70D", "Barr, Braun Introduce Measure to Tank Biden\u2019s ESG Rule", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) measure to nullify the Department of Labor\u2019s recent rule proposal to greenlight environmental, social, governance (ESG) investing in federal pension plans. U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) is leading the companion measure in the U.S. Senate. Axios\u2019 Alayna Treene scooped the introduction.\n\n\u201cBy finalizing rulemaking allowing plan fiduciaries to consider ESG factors, Biden\u2019s Department of Labor is not only steering capital away from the American energy sector and driving up prices at the pump, but is also threatening the returns and financial security of unwitting federal employees whose retirement funds will likely be invested in higher fee, less diversified, and lower performing ESG-tethered instruments in the name of woke politics. This Congressional Review Act measure will reject the DOL\u2019s outrageous politicization of federal pension plans and protect investors by doing so,\u201d said Congressman Barr.\n\n\u201cWhen American workers invest in their retirement, they should be able to trust their financial advisors to be investing with their best interests in mind, not the interests of liberal activists. American retirement funds have already taken such a hit from Joe Biden\u2019s failed economic policies, they should not be politicized. I am proud to lead my colleagues in this effort to overturn the Biden administration\u2019s woke 401k rule and protect Americans\u2019 retirement funds,\u201d said Senator Braun.\n\nReps Rick Allen (R-GA), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Bryan Steil (R-WI), French Hill (R-AR), and Brad Finstad (R-MN) are cosponsors of Congressman Barr\u2019s CRA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E3B5B3E2-010D-4E05-9BD3-7D87190A43CC", "Belfry High School Students Win Congressional App Challenge for Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) announced the winning team for the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for Kentucky's Fifth District is from Belfry High School in Pike County. Students Natalie Fite, Reese Varney and Ian Belcher designed an app called \"Sm;)e\" to provide individuals with mental health resources on their mobile devices. The team was one of sixteen who submitted an app design for the national competition. The winning app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, representing the most innovative students of southeastern Kentucky.\n\n\"This has been our most competitive app challenge in the last seven years,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the House. \"The ingenuity among our students is incredible. They coded innovative apps to address challenges in our communities and provided videos to explain their work in detail to the judges. They designed apps to address a multitude of issues ranging from mental health to healthcare equipment, small business support, boosting tourism and much more. I'm very proud of all of our students who competed this year.\"\n\nSeveral student teams displayed their app proposals this year at the SOAR Summit in Pikeville, Kentucky in October. Congressman Rogers had the opportunity to see those apps first-hand and speak to the students who designed them.\n\n\"The problems associated with mental health have been a growing issue. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of many has deteriorated exponentially. Suicide rates are higher than they have ever been. Our application, Sm;)e, aims to help people battling mental health issues find a way to keep going,\" stated Fite in her team's winning application. \"It provides encouragement and links to resources in their local area. Sm;)e could serve as their light at the end of the tunnel or as a glimpse of hope.\"\n\nThe winning team is invited to Washington, DC for the #Houseofcode Capitol Hill Reception in 2023.\n\n\"I am very proud of our students at Belfry High School for putting forth their best efforts for this national challenge. They invested dozens of hours learning and developing the code required for a fully functional mobile app with purpose,\" said Haridas Chandran, a computer science teacher at Belfry High School. \"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to represent Eastern Kentucky in Washington, DC.\"\n\nFor more information about how to compete in the Congressional App Challenge in 2023, visit congressionalappchallenge.us and halrogers.house.gov/students.\n\nStudent Natalie Fite explained the Sm;)e app to Congressman Rogers at the SOAR Summit on October 19, 2022\n\nSm;)e App image designed by the winning team at Belfry High School", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/12/comer-in-wsj-get-ready-for-republican-oversight", "Comer in WSJ: Get Ready for Republican Oversight", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) outlines how Republicans will return the committee to its proper role of rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the federal government. He details the committee\u2019s top investigative priorities next Congress, including the border and fentanyl crises, pandemic relief fraud, botched Afghanistan withdrawal, energy crisis, Covid origins, and the Biden family\u2019s suspicious business schemes. He concludes by emphasizing that Republicans will use the power of the gavel to provide Americans the answers, transparency, and accountability they deserve.\n\nDemocrats\u2019 unchecked one-party rule over the past two years has resulted in multiple crises abroad and at home. Americans have made clear they want accountability in Washington, and Republicans are ready to deliver.\n\nOn every front, President Biden\u2019s policies have been a disaster. Americans are facing historic inflation, skyrocketing energy costs, the worst border crisis in U.S. history, and surging fentanyl overdoses. They\u2019ve witnessed our nation\u2019s standing on the world stage plummet after the Afghanistan withdrawal. Students are suffering from acute learning loss and mental-health struggles because teachers unions and Democratic politicians worked to keep schools closed.\n\nGovernmental transparency also suffered, abetting these disastrous policies. Under Democratic control, the House Oversight Committee targeted American industry instead of fulfilling its primary job of providing Americans governmental transparency. Democrats\u2019 inordinate focus on things like climate pledges made by U.S. oil and gas companies shielded the administration from meaningful oversight\u2014as is made evident by the F grade the Oversight Committee received from the nonpartisan Lugar Center.\n\nThat will change in January when the GOP assumes its House majority. In the new Congress, Republicans will return the committee to its proper role: rooting out waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government. Committee members will conduct credible oversight, identify problems, and propose reforms. Here are some of our top priorities:\n\n\u2022 Border and fentanyl crises. We will continue our investigation of the president\u2019s radical immigration agenda, which has created the worst border crisis in U.S. history. The investigation began in February 2021 when congressional digging and media reporting shed light on how Mr. Biden\u2019s policies aren\u2019t preventing human smuggling, drug cartel operations, the flow of deadly drugs such as fentanyl into American communities, and the flood of illegal immigrants across the border in flagrant violation of immigration law. Not only has the administration failed to secure the border, it is diverting nearly $600 million intended for public health to pay for its self-inflicted national-security and public-safety crisis.\n\n\u2022 Pandemic relief fraud. We owe it to Americans to identify how $560 billion\u2014as I\u2019ve estimated from watchdog, agency and media reports\u2014spent under the guise of pandemic relief were lost to waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement. The Biden administration has allowed fraud to run rampant within federal assistance programs. Even after the pandemic abated and many states reopened, officials pushed for more inflation-inducing government spending. Reporting also indicates that states and localities are using Covid relief funds meant to address learning loss for unrelated, politically tinged expenditures such as electric buses and controversial ideologies. Republicans will ensure that the remaining money goes to helping children harmed by localities and states\u2019 adherence to remote learning and addressing learning loss.\n\n\u2022 Afghanistan withdrawal. The Biden administration\u2019s botched exit led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and left the Afghan military confused and unprepared to defend the country. As a result, the Taliban seized American military equipment and nearly all of the progress made for women\u2019s rights in the country was reversed. We began an investigation in August 2021 into the administration\u2019s failure to conduct a safe withdrawal and the many consequences for national security. We plan to continue it.\n\n\u2022 Energy crisis. The president\u2019s war on U.S.-made fossil fuels has killed well-paying jobs in energy and driven up gas and energy prices. Yet even as Americans struggle to make ends meet, Mr. Biden has refused to unleash U.S. energy production, and instead has begged foreign dictators to pump more oil with meager price effects. Media reports say the president tried to work out a deal for Saudi Arabia to increase production ahead of the midterms. House Republicans will continue our investigation, which began in May 2022, into Mr. Biden\u2019s efforts to diminish domestic energy production as part of his administration\u2019s radical climate agenda and how he has jeopardized American energy independence.\n\n\u2022 Covid origins. Discovering the origin of Covid-19 is vital to protecting Americans from future pandemics. Evidence continues to mount that the virus originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China. U.S. taxpayer dollars were funneled to the Wuhan lab to conduct gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses, and it seems that Anthony Fauci knew that the lab-leak theory was likely true, even as he dismissed the possibility in public. We will continue to follow the facts to determine what could have been done differently to guard against the harms Americans endured during the pandemic.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/12/congressman-comer-recognizes-one-year-anniversary-of-devastating-tornado", "Congressman Comer Recognizes One-Year Anniversary of Devastating Tornado", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) recognized the one-year anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that struck Kentucky\u2019s First Congressional District on December 10th and 11th, 2021. In the aftermath of the storm, Kentuckians came together, delivered aid when many needed it most, and began the process of restoring our local communities. Congressman Comer emphasized that his office remains committed to assisting the ongoing recovery efforts.\n\nBelow are his remarks as prepared:\n\nMadam Speaker,\n\nI rise today to recognize the one-year anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that struck my district.\n\nOn December 10th and 11th, 2021, communities from Fulton to Taylor County endured a fierce long-tracked tornado that leveled numerous communities. The damage sustained during the relentless storm was unimaginable, and our prayers are still with families who lost loved ones.\n\nIn the aftermath of this disaster, Kentuckians across the Commonwealth came together to offer help, provide support, and deliver aid when many needed it most.\n\nAs the communities continue to rebuild and recover, I want to recognize the local servant leaders and citizens who are helping get our communities back on their feet. As we continue to move forward, I am inspired by their courageous efforts to restore our local communities.\n\nServing the people of Kentucky\u2019s 1st Congressional District is an honor, and my office remains committed to assisting their recovery efforts in every way.\n\nWatch floor speech here:https://fb.watch/hjdym8f3mW/", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=02B2C2A1-91C9-4A46-9D8F-9B5447F48BF5", "Barr Votes for NDAA to Boost Defense, Give Pay Raises to Servicemembers", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act today. Following his vote, Congressman Barr released this statement:\n\n\u201cToday, I voted to strengthen our national defense by authorizing $858 billion in funding for the military, $45 billion above the President\u2019s request. Included in this package is a 4.6% pay raise for our servicemembers, additional housing allowances, and expanded benefits for military families. All of this is well-deserved and much needed to help our servicemembers deal with the economic impact of forty-year high inflation.\n\n\"This bill includes my provision requiring a feasibility study on defense needs at the Blue Grass Army Depot following demolition and remediation of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. This study will provide the community and the installation in Madison County valuable insight into opportunities for the site going forward.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, the NDAA allocates over $11 billion to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, designed to combat the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region. Critically, the NDAA confirms U.S. support for the defense of Taiwan and Indo-Pacific Command\u2019s authority to conduct joint exercises with Taiwan, regardless of the CCP\u2019s pushback.\n\n\u201cFurthermore, the NDAA bill reaffirms our support for Ukraine to defend against the brutal and illegal Russian invasion by authorizing $800 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and requiring regular, comprehensive reviews and audits of assistance provided to Ukraine.\n\n\u201cFinally, we are eliminating once and for all the requirement of active duty and reserve military members to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Republicans also secured a provision pushing the Secretary of Defense to provide full veterans benefits to servicemembers discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.\u201d\n\nCongressman Barr also had several other provisions included in the NDAA:\n\nAXIS Act\n\nThis bill requires the Department of State to periodically report to Congress on whether and how China's government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any other Chinese entity has provided support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.\n\nPacific Islands Embassies Act\n\nThis legislation establishes U.S. embassies in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, and the Kingdom of Tonga to reinforce American leadership in the Pacific region.\n\nRequirement the Secretary of Defense complete a study on the feasibility of additional DoD resources necessary to facilitate increased military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.\n\nRequirement the Secretary of State report to Congress on the efforts of the American Institute in Taiwan to combat disinformation or propaganda perpetuated by the Chinese Communist Party and People's Republic of China.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=4153D981-CA0E-4DC4-B623-0B0F110BE1E7", "Barr Statement on Opposing Same-Sex Marriage Bill", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted no on the same-sex marriage bill and released the following statement after his vote:\n\n\u201cThis legislation is ostensibly designed to respond to the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. But the majority in Dobbs was clear that this legislation is wholly unnecessary. The Court stated, in part, \u201cWe emphasize that our decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right.\u201d So, today\u2019s vote is not about \u201crespect for marriage\u201d as the bill title implies or codifying same-sex marriage.\n\n\u201cInstead, it is about expressing intolerance for people of faith who have a sincerely held religious belief in favor of traditional marriage. It is also about impermissibly and unconstitutionally compelling Americans to violate their conscience. Because I believe tolerance should go in all directions, and because I take seriously the First Amendment\u2019s protection of the right of Americans to freely exercise their faith, I voted against this legislation.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/12/comer-selected-as-chairman-of-oversight-committee", "Comer Selected as Chairman of Oversight Committee", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 7, 2022\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) today was selected to serve as the next chairman of the House Oversight Committee and issued the following statement:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=48F20672-DCC6-40A7-9029-9F985F708F9B", "Gov. Beshear, Congressman Rogers Announce $2.5 Million to Study Kentucky River Flood Mitigation Strategies in Lee County", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "$1.25 million will come from the federal government and will be matched by state funds\n\nFRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 7, 2022) \u2013 Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers announced $2.5 million in funding to study flood mitigation strategies for the Kentucky River in Beattyville and portions of Lee County.\n\nHalf of the funds will come in federal dollars from an earmark Congressman Rogers secured for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the other half will come in state funds from Kentucky\u2019s Flood Control Local Match Participation Program (LMPP).\n\n\u201cIn 2021, Beattyville, Lee County and surrounding counties were hit with flooding on a historic level,\u201d said Gov. Beshear. \u201cIn July of this year, we saw the worst flooding event of our lifetimes in Eastern Kentucky. We are committed to building back stronger than before, and this study is one step in helping us find ways we can make our communities safer from, and better prepared for, flooding events.\u201d\n\nCongressman Rogers, who is Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, has requested a second federal earmark for $800,000 to be used for the study in fiscal year 2023, which could pass by the end of this year.\n\n\u201cOur region has suffered tremendous loss due to flooding year after year. Along the Cumberland River, we\u2019ve had great success in protecting our communities with the help of the Army Corps, and I\u2019m hopeful that we can do the same in the Kentucky River valley,\u201d said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \u201cFlood control projects take time and a lot of money, so we must be patient in the process, but thanks to Gov. Beshear, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and our local leaders, we have a plan in place with vital funding to get the work underway. We must protect our people and our communities from future flooding.\u201d\n\nThe study will examine both structural (levee, floodwall, etc.) and nonstructural (facility relocation, elevation of structures, etc.) flood mitigation strategies in Beattyville and parts of Lee County. General Investigation Feasibility Studies by the USACE involve jointly conducting a study with a local sponsor, who is responsible for matching the federal funding. Lee County is the local sponsor for this study, and its matching funds will come in the form of state dollars through the LMPP.\n\n\u201cLee County and Beattyville witnessed historic flooding in 2021,\u201d said Lee County Judge/Executive Chuck Caudill Jr. \u201cThe Kentucky River and tributaries left their banks and flooded not only our community, but communities all along the Kentucky River Basin. We thank Congressman Rogers for earmarking funding and motivating the Army Corps of Engineers to begin a study to help mitigate future flooding damage.\u201d\n\nJudge Caudill continued: \u201cThanks to Gov. Beshear, who worked with state agencies to find the matching funds to conduct the $2.5 million study. This aggressive response by all shows there is no partisanship when serving the people of Eastern Kentucky. Beattyville and Lee County would have been unable to do anything without their support. This study will fuel future plans for community development and save lives. Thank you again, Congressman Rogers and Gov. Beshear.\u201d\n\nThe LMPP is appropriated funding by the Kentucky General Assembly and is administered by the Governor\u2019s Department for Local Government. The LMPP uses state funds from the Capital Budget as grants to assist local governments in meeting federal cost-share match requirements for flood mitigation activities.\n\n\u201cThe historic levels of flooding in Eastern Kentucky this past summer has forever changed the landscape of this region, and I am so pleased with today\u2019s announcement,\u201d President Stivers said. \u201cAny efforts we can take to mitigate the damage of future natural disasters is undoubtedly worthwhile. The devastation we saw earlier this year was like nothing ever experienced in Eastern Kentucky, and I am pleased to know this study may protect lives in Lee County. For that purpose, I\u2019ve been adamant we get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe citizens of Beattyville and Lee County welcome the flood study,\u201d said Beattyville Mayor Scott Jackson. \u201cThis study could help prepare for future flooding issues in our region.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/12/congressman-comer-honors-dr-tony-brannon-on-house-floor", "Congressman Comer Honors Dr. Tony Brannon on House Floor", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nDecember 6, 2022\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) recognized Dr. Tony Brannon on his well-deserved retirement. Dr. Brannon has served as dean of the School of Agriculture at Murray State University for a remarkable 35 years and Congressman Comer highlighted how Dr. Brannon\u2019s dedication to the school community has molded a generation of new agricultural leaders in Kentucky.\n\nBelow are his remarks as prepared:\n\nMadam Speaker,\n\nI rise to recognize Dr. Tony Brannon on his well-deserved retirement.\n\nDr. Brannon grew up on a small family farm and at an early age, began to participate in Future Farmers of America events. His dedication to the FFA program and agricultural community would only grow.\n\nHe completed a bachelor\u2019s degree in agricultural education from Murray State in 1981, a master\u2019s degree in 1982, and a Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University in 1988.\n\nDr. Brannon\u2019s heart never left Murray State, though. Legend has it that he even wrote in soap on his bathroom mirror \u201cMSU\u201d as a reminder of his goal to come back.\n\nHe returned to Murray State as a faculty member in agricultural education and mechanization. In 2005, he was named the dean of the School of Agriculture. For nearly 35 years, he has molded a generation of new agricultural leaders in Kentucky.\n\nAs many gather to celebrate Dr. Brannon\u2019s retirement, I want to thank him for his commitment to the MSU community, service to the Kentucky FFA Foundation, and unwavering passion for helping thousands of students achieve their dreams.\n\nWatch floor speech here:\n\nhttps://fb.watch/hfe0EE32hX/", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=486C88D3-2986-4A1F-B80C-F13D2F295BF2", "CAROL Act, Honoring the late Carol Leavell Barr, Passes Congress, and Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 The Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. The CAROL Act passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent last week and will now head to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nLast year, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced this legislation in the House to honor the legacy of his wife, Carol Leavell Barr, who passed away tragically from sudden cardiac death brought on by mitral valve prolapse, an underlying heart condition that causes death in .2% of cases.\n\n\u201cThousands of Americans, predominately young women, lose their lives to mitral valve prolapse and other valvular heart diseases each year. The CAROL Act invests in the innovative research that is necessary to put high risk patients on a path to living long and healthy lives. I can\u2019t think of a better way to honor Carol Barr, whose selflessness and service to her community and country will be furthered through the law that will bear her name,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI want to thank Rep. Kathleen Rice, Senator Mitch McConnell, and Senator Kyrsten Sinema for partnering with me on this bill. I can\u2019t express my appreciation enough for the American Heart Association, WomenHeart, and the American College of Cardiology who endorsed this bill from day one and all the other advocacy groups that have helped champion this bill over the last year and a half. We got it done.\u201d\n\n\u201cNamed after Andy\u2019s late wife, the CAROL Act is a fitting tribute to the life and legacy of Carol Barr. This bill will prove vital in efforts to support and advance research on valvular heart disease and will help countless families who stand to benefit from the critical research that will happen because of this bill,\u201d said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. \u201cThis important legislation is a testament to Andy\u2019s tenacity through tragedy, and I look forward to the bill being signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cCarol Barr brought a tremendous amount of joy into the lives of each person that she met. Through his grief, Andy has found a noble way to honor his late wife \u2013 the CAROL Act. This life-saving legislation will provide $28 million to expand research on valvular heart disease and its treatment,\u201d said House Republican Whip Steve Scalise. \u201cCarol used to have a saying, \u2018Just get it done.\u2019 Today, the House of Representatives is getting it done for Carol Barr and the tens of thousands of women who suffer from valvular heart disease.\u201d\n\n\"I am extremely proud to help lead this bill in honor of Andy\u2019s wife, Carol, and I\u2019m so grateful for all of our colleagues\u2019 support today,\u201d said Congresswoman Kathleen Rice (D-NY), the lead cosponsor of the CAROL Act. \u201cThis bill will fund critical breakthroughs in our understanding of valvular heart disease, improve our knowledge of this poorly understood condition, and someday produce a cure. I commend Rep. Barr and his family for their incredible strength and for turning grief into action. It was my honor to join you on this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law by President Biden.\"\n\n\u201cThere is still so much we do not know about heart valve disease, which kills approximately 25,000 people each year,\u201d said Nancy Brown, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Heart Association. \u201cThe American Heart Association is grateful to Congressman Barr for turning his family tragedy into a compelling movement that will benefit everyone at risk for sudden cardiac death. This critical legislation will help prevent countless other families from facing the same loss as the Barr family, and we are eager to see the bill signed into law.\"\n\n\u201cThe ACC applauds Congress for passing the CAROL Act and authorizing critical funding for valvular heart disease research. Each year, valvular heart disease results in approximately 25,000 deaths in the U.S.,\u201d said Samuel O. Jones IV, American College of Cardiology\u2019s Health Affairs Committee Chair, MD, MPH, FACC. The CAROL Act will play a significant role in reversing this trend by supporting the development of public health initiatives to improve awareness, diagnosis, and education for patients and clinicians. The ACC thanks the bills' lead authors, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), for their tireless work to pass this important legislation honoring the legacy of Rep. Barr's late wife, Eleanor \"Carol\" Barr, as well as for the opportunity to help craft the final version of the bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cWomenHeart is thrilled to see passage of the CAROL Act, and we thank Congressman Barr for leading the way,\u201d said Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart. \u201cBy investing in research and increasing awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of heart valve disease, as well as screening and detection efforts, the CAROL Act will help more people get diagnosed and treated for the disease. This is especially important for women, who are more likely to be unaware that they have the condition and to go without treatment.\u201d\n\nThe CAROL Act was also endorsed by the Adult Congenital Heart Association, the Alliance for Aging Research American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Association of Black Cardiologists, CardioVisual, Caregiver Action Network Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF), HealthyWomen, Heart Valve Voice US, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Medical Management Associates, Inc., Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the Society for Women's Health, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, StopAfib.org/American Foundation for Women's Health, Sustainable Cardiovascular Health Equity Development Alliance, The Marfan Foundation, The Mended Hearts. Inc., and the Women First Research Coalition.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/12/icymi-comer-joins-sunday-morning-futures-discusses-probe-into-president-biden-s-energy-crisis-twitter-s-censorship-and-biden-family-s-influence-peddling", "ICYMI: Comer Joins Sunday Morning Futures, Discusses Probe into President Biden\u2019s Energy Crisis, Twitter\u2019s Censorship, and Biden Family\u2019s Influence Peddling", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) joined \u201cSunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo\u201d on Fox News to announce Committee Republicans\u2019 broad probe of the Biden Administration\u2019s energy crisis that is harming the pocketbooks of Americans and discuss Twitter's censorship of the New York Post\u2019s reporting on the Biden family\u2019s influence peddling.\n\nDuring the interview, Ranking Member Comer announced his requests to the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Securities and Exchange Commission for information related to the Biden Administration\u2019s strategy to address high energy prices, abuse of strategic oil reserves, President Biden\u2019s secret deal with Saudi Arabia to lower gas prices before the election, and the implementation of radical Green New Deal policies that drive up costs for American consumers.\n\nOn Oversight Republicans\u2019 investigation into President Biden\u2019s energy crisis:\n\n\u201cOne of the biggest crises of the Biden Administration is their energy policies,\u201d said Ranking Member Comer. \u201cWhat is their energy policy? What direction are they going in? What did they base selling the strategic reserves on? What exactly did they ask Saudi Arabia when they asked to increase oil production before the election? The Democrats would call that a quid pro quo in the previous administration. We have a lot of questions with this administration pertaining to their energy policies.\u201d\n\nOn Twitter\u2019s censorship and the Biden family\u2019s influence peddling:\n\n\u201cThank goodness for Elon Musk, he is definitely the grinch that stole Christmas for the Democratic National Committee,\u201d said Ranking Member Comer. \u201cWhat he\u2019s showing here is evidence that the Biden campaign colluded with Big Tech to suppress a story that we now know is one hundred percent true. The problem the Democrats should have is why were they so scared of the laptop story? The answer Maria is the laptop proves evidence that not only did Joe Biden lie to the American people about his involvement with his family\u2019s influence peddling and shady business dealings, but also proves that Joe Biden was a part of those shady business deals.\u201d\n\nWatch full Fox News Interview Here:\n\nhttps://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1599775061547720704?s=20&t=GkCbvgdp-YuC5-8d818f6g", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AEBB1F36-DF22-4540-A799-2810707D7CC9", "Congressman Barr\u2019s CAROL Act Passes in the Senate", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 The Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Act today passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent today. The bill will now need to pass the House of Representatives before heading to the President\u2019s desk.\n\nLast year, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced this legislation in the House to honor the legacy of his wife, Carol Leavell Barr, who passed away tragically from sudden cardiac death brought on by mitral valve prolapse, an underlying heart condition that causes death in .2% of cases. Senators McConnell and Sinema introduced the Senate companion legislation to Congressman Barr\u2019s House legislation.\n\n\u201cMore than 8 million Americans live with valvular heart diseases and approximately 25,000 Americans lose their lives to valvular heart disease each year. Unfortunately, my late-wife Carol was one of these Americans and lost her life unexpectedly to mitral valve prolapse (MVP), a typically benign valvular heart disease, on June 16, 2020. She left behind two beautiful children and family and friends who miss her dearly. The CAROL Act is a tribute to her extraordinary life and furthers her incredible legacy of selflessness by targeting investments in research to treat valvular heart diseases, preventing families across the nation from experiencing the same loss that has profoundly impacted me, our girls and Carol\u2019s entire family,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI am extraordinarily grateful for the efforts of Senators McConnell and Sinema for leading the charge in the Senate and am looking forward to finally enacting the CAROL Act into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cCarol Barr devoted her life to helping others. In her honor, the CAROL Act will direct that same humanitarian drive toward defeating the disease that tragically took her life,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cI was honored to join with Senator Sinema to support Congressman Barr and his work to prevent other families from enduring the same terrible, sudden loss he did two years ago. The entire Senate now stands with him and his family in the fight against valvular heart disease.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many Arizonans \u2013 suddenly, without warning or expectation \u2013 have lost their lives due to valvular heart disease. I\u2019m proud to partner with Republican Leader McConnell in securing Senate-passage of our bipartisan CAROL Act to fuel medical research and improve treatment options and save lives. I look forward to getting it passed into law and thank Congressman Barr for championing this effort,\u201d said Senator Sinema.\n\nThe CAROL Act supports research and public awareness of valvular heart disease through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This legislation is supported by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), and WomenHeart.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0AA9E42C-CBBC-40CD-9A3A-663567B68C74", "Barr Statement on HISA Ruling", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement after the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was unconstitutional:\n\n\u201cI am disappointed by the decision of the Court of Appeals today. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was carefully and thoughtfully crafted over a multi-year process in consultation with industry stakeholders, equine advocates and constitutional law experts to create a national uniform medication, anti-doping and racetrack safety program to enhance the safety and integrity of thoroughbred horseracing. I am confident that this transformational and beneficial reform will be ultimately upheld.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2B531146-C2C5-4DD0-A2D2-744A97FE4904", "Congressman Rogers Announces Broadband Expansion in Breathitt & Leslie Counties", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) announced a $24 million project that will expand broadband fiber into some of the least-served communities in Eastern Kentucky. Thacker-Grigsby Telephone Company, Inc. was recently awarded a $24 million ReConnect grant and loan combination from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. It will be used to deploy a new fiber network to connect nearly 4,500 people, 39 businesses, 27 farms, and four educational facilities to high-speed internet in Breathitt and Leslie counties.\n\n\"Rural broadband expansion is a critical part of economic development, educational advancement, and business growth. I applaud the leaders at Thacker-Grigsby Telephone Company for investing in this vital fiber project in Eastern Kentucky,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \"The ReConnect program has provided important funding for broadband expansion across our rural region and I am excited to see how many families and businesses will finally have access to high-performance internet.\"\n\nThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ranked Kentucky with the 16th highest percentage of population with no fixed broadband access, noting 90% of those without access live in rural areas.\n\n\"Our goal is to connect Eastern Kentucky to the global grid through affordable high-speed, high-capacity internet, and this project is another important step for our rural area,\" said Bill Grigsby, President and General Manager of Thacker-Grigsby Telephone Company. \"It's an important tool for our schools, our businesses, our hospitals, emergency communications and much more, and we are proud to work with Congressman Rogers and USDA Rural Development for the betterment of the communities we serve.\n\nThacker-Grigsby Telephone Company plans to make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F6DC3D35-08DF-44C7-B59C-ACC7DC9F5921", "Congressman Rogers Applauds a $1 Million ARC Grant for Backroads of Appalachia", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) applauds Backroads of Appalachia for earning a $1 million competitive grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to promote tourism through advanced motorsports in Eastern Kentucky. The grant will be used to create several new jobs to enhance management and marketing operations.\n\n\"The Wildlands of Eastern Kentucky provide incredible opportunities for outdoor adventures like hiking, off-road trails, rock climbing, and much more. Our friends at Backroads of Appalachia are also touting the untapped opportunities that we have for motorsports across the region, with unmatched motorcycle routes, like the Dragon Slayer on Highway 160, that could boost the tourism economy in some of our smallest towns,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \"I applaud ARC's work in our region and I was proud to support this grant application for Backroads of Appalachia.\"\n\nSince 2020, Backroads of Appalachia has worked as a volunteer organization and branded several routes geared towards various sectors of the motorsports market such as motorcyclists, dual sport adventure cyclists and car clubs. It has organized dozens of hill climbs, obstacle courses, and different kinds of rallies, some of which have been nationally recognized. The participants and spectators create a demand for more restaurants, lodging, and other services. Along one of the most popular routes, the Dragon Slayer, 30 businesses have opened since 2019 to cater to visitors.\n\n\"Backroads of Appalachia is honored for the recognition of economic development through motorsports,\" said Erik Hubbard, Founder of Backroads of Appalachia. \"We appreciate ARC, the Kentucky Department of Local Government, Governor Andy Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers for believing in our mission. This is a positive step for change in our region and telling the country we are open for business.\"\n\nBackroads of Appalachia is also committed to providing jobs for those in recovery and is currently implementing an ARC-funded project (IS-20516) that provides housing and job training at its welcome center in Lynch, Kentucky for women in recovery.\n\nIn addition to ARC funds, state sources will provide $400,000, bringing the total project funding to $1.4 million.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=ABD122DB-99FD-4744-BB6E-B618924B6A83", "Congressman Rogers\u2019 Statement Regarding the Proposed Letcher Co. Prison", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WHITESBURG, Ky. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Harold \u201cHal\u201d Rogers (KY-05) released the following statement about the Bureau of Prisons\u2019 (BOP) revised plan to build a correctional facility in Letcher County. The BOP held a public meeting in Whitesburg on Thursday evening after releasing a recent notice of intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Federal Correctional Institution and Federal Prison Camp in Letcher County.\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the BOP is revisiting construction options for a modernized and efficient facility in Letcher County. I have worked to secure and protect funding for this project since 2006, and with more than 300 jobs on the line, it\u2019s a battle worth fighting in a region where jobs are desperately needed.\n\n\u201cFrom day one, the Letcher County Planning Commission has advocated for this project, because we have seen the positive economic impact that federal correctional institutions have had in Clay, Martin and McCreary counties, boosting the tax base and strengthening our local workforce.\n\n\u201cThe BOP has updated the scope of the project to address overcrowding and modernization, and I will continue to support their efforts through my work in Congress.\u201d\n\nCongressman Rogers secured approximately $500 million in federal funding in the fiscal 2016 and 2017 appropriations bills for the Bureau of Prisons to construct a correctional facility in Letcher County. The funding is still available in the Bureau of Prisons\u2019 budget for construction to address modernization needs and overcrowding.\n\nFor more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Washington and at home in Kentucky\u2019s Fifth Congressional District, visit halrogers.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=14D36338-0A11-492C-9363-586378AC918C", "Statement from Rep. Barr on FTX Collapse, FSC Investigation", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Barr criticizes financial regulators for being distracted by their climate obsession and being \u201casleep at the switch\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) released the following statement on the House Financial Services Committee\u2019s announcement of a bipartisan hearing next month to investigate the FTX collapse. The Committee expects to hear from the companies and individuals involved, including Sam Bankman-Fried, Alameda Research, Binance, FTX, and related entities, among others.\n\n\u201cThe \u201ceffective altruism\u201d that Democrat mega donor Sam Bankman-Fried peddled is perfectly in line with the radical left\u2019s efforts to redefine a corporate purpose. It\u2019s time for corporations and CEOs to stop putting politics ahead of the people, shareholders, and retail investors for whom they are supposed to deliver maximum financial returns. The House Financial Services Committee will work to expose any impropriety that led to this historic collapse and hold regulators accountable for being asleep at the switch, obsessing about \u201cclimate risk\u201d instead of actually protecting investors vulnerable to crypto exchanges with limited transparency and poor risk management.\u201d\n\nCongressman Barr is the lead Republican on the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/11/mccarthy-names-comer-to-co-lead-transition-team", "McCarthy Names Comer to Co-lead Transition Team", "2022-11-10", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R- Calif.) established Transition Teams for the 118th Congress to ensure that a Republican Majority is ready to get to work for the American people on Day One. Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) was selected to lead the Oversight and Accountability Transition Team.\n\nThese Transition Teams will address three core priorities as Republicans prepare to lead the House of Representatives. These teams are:\n\nCommitment to America Implementation, led by Republican Whip Steve Scalise\n\nOversight and Accountability, led by Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member James Comer and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan\n\nRestoring the People\u2019s House, led by Congressman Bryan Steil", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/11/top-republicans-probe-epa-sidelining-top-scientists-to-ban-chlorpyrifos-on-food-products", "Top Republicans Probe EPA Sidelining Top Scientists to Ban Chlorpyrifos on Food Products", "2022-11-04", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\n\u201cWe are conducting oversight of the U.S Department of Agriculture\u2019s role in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s August 18, 2021, final rule revoking all tolerances for chlorpyrifos on food products,\u201d wrote the Republican lawmakers. \u201cThe EPA\u2019s controversial decision to revoke all tolerances for chlorpyrifos on food products has left distributors and growers in a precarious financial position which would normally prompt interagency review for a regulation costing over $100 million dollars. However, EPA has refused to label the revocation as an economically significant regulation, making the final rule exempt from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)\u2019s interagency review. By EPA\u2019s own estimates, the economic value of chlorpyrifos to the U.S. economy reaches over $130 million annually, and public comments suggest the number is even higher when taking into account growers without alternative options.\u201d\n\nOn September 20, 2022, USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack broke with the EPA\u2019s controversial decision to ban chlorpyrifos. In a response provided to Congress, Secretary Vilsack stated that the USDA-Pest Management scientists believe EPA could retain certain chlorpyrifos uses that meet EPA\u2019s safety standards. Secretary Vilsack\u2019s response to lawmakers raise questions about the EPA\u2019s commitment to use the best science in its regulatory decisions.\n\n\u201cDue to the cost of this rule, over 30 subsets of the U.S. agricultural industry, including retailers, applicators, manufacturers, processors, cooperatives, and crop consultants, have raised serious economic hardship concerns with the EPA regarding this action,\u201d continued the Republican lawmakers. \u201cIn addition, OMB guidance has been clear to direct the EPA to seek interagency review when EPA actions make pesticide tolerances \u2018more stringent.\u2019 Because of the economic hardship and supply chain impacts associated with EPA\u2019s final rule, the tolerance revocation should be labeled as a \u201cmore stringent\u201d regulation requiring the EPA to seek interagency review. Ignoring OMB guidance and the economic impact of such a sweeping and costly regulation indicates interagency review was warranted prior to the final rule. Republicans are concerned about the validity of EPA\u2019s scientific and regulatory process.\u201d\n\nRead the letter to the USDA here.\n\nRead the letter to the EPA here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=1A6145F9-4340-483D-AE0A-01102598560E", "Barr Hosts Border Patrol, Law Enforcement, and Advocates for Press Conference on Fentanyl Crisis", "2022-11-03", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Lexington, KY\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) previewed the GOP agenda to tackle the fentanyl crisis during a press conference at the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police building in Lexington on Wednesday. Congressman Barr was joined by Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council, to highlight the surge of fentanyl at the southern border since President Biden took office. In fiscal year 2022, over 14,000 pounds of deadly fentanyl was encountered at the southern border, a fiscal year record.\n\nAlso speaking at the press conference was Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue, Jacky Hunt, President of the Kentucky Narcotics Officers Association, and Debbie Rains, who lost her son to a fentanyl overdose in 2015. Last year, Kentucky overdose deaths rose by 15% and over 70% of overdoses involved fentanyl.\n\nCongressman Barr outlined his support for reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy, reentering asylum agreements with Central American countries, and restarting border wall construction as ways to secure the border and stop fentanyl trafficking.\n\n\u201cRoughly 1,500 Kentucky families and 71,000 families nationwide lost their loved one to a fentanyl overdose last year. The Commitment to America agenda that I support will advance policies to secure our border and boost resources for law enforcement to stop fentanyl trafficking. God bless our border patrol, our local law enforcement, and advocates like Debbie Rains who are fighting every day to end the flood of fentanyl in our communities and save lives. I\u2019ll always stand with them,\u201d said Congressman Barr.\n\n\u201cEvery single citizen of Kentucky should be upset at our failures to secure the border and protect your neighbors and family members. There is no way we can get this crisis under control with the polices we are seeing. I appreciate Congressman Barr for inviting me to Kentucky and for his leadership on this issue,\u201d said Brandon Judd.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Congressman Barr for his partnership over the years in combatting drug trafficking in Clark County and statewide,\u201d said Sheriff Perdue. \u201cHe led the successful effort to designate Clark County a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) county in 2020 and I know he will continue to work with me to reduce opioid overdoses in Clark County going forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cNarcotics Officers are on the frontlines of the fight to stop fentanyl dealers,\u201d said Jacky Hunt. \u201cWe know that Congressman Barr will always have our back, and we are appreciative of the opportunity to highlight this important issue facing our Commonwealth and our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cFentanyl is continuing to break apart families in Kentucky and nationwide. I am grateful to Congressman Barr for highlighting this issue, Zac\u2019s story, and trying to implement policy changes that will prevent these tragedies from effecting other families,\u201d said Debbie Rains.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/11/comer-oversight-republicans-press-dhs-on-worst-border-crisis-in-u-s-history", "Comer, Oversight Republicans Press DHS on Worst Border Crisis in U.S. History", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Oversight Committee Republican lawmakers are calling on U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide the Biden Administration\u2019s plans, if any, to secure the border. In a letter to Secretary Mayorkas, the Republican lawmakers are calling for all documents and communications to address the worst border crisis on record in American history.\n\n\u201cFiscal Year 2022 was an abject failure for border security and national sovereignty. In fact, it was the worst on record in American history. This past fiscal year set records for encounters of illegal immigrants, migrant deaths, apprehensions of suspected terrorists, and seizures of fentanyl at the southern border. We cannot endure another year of the Biden Administration\u2019s failed border policies. We have written DHS fifteen times this Congress to conduct oversight over the border crisis. Again, we request documents and information to understand the Biden Administration\u2019s plans, if any, to secure the border,\u201d wrote the Republican lawmakers.\n\nPresident Biden\u2019s border crisis continues to break records. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were over 2.2 million apprehensions of illegal immigrants in Fiscal Year 2022, which does not include the estimated half a million \u201cgotaways,\u201d and the Border Patrol made 98 apprehensions of suspected terrorists at the southern border. There were also nearly 900 migrant deaths at the border in FY 2022. Seizures of the deadly, China-sourced-opioid, fentanyl, which is responsible for killing thousands of Americans, have spiked at the southern border. Cartels also leverage chaos at the border to overwhelm Border Patrol agents to smuggle in fentanyl undetected between ports of entry.\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration refuses to acknowledge this current, unprecedented and deadly crisis. Vice President Harris even claims that the border is \u2018secure\u2019 and insists that \u2018[w]e have a secure border in that that is a priority for any nation, including ours and our administration.\u2019 This is simply not true,\u201d continued the Republican lawmakers. \u201cThe Biden Administration created this crisis. It rolled back or eliminated deterrent-focused policies that were working to manage the flow of illegal border crossers. It shirked its duty to enforce the laws of this country to provide a safe and secure border to the American people. These failures cannot be repeated.\u201d\n\nThe letter to Secretary Mayorkas can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AF15006E-0540-4BC1-9E91-E58727A193BE", "Barr, Gorton, and Brown Announce $3 Million Federal Grant for Early Childhood Education Facility in Lexington", "2022-10-31", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Lexington, KY\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) announced a major, $3 million federal grant to construct an early childhood education facility for three-year old children in the William Wells Brown neighborhood in Lexington today. Congressman Barr secured these federal funds during the last Congressional appropriations process. The city also announced the construction of a new road in the East End neighborhood.\n\nCommunity Action Council will run the Head Start Center, with five classrooms for 52 students, prioritizing the enrollment of three-year-olds who miss the age cut-off for preschool at nearby William Wells Brown Elementary.\n\n\u201cWe need to move quickly to make up for learning loss as a result of the pandemic,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cThat\u2019s why I advocated so strongly for these funds to enhance early childhood education for three-year old children in William Wells Brown neighborhood. By constructing a new prep school facility for these students, they can hit the ground running in their education before they reach Kindergarten. I want to thank Councilmember Brown for his leadership in this project and the Community Action Council for their commitment to carrying this initiative out. I also appreciate the work by Mayor Gorton, the Lexington Housing Authority, and all other community partners who worked with our office on this project.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese are more big steps forward for the East End neighborhood,\u201d Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said. \u201cA new road, and new educational opportunities will move this neighborhood forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m truly excited about this collaborative project and what it provides for families,\u201d said Lexington Councilmember James Brown. \u201cThis will increase workforce opportunities through safe, affordable childcare, and improve academic achievement for students.\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo years ago, this was just a dream. Councilmember Brown connected us with Mr. (Austin) Simms for the land purchase and Congressman Barr for the funding to build this state-of-the-art facility. This was a team effort, and we are excited about the opportunity to serve the families in this historic neighborhood,\u201d said Sharon Price, Executive Director of the Community Action Council.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=65987B8E-3C68-43D6-BF5A-7E4D300DEA80", "Barr and Gorton Announce $616,704 Federal Grant for Lexington BFREE Initiative", "2022-10-27", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Barr secured these federal funds during the last Congressional appropriations process.\n\nLexington, KY\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton announced a $616,704 federal grant to enhance the Barrier Free Re-Entry and Recovery (BFREE) Initiative in Lexington. Congressman Barr secured these federal funds during the last Congressional appropriations process. The BFREE Initiative is part of a comprehensive approach the city is offering to Kentuckians in recovery for substance abuse who are also transitioning from the criminal justice system after a period of incarceration.\n\nThis federal grant will provide the funds needed to purchase two vans for the Community Paramedicine Program (CPP) to transport BFREE Initiative participants to and from their appointments with treatment providers. The federal grant announced today will also fund a full-time position to work closely with staff at Community Corrections and District 9 Probation and Parole to address barriers to successful reentry for Kentuckians enrolled in BFREE. Additionally, the BFREE Initiative offers participants assistance accessing housing services and help finding meaningful employment opportunities that will provide dignity and purpose. Finally, the funding will provide assistance to individuals to enter or continue a residential recovery program.\n\n\u201cBy ensuring a smooth and successful transition for Kentuckians enrolled in the BFREE Initiative back into our community, we can reduce the risk of recidivism and put these Kentuckians on a path for long-term recovery,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cAddiction is a crisis in our Commonwealth and throughout the country. I will continue working with local, state, and federal officials to deliver resources to law enforcement, rehabilitation providers, and community prevention programs to save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cSubstance use disorder affects people from all corners of our city,\u201d said Mayor Gorton. \u201cThank you to Congressman Barr for helping us with an innovative, comprehensive approach we hope will help those who are re-entering the community after a period of incarceration. Working with partners throughout our community, we are reaching out to people in a variety of ways to stop the overdoses.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant is important because it provides support for a person to reconnect with community after a period of incarceration,\u201d said Amy Baker, Coordinator of the City\u2019s Substance Use Disorder program. \u201cBy providing access to treatment and recovery supportive housing and connecting them with employers who are willing to provide a second chance, the chances of reoffending are greatly reduced. Access to treatment, housing and employment reduces the risk of recidivism and provides opportunities to individuals to rebuild their lives.\u201d\n\nWhile the City of Lexington made tremendous progress reducing overdoses in 2018 and 2019, the pandemic led to overdoses rising in the city again. In 2020, the city had over 200 overdoses for the first time (209 total). Nationally, overdoses topped 100,000 for the first-time last year and overdoses in the Commonwealth overall increased by 15% in 2021.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=35CFC185-5E05-41F3-9356-8CB66789A7FC", "Southeast Kentucky Students Enter Congressional App Challenge", "2022-10-26", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- A record number of students from southern and eastern Kentucky have entered the Congressional App Challenge, as the November 1st deadline quickly approaches. Congressman Hal Rogers got a first-hand look at some of the competitive mobile applications on display at the 2022 SOAR Summit in Pikeville last week, where SOAR and CEDAR, Inc. invited local students to show off their coding talents.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science.\n\nThe winning student team from Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District will be invited to Washington, DC to see their application on display, along with other winners across the country.\n\n\"Our students are proving that they have the ingenuity and high-tech skills to develop useful and innovative mobile apps,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \"I'm very impressed by the applications that our students displayed at the SOAR Summit, and I'm amazed at the resources that our schools can now provide to ensure our students have access to the same opportunities in the mountains as other schools across the country. They are using technology to solve problems in our region and beyond.\"\n\nThe program has yielded 1,782 App Challenges across 50 states. Thousands of functional apps have been created by over 40,000 students.\n\nStudents from the following schools in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District have registered for the competition so far: Belfry High School, Clay County High School, Floyd County Area Technology Center, Floyd County Center for Innovation, Laurel County Center for Innovation, Pikeville Junior High School, and Rowan County High School.\n\nStudents from the Floyd County Area Technology Center have won the competition for Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District for the last six consecutive years.\n\nThe deadline to enter the Congressional App Challenge is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. To register, visit congressionalappchallenge.us.\n\nCongressman Rogers talked to local students about their mobile apps at the 2022 SOAR Summit", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2D476087-0DB4-4503-9DDF-D5311D001FFA", "Congressman Rogers Gives Congressional Tribute to EKY Flood Heroes", "2022-10-21", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- During the 2022 SOAR Summit, approximately 80 first responders were honored for their heroic response during the Eastern Kentucky flood in July. A tribute video boomed across the Appalachian Wireless Arena as dozens of men and women from the Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky State Police, and local search and rescue teams filled the center stage, followed by a moment of silence for flood victims.\n\nAt least 43 Eastern Kentuckians lost their lives in the flood or during flood relief efforts, with one woman still missing in Breathitt County.\n\n\"We are in the presence of some of the greatest heroes in Kentucky history. The selfless and courageous actions of the people on this stage are what modern day saints are made of,\" said Congressman Hal Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives and a co-founder of SOAR. \"Had it not been for the first responders who bravely risked their own lives, the death toll in Eastern Kentucky would have been much higher.\"\n\nMore than 1,400 people were saved by air or water rescues during the flood, according to the Kentucky Emergency Management Office.\n\nCongressman Rogers highlighted the exemplary actions of two Kentucky National Guard Flight Medics who were heralded by their peers and various agencies for their extraordinary life-saving actions.\n\nWith the help of skilled pilots, Staff Sergeant Ryan Hunter and Sergeant First Class Jeremy Lowe conducted more than 40 air hoist missions and saved more than 80 Kentuckians on July 28, 2022.\n\nCongressman Rogers presented the two Guardsmen with a tribute in the Congressional Record.\n\n\"The skilled and courageous acts of the two MEDEVAC crews are worthy of the highest honor,\" said Congressman Rogers. \"I presented them with a copy of a tribute that I entered into the Congressional Record to ensure their stories of valor are preseved among the greatest heroes of our time.\"\n\nAttendees of the SOAR Summit gave Hunter, Lowe and all of the first responders an extended standing ovation.\n\nClick here to read SSG Hunter's Congressional Tribute.\n\nClick here to read SFC Lowe's Congressional Tribute.\n\nCongressman Rogers Honors SFC Lowe & SSG Hunter", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=6C98707F-2FD5-4B50-939F-E5A218D2C7EF", "Barr Calls on FSC Vote on the TABS Act Following Fifth Circuit CFPB Ruling", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) is calling for the House Financial Services Committee to vote on his legislation, the Taking Account of Bureaucrats Spending (TABS) Act. The TABS Act makes the funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) part of the congressional appropriations process like virtually every other federal agency. Last night, the Fifth of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the design of CFPB was in violation of the Constitution because the CFPB receives funding from the Federal Reserve. Today, Congressman Barr released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe funding mechanism for the CFPB as set forth in the Dodd Frank Act is, for all intents and purposes, an automatic yearly outlay from the Federal Reserve based upon an opaque and arbitrary formula. This process not only insulates the agency from accountability by circumventing the congressional appropriations process, but it also unconstitutionally deprives Congress of its spending power and oversight authority. This has produced the most unaccountable and authoritarian bureaucratic agency in the entire federal government.\n\n\u201cI am encouraged that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has confirmed that the CFPB\u2019s funding mechanism is unconstitutional, and I join Ranking Member Patrick McHenry in calling for the House Financial Services Committee to vote on my legislation, the TABS Act, which would subject the CFPB to the annual appropriations process, restore the power of the purse, and establish meaningful congressional oversight of the CFPB once and for all.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E019F484-5328-4C6C-848A-9E5A1C9D06AB", "Congressman Rogers, Gov. Beshear Announce $24.4 Million in Funding for Economic Development Projects in Eastern Kentucky", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "When completed, the projects in Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Knox, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary and Wolfe counties will enable cold storage of bulk apples, broadcasting equipment at the Mountain Arts Studio, an emergency services center, a commercial driver\u2019s license (CDL) and diesel-mechanics training facility, RV and industrial parks, a resort bordering the Jefferson National Forest, a wastewater treatment plant and a visitors\u2019 center.\n\nThese 11 projects are expected to retain or create more than 200 jobs, train 300 Kentuckians and serve more than 100,000 people via tourism, infrastructure development or training opportunities.\n\n\u201cOnce again, this program is funding innovative projects that are bringing jobs to Eastern Kentucky so more of our families can provide for their loved ones and live the lives they want and deserve,\u201d said Gov. Beshear. \u201cThe foundation has been laid for diversified economic growth as each of these projects is completed, helping these communities not only rebuild following July\u2019s historic flooding but also thrive for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we continue to rebuild from the catastrophic flood in Eastern Kentucky, these grant awards are more important than ever before to advance job creation and new opportunities,\u201d said Congressman Hal Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \u201cThese grants will give Eastern Kentuckians more opportunities to work and thrive in their hometowns.\u201d\n\nKentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) Secretary Rebecca Goodman selected the projects for initial vetting by the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). More than 86 applications for funding were received by the EEC\u2019s Division of Abandoned Mine Lands.\n\nThe projects selected for funding include:\n\nAgricultural Apple Packing and Sorting Facility was selected to receive $6.6 million for the installation of an apple packing and sorting facility in an existing building in Martin County.\n\nCMH 23 Workforce and Tourism Development Project was selected to receive $1 million to modify and equip the broadcasting studio at the Mountain Arts Studio in Floyd County.\n\nElliott County Emergency Operations Center and 911 Center was selected to receive $4.6 million to construct an emergency services center.\n\nGifford Road Industrial Park was selected to receive $1 million to construct a build-ready certified site for a 50,000 square foot facility in Magoffin County.\n\nImpact Outdoor Adventures RV Campground was selected to receive $900,000 to construct a multi-purpose building, yurts, and a tree-top adventure course in Clay County.\n\nSoutheast Transportation Training Center was selected to receive $1.2 million to develop a CDL and diesel mechanics training facility in Knox County.\n\nStearns RV Park and Campground was selected to receive $1.6 million to construct an RV park and campground in McCreary County.\n\nThunder Ridge Property Acquisition was awarded $3 million to purchase 58 acres to develop the Thunder Ridge Industrial Park, where Boxvana intends to construct a 200,000 square foot facility in Floyd County.\n\nRaven Rock Resort was selected to receive $1.7 million to begin development on the Raven Rock Resort in Letcher County.\n\nHazel Green Wastewater Collection System Phase I was selected to receive $1.4 million to construct an 80,000-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant in Wolfe County.\n\nRoyalton Trail Town Development Phase II was selected to receive $2 million to construct a visitors center, restaurant, entertainment space and parking in Magoffin County.\n\n\u201cThese grants are providing the kind of job growth and economic stimulus that we\u2019d hoped,\u201d Secretary Goodman said. \u201cWe are excited to have helped launch these projects.\u201d\n\nMore than $166 million in federal funding through the AMLER Program has been awarded to Kentucky since its inception in 2016. Seventy-five projects in 23 counties have been selected for the funding. Once completed, it is expected that these projects will have created more than 3,000 new jobs for the region.\n\nInformation about the AMLER program can be found at AMLER or by contacting Mr. Justin Adams, Director, Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mine Lands, 300 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601. Office: 502-782-6761, e-mail: Justin.Adams@ky.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E3D6B66D-6023-4A4E-917E-FE5D9ED26D7C", "Congressman Rogers, ARC Federal Co-Chair Announce Nearly $10 Million in Federal POWER Grants for Kentucky", "2022-10-20", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PIKEVILLE, Ky. \u2013 As the ninth annual SOAR Summit wrapped up at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville, U.S. Rep. Harold \u201cHal\u201d Rogers (KY-05) and Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced nearly $10 million in federal POWER grants for 11 projects in Kentucky to help create 600 jobs.\n\nThe ARC also awarded a $500,000 grant to SOAR, Shaping Our Appalachian Region, for the organization\u2019s remote worker program. It will help Eastern Kentucky compete in an ever-growing digital global marketplace to create new, high paying jobs.\n\n\u201cThese ARC grants mean exceptionally more to Eastern Kentucky, as we continue the work to rebuild our communities that were hit by a catastrophic flood in July. Each investment will boost economic development as we work together to revitalize the region and create jobs where we need them the most,\u201d said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cOur coal-impacted communities are a vital part of Appalachia\u2019s 13 states and 423 counties\u2014when our coal communities thrive, our entire region is uplifted,\u201d said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. \u201cThis round of POWER grant funding will not only help Eastern Kentucky\u2019s struggling coal communities to once again compete in a global marketplace, but also expand support for the creation of new jobs through growing the area\u2019s food economy.\u201d\n\nThe POWER grants are part of the ARC\u2019s ongoing Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Initiative. Kentucky\u2019s awards are part of $47 million in total investments across agriculture and food economies, workforce development, tourism, entrepreneurship, and more to help create jobs in new or existing industries, expand skills training, and attract new private investments in Appalachian communities affected by the downturn of the coal industry.\n\nThe following projects were awarded in Kentucky:\n\n$1.5 million was awarded to the Perry County Fiscal Court.\n\nThe funding will be used for the Rowdy trailhead and campground project, which is more important than ever before, with water, sewer and electric for 30 RV sites. It will create 38 jobs in the first 15 months.\n\n$1.5 million was awarded to TEK Center, Inc. in Martin County.\n\nThe funding will be used to develop a skilled trades training center that will be open for dislocated workers and individuals in addiction recovery programs. It will serve 6 businesses, 125 high school students and nearly 400 trainees.\n\n$1.5 million was awarded for the University of Pikeville\u2019s Ag-Tech Innovation Center of Excellence.\n\nThe facility will aid the region\u2019s growing agriculture industry through research activity for private partners. The program will help create 250 jobs and three new businesses.\n\nOver $1.4 million was awarded for the Kentucky Horticulture Council to help prospective and established producers enable year-round growing.\n\nThey will serve nearly 500 businesses, 140 trainees and create 12 new businesses.\n\n$1.2 million was awarded to the Big Sandy Area Development District for the agricultural apple sorting and packing facility in Martin County.\n\nThis funding will work in concert with a $6.6 million AMLER grant. It will serve 300 businesses and support the creation of 260 jobs.\n\nOver $1.1 million was awarded for the Kentucky Community and Technical College system to implement a new Ag-Tech apprenticeship program in Rowan, Pulaski and Madison counties.\n\nIt will improve 350 workers through wage increases and career progression.\n\n$1 million was awarded to Community Ventures Corporation to create a revolving loan fund to support capital access for Appalachian projects.\n\nIt will create 150 jobs and 15 businesses.\n\nThe last four projects are awarded $50,000 each. Those include:\n\nThe Mountain Association\u2019s East Kentucky Community Accelerator project, which will take place in Jackson County.\n\nThe Kentucky Equine Education project\u2019s equine community center planning.\n\nFoundation for Appalachian Kentucky\u2019s Southeast Kentucky Regional Experience Package Planning project in Leslie County; and\n\nFoundation for Appalachian Kentucky's Southeast Kentucky Regional Trails Planning project in Perry County.\n\nFor more information about Congressman Rogers\u2019 work in Kentucky\u2019s Fifth Congressional District, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=1EE7DF49-2CE6-42A9-9870-03CB5C595BA8", "Barr Delivers Federal Grant to Boost Madison County\u2019s Economy Road Project", "2022-10-13", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Richmond, KY\u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) delivered a major, $5 million federal grant for the Economy Road project in Madison County. Congressman Barr secured these funds during the last federal appropriations process. This project will construct a roadway that runs from Highway 52 to the Central Kentucky Regional Airport, improving traffic safety for Kentuckians traveling to the airport. Currently, drivers on Caleast Road must navigate a narrow road from the interstate to the airport.\n\nEconomy Road will provide a safer method of transportation for the nearly 300 students attending aviation school at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), who regularly commute between EKU\u2019s main campus and the airport where flight operations are headquartered. Located in an Opportunity Zone adjacent to I-75, Economy Road will also create a space for businesses to flourish, builders to develop much needed housing, and serve as a recruitment tool for industry looking to locate within a day\u2019s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population.\n\n\u201cEnhancing traffic safety through the airport for students and Kentuckians traveling there while creating a building block for the community to attract new businesses and foster economic activity is a win-win,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI am pleased that our office was able to work with Judge Taylor, local, and community leaders to advocate for this project. I look forward to seeing the impact it will make in Madison County once it is completed.\u201d\n\n\u201cI couldn\u2019t be more grateful to Congressman Barr and everyone who helped us to secure this Federal funding to make Madison County better,\u201d said Madison County Judge Executive Reagan Taylor. \u201cInfrastructure, public safety and economic development are all key components to a successful Madison County and this project will improve all of them. This is another great example of how we fight for projects and funding every day to make Madison County better. Economy Road is a strategic piece of progress for this county and a project of this magnitude will have a lasting impact on the citizens of Madison County.\u201d\n\n\u201cEconomy Road will make a huge difference for safety and economic activity in our county, by improving access to the airport the city of Richmond will benefit. I appreciate Congressman Barr\u2019s work in securing this grant award and I know the county will do a great job implementing this project,\u201d said Robert Blythe, Mayor of the City of Richmond.\n\n\u201cWe were very happy to hear the announcement that federal funding is available for the construction of Economy Road. In partnership with the City of Richmond, Madison County Fiscal Court, and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), we have made great progress in modernizing the infrastructure in and around the Central Kentucky Regional Airport,\" said Bruce Fraley, Mayor of the City of Berea. \"The construction of Economy Road is greatly needed, and helps solidify all of our efforts to modernize the airport. This will have a positive impact on the economy of our entire county as week as surrounding counties and will help our friends at EKU expand their Aviation program. I am very grateful for Congressman Barr\u2019s extra effort to obtain funding for this important project.\u201d\n\n\u201cEKU is extremely thankful for the investment in Economy Road \u2013 a road that hundreds of our students travel every day of the year to complete their flight training in pursuit of their aviation degree,\u201d said EKU President David McFaddin. \u201cAviation is one of our fastest growing degree programs. As we strive to help alleviate the pilot shortage, we anticipate continued enrollment growth in this field of study, putting more students on Economy Road. Thank you to Judge Taylor and Congressman Barr for championing this project.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/10/icymi-comer-joins-fox-friends-discusses-federal-charges-facing-hunter-biden-and-congressional-investigation-into-the-biden-family-s-influence-peddling", "ICYMI: Comer Joins Fox & Friends, Discusses Federal Charges Facing Hunter Biden and Congressional Investigation into the Biden Family\u2019s Influence Peddling", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\n\u201cThese are small potatoes compared to all the problems that Hunter Biden has. There\u2019s mounting evidence that Hunter Biden was peddling access to our adversaries all over the world. The reason we are investigating Hunter Biden is because we believe he is a national security threat. But we are also concerned that Hunter\u2019s shady business dealings have compromised Joe Biden. There are countless examples where Joe Biden has changed the rules, including Congress\u2019s access to suspicious activity reports, which are bank violations that both Hunter and Jim Biden have committed. President Biden has blocked Republican oversight at every corner,\u201d said Ranking Member Comer.\n\n\u201cThis impending indictment is just a drop in the bucket. We are going to continue our investigation. We are concerned about the national security threats and influence peddling that not just Hunter Biden, but the Biden family, have been doing for over a decade. And the big question is: was Joe involved? And more evidence shows he was involved,\u201d continued Ranking Member Comer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/10/omer-thompson-lead-letter-to-gao-regarding-foreign-investments-in-u-s-farmland", "Comer & Thompson Lead Letter to GAO Regarding Foreign Investments in U.S. Farmland", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 This weekend, Republican Leader of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, James Comer, and Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture, Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson, were joined by 128 of their Conference colleagues in sending a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The letter requests a study regarding foreign investment in U.S. farmland and its impact on national security, trade, and food security.\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s ownership of U.S. farmland is a threat to our food security and national security. An affordable, reliable food supply is critical to our nation\u2019s well-being and prosperity and we must ensure America maintains control of our nation\u2019s resources,\u201d said Rep. Comer. \u201cWe are calling on the Government Accountability Office to report on the scope of this threat to our food supply to inform Congress how we can best protect the security of the American people. Americans need transparency about the federal government\u2019s efforts to address this growing problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cForeign ownership and investment in U.S. agricultural land has nearly doubled in the past decade. This growing trend has elevated concerns regarding national security in a time of uncertainty that is already compounded by challenges to our supply chain infrastructure, high input costs for farmers, and geopolitical pressures,\u201d said Rep. Thompson. \u201cIt is critical for Congress to have a thorough understanding of foreign investment in our nation\u2019s agricultural land.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=9E9102D3-61DD-480A-AB21-D7EDDFE49B39", "Congressman Rogers Remembers Eastern Kentucky's Queen of Country Music", "2022-10-04", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "VAN LEAR, KY -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers released the following statement in memory of Loretta Lynn, the Johnson County native who first became famous for \"Coal Miner's Daughter,\" the song she wrote about her life in Van Lear, Kentucky.\n\n\u201cWe have lost one of Eastern Kentucky\u2019s brightest country music stars, Loretta Lynn, Johnson County\u2019s talented Coal Miner\u2019s Daughter. Her incredible voice and honest lyrics have resounded across the Appalachian Mountains and around the world, highlighting the resiliency and courage of the coal-mining region where she was born and raised. Starting from humble beginnings in Butcher Holler and becoming the \u201cQueen of Country Music,\u201d Loretta inspired generations of gifted singers from the mountains. She set new records for country music throughout her successful career, earning all the industry\u2019s top awards, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contributions to the arts. We were blessed by her voice, her story, and her determination to leave a legacy of hope that will endure for generations,\" said Congressman Rogers.\n\nIn April, Congressman Rogers commemorated Loretta Lynn\u2019s 90th birthday with a Congressional Tribute, recognizing the incredible impact that she has made in Kentucky\u2019s Appalachian region.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=78839605-E7B6-4E98-A809-21B061701E6C", "Congressman Rogers Votes for More Federal Disaster Relief Funds", "2022-09-30", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Short-term Bill Avoids Government Shutdown\n\nWASHINGTON, DC -- Congress passed a bipartisan short-term federal bill on Friday, the last day of the fiscal year, to keep the government running through December 16, 2022. Congressman Rogers said he voted for the bill despite some of its flaws, because it fast-tracks $19 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, provides $2 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program and secures $1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).\n\n\"Eastern Kentucky needs every federal dollar we can get to help with flood relief efforts. We have a multitude of issues to address in the wake of the historic flood that ripped apart hundreds of homes and devastated thousands of families. Some individuals are still living in tents on the foundation where their homes washed away. As winter quickly approaches, we must do everything we can to secure the funding necessary for safe housing and emergency repairs in our communities,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House. \"This bill is far from perfect, but it's a good addition for disaster relief as we work together to meet the needs that are still prevalent in Eastern Kentucky's hardest hit communities.\"\n\nThe bill also ensures several healthcare resources for veterans would not expire today, extending some programs for at least one year, including long-term care for disabled veterans and travel reimbursements for mental health services.\n\n\"Unfortunately, this bill does not address rising inflation, our growing energy crisis or the flood of illicit drugs and illegal immigrants coming across our southern border. The work ahead of us is daunting and the Biden Administration has not only failed to produce policies to fix the problems, they have repeatedly denied that these crises even exist. The American people know better, because our bills tell the story at the gas pump, in the grocery store and when we start heating our homes for winter,\" said Congressman Rogers. \"Nonetheless, this bill gives us more time to work toward a resolution and provides important supplemental funding in support of Ukraine, and critical emergency funding for disaster relief.\"\n\nThe bill now awaits the President's signature.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B8EE95EA-D73C-481C-8F5C-DD3DB84F3A41", "Barr to Champion House GOP \u201cCommitment to America\u201d", "2022-09-23", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "The platform includes a nod to Barr\u2019s Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act, which requires that the financial interests of hardworking Americans be put ahead of politics.\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) pledged to champion the House Republican Commitment to America (CTA) ahead of the 118th Congress. The House Republican CTA promises to deliver:\n\n\u2022 An Economy That\u2019s Strong\n\n\u2022 A Nation That\u2019s Safe\n\n\u2022 A Future That\u2019s Built on Freedom\n\n\u2022 A Government That\u2019s Accountable\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not enough to oppose D.C. Democrats\u2019 disastrous one-party reign that created the worst inflation crisis in 40 years, chaos at the border, and crime in our streets. Republicans need to put forward a vision for our country that every American can unite behind. That is what this Commitment to America is about,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI want to commend Leader McCarthy for crafting CTA, which includes an important promise to combat the politicization of access to capital that helped send energy costs soaring and the environmental, social, governance (ESG) investing scheme which sacrifices financial returns for retail investors \u2013such as pensioners and retirees\u2013 so that financial firms can pursue a political agenda.\u201d\n\n\u201cAndy Barr is a fighter and a proven leader for Central and Eastern Kentuckians in Congress. He is working tirelessly as a leader on the Financial Services Committee to ensure corporations are putting the people they serve over politics. Andy will help our Conference tackle the inflation crisis and stop the deadly flow of fentanyl coming into our communities by supporting policies that will secure our border,\u201d said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23).\n\nCTA is modeled after the Contract with America created by former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in 1994. Under the \u201cA Future That\u2019s Built on Freedom\u201d pillar of CTA, House Republicans promise to \u201cstop companies from putting politics ahead of people.\u201d Congressman Barr\u2019s Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act would require investment advisors and ERISA retirement plan sponsors to prioritize financial returns over non-monetary factors when making investment decisions on behalf of their clients.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=001312A6-2E70-4AB3-AC3B-8D97A204E1FA", "Barr to Big Banks: Finance American Energy to Rescue Economy", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 With the consumer price index (CPI) continuing to skyrocket and Americans suffering from an unprecedented inflation crisis, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-Ky) pressed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the seven largest retail banks financing American energy companies to lower prices and rescue the U.S. economy from recession. Many banks are under siege by far-left politicians and activists pushing banks to cut off or restrict access to capital for the American energy sector and other politically disfavored industries. The result has been sky-high energy prices. According to a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, household energy prices are set to hit a ten year high this winter, costing the average family $1,200.\n\nThe full transcript of Congressman Barr\u2019s questioning is below:\n\nBarr: Thank you Madam Chair and Mr. Dimon. In your April letter to shareholders you called for a new Marshall Plan to ensure energy security for the United States and our European allies who are overly dependent on Russian energy. I couldn't agree more, which is why I am so skeptical of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and the weaponization of financial regulation designed to discriminate against American energy companies. It's why I oppose the imposition of European style climate stress tests on the U.S. banks, requiring banks to hold more capital when lending to fossil energy or carbon intensive firms, and the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s (SECs) flawed climate disclosure rule which would politicize capital allocation, redirect capital away from American energy firms and steer retail investors into higher fee, less diversified, and lower return ESG investments.\n\nI commend you for recognizing in your letter that quote, \u201cnational security demands energy security for ourselves and our allies overseas and for rejecting the demands of climate alarmists who have called on you to immediately cut off financing for fossil energy firms,\u201d but my specific question relates to coal since coal still accounts for twenty two percent of all electricity generation in the united states, and you write in your letter that quote, \u201cusing gas to diminish coal consumption is an actionable way to reduce CO2 emissions expeditiously.\u201d Mr. Dimon, do you believe that a coal company with a strong balance sheet, little or no debt and a demonstrable track record of credit worthiness should have equal access to conventional bank financing as a natural gas company with similar financial characteristics?\n\nJamie Dimon: Yes\n\nBarr: Will your institution commit to continue the financing of American coal producers who are still needed and will be for some time to supply the most affordable and reliable source of base load power to the American economy?\n\nDimon: We are working with the responsible coal producers and utility companies, many of whom by the way, have dramatically reduced CO2 as we speak.\n\nBarr: Mr. Moynihan, I'll spare you similar questions, but as you and I have discussed and notwithstanding your net zero commitment, I appreciate your focus that job number one is on addressing inflation, and to lower the rate of inflation, we cannot rely exclusively on Fed tightening, we must also address the supply side, and that means more, not less financing of American energy exploration and production. I urge all of the CEOs here to adopt a similarly measured approach to financing fossil energy. Mr. Moynihan, my question pertains to the FDIC\u2019s March request for information on the regulatory framework that applies to merger transactions involving one or more ensured depository institutions. The FDICs action signals a heightened regulatory resistance to bank mergers, presumably on the grounds that consolidation of the banking industry, which has significantly reduced the number of smaller banking organizations and increased the number of large systemically important banking organizations, is a threat to financial stability. My question Mr. Moynihan is which of the following institutions is a more formidable competitor to Bank of America? Is it Sun Trust operating alone, is it BB&T Operating alone or is it the combination of the two institutions now known as Truist?\n\nBrian Moynihan: Undoubtedly the combination of the two institutions is a more formidable competitor.\n\nBarr: And Mr. Rogers, since I evoked the name of your institution, would you care to comment?\n\nWilliam Rogers: I'm proud that Mr. Moynihan named me as a strong competitor to his business.\n\nBarr: I take it from the response from both of these gentlemen that an overtly aggressive resistance to mergers by the FDIC could actually diminish competition at the GSIB level and therefore undermine financial stability. Final question to all of you and anyone who wants to chime in. Do you assess the impact of a CBDC as a positive or negative for our economy and our credit markets? Specifically, how would a CBDC impact your deposit base and therefore your ability to deploy capital in the real economy? Mr. Dimon?\n\nDimon: If it is properly done it'll be fine. I don't trust it will be properly done. You're not going to have the Federal Reserve running call centers. So, there's a lot more to banking services than the actual token that moves the money. There are fraud risk alert services, call centers, bank branches, ATM, CRA. So, properly done is not a problem, improperly done you will have an issue.\n\nBarr: Ms. Fraser, with my remaining time, to increase capital requirements, Vice Chair Barr suggests he wants to review this. What would that do to the ability of your customer to repair supply chains and your ability to deploy capital and fix inflation?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/9/icymi-comer-joins-hannity-reveals-joe-biden-biden-family-sold-american-natural-gas-to-china/ebb3fbb3-7012-47b3-86fd-ddd386ea653c", "ICYMI: Comer Joins Hannity, Reveals Joe Biden & Biden Family Sold American Natural Gas to China", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) joined \u201cHannity\u201d on Fox News to discuss shocking revelations in the investigation into the Biden Family\u2019s shady foreign business dealings.\n\nRanking Member Comer revealed documents showing the Joe Biden and the Biden family sold American natural gas to China in 2017. Documents and communications obtained by Committee Republicans reveal Joe Biden was involved in the arrangement as a business partner, had office space, and may have benefitted financially from his family\u2019s transaction selling American energy to a Chinese business closely affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.\n\n\u201cI think it\u2019s safe to say now that the Oversight investigation into Hunter Biden, is now shifting to an i\u201cI think it\u2019s safe to say now that the Oversight investigation into Hunter Biden, is now shifting to an investigation of Joe Biden,\u201d said Ranking Member Comer. \u201cEverything about this is a shady business dealing, and this is the first time that there\u2019s proof that Joe Biden was involved. That\u2019s why we are trying to get those suspicious activity reports and those transaction records.\u201d\n\nThe interview can be found here:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8E69A132-A437-4E3A-A2AF-472F7AD65A2B", "Kentucky's Congressional Delegation Requests FEMA Flood Relief Deadline Extension", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- The deadline for East Kentucky flood survivors to apply for federal assistance from FEMA is Wednesday, September 28, but Kentucky's Congressional Delegation says residents need more time. In a letter to the FEMA administration, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, Dean of the House, joined U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Rand Paul, and Congressmen Andy Barr, James Comer, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie and John Yarmuth in requesting a 30-day extension to allow more time for individuals to seek funding to rebuild homes and repair property.\n\n\"As you know, the severity of this flooding event has displaced thousands of Kentuckians, many of whom are still seeking temporary shelter and basic needs as they work to rebuild their lives. The continued rain and challenging topography of this emergency has created a prolonged response phase and more time is needed to ensure that all eligible individuals are able to apply for the assistance they so desperately need,\" the letter stated.\n\nFEMA has disbursed more than $67.6 million in Individual Assistance for housing and other needs since the Major Disaster Declaration was issued. While many applications are still being processed and other claims have been appealed, the delegation is concerned for individuals who still do not have resources to request assistance.\n\n\"Further, many Kentuckians have expressed challenges in registering for assistance with FEMA, which has been complicated by damages to critical infrastructure that in some cases prevented Eastern Kentuckians from traveling to in-person registration centers or registering through telephone or internet based services. More time is needed for those who have not yet been able to register, and this extension will help ensure our most vulnerable families are not left behind,\" the delegation expressed in the letter.\n\nIndividuals living in the following counties are eligible for housing assistance and other needs: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Whitley counties. To apply for FEMA assistance, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=998EE350-E2BD-443A-814B-DA278D018048", "Congressman Rogers & SOAR Launch 2022 Congressional App Challenge", "2022-09-19", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The 2022 Congressional App Challenge is underway and Congressman Hal Rogers has teamed up with SOAR - Shaping Our Appalachian Region - to help promote computer science in Kentucky's Appalachian region, giving our students a competitive technology edge. Congressman Rogers cofounded SOAR in 2013 to help revitalize southern and eastern Kentucky through new opportunities in our communities. A winning app is selected for every congressional district, which will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. Winning students are invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C., and are eligible for several prizes.\n\n\"This is a tough year for hundreds of our East Kentucky students who are facing unimaginable circumstances as they begin school after the catastrophic flood that swept across our region in July. It is my hope that this year's Congressional App Challenge will give students something to look forward to and a dose of inspiration for the future,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House. \"The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition that was launched in 2015 to encourage students to explore coding and app development. It puts our students on the national stage of innovation and ensures that we remain on the cutting edge of technology right here at home in the mountains.\"\n\nThanks to generous donations for the Eastern Kentucky Student Support Fund, SOAR has raised more than $110,000 for flood-damaged schools to purchase new technology equipment, including laptops, tablets and other devices.\n\nEach year, students from the Floyd County Area Technology Center have taken the challenge to heart, sweeping the top award for Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District with impressive mobile app concepts. This year, SOAR and CEDAR, Inc. are helping expand the competition, encouraging more students to realize the advantages of learning how to develop new technology resources.\n\n\"We are honored to partner with Congressman Rogers, CEDAR Inc., and Eastern Kentucky students on the 2022 Congressional App Challenge. High-paying remote careers are available now more than ever. It\u2019s critical Eastern Kentucky students learn the needed skills for these jobs that will allow them to stay in the region to live and work,\u201d said Colby Hall, Executive Director of SOAR.\n\nThe 2022 SOAR Summit in Pikeville will feature more information about the Congressional App Challenge, highlighting app concepts that have won in previous years. Thanks to generous support from Toyota Tsusho, Eastern Kentucky high school and college students can attend the event for free. Interested students and schools can email students@soar-ky.org. The SOAR Summit, will be a held at the Appalachian Wireless Arena on October 19-20, 2022. For more information visit, soar-ky.org/summit.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/9/comer-introduces-legislation-to-address-exorbitant-fees-levied-against-marina-business-owners", "Comer Introduces Legislation to Address Exorbitant Fees Levied Against Marina Business Owners", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 lack of transparency and unclear fee policies negatively impacts Kentucky\u2019s marina businesses\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) introduced the Maintaining Access to Recreational Industry and Necessary Adjustments (MARINA) Act. For too long, communities in the First Congressional District which rely on tourism have seen the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) recklessly wield their authority to charge administrative fees for improvement projects and events located on Corps owned and managed marina property. The MARINA Act recognizes the role locally owned marinas have in fulfilling the Corps congressionally mandated mission of enhancing recreational opportunities by creating a standardized framework for calculating administrative fees and capping the amount of sales on items with a low profit margin that can be used to determine a marina operator\u2019s annual rent to the Corps.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/9/congressman-comer-recognizes-the-carri", "Congressman Comer Recognizes the Carrico Family on the House Floor", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) recognized and congratulated Janet, Ellen, Peyton, and the entire Carrico Family for recently receiving the Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Each year, CCAI selects individuals across the nation who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of loving homes. The Carrico Family of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, opened their hearts and house by fostering over ten children and adopting six.\n\nBelow are his remarks as prepared:\n\nMadam Speaker,\n\nToday I rise to recognize the Carrico Family of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, who recently received the Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.\n\nEach year, CCAI selects individuals across the nation who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of loving homes.\n\nI want to congratulate Janet, Ellen, Peyton, and the entire Carrico Family on their well-deserved recognition. They opened their hearts and house by fostering over ten children and adopting six into their family.\n\nTheir devotion to helping children extends to the Fancy Farm community as well. They can often be seen directing and volunteering for various youth-centered programs within the St. Jerome Parish of Fancy Farm, Kentucky.\n\nFancy Farm and the entire First Congressional District of Kentucky should be proud of the Carrico Family.\n\nThis beautiful Kentucky family has shown what love can really do.\n\nThank you, I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=39B18BE8-10E1-4CD4-920B-2E042C5619DE", "Kentucky's Congressional Delegation Requests Higher Federal Cost Share for Flood Relief", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Kentucky's Federal Delegation sent a letter to President Biden requesting additional financial relief for counties facing exorbitant costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures as flood relief efforts continue across Eastern Kentucky's rural communities. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, Dean of the House, joined U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Rand Paul, along with Congressmen John Yarmuth, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie, Andy Barr and James Comer in support of the request.\n\n\"The sparsely populated counties that were affected by this disaster were already facing daunting challenges in terms of limited budgetary resources; the damage to the area's economy and infrastructure have only exacerbated those challenges, making it unlikely that these counties will have the capacity to meet a potential 25 percent non-federal match outside of the 30-day, 100 percent federal cost share period for debris removal and emergency protective measures,\" the letter stated.\n\nKentucky's Congressional leaders sent the letter in support of Governor Andy Beshear's request to modify the Major Disaster Declaration to reflect a 90 percent federal cost share.\n\n\"We have tragically lost 40 Kentuckians, in addition to excessive loss of private property and critical infrastructure. Many Kentuckians are still living in temporary shelters, and the recovery is only beginning for so many families in the affected communities,\" the letter stated.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5AF0226C-30A9-4E17-BFBA-97FE30D5031A", "Congressman Rogers Honored as Dean of the U.S. House", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) was honored today as the new Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives during a reception in the U.S. Capitol hosted by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer. Both leaders also gave remarks on the House Floor in recognition of Dean Rogers' ongoing 42 years of service to the United States and specifically, the people of southern and eastern Kentucky.\n\n\u201cDuring his 42 years in Congress, Hal has represented Kentucky with pride, purpose, and principles. He continues to lead in Congress with a strong commitment to his constituents, working to improve their lives by passing important legislation like a bill to combat the opioid crisis. He has also led in Congress with a passion for the institution itself, reinvigorating regular order in the appropriations process, conducting thorough oversight that safeguarded taxpayer dollars, and serving with civility,\" said Republican Leader McCarthy. \"As a leader, appropriator, and colleague, Hal has proven to be the definition of a Kentucky Gentleman and the embodiment of a Kentucky workhorse. This House is fortunate to serve with such a gracious public servant. And every member is fortunate to have him as our new Dean.\"\n\n\"I've known Rep. Hal Rogers since I first came to Congress in 1981. Although much has changed since then, Hal's commitment to the institution of the House and to his constituents has never wavered. His institutional knowledge and the many lessons he has learned over the years will surely benefit his role as the Dean of the House,\" said Democratic Leader Hoyer.\"\n\nCongressman Rogers was sworn into office on January 3, 1981, just before President Ronald Reagan's Inauguration. He has served as Chairman or Ranking Member of several appropriations subcommittees, including founding Chairman of Homeland Security after 9/11 and Chairman of the full Appropriations Committee from 2011 to 2017.\n\n\"I'm honored to be in such great company as Congressmen Don Young, John Dingell, and Jamie Whitten,\" said Rogers, Dean of the House. \"The House is most respected when we practice bipartisanship. While each of us bring different beliefs and values, there is one theme that exists within all of us: a singular commitment to serving our constituents and doing all we can to improve the lives of the people at home, and to honor this remarkable institution.\"\n\nAs the most senior member of the House, Dean Rogers will swear in the next Speaker of the House.\n\nFor more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov.\n\nClick here to watch Leader McCarthy's House Floor remarks.\n\nClick here to watch Leader Hoyer's House Floor remarks.\n\nRepublican Leader Kevin McCarthy honors Congressman Rogers as Dean of the House\n\nDemocratic Leader Steny Hoyer honors Congressman Rogers as Dean of the House", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D15B0AA1-58C1-49A4-8B95-A1AFD98DA88A", "Rep. Barr on his Congressional Visit to Taiwan", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Last week, U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-Ky) visited Taiwan on a bipartisan Congressional delegation led by U.S. Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL). Rep. Barr, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation (APCAN) as well as the House China Task Force, released this statement following his trip:\n\n\u201cTaiwan is a proven international partner for the United States on trade, global health, and so many other issues. The island is critical to the U.S. economy and to Kentucky\u2019s Sixth Congressional District, with over 80% of the world\u2019s advanced semiconductors being produced in Taiwan. Many of these semiconductors go right into automobiles produced at the Toyota manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, right in the heart of the Sixth District.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=6027CEB0-9608-40C3-A67D-08CF96C4A005", "Barr Announces Federal Grant to Establish New Veterans Program at EKU", "2022-09-06", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Editor\u2019s note: U.S. Congressman Andy Barr at Eastern Kentucky University on August 25, 2020. Photo credit to Eastern Kentucky University.\n\nRichmond, Kentucky\u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) is announcing a $1,437,685 federal grant to Eastern Kentucky University to create a Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program. EKU will receive $287,537 annually over the next five years to implement the new program. VUB is a federally funded outreach program designed to prepare eligible, first-generation, low-income veterans to enter postsecondary education.\n\nCurrently, there is only one other university with a VUB program in the Commonwealth. EKU will use these funds to provide free services to include support, books, and instruction to 125 veterans on a yearly basis. Congressman Barr advocated for EKU\u2019s grant application through a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Education.\n\n\u201cEKU\u2019s tradition of promoting educational and career opportunities for our veterans is second to none,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cThe new VUB program will enable EKU to expand the university\u2019s footprint in the veteran community and ensure that more veterans can smoothly make the transition from military service to civilian life. I am thrilled that EKU has received this grant and I look forward to seeing its impact when the program is fully implemented.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs one of the top 3 veteran schools in the nation, we are proud to continue supporting our veteran population with additional assistance through the Veteran\u2019s Upward Bound program,\u201d said EKU President David McFaddin. \u201cThanks to the assistance of Congressman Barr and his team as well as leadership of our Office of Military and Veteran\u2019s Affairs director Barbara Kent, this infusion of funds will ensure our ability to continue elevating our support for the men and women who have served our country.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=EF7878CC-C6CA-41FD-8F06-9F19E4F0DB2F", "Congressman Rogers, Gov. Beshear Present $11.6 Million in Perry County to Improve Infrastructure and Provide Update on Travel Trailers", "2022-09-06", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "New water treatment plant expected to create hundreds of jobs, generate $13 million in private investment\n\nHAZARD, Ky. (Sept. 6, 2022) \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) and Gov. Andy Beshear presented $11.6 million for four projects to improve infrastructure, public safety and water treatment in Perry County. Governor Beshear also provided an update on the travel trailers en route to Floyd, Letcher and Perry counties, donated by the State of Louisiana after they were originally purchased to house Hurricane Ida survivors.\n\n\u201cThe projects we are announcing today are going to improve the health and wellbeing of our Eastern Kentucky communities,\u201d Gov. Beshear said. \u201cWe are making good on our promise to be with Eastern Kentucky for the long haul. We have brighter days on our horizon.\u201d\n\nBuckhorn Water Treatment Plant\n\nGov. Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers presented a ceremonial check totaling $8,893,200 to the City of Hazard and the City of Buckhorn to construct a water treatment plant that can process 2 million gallons per day. The new plant will provide reliable water service to 1,198 households and 19 businesses in the Coal Fields Regional Industrial Park, the City of Buckhorn and the Chavies community. This will reduce stress on the existing Hazard water treatment plant and will allow for future development and economic growth.\n\n\u201cIn the midst of such widespread devastation after the flood, it is great to have something to celebrate for our friends in Buckhorn and Perry County. The days of boiling water will soon be over, thanks to the funding that we are announcing today for a new water treatment plant in Buckhorn,\u201d said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \u201cThis project will provide the long-term fix that folks need and deserve in Buckhorn. It is also a great example of what we can accomplish when federal, state and local leaders work together to improve local water service.\u201d\n\nCongressman Rogers has also submitted a $2.5 million Community Project Funding Request for fiscal year 2023 for the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant. The federal funding request is one of fifteen earmarks submitted by Rogers that could be approved later this year.\n\nThis project is anticipated to create 364 jobs, retain 351 jobs and generate $13 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.\n\nThe funding comes from federal and state sources:\n\n$5 million from the federal Economic Development Administration;\n\n$2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, administered at the state level by the Department for Local Government (DLG);\n\n$1 million in Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program funding, administered at the state level by the Energy and Environment Cabinet; and\n\n$893,200 in Appalachian Regional Commission funding, administered at the state level by DLG.\n\n\u201cClean water is the fundamental bedrock of any thriving community, and the addition of this water treatment plant will be an invaluable addition to our community\u2019s infrastructure,\u201d Sen. Brandon Smith of Hazard said.\n\n\u201cThis is by far the best and most exciting news that has been announced in Perry County in some time,\u201d said Perry County Judge/Executive Scott Alexander. \u201cWe have seen water issues here and we are seeing water shortages across our country. This addition to our small community will make our residents quality of life better and also will lead to our county becoming a hub for economic development in Appalachia for generations to come.\u201d\n\nCity of Hazard and Perry County New Ambulance Station\n\nGov. Beshear and Congressman Rogers awarded $1,789,000 in CDBG funding to the City of Hazard and Perry County for a new ambulance station. The project will renovate the old Manufacturer\u2019s Supply Building in Hazard and turn it into an ambulance station serving northern Perry County. Exterior renovations will include installing six garage door bays, garage doors, a new roof and repaving service drives. Interior renovations will upgrade the walls, floors and ceilings, as well as the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great day for Perry County and its residents. Investment in our rural communities means a better and stronger Kentucky,\u201d Sen. Smith said. \u201cThese funds will go a long way in ensuring structure and normalcy for residents after so many have been left traumatized by the recent flooding events. The expansion of the Perry County Ambulance Authority is long overdue and will provide more efficient emergency services, potentially saving lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe City of Hazard appreciates all of the support the Governor has shown us during these terrible times and by awarding us this money to help with the wastewater plant shows that he knows we need this to make our city and county stronger,\u201d said Hazard Mayor Donald \u201cHappy\u201d Mobelini.\n\n\u201cThe new ambulance station is much needed and will help us cover Perry County more efficiently,\u201d said Perry County Ambulance Authority Director Betsy Stacy. \u201cThis money will make our county a safer and healthier place to live.\u201d\n\nThe Perry County Ambulance Authority will own, maintain and insure the new building.\n\nRoad Resurfacing Awards for Coal Fields Industrial Park\n\nThe Governor presented $856,110 for Perry County from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), which will help resurface portions of two roads: KYTC allocated $719,030 for Coal Fields Industrial Road and $137,080 for Trus Joist Lane.\n\nThese roads both run through Coal Fields Industrial Park, so the investment will benefit local businesses, employees and the county\u2019s overall economic development efforts as they work to expand the park.\n\nPerry County Park Improvements\n\nGov. Beshear also announced his recommendation that the National Parks Service approve $65,844 in funding to Perry County for improvements to the Perry County Park. The project, if approved, would resurface and restripe the park\u2019s tennis courts. Additional lighting and new fencing would also be installed around the courts.\n\n\u201cThis funding would help us significantly improve our tennis courts at the park,\u201d said Dennis Farler, parks director for Perry County. \u201cThese courts are in need of upgrades, and we want to provide quality outdoor spaces for our citizens.\u201d\n\nTravel Trailers\n\nThe Governor said that to date the state has moved 299 individuals into 197 travel trailers, up from 119 last Wednesday, which includes the 41 onsite in Perry County, with more trailers and locations in Perry County coming soon. Other flood-impacted areas with travel trailer locations include Jenny Wiley State Resport Park, Carr Creek, Mine Made Campground and Crockettsville Campground, and will soon include Clay County.\n\nAbout the Land & Water Conservation Fund\n\nThe LWCF provides federal grant funds to protect important natural areas, acquire land for outdoor recreation and develop or renovate public outdoor recreation facilities such as campgrounds, picnic areas, sports and playfields, swimming facilities, boating and fishing facilities, trails, natural areas and parks. To receive the federal funds, selected applicants must undergo federal review and receive approval from the National Park Service.\n\nAbout the Community Development Block Grant Program\n\nThe CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=828F7694-65D5-4DD1-98A9-25D4D9AD6E8C", "Barr Delivers Federal Funds for Mt Sterling Post Clinic to Expand Healthcare Services", "2022-09-01", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Mt. Sterling, Kentucky\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) delivered a $1,000,000 federal grant to the Mt. Sterling Post Clinic on Thursday. The Post Clinic will use this federal funding to construct a new facility to expand dental and healthcare services to underserved Kentuckians in Montgomery, Bath, and other surrounding counties. It is estimated that the Post Clinic will be able to provide care to 4,000 underserved Kentuckians, up from 400. Congressman Barr secured the funds during the most recent federal appropriations process.\n\n\u201cToday is the culmination of years of work by local leaders, Post Clinic staff, and our office to push this project across the finish line,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI want to commend these leaders for their perseverance in pursuing this grant award. Despite roadblocks along the way, we all remained committed to this critical project. The Post Clinic\u2019s new facility will make a difference in the lives of thousands of Kentuckians and make our community healthier in the years ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe would like to thank Congressman Andy Barr for his continued support of the Post Clinic project. We started this process in 2019, and today, with this award announcement of $1,000,000 in Community Project Funding, we can report that we've met our goal for the projected cost of this project. It truly has been a team effort, with local, state, and federal elected officials all coming together to collaborate and find a way to get this project funded. Quality healthcare opportunities are so important to the overall health and success of a community. We are so very fortunate to have the Post Clinic here to provide free health and dental care to those who are without health insurance, and to those who are underinsured. This new building will help the Post Clinic team meet many of their operational goals and to allow them to continue to provide quality care to our citizens,\u201d said Mt. Sterling Mayor Al Botts.\n\n\u201cThis grant award will help us expand our care to hundreds of Kentuckians and pave the way for a brighter, healthier future for the people we serve. I want to thank Congressman Barr, Mayor Botts, and all those involved who partnered with us to make this project a reality,\u201d said Dr. L Edward Roberts, Medical Director at the Post Clinic.\n\nThe Post Clinic also received $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID funds and $500,000 of traditional CDBG funds that Congressman Barr also supported. Additionally, the city of Mt. Sterling and Montgomery County each pledged $75,000 to this project.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B5F46ABB-E454-42F3-AEFD-5BBC3C88E3DA", "Barr Secures School Safety Grant for Menifee County High School", "2022-09-01", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Frenchburg, Kentucky\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) announced a $529,000 federal grant to bolster school safety at Menifee County High School on Thursday afternoon. Menifee County High School will use these federal funds to implement multiple measures to bolster school security, including the placement of cameras in vulnerable areas and making all buildings accessible only by card access. Congressman Barr secured these funds through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Byrne JAG Program during the most recent federal appropriations process.\n\n\u201cThis grant will strengthen safety for students and faculty at Menifee County High School for decades to come. Boosting security in our schools is the best way we can reduce the risk of violence in classrooms throughout America,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI am pleased to deliver this grant award and I want to thank the leadership of Menifee County for partnering with our office in a persistent, multi-year effort to obtain this grant.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe safety of our students is always a top priority and thanks to the efforts of Congressman Barr and his team, the Menifee County School District is going to be able to continuously make improvements to not only our new facilities but to update all of our campuses. We would also to acknowledge the work of our local and state leaders and the collaboration with our community who helped secure funding for Menifee Central. Their hard work has allowed us as educators to maintain a resolute focus on our mission of ensuring that all students are successful in their transition to academia, military, or career,\u201d said Tim Spencer, Superintendent of Menifee County Schools.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/9/comer-mcmorris-rodgers-jordan-introduce-bill-to-stop-biden-administration-from-pressuring-social-media-companies-to-censor-americans", "Comer Introduces Bill to Stop Biden Administration from Pressuring Social Media Companies to Censor Americans", "2022-09-01", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), and House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) today introduced the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act (H.R. 8752). This bill prohibits Biden Administration officials and federal bureaucrats from using their authority or influence to promote censorship of speech or pressure social media companies to censor speech.\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration is using the heavy hand of government to pressure social media companies into censoring Americans\u2019 free speech and news shared on their platforms,\u201d said Oversight Committee Ranking Member Comer. \u201cFrom COVID-19 to Hunter Biden, Biden Administration officials are quick to label facts that don\u2019t fit their narrative as disinformation and then pressure social media companies to suppress content on their platforms. This threatens Americans\u2019 First Amendment rights. To protect freedom of speech, our bill stops the Swamp from pressuring social media companies to silence ordinary Americans.\u201d\n\nUnder the Biden Administration, federal officials have used their positions, influence, and resources to police and censor Americans\u2019 speech expressed on social media platforms. For example, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki used a July 2021 press briefing to call for Facebook to ban specific accounts from its platform and later in February 2022 called upon Spotify and other major tech platforms to limit what the Administration views as \u201cmis- and dis-information.\u201d Reports have also uncovered concerted government efforts to pressure Twitter and Facebook to go beyond their existing community rules to caveat certain posts and suspend users viewed as spreading misinformation. And most recently, Facebook admitted it took actions at the request of the FBI in the lead up to the 2020 Presidential election to algorithmically censor the sharing of news reports regarding Hunter Biden\u2019s laptop leak on the social media platform.\"\n\n\u201cHouse Energy and Commerce Republicans have repeatedly condemned President Biden\u2019s efforts to institutionalize censorship and coordinate with Big Tech to silence Americans. Yet his administration continues to pressure private companies to censor and manipulate the truth online. Big Tech platforms have become the modern town square, and any effort to erase people from these digital spaces simply for not adhering to the woke liberal agenda is unconstitutional. I am pleased to join my colleagues, Reps. Comer and Jordan, on legislation to protect Americans\u2019 first amendment rights from government censorship,\u201d said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers.\n\nSummary of the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act:\n\nProhibition on Federal Employee Censorship: The bill prohibits federal officials from using their official authority, influence, or resources\u2014including contracting, grantmaking, rulemaking, licensing, permitting, investigatory, or enforcement actions\u2014to promote the censorship of lawful speech or advocate that a third party or private entity censor speech.\n\nPenalties for Federal Employees Engaging in Censorship: The bill includes the same established penalties for federal officials who engage in political activities in their official capacity as prohibited under the Hatch Act, including disciplinary actions such as removal, reduction in pay grade, debarment from federal employment, or monetary civil penalties.\n\nSpecial Prohibitions for High Level Officials: The bill further protects American\u2019s lawful speech by prohibiting \u201cfurther restricted employees\u201d\u2014senior federal officials whose duties and responsibilities extend beyond normal duty hours or their office\u2014from engaging in censorship in a personal capacity. This includes any employee of the Executive Office of the President and Presidential agency appointees.\n\nBill text can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/9/congressman-comer-press", "Congressman Comer Presses Facebook on Censorship of Biden Family Allegations", "2022-09-01", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), along with Republican lawmakers on both panels, today are pressing Mark Zuckerberg about Facebook\u2019s suppression of the allegations about the Biden family before the 2020 election. During a recent podcast, Zuckerberg admitted Facebook reduced the circulation of the New York Post\u2019s explosive story about the contents of Hunter Biden\u2019s laptop following guidance from the FBI. The Republican lawmakers are seeking all documents and communications between Facebook, the FBI, and the Democratic National Committee about the Post\u2019s reporting on the Biden family.\n\n\u201cRecently, you described how Facebook\u2019s censorship of the allegations about the Biden family before the 2020 election followed a message from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Facebook \u2018should be on high alert\u2019 for \u2018Russian propaganda.\u2019 You acknowledged that this official alert from the FBI is what led to Facebook reducing the circulation of the Post\u2019s reporting on its platform, preventing Americans from fully understanding highly relevant allegations about President Biden\u2019s awareness of and involvement in his family\u2019s influence-peddling scheme. Accordingly, we write to request additional information about Facebook\u2019s actions to interfere in free and fair election-related public discourse,\u201dwrote the Republican lawmakers.\n\n\u201cWe have seen in recent months how some in government have sought to use Big Tech to censor divergent viewpoints and silence opposing political speech. Government-driven and Big Tech-implemented censorship suppresses freedom of speech and free thought online in ways that harm public discourse. Facebook\u2019s suppression of the Post article\u2014and allegations of Biden family corruption highly relevant to the 2020 presidential election\u2014following guidance from the FBI is highly troubling,\u201d continued the Republican lawmakers.\n\nThe letter to Mark Zuckerberg can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/8/comer-s-fox-news-op-ed-americans-have-many-questions-for-dr-fauci-and-republicans-are-determined-to-get-answers", "Comer\u2019s Fox News Op-ed: Americans Have Many Questions for Dr. Fauci and Republicans are Determined to Get Answers", "2022-08-29", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "While Dr. Fauci\u2019s federal career is coming to an end, congressional oversight of his efforts to possibly conceal the origins of COVID-19 is just getting started.\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014In an op-ed published today on Fox News, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) emphasized the importance of determining the origins of COVID-19 and holding Dr. Fauci, EcoHealth Alliance, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) accountable for concealing dangerous, taxpayer-funded experiments conducted on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan lab in China.\n\n\u201cThe American people have many questions for Dr. Fauci and we are determined to get answers. For the past two years, Republicans on the House Oversight and Reform Committee have called for Dr. Fauci to testify before the committee and provide documents and information related to our investigation into COVID origination. However, Democrats have shielded Dr. Fauci from any meaningful congressional oversight and have refused to invite him to appear before the committee. The origin of COVID-19\u2014a virus with a death toll surpassing one million Americans and then six million globally\u2014is a question that must be answered. Discovering the origin is vital to providing accountability and protecting Americans in the future,\u201d wrote Ranking Member James Comer.\n\n\u201cWe need all of Dr. Fauci\u2019s emails and communications surrounding the origin of COVID-19, the NIH\u2019s documents on experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology as well as EcoHealth Alliance\u2019s involvement. The American people deserve accountability, and Republicans are determined to provide it when we take back the House of Representatives in 2023,\u201d concluded Comer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AC10BC58-16E1-40E7-B073-B65A3407F792", "Barr Slams Biden\u2019s Student Loan Bailout", "2022-08-24", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement on President Biden\u2019s inflationary student loan giveaway:\n\n\u201cDuring a recession that is crushing low- and middle-income Americans, President Biden wants to engineer one of the largest wealth transfers to high end earners at the expense of blue-collar workers. Democrats\u2019 hypocrisy knows no bounds. Nearly a third of student loan debt is held by the top 20 percent of earners and 56 percent of student debt is held by households with graduate degrees. Biden\u2019s cynical politically motivated ploy would bail out the wealthiest 20 percent of American households at the expense of other hardworking low- and middle-income Americans, setting a dangerous precedent for wealthy Americans to go to college and later expect non-college educated working families to pay off loans that they promised to pay back. I guess the left has abandoned its \u201ctax the rich\u201d mentality.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s student loan bailout plan is not only unfair to hardworking taxpayers who didn\u2019t go to college, it is a slap in the face to Americans who worked hard and paid off their student loans, or didn\u2019t even take out loans and used their own savings. Furthermore, President Biden\u2019s unfunded plan will add $300 billion to the national debt which has already soared to over $30 trillion as a result of Democrats\u2019 reckless spending. Finally, this plan does nothing to discourage tuition inflation, which is the direct result of excess federal subsidization of higher education.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/8/comer-retirement-can-t-shield-dr-fauci-from-congressional-oversight", "Comer: Retirement Can't Shield Dr. Fauci from Congressional Oversight", "2022-08-22", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) released the following statement after Dr. Fauci announced his intent to retire from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in December 2022:\n\n\u201cRetirement can\u2019t shield Dr. Fauci from congressional oversight. Emails obtained by Oversight Committee Republicans reveal what Dr. Fauci said publicly about COVID origins was very different than what was said privately. Dr. Fauci was warned by top scientists early on that the virus looked genetically manipulated and likely leaked from the Wuhan lab. Despite these facts, Dr. Fauci dismissed these ideas in public as conspiracy theories. We need to know if Dr. Fauci concealed anything from government officials in order to shield the NIH\u2019s cozy relationship with EcoHealth Alliance, a grantee that awarded taxpayer funds to the Wuhan lab to conduct dangerous research on bat coronaviruses. The American people deserve transparency and accountability about how government officials used their taxpayer dollars, and Oversight Committee Republicans will deliver.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=20BFFC2C-1128-4704-9A1F-3C5630584EC9", "Barr on MTP: Get America \u201cBack to the Basics\u201d GOP Goal in 2023", "2022-08-21", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) gave a scathing review of Democrats\u2019 one-party rule in Washington that ushered in an economic recession and historic inflation crisis crushing middle-class families and small businesses.\n\nBarr said on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press\u201d that House Republicans promise to get America \u201cBack to the Basics\u201d in 2023:\n\nDelivering economic relief to middle-class families to alleviate the impact of inflation.\n\nSecuring our southern border to stop the surge of fentanyl trafficking.\n\nFunding and supporting law enforcement to reduce crime.\n\nUnder one-party Democrat rule:\n\nDemocrat\u2019s failed tax, borrow, and spend economic agenda caused a recession.\n\nMiddle-class families are on track to spend nearly $6,000 because of historic inflation.\n\nEnough fentanyl came to the border to kill every American eight times over again. In Kentucky, over 70% of Kentucky overdoses involved fentanyl last year.\n\nHouse Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) established the Commitment to America creating Task Forces to tackle every issue facing America from the economy to China. Congressman Barr serves on the China Accountability Task Force headed by Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=98604D1F-F326-45B1-A31D-E507BE49D4CD", "Congressman Rogers Applauds $3.9 Million EDA Investment in McCreary County", "2022-08-16", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) applauds a $3.9 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the McCreary County Heritage Foundation, Inc. to continue revitalization projects and infrastructure upgrades to boost the tourism economy in Stearns, Kentucky.\n\nThis project will support revitalization of the county museum and local businesses while providing related infrastructure improvements, including drainage, walkways, paving, and other amenities to support increased tourism. This EDA grant will be matched with $600,000 in local funds.\n\n\u201cSeated at the state border, McCreary County is a gateway to southern Kentucky. We have been working diligently to revitalize and preserve the history of Stearns to boost the tourism economy, and this EDA grant will go a long way to renovate some of the buildings downtown,\u201d said Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05). \u201cI am thankful for investments like this from the EDA, as we work to create jobs and build on the resources we have in southern Kentucky.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sector is a critical economic driver for many communities and the Economic Development Administration is pleased to support community-led development strategies,\u201d said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. \u201cThese upgrades will help attract visitors to this historic area and bolster a business district hit hard by the pandemic.\u201d\n\n\u201cKentucky\u2019s tourism industry is essential to the overall success of our commonwealth, and this investment will help fuel economic growth in the community of Stearns and beyond,\u201d said Governor Andy Beshear. \u201cVisitors and Kentuckians alike will benefit from these upgrades while traveling to experience Stearns\u2019 rich heritage and unique outdoor recreational opportunities.\u201d\n\nThis project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Lake Cumberland Area Development District (LCADD). EDA funds LCADD to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3BD024C5-6AD7-4E90-B151-76DC21CDD76C", "Barr Opposes \u201cInflation, Recession and IRS Army Act\u201d", "2022-08-12", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) released the following statement opposing the Democrats\u2019 latest big government Socialist spending package:\n\n\u201cThe partisan Inflation, Recession and IRS Army Act triples down on Biden\u2019s failed economic agenda that plunged our economy into recession. Democrats are enacting historic tax increases on job creators and energy producers that will be passed down to middle- and lower-income families already being crushed by inflation.\n\n\u201cOn top of that, Democrats arm the IRS with a slush fund to hire 87,000 new agents that will be weaponized to harass ordinary Americans. The IRS will now have more employees than the DOD, FBI, and Customs and Border Protection combined.\n\n\u201cFurthermore, Democrats are creating a new drug price setting scheme to raid the Medicare Part D drug program to prop up their failed Obamacare experiment. This scheme will destroy medical innovation and jeopardize Medicare Part D, which almost 90% of seniors support.\n\n\u201cFinally, amid sky high energy prices and 66% of our energy grid at risk of power outages, Democrats continue their crusade of diverting investment away from reliable energy producers. Although this package enacts a 15% minimum tax on corporations, they can dodge this tax if they invest enough in green energy. This discriminatory policy will make our energy grid less resilient, stifle investment in energy sources that actually power American homes and fuel transportation, which in turn will increase costs in the long run for consumers.\n\n\u201cFor these reasons and so many others, I will vote no on this outrageous and offensive tax, borrow, and spend bill that will set our country back years.\u201d\n\nFact Checks:\n\nThe Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that Americans making less than $200,000 per year will be hit with a $16.7B increase in costs overall due to this bill next year alone. President Biden repeatedly promised not to raise taxes on Americans making less than $400,000 a year.\n\nWhile Democrats claim their IRS slush fund will crack down on billionaires, recent analysis from Syracuse University shows that low-income Americans are five times more likely to be audited by the IRS.\n\nEarlier this year, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation found that 66% of the nation\u2019s energy grid is at risk for blackouts. Overdependence on unreliable energy such as wind and solar was cited as a risk for blackouts in certain areas. Despite this, Democrats are still advocating an avalanche of financial regulations against fossil fuel businesses and now, tax incentivizes for green energy that will constrain the supply of reliable energy even further. The NAERC report states in-part:\n\n\u201cSome assessment areas depend on substantial electricity imports to meet demand on hot summer evenings and other times when variable energy resource (e.g., wind, solar) output is diminishing. In the event of wide-area extreme heat event, all U.S. assessment areas in the Western Interconnection are at risk of energy emergencies due to the limited supply of electricity available for transfer.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=FAF46883-3B57-4C2D-9AA6-2F53BC9763B8", "Congressman Rogers Votes Against Democrats' Inflation Expansion Act", "2022-08-12", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- Even while Americans are paying the highest prices in 40 years, Washington Democrats passed a bill today that will increase inflation once again, investing $350 million in their extreme Green New Deal and $80 billion for the IRS to hire 87,000 new agents to increase audits. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) voted against the Democrat-led legislation that will increase taxes and burden the American people with more unexpected costs.\n\n\"This bill is appalling. We're in the middle of a recession and Democrats just voted to raise taxes on millions of Americans and to send more IRS agents to knock on the doors of Main Street businesses and our middle-class families,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \"The bill also creates an American Energy Tax, which will increase fees and taxes on oil production and methane, which will ultimately result in higher gas prices and energy bills while Americans are already struggling to afford a tank of gas.\"\n\nThe Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that as much as 90% of the funds raised by additional IRS audits will be from taxpayers making less than $200,000 a year.\n\nThe bill raises taxes on Americans in every income bracket, including those earning less than $400,000 per year. It also implements socialist price control schemes for prescription drugs that will negatively impact seniors, patients, those with rare diseases, and their families.\n\n\"There are new costs at every turn, including an increase in prices for new prescription drugs and higher insurance premiums for families who can't afford another unexpected bill. The American people deserve better and our nation can't afford another $132 billion in new debt,\" said Congressman Rogers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5B33E2B3-A51C-43AD-8693-04CD6C492306", "Barr Statement on Trump Raid", "2022-08-09", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr released the following statement on yesterday's FBI raid on former President Trump's Florida home:\n\n\u201cIn 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) doctored a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court application to wiretap a Trump campaign confidant and then weaponized the outlandish Steele dossier to launch a Special Counsel investigation of President Trump. The Special Counsel\u2019s investigation dragged on for three out of the four years President Trump was in office, ultimately finding no criminal conspiracy between the Russian government and the 2016 Trump Presidential Campaign but proving to be a frequent talking point for Congressional Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections. Allowing this shameful episode of politicizing the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to repeat itself again four years later during this midterm election year would be another historic stain on these previously respected American institutions.\n\n\u201cIt is through this context that we take in the news of the FBI and Biden DOJ\u2019s unprecedented raid of former President Trump\u2019s home, who also is a potential opponent to President Biden in the next presidential election. Based on the extraordinary circumstances of this action and their prior track record of unfairly targeting President Trump, the FBI and DOJ owe the American people far more information and absolute transparency on the details of this operation and its justification, if any. If they fail to provide this, Republicans in Congress must work tirelessly to extract answers from the FBI and DOJ through Congressional hearings and oversight to hold them to account.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F0A3CEF7-96F5-4229-B198-26CA9CAD5107", "Barr, Case Partner with Ossoff and Young on Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Open U.S. Embassies in Pacific Islands", "2022-08-09", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman Ed Case (D-HI) introduced the Pacific Islands Embassies Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would establish U.S. embassies in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, and the Kingdom of Tonga to reinforce American leadership in the Pacific region. U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) introduced the same legislation in the U.S. Senate last week.\n\n\u201cStrengthening relationships in the Pacific will help counter the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s belt and road initiative in the region and greatly advantage the United States in its ongoing competition with the CCP,\u201d said Congressman Barr, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation. \u201cI want to thank Congressman Case, Senator Young, and Senator Ossoff for partnering with me on this bicameral, bipartisan bill that I hope becomes law soon.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur measure is an important step toward our full re-engagement in this critical region, demonstrating to our Pacific Island friends and our allies and partners throughout the Indo-Pacific that our country fully values our relationships and will invest in them in pursuit of our shared interests,\u201d said Congressman Case.\n\n\u201cThis is a major bipartisan victory for America\u2019s interests both at home and abroad,\u201d said U.S. Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT), who serves on the House of Representatives China Task Force and is an original cosponsor of the House bill. \u201cUtah is proud to be the home of a significant Pacific Islander community, and this bill sends them a strong message of support. It will deepen our ties to the region, make it easier for citizens of those nations to get U.S. visas, and reassert our presence in the South Pacific region. I look forward to President Biden signing this important bill into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo confront China\u2019s encroachment in the Pacific, we need to be diplomatically present. Our bill will help establish this vital American voice with key Pacific Island nations, demonstrating our commitment to allies and our leadership in the Indo-Pacific. I\u2019m glad this effort is being taken up by my colleagues in the House who share my concerns about China\u2019s actions in the Pacific,\u201d said Senator Young.\n\n\u201cStrong U.S. diplomacy in the Pacific is essential. We must immediately establish a robust physical diplomatic presence in these strategic island nations,\u201d said Sen. Ossoff. \u201cFrankly, it is malpractice that the United States didn\u2019t take this step a decade and a half ago. Time is of the essence.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=9C13A12C-0F4D-405F-B458-6FFE0D115228", "Congressman Rogers, KYNG delivers food and water by air to flooded areas", "2022-08-04", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "JACKSON, Ky. \u2014 U.S. Rep. Harold \u201cHal\u201d Rogers (KY-05) took flight with the Kentucky National Guard to provide food and water to flood survivors in hard-to-reach areas.\n\n\u201cWith so many roads that are impassable and bridges destroyed by the flood, we have many flood survivors who are still difficult to reach. Getting food, water, medication and other resources to them is critical as we rebuild the infrastructure around them,\u201d said Congressman Rogers. \u201cToday, I got a first-hand look at the heroic efforts of our Kentucky National Guard and the immense efforts underway to meet the desperate needs of our people in Eastern Kentucky.\u201d\n\nCongressman Rogers and KYNG surveyed the path of destruction that spans over a dozen counties in Kentucky\u2019s Fifth Congressional District to examine necessary resources for infrastructure recovery and future mitigation efforts.\n\n\u201cOver the last four decades, I have helped secure more than $800 million in flood control projects across southern and eastern Kentucky, investing in flood walls, levees, tunnels, dams and other massive public safety projects. After seeing an aerial view of the widespread damage, it is clear that this flash flood was a natural disaster of epic proportions that we haven\u2019t met in our lifetime,\u201d said Congressman Rogers. \u201cThe work to rebuild must be well funded, well orchestrated and long-lasting.\u201d\n\nCongressman Rogers launched a webpage to help provide a comprehensive source of information for flood relief resources at halrogers.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/8/congressman-comer-announces", "Congressman Comer Announces Community Office Hours in Christian County", "2022-08-02", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 On Friday, August 5, 2022, Congressman James Comer\u2019s Field Representatives Casey Lile, Zach Settle, and Sandy Simpson will host office hours on behalf of the Congressman in Christian County. At the Oak Grove Community Center, staff will assist residents with federal casework issues.\n\nFriday August 5th\n\n1:00pm \u2013 2:00pm CST\n\nOak Grove Community Center\n\n1705 Thompsonville Lane\n\nOak Grove, Kentucky For further assistance, please contact Sandy Simpson at 202-684-5760 or visit Congressman Comer\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CFFCB5D4-0449-4B94-9EC5-8E05B40F30F4", "Congressman Rogers Visits Flood-Ravaged Region, Ensures FEMA Operations Are Underway", "2022-08-02", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "HINDMAN, KY \u2013 U.S. Rep. Harold \u201cHal\u201d Rogers (KY-05) visited with flood survivors, first responders, local leaders and countless volunteers on Monday in Perry, Knott and Letcher Counties.\n\n\u201cOur people are hurting and the road ahead is long, but despite this horrific storm, it was clear to me that the spirit of Eastern Kentucky is alive and well. I am amazed at the resiliency and strength of our mountain people,\u201d said Congressman Rogers. \u201cThe outpouring of support from neighbors and friends across county and state lines is overwhelming, and desperately needed. It will take a lot of federal, state, local and volunteer efforts for a long time to help us rebuild and recover from such a historic and widespread natural disaster of this magnitude.\u201d\n\nOn a call with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Congressman Rogers requested more personnel on the ground to assist with search and rescue efforts, and to assist with FEMA applications in extended areas of each county.\n\n\u201cSecretary Mayorkas called to ask how he could help Eastern Kentucky, and I asked him to send more boots on the ground. If we could have FEMA personnel dispersed throughout the counties, it would provide more people with the opportunity to apply for assistance who do not have transportation,\u201d said Congressman Rogers.\n\nFloyd and Pike Counties were added to the major disaster declaration on Tuesday for Individual Assistance through FEMA, meaning homeowners and renters can now begin applying for federal assistance in those counties.\n\nIndividuals in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Letcher, Perry and Pike counties can apply for FEMA assistance online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.\n\nFive FEMA Centers are now open in Eastern Kentucky, including:\n\nBreathitt County, 421 Jett Drive, Jackson, KY 41339\n\nClay County, Clay Community Center, 311 Highway 638, Manchester, KY 40962\n\nKnott County, Knott County Sportsplex, 450 Kenny Champion Loop #8765, Leburn, KY 41831\n\nLetcher County, Letcher County Recreation Center, 1505 Jenkins Rd., Whitesburg, KY 41858\n\nPerry County, Hazard Community and Technical College, 1 Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701\n\nFor more information about Congressman Rogers\u2019 work in Washington and in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov or follow him on social media.\n\nCongressman Rogers visits with flood survivors\n\nCongressman Rogers talks to Knott County Judge Executive Jeff Dobson about FEMA Center", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=92F467F1-53D9-4FA5-8746-8AD6A0F025C4", "Barr, Bera Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand U.S. Government Expertise in Chinese Language, Culture, and Politics", "2022-07-29", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) introduced the Expand eXpertise in China Education and Language (EXCEL) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen relevant linguistic, cultural, and regional expertise needed to outcompete the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). Congressman Bera is the Chairman and Congressman Barr is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.\n\n\u201cPart of deterring the Chinese Communist Party is knowing the Chinese Communist Party. America did this well during the Cold War and that effort was critical in freedom prevailing over Communism. It\u2019s time to double down on this strategy and our bill does so by enabling USAID to recruit, hire, and train Americans steeped in the culture, history, and inter-workings of the People\u2019s Republic of China. Through this effort, we will better position the U.S. to preserve freedom in the face of a new Communist threat to the world,\u201d said Congressman Barr.\n\n\u201cThe government of the People\u2019s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party are the most significant geostrategic challenges facing the United States and our allies and partners in the 21st century,\u201d said Congressman Bera. \u201cIf we are to outcompete China and win the geostrategic competition of the 21st century, we need a much better understanding of the country\u2019s language, history, and institutions, as well as the objectives they seek to advance in the Indo-Pacific region. The bipartisan EXCEL Act will strengthen our knowledge of the People\u2019s Republic of China and empower the United States government to recruit, hire, and retain the next generation of American experts on China. It is a national security and economic imperative that we prioritize Chinese linguistic and cultural competencies on a long-term basis.\u201d\n\nThe EXCEL Act would:\n\nDirect the Secretary of State to appoint no fewer than 31 candidates with linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise relevant for strengthening U.S. understanding of and ability to compete with the People\u2019s Republic of China directly to positions in the competitive service;\n\nDirect the Secretary of State to train Foreign Service and Civil Service employees who hold positions relevant to advancing U.S. policies toward competition on:\n\nthe domestic and foreign policy objectives of the PRC and CCP;\n\nthe tools the PRC and the CCP use to achieve those objectives; and\n\nthe role of ideology in shaping CCP policies and outlook;\n\nEstablish a China Strategic Advisory Board comprised of experts appointed by the President, Secretary of State, and leaders from the Democratic and Republican parties. The China Strategy Advisory Board would:\n\nProvide advice, expertise, and continuity in United States foreign policy matters pertaining to strategic competition with the PRC;\n\nReview recruitment, training, and retention of Civil Service and Foreign Service members with the expertise and experience necessary to support U.S. policy toward the PRC; and\n\nReview programs across regional and functional bureaus intended to respond to strategic competition with the PRC, including the Counter PRC Malign Influence Fund.\n\nIdentify long-term solutions through the Government Accountability Office, including directing the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the personnel capacity and capability at the Department of State and USAID to support U.S. strategic competition with the People\u2019s Republic of China and on available mechanisms to address any identified gaps; identify the percentage of vacant foreign service positions and civil service positions in the Indo-Pacific vis-`a-vis other regions globally; and identify actions across Congress, the White House, and the Department of State can take to address current gaps.\n\nClick here for full text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=93158BEF-E4AB-4149-AE70-657B14B2D034", "Barr, Kentucky Congressional Delegation Urge Presidential Disaster Declaration for Eastern Kentucky Flood Victims", "2022-07-29", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Kentucky's congressional delegation urged President Joe Biden to issue a federal emergency disaster declaration last night for the Commonwealth of Kentucky after deadly flash flooding swept through Eastern Kentucky beginning July 26, 2022. In a joint letter to the President, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) joined U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Congressmen Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers, James Comer, Thomas Massie and John Yarmuth in supporting Governor Andy Beshear's request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration to activate federal resources for relief efforts in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties.\n\n\"Excessive rainfall caused deadly flash flooding across Eastern Kentucky leading to significant rescue efforts as a result of blocked roads and destroyed bridges from high water, mud slides, and downed trees. Several Kentuckians are confirmed dead, with many still unaccounted for. Hundreds of homes and many businesses were severely damaged or totally lost in the flood,\" the letter stated. \"Governor Beshear rightly declared a State of Emergency in quick response to the disaster, and mobilized the Kentucky National Guard, but this remains an ongoing, dynamic, and dangerous situation.\"\n\nThe Kentucky National Guard and countless first responders across southern and eastern Kentucky heroically conducted water rescue missions and helicopter evacuations, safely moving individuals out of harm's way.\n\nThe immediate aftermath of the catastrophic flooding resulted in power outages for tens of thousands of households, and severe damage to critical infrastructure. Numerous roads and bridges were destroyed or blocked by debris, delaying rescue efforts and supply deliveries. While local and state efforts are underway, federal assistance will be necessary for long-term recovery efforts.\n\n\"We appreciate your timely consideration of this request, which will greatly assist Kentucky communities in a desperate time of need. Thank you in advance for your quick action in this matter,\" the letter concluded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=AF86AAC0-AEC2-4AE1-829E-F96444E92E6D", "Congressman Rogers Announces Expedited Federal Disaster Declaration", "2022-07-29", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) announces President Joe Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, expediting federal resources for flood relief efforts in Eastern Kentucky.\n\n\"Even as search and rescue efforts continue, this expedited disaster declaration from the President means federal assistance will be immediately available to help our people in Eastern Kentucky,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \"The work ahead is daunting for our communities and federal assistance will be critical for the long-term recovery process. I am grateful for the strong support of the entire Kentucky Federal Delegation in raising Governor Beshear's prompt request to the President's immediate attention. As we address the crises in each county, I will work diligently to ensure federal assistance is maximized for our communities.\"\n\nAccording to the President's major disaster declaration, \"federal funding is available to the commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in the counties of Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, and Wolfe. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire commonwealth.\"\n\nDamage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=22305FC4-422F-47EF-A12F-837308819056", "Barr: Democrats Poison CHIPS with Big Government Tax, Borrow, and Spend Agenda", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted against Congressional Democrats\u2019 Socialist agenda and blasted them for poisoning the bipartisan CHIPS Act. Following his vote, Congressman Barr released this statement:\n\n\u201cDespite the U.S. economy slipping into a recession following the second consecutive quarter of negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth, Democrat leaders in Congress are tripling down on their failed economic agenda by readying a massive tax, borrow, and spend package. Kentuckians are on track to incur over $5,000 in higher prices this year because of inflation. Borrowing more, spending more, and piling on one of the largest tax increases in American history will only exacerbate the inflation crisis that is crushing middle-class families and small businesses.\n\n\u201cAs the Representative for a Congressional District home to the largest Toyota manufacturing plant in North America, I strongly support boosting domestic production of semiconductors. That\u2019s why I voted to establish the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act and repeatedly advocated for a clean vote on funding for the CHIPS Act. Although I still support a focused and targeted bill to incentivize more domestic production of semiconductors, I cannot vote for an agenda that will send the American economy off a cliff as Kentuckians struggle to pay their bills, fill up their gas tanks, buy groceries, and keep their businesses running.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B5CDB577-3ACC-42B0-99FA-DDE5D521085E", "Congressman Rogers Stands Ready to Assist with Flood Relief Efforts", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) released the following statement after deadly flash flooding swept across southeastern Kentucky beginning July 26, 2022.\n\n\"Our mountain region was hit hard with deadly flash flooding overnight. As waters recede and we survey the damage in our communities, I stand ready to assist in any way possible. My staff and I have been in contact with state and local leaders throughout the day to communicate needs in each of our counties.\n\n\"In the midst of devastating storms like this, our first responders face daunting search and rescue efforts. I deeply appreciate the heroic work of our Kentucky National Guard and our first responders who have been responding across county lines to help move our folks to safe ground. Please join me in prayer for everyone impacted by this storm, especially those who have lost loved ones and those who continue to search for the missing.\n\n\"As Dean of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation, I led a joint letter in support of Governor Beshear's prompt request to President Biden today for a major disaster declaration, which would implement a comprehensive federal response. We will diligently work in the weeks ahead to ensure federal help is swift and thorough upon the hopeful declaration.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=F5D3B26C-210A-45D5-AFB3-A9D26BB43CF7", "Kentucky's Congressional Delegation Urges Presidential Disaster Declaration for Eastern Kentucky Flood Victims", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "(Image courtesy WYMT)\n\nWASHINGTON, DC -- Kentucky's congressional delegation urges President Joe Biden to issue a federal emergency disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky after deadly flash flooding swept through Eastern Kentucky beginning July 26, 2022. In a joint letter to the President, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, joined U.S. Senate Repubulican Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Congressmen Brett Gurthie, Andy Barr, James Comer, Thomas Massie and John Yarmuth in supporting Governor Andy Beshear's request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration to activate federal resources for relief efforts in Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties.\n\n\"Excessive rainfall caused deadly flash flooding across Eastern Kentucky leading to significant rescue efforts as a result of blocked roads and destroyed bridges from high water, mud slides, and downed trees. Several Kentuckians are confirmed dead, with many still unaccounted for. Hundreds of homes and many businesses were severely damaged or totally lost in the flood,\" the letter stated. \"Governor Beshear rightly declared a State of Emergency in quick response to the disaster, and mobilized the Kentucky National Guard, but this remains an ongoing, dynamic, and dangerous situation.\"\n\nThe Kentucky National Guard and countless first responders across southern and eastern Kentucky heroically conducted water rescue missions and helicopter evacuations, safely moving individuals out of harm's way.\n\nThe immediate aftermath of the catastrophic flooding resulted in power outages for tens of thousands of households, and severe damage to critical infrastructure. Numerous roads and bridges were destroyed or blocked by debris, delaying rescue efforts and supply deliveries. While local and state efforts are underway, federal assistance will be necessary for long-term recovery efforts.\n\n\"We appreciate your timely consideration of this request, which will greatly assist Kentucky communities in a desperate time of need. Thank you in advance for your quick action in this matter,\" the letter concluded.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/7/comer-unchecked-spending-has-put-our-economy-on-the-verge-of-recession", "Comer: Unchecked Spending Has Put Our Economy on The Verge of Recession", "2022-07-26", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 On the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) expressed serious concerns over new economic data indicating inflation has hit a record 9.1%. He highlighted how frustrated farmers in Kentucky's First District are contacting him regularly regarding the high cost to keep their equipment operating. The price of everyday goods and services are rising dramatically under the Biden Administration, and he concluded his time by stressing how Congressional Democrats\u2019 unchecked spending has put our economy on the verge of recession.\n\nBelow are Congressman Comer\u2019s remarks as prepared:\n\nMadam Speaker,\n\nToday, I rise to discuss yet another disastrous economic record for the Biden Administration: inflation has hit 9.1%.\n\nGrocery costs are up, gas prices are up, nearly every essential item for everyday living is up. The Biden Administrations failed economic policies and unchecked spending by Congressional Democrats has put our economy on the verge of recession.\n\nGasoline, on average, costs over 47% more than it did one year ago. In my home state of Kentucky, citizens are paying twice as much at the pump as they did last year. In fact, Kentuckians have seen a 50% increase in gas prices since last year and a diesel increase of 84% which is detrimental to the farming industry.\n\nFarmers are at their breaking points. The USDA recently reported that farm expenses are expected to rise by over 20 billion dollars within the next year. I\u2019m hearing daily from constituents in Kentucky\u2019s First Congressional District who are deeply concerned. Rightfully so.\n\nThey\u2019re saying it\u2019s costing over $5,000 dollars per day just to keep farm equipment operational due to the price of farming diesel increasing 110% in the last year. This is unsustainable.\n\nOn top of inflation, it\u2019s clear that President Biden has made diminishing American energy production a policy priority.\n\nMadam Speaker, Americans are in trouble. The cost of everyday living is skyrocketing.\n\nNo matter how hard Democrats may try, Congress cannot spend their way out of this problem.\n\nThank you, I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/7/key-senate-committee-approves-comer-and-mcconnell-bill-to-protect-land-between-the-lakes", "Key Senate Committee Approves Comer and McConnell Bill to Protect Land Between the Lakes", "2022-07-21", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act today. Congressman Comer and Senator McConnell introduced this legislation in April. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.\n\n\u201cLand Between the Lakes is one of Kentucky\u2019s crown jewels \u2013 an extraordinary legacy to be taken care of and shared with generations to come,\u201d said Congressman Comer. \u201cI was thrilled when the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act and was pleased to see the Senate Natural Resources Committee also advance the bill. I will continue to work with local stakeholders, former residents, and Senator McConnell to advance this important legislation and preserve this treasured area.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Committee vote on the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act is a resounding victory for the LBL community stakeholders who have worked for decades to protect this important landmark,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cCongressman Comer and I coordinated closely with these local leaders to ensure the improved funding and oversight in this legislation will help solve the long list of issues facing LBL today. I look forward to the full Senate passing this bill and safeguarding one of Kentucky\u2019s finest natural treasures for future generations.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThis legislation includes a number of provisions to help the Land Between the Lakes (LBL) secure more federal resources to address its maintenance needs and expand recreation opportunities. That includes additional authorized funding each fiscal year from the U.S. Forest Service, changes to the LBL Advisory Board makeup, regulations ensuring user fees collected at LBL are used to improve LBL, and provisions to bolster law enforcement capacity in LBL and surrounding counties. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator McConnell will work with the U.S. Forest Service during the congressional appropriations process to ensure robust funding for LBL. The bill also better defines the special status of the families who once resided in LBL and guarantees their direct descendants\u2019 access to cemeteries within the territory.\n\nLBL is a United States national recreation area in Kentucky and Tennessee covering 171,280 acres between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. For the two Kentucky counties encompassing LBL, Lyon and Trigg, the recreation area provides a site for activities like fishing, boating, camping, and hiking, and attracts millions of tourists each year. Senator McConnell has worked for decades to streamline and preserve funding for LBL. Congress passed the Senator\u2019s Land Between the Lakes Protection Act into law in 1998 to put LBL under the stable administration of the U.S. Forest Service and provide significant federal resources to support its maintenance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8686D60E-2334-4C31-A21B-A147260794B4", "Amid Rising Costs Nationwide, Congressman Rogers Votes Against More Democrat Spending", "2022-07-20", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) voted to put the brakes on H.R. 8294, an out-of-touch federal spending package proposed by House Democrats totaling nearly $400 billion.\n\n\"Everyday costs are out-of-control; between gas, groceries, energy prices and other expenses, American families are projected to spend an extra $400 every month. Instead of working together to drive down those costs, Washington Democrats have proprosed six new bills in a record-spending package,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives and a senior appropriator. \"Not only are they out of touch with the reality of the financial strain that this package will add on American family budgets, but this bill also removes long-standing prohibitions on taxpayer funding for abortions, while protecting a FDA policy allowing abortion pills to be mailed to patients, among other concerning liberal policies.\"\n\nRather than addressing the energy crisis with commonsense legislation, House Democrats are using this package to push a climate agenda with a 20% increase for the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate and limit energy independence in the United States.\n\nThe federal funding package also fails to address the ongoing border crisis and increases national security concerns by supporting the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the transfer of dangerous criminals to the United States.\n\nHouse Democrats passed the spending package with a partisan majority vote, sending the bill on to the U.S. Senate for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=030CB502-E006-4FE8-9ED9-28ED0C9BFE7F", "Barr Statement on Same-Sex Marriage Vote in Congress", "2022-07-19", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement after voting no on a federal same-sex marriage law in Congress:\n\n\"This bill is a gratuitous and politically-motivated measure that is in no way needed to protect or preserve the legal status conferred to certain same-sex couples in Obergefell v. Hodges.\n\n\"While left-wing groups continue to fear-monger in the wake of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Dobbs, they knowingly ignore the majority opinion in that case, which held that \u201c[n]othing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion\u2026We have also explained why that is so: rights regarding contraception and same-sex relationships are inherently different.\n\n\"In sum, this bill is less about codifying same-sex marriage and more about expressing scorn and intolerance for people of faith who have a sincerely held religious belief in favor of traditional marriage.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/7/comer-biden-s-radical-environmental", "Comer: Biden's Radical Environmental Policies Hurt Farmers and Americans' Food Supply", "2022-07-19", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nBelow is Congressman Comer\u2019s remarks as prepared:\n\nThank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you to the witnesses participating today.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=15F42DFA-250E-4677-848D-C1DD12CEAE5D", "Congressman Rogers Applauds $4.1 Million for Wayne County Gas Line", "2022-07-19", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "MONTICELLO, Ky. -- U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers applauds a $4.1 million investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to construct a natural gas line in Wayne County to serve the City of Monticello and promote future economic development. Wayne County is one of only seven counties in Kentucky without a natural gas system.\n\n\u201cTapping into our natural gas is a great way for Wayne County to open new doors of economic opportunity in the Lake Cumberland region, while also providing affordable energy for local families and businesses,\u201d said Congressman Rogers, a native of Wayne County. \u201cAs we work to revitalize southern and eastern Kentucky, infrastructure improvements like this play a vital role in future business recruitment and opportunities in our rural region. I applaud the EDA for investing in this worthy project.\u201d\n\nThe project will be matched with $2.3 million in local funds and is expected to create or retain 254 jobs, and generate $30,000 in private investment, according to grantee estimates. This project was also supported by the regional planning efforts of the Lake Cumberland Area Development District.\n\n\"I am extremely excited for Wayne County. Receiving this grant is the first major hurdle as we work to develop a natural gas line to support business growth,\" said Mike Anderson, Wayne County Judge Executive. \"We appreciate Congressman Rogers' tireless work on this monumental project for Wayne County.\"\n\nThis grant award is part of the Department of Commerce\u2019s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3A701AA4-4B6A-43D8-8A53-68F3E0FBEF73", "Barr Votes to Secure VA Benefits for Veterans who Suffered Toxic Exposure", "2022-07-18", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted in support of the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. The PACT Act ensures that veterans who suffered from toxic exposure due to their military service have access to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and healthcare. Currently, many veterans who suffered from burn pit or other toxic exposures in recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not eligible for VA benefits.\n\n\u201cPassing the PACT Act is a huge win for veterans. For years, I\u2019ve advocated for extending VA benefits to veterans impacted by toxic exposure stemming from their military service. Earlier this year, Congress voted on a version of this bill that I opposed because of flaws that would have created a massive backlog at the VA jeopardizing the delivery of benefits to all veterans. I am now satisfied that with additional resources being provided to the VA through this bill will empower the VA to fulfil its mission of serving veterans in a timely and effective way,\u201d said Congressman Barr.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A7290251-3027-4ACB-98BF-9BBF0F61A0EE", "Barr Votes for National Defense Authorization Act", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) voted in support of the fiscal year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA provides $850 billion to modernize and strengthen our military. This package also contains a 4.6% pay raise for troops. Congressman Barr released the following statement regarding his vote:\n\n\u201cServicemembers are struggling to keep up with inflation and provide for their families while they protect our country. While this raise isn\u2019t enough to completely erase the impact of inflation, it will help our servicemembers as I continue to push to reverse the disastrous economic policies that created this historic inflation crisis. The NDAA also allocates a 2.4% pay bonus for enlisted military members to support lower-income military families.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, the NDAA combats the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by providing $7 billion to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and by fully funding military exercises in the Pacific to dissuade any further CCP aggression in the region. Furthermore, the NDAA requires regular updates to Congress on the status of arms sales to Taiwan to ensure our Taiwanese partners are fully equipped prior to any potential CCP attack on the island.\n\n\u201cIn Europe, the NDAA reinforces the Eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by providing $225 million to the Baltic Security Initiative. This package also fully funds the European Deterrence Initiative to thwart any further incursion by Russia into Eastern Europe.\n\n\u201cFinally, the NDAA extends the prohibition on dishonorable discharges for military servicemembers who chose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. It also rejects the Biden Administration\u2019s attempt to make the military go woke by injecting language into the NDAA reiterating that lethality is the central tenet of our national defense strategy. For all of these reasons, I voted yes on the NDAA.\u201d\n\nMultiple amendments from Congressman Barr were adopted in the NDAA. These amendments include:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/7/comer-applauds-house-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-address-backlog-of-requests-for-veterans-records", "Comer Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Address Backlog of Requests for Veterans\u2019 Records", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Access for Veterans to Records Act:\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s veterans and their families have faced inexcusable wait times for records that are necessary to obtain critical services because federal bureaucrats didn\u2019t show up to work in-person. The Access for Veterans to Records Act makes necessary reforms to modernize the process for obtaining veterans records and requires federal workers to work in-person to eliminate the backlog. I thank Representative Keller for his tireless work on behalf of our nation\u2019s brave veterans and urge the Senate to take up this bill immediately to provide relief to those who served and defended the United States,\u201dsaid Congressman Comer.\n\nThe Access for Veterans to Records Act will help provide resources to address the veterans\u2019 records requests backlog at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). NPRC\u2014which operates within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)\u2014houses records that are essential for veterans to receive service-related benefits, including medical treatment, unemployment assistance, and emergency housing services. A reduced workforce at the NPRC due to the pandemic, combined with the fact that most of these records are not digitized, exacerbated the backlog of veterans\u2019 records requests. Although NPRC has reduced the backlog to 515,000 veterans\u2019 records requests from a peak of 603,000 in March 2022, it is still significant.\n\nThis legislation requires NARA to submit a detailed plan for eliminating the backlog and authorizes $60 million for NARA to directly address the NPRC backlog by improving response times to veterans\u2019 requests for military records, improving cybersecurity, and improving the digitization and preservation of records.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=53378084-A7AC-4BD3-BF59-A6ABA97D4EE6", "Congressman Rogers Holds Moment of Silence on the House Floor for Fallen EKY Police Officers", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) requested a moment of silence on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today to honor the three fallen Eastern Kentucky police officers and a canine who were killed in the line of duty on June 30, 2022 in Allen, Kentucky. Congressman Rogers gave the following tribute in memory of the officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the people of Floyd County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.\n\n\"Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of three fallen heroes in Eastern Kentucky. Last week, we laid to rest three police officers and one service canine who were slain in the line of duty after enduring unexpected gunfire in Allen, Kentucky on June 30, 2022.\n\n\"Among the fallen were William Petrey, a 31-year law enforcement veteran and fire chief in Floyd County, Kentucky; Ralph Frasure, a 39-year law enforcement veteran and school resource officer; and Jacob Chaffins, a 28-year-old police officer who just started his law enforcement career three years ago and an active Sergeant in the Kentucky Army National Guard.\n\n\"Finally, a beloved K-9 Drago, a well-trained service dog for the Floyd County Sheriff\u2019s Department. Needless to say, the heartbreak and pain that have reverberated across Eastern Kentucky at the loss of these brave men who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our local people, has been overwhelming.\n\n\"President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a former New York City Police Commissioner once said, \u201cNo man is worth his salt, who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his well-being, to risk his life in a great cause.\u201d On Thursday, June 30, 2022, these officers and many other first responders risked their lives as they valiantly answered the call of duty to protect the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.\n\n\"Their heroic deaths represent a powerful display of the selfless love described in John 15:13, 'Greater love has no man than this: to lay down his life for his friends.' Even as we speak, several other first responders are also recovering from their injuries from that horrific day \u2013 and our prayers are with them and their families.\n\n\"In a nation where police forces have been vilified in recent years by the actions of a few bad actors, may the lives of these brave men be a reminder of the outstanding integrity and sacrifice that the thin blue line represents. We must continue to support our law enforcement officers across the United States, ensuring they are fully equipped, adequately prepared, and never at the mercy of evildoers.\n\n\"This nation owes a great debt of gratitude for the life and service of Officers Petrey, Frasure and Chaffins. May their loved ones find abundant peace and confidence in Matthew 5:9, 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.'\n\n\"Madam Speaker, I would like to ask this body to recognize a moment of silence in memory of William Petrey, Ralph Frasure, Jacob Chaffins, and K-9 Drago.\n\n\"Thank you, and I yield back.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7DA20779-9E9D-4076-96D3-F7D777641A9A", "Congressman Rogers Supports the National Defense Authorization Act", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 For more than 60 years, both chambers of Congress and both political parties have united in support of our U.S. military to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed once again in the U.S. House of Representatives this week with support from Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05), Dean of the House.\n\nThe NDAA for fiscal year 2023 authorizes $850 billion in federal funding to support our troops, modernize our military and fast-track military readiness. It includes a 2.4% pay bonus for enlisted service members and a 4.6% pay increase for service members, along with additional allowances to help combat rising inflation rates.\n\n\u201cIt is our Congressional duty to provide for national defense and to take care of our military service members. Our military is deeply feeling the pain of inflation, just like families and individuals across the country who are struggling to make ends meet, so we are boosting funds to support military strength and readiness through these difficult times,\u201d said Congressman Rogers. \u201cAt the same time, we must be vigilant in our efforts to support allied nations overseas and stand firm against our adversaries.\u201d\n\nIn addition to critical funding for national defense and military families, this bill includes required audits of all assistance provided to Ukraine, full funding for the European Deterrence Initiative, a prohibition on U.S. military cooperation with Russia, additional support for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to counter Chinese aggression, and reaffirmed support for Taiwan and our Pacific allies. The NDAA also remains focused on countering threats to national security from terrorist organizations and other enemies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=0B82F47E-555F-4902-85E0-18F1DBF22DAA", "Barr\u2019s Blue Grass Army Depot Amendment Unanimously Passes the House", "2022-07-14", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Richmond, KY\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr\u2019s (KY-06) amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for a feasibility study at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nIn addition to its primary role managing and shipping conventional munitions, BGAD\u2019s chemical demilitarization mission employs nearly 1,450 highly skilled, highly paid workers and has contributed more than $1 billion in local payroll since 2006. The feasibility study will assess potential missions, plants, or industries feasible for Army or Department of Defense needs at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-destruction Pilot Plant following the completion of the chemical demilitarization mission at BGAD. This amendment requires the feasibility study to be completed and submitted to Congress within 90 days of the FY23 NDAA being signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe Blue Grass Army Depot isn\u2019t just the home of an important chemical demilitarization project, it is a key component of Madison County\u2019s economic engine,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cKentuckians working at BGAD have proven that they can tackle the most complex challenges facing our military and deserve the opportunity to expand their capabilities. I am proud to lead this Amendment and grateful for Congressmen Rogers, Guthrie, Yarmuth, and Comer for joining me to help empower Kentuckians working at BGAD to continue serving our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are extremely grateful to Congressman Barr and all of our Legislators on seeing and understanding the importance of the Bluegrass Army Depot and preparing for a post-CSEPP Madison County,\u201d said Reagan Taylor, Judge Executive of Madison County. \u201cMy team has been preparing for this, but getting a feasibility study like this for BGAD will only strengthen our community and the long term success of Madison County. We want to have a diverse approach in order to minimize the negative impact the end of CSEPP can have on our community and its citizens.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Richmond Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Congressman Barr and the Kentucky Delegation for being a champion of Madison County. Finding a path beyond the chemical demilitarization project at the Blue Grass Army Depot is pivotal for future economic and community success,\u201d said Madison Pergrem, Interim Director of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.\n\n\u201cCongressman Andy Barr\u2019s amendment is an important step in the future sustainability of the Blue Grass Army Depot,\u201d said Commerce Lexington Inc. President and CEO Bob Quick. \u201cThe Depot has always been a part of the Central Kentucky Regional Policy Group\u2019s federal priorities, because we recognize its significant impact on the region both in terms of the economy and the security that we must ensure during the chemical demilitarization project.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis amendment will help the Army assess and quantify in a timely manner the most appropriate national security and local community options for use of the plant location and its structures following completion of site remediation, on target for December 2026. The plant itself is a small yet critical footprint on Blue Grass Army Depot as a whole, which plays a key logistics role in support of Army installations and warfighters worldwide and is proudly supported by the Eastern Kentucky community,\u201d said Retired Air National Guard Brigadier General Steven P. Bullard, Executive Director, Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=A56F0DB0-7337-4DFD-8393-72335D75AB9E", "Congressman Rogers Votes for Veterans' PACT Act", "2022-07-13", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) voted for the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, a bipartisan federal bill that would provide healthcare and benefits to military veterans who were exposed to burn pits or other dangerous toxins in service to our country.\n\nThe bill is named in honor of the late Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, an Ohio National Guardsman, who passed away in 2020 from cancer as a result of toxic exposure during deployments to Kosovo and Iraq.\n\n\"When men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces answer the call of duty and bravely face the unknown circumstances of serving on the front-lines, we must ensure they are well taken care of when they return home. Time and again, I've met with veterans battling serious health complications after being exposed to dangerous toxins, like Agent Orange, and they deserve quick access to the healthcare they need without fighting through red tape in Washington,\" said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. \"I'm honored to stand firm for our veterans in support of this important bill.\"\n\nThe legislation will expand healthcare to more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans, including all post-9/11 combat veterans. It would also expand presumptions for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to the Department of Veterans Affairs' list.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=40235383-DD36-4830-B4B8-6C42D96DD825", "Barr Cosponsors Bill to Incentivize Funding of School Choice Scholarships", "2022-07-11", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) announced he is cosponsoring the Educational Choice for Children Act. This legislation will expand educational freedom and opportunity for millions of students throughout the nation by providing a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students. The awards would assist students and families by covering various expenses related to K-12 public, independent and religious education, including tuition and other supplemental supports. The scholarships would amount to $10 billion on an annual basis. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) are leading the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate respectively.\n\n\u201cAs a father of two young daughters, I recognize the importance of empowering parents with the ability to determine the right path for their children\u2019s education,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cThis legislation will boost resources to expand school choice without raising taxes on a single Kentuckian. I want to thank both Congresswoman Walorski and Senator Cassidy for their leadership on this legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Educational Choice for Children Act includes a provision for non-refundable, credit against federal taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis for charitable donations to non-profit scholarship granting organizations. The legislation also includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO\u2019s). The provisions ensure that the SGO is a non-profit entity pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, and that its exclusive purpose is to award scholarships for eligible expenses to multiple students and offer more than a single school from which to choose. Enactment of this legislation would provide tax incentives for individuals and the private sector would empower parents to give the highest quality and most suitable K-12 education available for their children, including non-district school settings or to supplement their district education with various educational supports. An estimated two million students can benefit.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=03C7EEBD-D600-440C-8A5B-B05703FF5466", "Congressman Rogers Welcomes New Field Representative", "2022-07-08", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "SOMERSET, KY -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) welcomes Tamra Wilson, a long-time Pulaski County resident, as his new Field Representative in southeastern Kentucky. Wilson has 30 years of experience as an engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, also serving as a specialist in broadband expansion. She will focus on ten counties, including Clay, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne and Whitley counties.\n\n\"I'm thrilled to welcome a transportation expert to our team. Tamra's experience in the field will be of great benefit as we work with local and state leaders on roads and other infrastructure projects across southern and eastern Kentucky,\" said Congressman Rogers. \"Tamra has a wealth of knowledge and first-hand expertise working in several of the same counties that I serve, ensuring that we are doing our best to help the people of Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District.\"\n\nWilson is based in Congressman Rogers' District Office in Somerset, Kentucky. She will be working directly with local leaders on transportation and economic development opportunities, and assisting individuals who need help with federal issues.\n\n\"Living and working in the 5th District my entire life, I have been able to watch our region grow under Congressman Rogers' leadership and strong commitment to economic development and job creation,\" said Wilson, new Field Representative for Congressman Rogers. \"I am excited to be a part of Congressman Rogers\u2019 team and look forward to working with our communities to continue with existing projects and explore new opportunities for growth.\n\nFor more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Kentucky and on Capitol Hill, visit halrogers.house.gov or follow him on social media.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/6/column", "Column: It\u2019s Clear Democrats Need to Take an Economics 101 Course", "2022-06-30", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Americans are suffering due to the Biden administration\u2019s disastrous economic policies. While Congressional Democrats continue to dodge responsibility for their reckless spending, nationwide inflation has reached 8.6%, a 40-year high.\n\nDemocrats have failed to put Americans first.\n\nDue to this administration\u2019s economic policies, President Biden has pushed us to the precipice of another Democrat-led recession. Americans are in survival mode only a year-and-a-half into Biden\u2019s tenure. Unfortunately, President Biden is seemingly more concerned with appeasing his radical, far-left base and Green New Deal advocates.\n\nWe\u2019re seeing the consequences right here in Kentucky. Because of the Biden administration\u2019s energy policies, the average price of gas in the commonwealth has reached $4.80 per gallon. The national average is also skyrocketing, now $5 per gallon.\n\nLet\u2019s put this into perspective.\n\nUnder the Trump administration, Americans paid $2.39, on average, at the gas pump.\n\nWhile President Biden often blames American businesses for increased prices, the real blame lies within his own policies. Unnecessary legislation in the form of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan incentivized Americans not to work. The President\u2019s push for this reckless spending caused labor shortages, supply chain bottlenecks, and inflation. In addition, his administration ended the Keystone Pipeline and halted new oil production permits.\n\nIt\u2019s clear Democrats need to take an Economics 101 course.\n\nTo control the rapidly increasing inflation, the Federal Reserve will now be forced to act. Increased interest rates will make it more difficult for Americans to achieve the American Dream. It is indefensible that President Biden and Congressional Democrats expect Americans to take the hit for their mistakes.\n\nCommunities in Western Kentucky continue to recover from a series of tornadoes that struck the region on December 10, 2021. In the wake of these storms, many are still dealing with economic uncertainty. As rebuilding efforts continue, rising prices for food and gas are the last issues that my constituents should be forced to worry about.\n\nI\u2019m also hearing from farmers who are being pushed to their breaking points. It\u2019s costing over $5,000 dollars per day to keep farm equipment running. This is unsustainable.\n\nAfter inheriting unprecedented economic growth created under the Trump administration, President Biden and Congressional Democrats recklessly reversed progress.\n\nPresident Biden refuses to implement measures that would immediately relieve economic stresses, and Congressional Democrats are convinced they can hijack your taxpayer dollars and spend their way out of this crisis.\n\nI will continue to push Democrats to hold the Biden administration accountable as the lead Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.\n\nMy heart is with everyone making tough decisions just to put gas in their vehicles and food on their tables. As I continue to proudly represent the 1st Congressional District of Kentucky, I will push to be a good steward of their taxpayer dollars.\n\nThe prosperity of middle-class Americans should not be dictated by individuals who don\u2019t even pump their own gas.\n\nRep. James Comer is a United States Congressman for the 1st Congressional District, which spans from South Central Kentucky to the river counties of far Western Kentucky. Contact him with any questions or concerns in his Washington D.C. office at (202) 225-3115, in the Tompkinsville Office at (270) 487-9509, in the Paducah Office at (270) 408-1865, or schedule an appointment in the Madisonville Office by calling (270) 487-9509.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/6/comer-statement-on-supreme-court-s-decision-in-west-virginia-v-epa", "Comer Statement on Supreme Court's Decision in West Virginia v. EPA", "2022-06-30", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Supreme Court decision is a monumental step forward to prevent the Executive Branch from unilaterally pushing burdensome regulations on the American people that are outside the scope of the laws passed by Congress. Since assuming office, the Biden Administration has stopped at nothing to implement radical Green New Deal policies without any clear congressional authorization. I applaud the Supreme Court for affirming that Congress, not the Executive Branch, has the responsibility to make our laws.\n\n\u201cAmericans continue to suffer from soaring energy prices and rising inflation. Excessive regulations and requirements sought by this Administration have only made the situation worse and nearly impossible for energy producers to provide Americans relief. Today\u2019s decision is an important check on the Executive Branch that will prevent this Administration from forcing Americans to rely on expensive and unreliable energy sources.\n\n\u201cIn Congress, we must continue to fight against radical Green New Deal proposals that stifle economic growth, harm job creation, and make energy more expensive. We must enact solutions that boost American-made energy production and provide affordable energy to the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=62797B03-7576-41B0-B3E5-18A541EE94FA", "Congressman Rogers' Statement on the Supreme Court's EPA Ruling", "2022-06-30", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05), Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, released the following statement after the Supreme Court's decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), restricting the agency's authority to regulate carbon emissions without congressional approval.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court has taken monumental action in recent days to get this nation back in alignment with our Constitution. For years, I warned that the Environmental Protection Agency was overstepping its boundaries, nearly regulating our coal industry out of business in the Appalachian region, sending thousands of coal miners to the unemployment line, and implementing stringent emission standards without the power to do so. The court\u2019s ruling now requires the EPA to have 'clear congressional authorization' before taking action on carbon emissions, ending the unregulated strangle-hold that unelected bureaucrats have had on our nation\u2019s energy sector for years. The Supreme Court\u2019s ruling is an overdue victory for Kentucky and the American people that could bring relief in energy costs when we need it the most.\u201d\n\nRead more about the ruling at supremecourt.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=34F61426-A9DE-4246-A024-24C781C02BB8", "Barr Accepts Award of Meritorious Achievement on Behalf of Late-Wife Carol Barr", "2022-06-28", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Editor\u2019s Note: You can watch U.S. Congressman Andy Barr\u2019s Full Acceptance Speech tonight for Carol Barr by clicking the image above or by clicking here.\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement following his acceptance of the Award of Meritorious Achievement from the American Heart Association on behalf of his late-wife, Eleanor Carol Leavell Barr:\n\n\u201cI am honored to accept this award which recognizes Carol\u2019s legacy as a champion for heart advocacy and the work that continues to be done in her memory,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cI would like to extend my sincere thanks to the American Heart Association and CEO Nancy Brown for the support you have provided to the CAROL Act and for honoring Carol with this award.\u201d\n\nThe CAROL Act unanimously passed the House of Representatives in December and is now in the U.S. Senate, where Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Krysten Sinema are leading the bill. Over 25,000 Americans, predominately young women, die from valvular heart disease each year. The CAROL Act supports research and public awareness of valvular heart disease through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the aim of diminishing these numbers to prevent the tragedy of sudden cardiac death.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=25725A8D-FDB3-4939-BFA7-E8E08CD08CF6", "Congressman Rogers' Statement on Gun Control Bill", "2022-06-27", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) released the following statement after the House passed the \"Bipartisan Safer Communities Act\" (S.2938), which passed the U.S. Senate on Thursday. Congressman Rogers voted against the bill.\n\n\u201cThis bill provides incentives for new red flag laws in our states, allowing a firearm to be removed from some gun owners without due process. It weakens the Second Amendment, adding unwarranted intrusions on the rights of law-abiding citizens. While there are other portions of this bill that are worthy of support, it does not do enough to protect the Constitutional rights of the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3EF32E65-C767-4038-A358-92E9DC9B20CD", "Barr: \u201cHistoric Victory for Life\u201d as SCOTUS Overturns Roe v. Wade", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson:\n\n\u201cToday, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a historic victory for life. For nearly 50 years, advocates for life have worked tirelessly to reverse Roe v. Wade, the worst example of judicial activism in the history of the Court. Even former Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg criticized the Court\u2019s ruling in Roe.\n\n\u201cLast year, I signed an Amicus Brief requesting the Supreme Court uphold the Mississippi abortion law at issue in Dobbs. Regardless of one\u2019s personal views on whether and under what circumstances there should be a \u2018right to abortion,\u2019 nowhere in the text of the federal Constitution is such a purported right stated or even implied, as the text was originally understood.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s decision today affirmed that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion and that the authority to regulate abortion belongs with the American people through the democratic process. By overturning Roe, the Court is empowering the American electorate to determine, through their elected representatives, what limits on abortion they want implemented in their state. The majority also follows in the footsteps of prior Justices who, in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, courageously and correctly overturned their own disgraceful precedent in Plessy v. Ferguson. I commend the Court for doing so.\n\n\u201cAt the federal level, I will continue to support pro-life policies in Congress such as the Hyde Amendment, to prohibit taxpayer funding of abortions, and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires medical care for babies born alive in botched abortions.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=6953F2CC-645C-4199-A36C-5F7FCA112347", "Barr Opposes Murphy/Cornyn Bill", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Barr will continue to push for legislation to enhance public safety without jeopardizing the Second Amendment.\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) released the following statement after voting against the Murphy/Cornyn bill:\n\n\u201cIn the aftermath of the tragedy in Uvalde, I stated my desire to vote for legislation that enhances public safety, especially in our schools. There are several components of the Senate proposal that I enthusiastically support, such as boosting grants for school security, funding to upgrade existing background check systems and funding to expand mental health services.\n\n\u201cHowever, I remain opposed to and deeply concerned about provisions in this proposal that would authorize grants for red flag laws without sufficient due process. Specifically, I cannot in good conscience, consistent with the Constitution, enable the implementation of a \u201ccrisis intervention program\u201d that would deprive Americans of their Second Amendment rights in an ex parte proceeding without a pre-deprivation opportunity to be heard, confront his or her accuser, with representation by counsel and subject to robust evidentiary standards. Such a program, as contemplated in the legislation, could have the unintended consequence of disarming innocent but at-risk individuals who need a firearm for self-defense.\n\n\u201cWhile I appreciate the efforts by Republican and Democrat negotiators in the Senate who developed this package, I firmly believe Congress is capable of passing legislation to reduce mass violence, prevent school shootings and combat rising crime without jeopardizing the fundamental constitutional rights of law-abiding American citizens. Accordingly, I cannot support the Murphy-Cornyn legislation.\u201d\n\nCongressman Barr has voted for multiple proposals to strengthen public safety in recent weeks. Today, Congressman Barr voted for the STOP II Act. This bill bolsters school safety by reprogramming $7 billion in unspent COVID funds to harden schools, placing more mental health counselors in schools and hiring new school resource officers throughout America to intervene before a troubled individual resorts to violence.\n\nOn Wednesday, Congressman Barr voted to pass the bipartisan Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022. This bill reauthorizes critical federal grant programs essential in delivering mental health resources to students to reduce violence, suicides, and overdoses, all of which are on the rise since the pandemic.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?ID=B4EBDD9B-7B0D-4247-A56C-4F59EDA790A3", "Congressman Rogers' Statement on Historic SCOTUS Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Harold Rogers", "R000395", "halrogers.house.gov", "halrogers", "https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold \"Hal\" Rogers (KY-05) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade.\n\n\u201cI applaud the Supreme Court for following the rule of law and taking historic action that will help preserve the sanctity of life in America. The original Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 has resulted in approximately 63 million abortions - a moral injustice and heartbreaking loss of innocent lives nationwide. This monumental decision restores regulatory power to each state. It immediately blocks all access to abortion in states, like Kentucky, where trigger laws were enacted to put the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling into effect simultaneously.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, the Biden Administration and Washington liberals are eager to remove long-standing pro-life protections through other measures, like stripping the Hyde Amendment and the Helms Amendment from appropriations bills that prohibit tax payer dollars from being used for abortions in the United States and overseas. I will continue to fight to preserve those critical bipartisan protections, as we celebrate this great victory in the Supreme Court.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=29D0C55D-01B0-4CF4-A911-6B84D17FC856", "Barr Secures Key Commitments from Powell on Fed\u2019s Inflation Target, Preserving Access to Capital", "2022-06-23", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) secured key commitments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell during today\u2019s House Financial Services Committee hearing.\n\nPowell confirms Fed won\u2019t bend to political pressure, will maintain 2% inflation target rate:\n\nBarr (1 minute 35 seconds): \u201cGiven the chasm between where we are, and where we need to be, do you anticipate any effort within FOMC to increase its inflation target to 3 or even 4%, and will you commit to resist any efforts to change the inflation target that would make it even more difficult to anchor inflation expectations?\u201d\n\nPowell: \u201cthat\u2019s not something we would do. We are shooting for 2%.\u201d\n\nPowell says Fed won\u2019t jeopardize access to capital for energy producers:\n\nBarr (3-minute mark): \u201cI am concerned that the Fed\u2019s regulatory framework could exacerbate supply constraints, and specifically, to sideline capital that institutions could deploy to spur business investment. I am especially concerned about the climate finance agenda and climate stress testing that would redirect capital away from fossil energy at precisely the wrong time when we need investments in fossil energy. Do you acknowledge the role of the Fed related to business investment, regulation, and the possibility of further constraining supply?\n\nPowell: \"We certainly do not want to be and are not in the business either to or away from any particular industry. We want those decisions to be made in the private sector.\"\n\nPowell rejects adding Equity to Fed\u2019s Mandate:\n\nBarr (4 minute 30 seconds): \u201cFinally, a question about Fed independence: last week, my Democrat colleagues passed a bill out of the House adding to the Federal Reserve\u2019s mandate by tasking the Fed with the additional responsibility of focusing on racial and socioeconomic disparities rather than remaining focused on price stability. Do you think giving the Fed additional responsibilities outside of its core competency would politicize the Fed and compromise its independence precisely when you should be focused on combatting inflation?\n\nPowell: \u201cI\u2019ll just say the public has been well served by the dual mandate and I would be concerned with any statuary requirement that sets us up to be accountable for achieving things that we can\u2019t achieve with our tools.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=81C32EB4-5FA6-41BB-A52D-69906477D0A9", "Barr Pushes Back on Biden Plan for Palestinian Embassy in Jerusalem", "2022-06-23", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) joined more than 80 Members of Congress in releasing a bicameral joint statement, calling on the Biden Administration to reverse course on its plan to erode the full and faithful implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 by moving the Palestinian Affairs Unit (PAU) out of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel\u2019s reporting chain of command and renaming the PAU the \u201cU.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs\u201d that would serve as an unofficial U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem:\n\n\u201cIt is alarming that the Biden Administration has opened what amounts to be a separate U.S. diplomatic office to the Palestinians in Israel\u2019s capital. This decision is wholly inconsistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that Congress passed into law and has repeatedly reaffirmed with overwhelming bipartisan support over the years. We strongly supported the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to fully and faithfully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 by formally recognizing Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of Israel, by moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and by closing the U.S. Consulate General for the Palestinians in Jerusalem and merging its functions into the U.S. Embassy\u2019s \u2018Palestinian Affairs Unit\u2019 within one diplomatic mission under the authority the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. The Biden Administration\u2019s disregard for that law, however, undermines our nation\u2019s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and signals support for dividing Jerusalem.\n\n\u201cLet there be no misunderstanding: this unprecedented arrangement\u2014to turn the Palestinian Affairs Unit into a \u2018U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs\u2019 that will no longer report to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel but instead report directly to the State Department in Washington, D.C., and to appoint a Special Envoy to the Palestinians\u2014is an effort to open an unofficial and de facto U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem. In fact, the Biden Administration admits this decision is one step closer to opening an official U.S. consulate, a plan it refuses to stop pushing despite the Government of Israel\u2019s adamant opposition and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Brian McKeon\u2019s admission to Congress in October 2021 that the United States, under international law, would \u2018need to get the consent of the host government to open any diplomatic facility.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration\u2019s decision is wrong and not how America should treat Israel, one of our closest allies in the world. As sponsors of the Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021 to withhold funding for a U.S. consulate to the Palestinians in Israel\u2019s capital, we unequivocally oppose the Biden Administration\u2019s decision and will use every tool at our disposal to stop it in the 117th Congress and afterwards.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=23542D91-0B1B-418B-B0CB-19D5427A2400", "Barr Touts RSC Budget to Rescue America from Bankruptcy", "2022-06-22", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) spoke on the House floor on Tuesday night in support of the Republican Study Committee\u2019s (RSC) federal budget proposal. RSC\u2019s proposal balances the federal budget in seven years, secures the border through reimplementing the Remain in Mexico policy and fully funding a border wall. The budget also makes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent and protects the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion.\n\n\u201cOur nation is over $30 trillion in debt. This debt crisis threatens the long-term prosperity of every American and helped usher in historic inflation crushing so many middle-class Kentuckians. RSC\u2019s budget restores fiscal responsibility to Washington by balancing the federal budget within ten years and rescuing America from bankruptcy,\u201d said Congressman Barr.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, RSC\u2019s budget includes the Fair Access to Banking Act, legislation I proposed that protects key American industries such as energy producers from discrimination by banks or lenders who politicize access to capital to satisfy the radical agenda of climate extremists. Ensuring access to capital for American energy businesses is vital for creating the long-term economic growth needed to balance the budget,\u201d Congressman Barr concluded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://comer.house.gov/2022/6/comer-honors-russell-county-baseball-team-on-house-floor", "Comer Honors Russell County Baseball Team on House Floor", "2022-06-21", "2022", "2022-06", "Republican", "House", "KY", "James Comer", "C001108", "comer.house.gov", "comer", "https://comer.house.gov/media", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Austin Hacker\n\nComer Honors Russell County Baseball Team on House Floor", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 198, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "KY", "p2": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 197, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 198, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=KY&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "KY", "label": "KY", "count": 198, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 198, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2022-06-21,https~3A~2F~2Fcomer~2Ehouse~2Egov~2F2022~2F6~2Fcomer-honors-russell-county-baseball-team-on-house-floor", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=KY&year=2022&_next=2022-06-21%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fcomer~2Ehouse~2Egov~2F2022~2F6~2Fcomer-honors-russell-county-baseball-team-on-house-floor&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 153.65421120077372, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}