{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3167EFE1-7717-4979-91A7-4363156B40A1", "Barr Introduces Bold Package to Revitalize and Reset Kentucky Coal", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 This week, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) unveiled a comprehensive legislative package aimed at rejuvenating and securing the future of Kentucky coal. These proposals would unlock new domestic markets for coal-based materials and strengthening American energy and national security.\n\n\u201cCoal once powered 50% of America\u2019s electricity. Today, that number is now below 20%\u2014not because we ran out of coal, but because Barack Obama and Joe Biden waged war on it,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cPresident Trump said we are going to put the miners back to work, and that\u2019s exactly what this plan aims to do. We want to secure coal\u2019s place going forward and deliver good paying Kentucky jobs for the future.\u201d\n\n\"The Kentucky Coal Association is grateful for Congressman Barr's support of coal, a vital resource both for job creation and energy resilience in our Commonwealth and nation,\" said Sam McKown, Kentucky Coal Association President and Executive Director.\n\n\"Congressman Barr is an exceptional champion of an all-of-the-above energy policy. The last administration abused its power by putting its finger on the scale to pick winners and losers. We appreciate Congressman Barr standing strong to fight for the American coal industry and our country\u2019s hard-working coal miners,\u201d said Randall W. Atkins, Chairman and CEO, Ramaco Resources, Inc.\n\n\u201cCongressman Barr\u2019s continued support for coal reflects a clear understanding of its vital role in powering America\u2019s energy grid and fueling industrial sectors essential to our economy,\u201d said Emily Arthun, CEO of the American Coal Council. \u201cCoal has long been a keystone feature of the American success story\u2014a symbol of industrial production and prosperity. Just as coal has defined our past and powers our present, it also has a future built on innovative solutions, advanced use cases, and technological enhancements. We commend Congressman Barr for championing policies that embrace coal\u2019s full potential to serve the American people.\u201d\n\nThe RESCUE Act (Rare Earths from Coal for U.S. Energy)\n\nBoosts coal utilization by designating rare earth extraction from coal waste as a \u201ccritical project\u201d under the FAST Act, opening new revenue streams for Kentucky coal operators Counters China\u2019s dominance\u2014the U.S. currently imports 95% of its rare earth elements (REEs), and 92% of global REE refining takes place in China.\n\nTaps into U.S. coal waste reserves\u2014estimated to contain 17 million metric tons of recoverable REEs which is over 1,200 times U.S. annual consumption.\n\nStrategic Resources Non-Discrimination Act\n\nStops the federal government from discriminating against coal companies when awarding DPA (Defense Production Act) funds or federal contracts.\n\nEnsures coal is treated as a strategic resource, not sidelined by bureaucracy or radical left-wing ideology.\n\nCoal Ash for American Infrastructure Act\n\nCurrent EPA rules push utilities to close and cap coal ash impoundments, which strands millions of tons of usable material and makes it harder to recover critical minerals or supply markets like cement and concrete.\n\nThis bill creates beneficial use staging units to allow coal ash impoundments to support recycling into concrete, roadways, wallboard, and critical mineral extraction.\n\nCreates jobs, boosts local economies, and turns liabilities for the coal industry into valuable assets.\n\nDefense Projects Accelerated (DPA) Permitting Act\n\nEnables President Trump to accelerate permitting for projects deemed critical under the Defense Production Act.\n\nThe coal industry has been bogged down by seemingly endless permitting delays for years. This bill helps the President to deliver on his promise to put coal miners back to work by reducing permitting timelines and creating viable incentives for private and public capital investment into coal projects.\n\nDPA FAST Act Integration Act\n\nAutomatically qualifies DPA-funded projects for FAST Act streamlined permitting.\n\nEnsures high-priority national security projects\u2014like critical mineral and coal infrastructure\u2014move at a pace worthy of their importance.\n\nProvides a direct benefit to Kentucky coal innovation and development.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3167EFE1-7717-4979-91A7-4363156B40A1"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8316838648170233, "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"}