{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://barr.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/barr-statement-on-bill-to-keep-the-government-open", "Barr Statement on Bill to Keep the Government Open", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Andy Barr released the following statement upon passage of FY 2015 Omnibus:\n\u201cWhile I'm disappointed that the Senate continues to block legislation I voted for last week that would have nullified the President's Executive Order on immigration, this bill does successfully build upon the modest progress made in last year's Bipartisan Budget Agreement to further reduce spending, and it delivers on a number of important priorities for the people of Kentucky. The short-term nature of the portion of the bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security will allow the next Congress to effectively respond to the President's illegal immigration actions, once Republicans take control of the Senate.\u201d\nThe bill includes full Appropriations legislation and funding for 11 of the 12 annual Appropriations bills through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2015. The 12th bill, which funds the Department of Homeland Security, is also included in the legislation, but is funded under a temporary \u201cContinuing Resolution\u201d mechanism that expires on February 27, 2015.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nKey Kentucky Priorities\nAgriculture:\n Cuts funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and rejects efforts to expand EPA regulatory programs.\n\tPrevents Army Corps from regulating farm ponds and irrigation ditches under the Clean Water Act.\n\tProvides increased funding for USDA Rural Development programs critical to central and eastern Kentucky.\n\tProvides flexibility for Kentucky schools facing hardships in meeting one-size-fits-all federal nutrition guidelines mandates that have increased costs for school districts.\n Blue Grass Army Depot:\n Provides full funding to\u00a0complete construction of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) at the Blue Grass Army Depot.\n\tProvides full funding to\u00a0Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative Program (ACWA)\u00a0to complete the demilitarization at the Blue Grass Army Depot.\n\tProvides funds to begin construction on a new consolidated shipping center that will create jobs and save money.\n Energy:\n Prohibits funding for the Obama Administration\u2019s efforts to block the export of coal.\n\tStrategically targets funds to ensure balanced investment into fossil, nuclear, and renewable energy to improve our nation\u2019s energy independence and fight high-energy prices.\n\tIncreases oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to break the deadlock in the coal permitting process and prohibits a redefinition of \u201cfill material\u201d within the Clean Water Act that would effectively ban Appalachian coal mining.\u00a0\n Veterans:\n Increases funding to meet our obligations to our nation\u2019s veterans.\n\tIncreased funding will help improve the efficiency and interoperability of the combined Department of Defense (DoD)/Veteran Affairs (VA) medical records system, and reduce the claims backlog at the VA.\n Violence Against Women Act:\n Increases funding for the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act.\n\tIncreases transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault\u00a0\n National Security:\n Provides funding for our nation\u2019s security, military readiness, and resources for our troops at home and abroad.\n\tFunds important Department of Defense programs and projects, a pay raise for our troops, and the advancement of our military operations to protect the nation from current and future threats.\n\tContinues funding for Military Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, and provides an additional $25 million to continue the expansion of the Sexual Assault Victims\u2019 Counsel program to all the military services.\n\tFully funds critical FAA air traffic control and aviation safety operations, while reducing overall department funding.\n Other:\n Provides no new\u00a0funding for Obamacare, and holds the line on funding for the IRS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services \u2013 the primary agencies responsible for the implementation of Obamacare.\n\tMaintains all existing pro-life policy and funding provisions that have been carried in Appropriations legislation in previous years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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": ["http://barr.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/barr-statement-on-bill-to-keep-the-government-open"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4188520144671202, "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"}