releases: https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3167EFE1-7717-4979-91A7-4363156B40A1
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
This data as json
| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.— 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. “Coal once powered 50% of America’s electricity. Today, that number is now below 20%—not because we ran out of coal, but because Barack Obama and Joe Biden waged war on it,” said Congressman Barr. “President Trump said we are going to put the miners back to work, and that’s exactly what this plan aims to do. We want to secure coal’s place going forward and deliver good paying Kentucky jobs for the future.” "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. "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’s hard-working coal miners,” said Randall W. Atkins, Chairman and CEO, Ramaco Resources, Inc. “Congressman Barr’s continued support for coal reflects a clear understanding of its vital role in powering America’s energy grid and fueling industrial sectors essential to our economy,” said Emily Arthun, CEO of the American Coal Council. “Coal has long been a keystone feature of the American success story—a 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’s full potential to serve the American people.” The RESCUE Act (Rare Earths from Coal for U.S. Energy) Boosts coal utilization by designating rare earth extraction from coal waste as a “critical project” under the FAST Act, opening new revenue streams for Kentucky coal operators Counters China’s dominance—the U.S. currently imports 95% of its rare earth elements (REEs), and 92% of global REE refining takes place in China. Taps into U.S. coal waste reserves—estimated to contain 17 million metric tons of recoverable REEs which is over 1,200 times U.S. annual consumption. Strategic Resources Non-Discrimination Act Stops the federal government from discriminating against coal companies when awarding DPA (Defense Production Act) funds or federal contracts. Ensures coal is treated as a strategic resource, not sidelined by bureaucracy or radical left-wing ideology. Coal Ash for American Infrastructure Act Current 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. This bill creates beneficial use staging units to allow coal ash impoundments to support recycling into concrete, roadways, wallboard, and critical mineral extraction. Creates jobs, boosts local economies, and turns liabilities for the coal industry into valuable assets. Defense Projects Accelerated (DPA) Permitting Act Enables President Trump to accelerate permitting for projects deemed critical under the Defense Production Act. The 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. DPA FAST Act Integration Act Automatically qualifies DPA-funded projects for FAST Act streamlined permitting. Ensures high-priority national security projects—like critical mineral and coal infrastructure—move at a pace worthy of their importance. Provides a direct benefit to Kentucky coal innovation and development. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-07T14:40:33Z |