LEXINGTON – Congressman Andy Barr released the following statement after touring JENNMAR in Winchester:[[{"fid":"547","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"style":"float: right;","class":"media-element file-full"}}]]

“I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to visit JENNMAR and learn more about their products that make mining, tunneling and civil construction safer and more efficient,” said Congressman Andy Barr. “I was glad to tour their state-of-the-art facility and discuss my work to protect Kentucky’s signature manufacturing and coal mining industries. I was disappointed to learn that the Obama Administration’s anti-coal agenda has prevented JENNMAR from creating even more jobs given the company’s impressive record of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.”

Barr continued, “I was glad to share that I have fought to rein in Washington’s ability to impose burdensome taxes and regulations that would increase the cost of doing business for job-creators like JENNMAR, and will continue to support policies that protect our manufacturing and mining industries, promote a healthy economy and spur job creation.”

The staff at JENNMAR described how measures Barr supports - including the Energy Security and Affordability Act, the Coal Jobs Protection Act, and the Regulations in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act - would allow JENNMAR to grow and create jobs.

“We appreciate Congressman Barr’s support for policies that will preserve Kentucky’s coal industry, our low energy rates and allow the manufacturing industry to grow,” said Bob Wise, Chief Operating Officer.

 

More information on the policies Barr supports:

Barr is an Original Cosponsor of H.R. 3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act, which would fight the President’s Climate Action Plan and protect electric utility plants from excessive EPA regulation.

  • Currently, these EPA regulations prohibit the construction of new coal plants and are forecasted to cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, primarily in manufacturing, as skyrocketing electricity costs make American factories less competitive.
  • This legislation requires the EPA to create different NSPS greenhouse gas standards for various fuel types and requires the approval of Congress prior to implementation of greenhouse gas regulations. 

Barr is an Original Cosponsor H.R. 1829, the Coal Jobs Protection Act, which would deprive the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the ability to unduly delay the mine permitting process.

  • The EPA is currently holding up mining permits in the Commonwealth, creating uncertainty and delay in the permitting process and blocking coal mine production, expansion and growth. 
  • The Coal Jobs Protection Act would mandate timely action on permit applications, ensure that the employment and economic impact of federal actions is fully documented and taken into account, restore the appropriate balance between state and federal authority, and prohibit the EPA from regulating by means of guidance or other extra-legal means. 

Barr Cosponsored H.R. 367, the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would prevent the Administration from implementing new regulations that would have significant economic impact without Congressional approval. 

  • The REINS Act would restore accountability in the regulatory process that currently raises the cost of doing business, leading to higher prices for Kentucky families, fewer jobs for workers, and weakened American competitiveness.