WASHINGTON – Congressman Andy Barr released the following statement regarding the Army’s decision to grant the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) firefighters an exemption from the sequester furloughs:

“I am extremely pleased that the local leadership at the Blue Grass Army Depot and I were able to work together and demonstrate to Army leadership the critical role of the emergency personnel at BGAD.  This exemption will ensure the safety of the local community as well as the surrounding counties that would have been jeopardized by a reduced force.  This is another example of how we can reduce spending by prioritizing our most essential programs and advance fiscal responsibility as opposed to the indiscriminate, across-the-board sequester cuts that treat all government spending as equal.”

Congressman Barr and the leaders of the Blue Grass Army Depot have been working together to fight for this exemption since March.