Congressional Update from U.S. Congressman Andy Barr
Tragedy in Afghanistan:
Last week, thirteen U.S. military servicemembers were killed in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. This was the deadliest day for our military in over a decade. These servicemembers gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that American citizens and our Afghan allies could escape the threat of the Taliban, ISIS, and other terrorist actors in the area. That is the legacy these American heroes will leave behind.
May we honor the sacrifice and memory of these extraordinary American patriots by bringing all Americans and our Afghan allies remaining in Afghanistan home safe. Please join me in praying for these servicemembers’ families as well as all of our military servicemembers, American citizens and Afghan allies still left in Afghanistan.
Major Federal Grant for Bourbon County:
From left to right: Bourbon County Judge Executive Mike Williams, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Kentucky State Representative Matt Koch, and Kentucky State Senator Steve West at the unveiling of the $2.3 million federal grant for Bourbon County.
Today, I announced that the Paris-Bourbon County Economic Development Authority will receive a $2.3 million grant for roadway infrastructure improvements to accommodate the expansion of the Paris-Bourbon County Industrial Park. The federal funding for this grant was distributed by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and was made available through the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, emergency COVID-19 relief that I voted for in March of 2020.
This grant will expand access for freight traveling to the Paris-Bourbon County Industrial Park and is estimated by EDA to create 296 jobs, retain 147 jobs, and generate $214 million in private investment.
Delivering Federal Funds to Isaiah House to Fight Addiction
Last week, I delivered almost $2.5 million in federal funds to Isaiah House Treatment Center to assist in their mission of reducing addiction throughout our communities. For over three decades, Isaiah House has been a premier treatment center in Kentucky. This grant was provided through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Recovery Workforce Support Program. SAMHSA was established as part of legislation that I wrote and passed through Congress, the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act. Video from my remarks at the Isaiah House Treatment Center grant event can be viewed above.
Isaiah House will partner with the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, the Bluegrass Workforce Innovation Board, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, and other organizations to address workforce participation challenges caused by the prevalence of substance abuse in Kentucky. The program plans to serve over 6,000 Kentuckians in the next five years.
Pushing for Federal Flood Assistance to Nicholas County
On July 29 and July 30, the city of Carlisle and Nicholas County experienced tremendous flood damage to 88 homes, 29 businesses, and critical infrastructure that downed the city’s fire department services and impacted their wastewater treatment plant. I teamed up with Senator McConnell and Senator Paul to push for federal flood assistance to Nicholas County.
As soon as the Commonwealth of Kentucky submitted its flood request to the federal government, we wrote to President Biden urging a swift and full approval. You can read our letter here. Our letter to President Biden specifically urged individual assistance in the wake of this devastating flooding. In the meantime, my office is available for constituents who need help.
Sincerely,
Congressman Andy Barr
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE 2430 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515 Tel: (202) 225-4706
LEXINGTON DISTRICT OFFICE 2709 Old Rosebud Road Lexington, KY 40509 Tel: (859) 219-1366