CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE FROM CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR

PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION APPROVED FOR ICE STORMS

On April 1, President Biden approved a disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky due to significant ice storms, snow, sleet, and freezing rain in February.  From February 8 to February 19, 2021 the state, especially eastern Kentucky, experienced severe winter weather events that caused widespread damage to infrastructure and left thousands without electricity.  I supported and pushed for the approval of this federal disaster declaration in a letter sent to the President along with my colleagues in the Kentucky Congressional Delegation.  Bath, Clark, Estill, Fleming, Madison, Menifee, Montgomery, Nicholas, Powell, and Wolfe Counties in the Sixth Congressional District will now receive federal resources to assist in the recovery efforts from these winter storms. 

Additionally, the Commonwealth has also submitted a federal disaster declaration request stemming from disastrous flooding that occurred from February 28 to March 1.  The Kentucky Congressional Delegation followed up with a letter to President Biden, urging him to approve this request. I fully support and will continue to push for an expedited approval of this request from President Biden.

I have seen firsthand the resilience of my fellow Kentuckians as so many of my constituents battled ice storms and floods over the last month.  When I visited counties impacted by these severe weather events, I promised my constituents that I would fight for federal resources to assist in the recovery efforts.  I will continue to do so. 

My Office is always a resource for constituents who need help and I will continue to travel to impacted communities to assist in the recovery efforts.  More information on this declaration can be found here. 

BLUE GRASS AIRPORT RECEIVES NEARLY $15 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING

Earlier this month, Blue Grass Airport received two grants that will serve to improvement airport infrastructure and provide economic relief.  The first, is a $10,500,000 from DOT’s Airport Improvement Program for improvements to runways.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which I voted for, provided funding to increase the federal share of the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program to allow for safety enhancement projects to continue throughout the pandemic.  

Meanwhile, the second grant for Blue Grass Airport totals $4,040,620.  This funding comes from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (CRRSAA), which I also voted for.  Signed into law in December 2020, this bipartisan effort included funding for eligible airports for economic relief and other measures to prevent, prepare for and respond to the ongoing pandemic.  

I am glad Blue Grass Airport was able to receive this funding.  This is a great example of bipartisanship at work that truly benefits a vital resource to the Sixth District.  Blue Grass Airport is a top facility that connects Lexington to the rest of the world, and I am excited to know they can continue to provide a safe travel experience during and after this pandemic. 

IT IS TIME TO END TARIFFS ON BOURBON AND OTHER DISTILLED SPIRITS

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, I joined my colleague and fellow Co-Chair, John Yarmuth (D-KY) to lead a bipartisan letter calling on Katherine Tai, President Biden’s newly-confirmed U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), to work with the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) to immediately suspend tariffs on American Whiskey.  Our letter, signed by 48 of our colleagues in the House, cites the recent decline in U.S. bourbon exports and the brutal impact the tariffs have had on all distilled spirits and wine, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

These tariffs have damaged what had been a great American export success story for many years.  American Whiskey exports to the EU, our largest export market, grew from $502 million in 2008 to $702 million in 2018, an increase of 40 percent. Since the tariffs were imposed, our American Whiskey exports to the EU have declined by 37 percent and to the UK by 53 percent.  A copy of the letter can be found here. 

Many of our distillers call the Sixth District home and I will continue to fight for a level playing field for one of our Commonwealth's most well-known industries. 

Sincerely,

Congressman Andy Barr