Congressional Update from U.S. Congressman Andy Barr
Defunding the 87,000 New IRS Agents Targeting Low and Middle-Income Kentuckians
My first vote after being sworn into the 118th Congress was to pass legislation defunding the President’s new 87,000 IRS agents. Make no mistake: these new agents are being hired to conduct mass audits of ordinary Kentuckians and Americans.
Syracuse University recently did a study showing that low and middle-income Americans are five times more likely to be subjected to an IRS audit. While former Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that Republicans were passing this bill to protect corporations and millionaires, I pointed out on Twitter that House Democrats voted several times against an amendment preventing the new resources at the IRS from targeting Americans making less than $400,000 a year.
Establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
On Tuesday, I joined a bipartisan group of House members in voting to establish a Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP is intent on replacing the United States as the world's preeminent economic, military, and technological power.
They have a sophisticated plan to challenge the United States and leverage every possible avenue to finance their goals. Defending against these advances is one of the most significant geopolitical challenges of a generation. You can see my full speech on the House floor about the new Select Committee here or by clicking the image above.
Becoming the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) named me as the new Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy. In this role, I will have the responsibility of overseeing key regulators at the Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission, and more. My full statement on this appointment is below and more from Politico on the announcement of all the Subcommittee Chairs here.
Protecting Life and Condemning Political Violence
The new Republican House majority will be the most pro-life House of Representatives in decades. This week, we voted on the Born Alive Protection Act, legislation requiring medical care to be provided to babies born alive in botched abortions.
We also voted on a resolution condemning the recent attacks on churches, pro-life centers, and pro-life organizations since the Supreme Court leak and overturning of Roe V Wade. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights listed over 60 incidents since the May 2, 2022, leaked opinion of the Supreme Court case reversing Roe.
Congressman Barr in the News
My appearance on ABC “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos. You can watch by clicking the image above.
My appearance on “The Lead” with Jake Tapper. You can watch by clicking the image above.
Sincerely,
Congressman Andy Barr
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