Lexington, KY – U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) brought home major victories for the agriculture industry and Kentucky farmers. Congressman Barr delivered $11.2 billion in the year-end COVID-19 relief package for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which is designed to provide immediate relief to farmers, ranchers, and producers during the pandemic. Also included was over $7 billion for investments in rural broadband development and expansion of telehealth services, which Congressman Barr has championed in Congress.
“As the pandemic continues, the need for relief to strengthen our agricultural producers and food supply still exists. These investments in the CFAP program will provide a huge boost to farmers in Kentucky," said Congressman Barr. "In addition, I fought and succeeded in getting more funding for rural broadband expansion, which is important to the many Kentuckians that are working and learning remotely.”
Congressman Barr voted in support of creating the CFAP program in March through the Coronavirus, Aid, Response and Economics Securities (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided an initial $16 billion to CFAP. Congressman Barr embraced telehealth early in the pandemic as a powerful tool against the virus. Congressman Barr secured clarification from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand telehealth services to include same-location visits for patients in April.
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