WASHINGTON - Earlier tonight, Senator Mitch McConnell confirmed that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide tobacco quota holders the full amount of their final tobacco payment by the end of FY 2015.

“I welcome tonight’s announcement that the USDA has realized that Kentucky tobacco farmers deserve what they are owed,” said Congressman Barr.  “I will continue to advocate on behalf of farmers across central and eastern Kentucky and fight to ensure that they are never again vulnerable to such untimely and harmful policy changes.”

After learning of the proposed cuts and speaking with several farmers in the Sixth District, Congressman Barr has taken several actions to reverse the 7.2 percent reduction of the final payments announced by the USDA scheduled for January 2014.  A bipartisan coalition of House members addressed a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Sylvia Burwell expressing opposition to the proposed cuts

In addition, Congressman Barr followed up with the OMB before the holiday recess reminding them of the importance and timeliness of this decision and urging them to reverse this bad policy.

Congressman Barr also has collected hundreds of signatures on his No Cuts to the Tobacco Transition Payment Program Petition.