Congressional Update from Congressman Andy Barr 

HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SELECTION

     This week, I was chosen by the Republican Steering Committee to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) for the 117th Congress.  This is a tremendous honor and I am eager to build on the work I started on the House China Task Force (CTF) last year to better position the United States against the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  Our nation faces the greatest foreign policy challenge since the Cold War from the CCP.  The CCP failed to take action to combat the spread of COVID-19 before it reached a pandemic state, and we are still seeing the consequences of this inaction.  Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their lives, millions more have lost their jobs and our way of life has been changed completely.  Despite COVID-19 coming from China, the Chinese economy grew in 2020 and recently overtook the U.S. as the number one country in receiving foreign direct investment.  On the Foreign Affairs Committee, I will lead the development of policies to fight back against the economic, military and technological threat of the CCP.   

     THE NEW ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES ATTACK ON ENERGY INDUSTRY 

             Since taking office, President Biden has launched an all-out assault on America's energy industries -- all in the form of unilateral, executive decisions.  The decision of the new administration to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord is a gift to China and a blow to middle-class families across the Commonwealth.  While America takes drastic steps towards surrendering its own energy independence, the CCP, India and other nations will continue to pollute at will.  This self-sabotage of our energy production will jeopardize our economic recovery and national security.  Americans saw last year the consequences of outsourcing production of critical pharmaceutical and medical supplies. Now, the Administration wants to add energy to that list.  We have already seen this with the President's decision to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, thus taking away thousands of jobs with one signature.  Unfortunately, by rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and signing Executive Orders that specifically target the coal industry, the President has made it clear that the livelihoods that put food on the table in places like Central and Eastern Kentucky do not matter.  Instead of acknowledging the fact that our nation has continued to reduce carbon emissions thanks to free market innovation, this Administration wants to appease the far-left by using government overreach to satisfy a radical environmentalist agenda. 

     After calling for unity and vowing democratic governance, President Biden has already undertaken more Executive Orders during his first week in office than President Trump did in his first 100 days.  By governing exclusively through Executive Orders, the President has undermined his own plans for unity and working together, all while creating more economic uncertainty for the middle-class during a pandemic.  The President's Executive Orders have damaged our energy sector and raised the price of insulin meaning Americans will be paying more for life-saving drugs, gas and household electricity while China continues to operate as normal without repercussions. 

INTERVIEW WITH WVLK ON HFAC SELECTION

     In case you missed it, I spoke with Jack Pattie on WVLK about being selected for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  I also had the chance to discuss some of the work I hope to continue from the China Task Force, as well as President Biden's Executive Orders and their impact to our energy sector. 

Sincerely,

Congressman Andy Barr