Congressional Update from U.S. Congressman Andy Barr

Responding to the State of the Union Address

On Tuesday, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union Address. I attended the address and wanted to hear the President acknowledge that the state of our union is challenged. You can listen to my full interview with ABC News Live here or by clicking the video above.

In just one year, President Biden’s failed economic policies created a historic inflation wave, costing the average Kentucky family $3,500 more for the same goods and services in 2021 versus 2020. The Administration’s foreign policy invited Russian aggression against a sovereign Ukraine in Europe and humiliation in Afghanistan. Finally, the open borders policies of the Biden Administration led to enough fentanyl entering through our southern border to kill every American seven times over. I will continue to propose legislation and support policies in Congress to reverse course on all of these failures.

Ending American Financing for Putin’s War in Ukraine

I absolutely condemn the evil and brutal war being waged by Vladimir Putin and the Russians against the free people of Ukraine. The U.S. must take strong and decisive actions to support Ukraine. President Biden announced sanctions against the Russians this week that included an exemption to allow American purchases of Russian oil and gas. Until this loophole in U.S. sanctions is closed, Americans will continue to finance Putin’s war in Russia.

That is why I proposed the No Energy Revenues for Russian Hostilities Act of 2022. My proposal ends this exemption and ensures that the U.S. will not be funding Russia’s war. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki doubled down on the Administration’s support for an exemption to permit U.S. purchases of Russian energy. I will continue to fight against this.

Additionally, I am calling on President Biden to stand up to unleash American energy producers, who stand ready to flood the world with U.S. oil and natural gas, reducing energy costs at home for Americans (which are up almost 40% in one year) and decrease European dependence on Russian energy abroad.

Furthermore, I will continue to work to ensure deliveries of additional Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and arms sales for Ukraine, including for lethal air defense, anti-armor, and anti-ship capabilities, a new Ukraine Resistance Fund to help vetted Ukrainians resist Russian attempts to occupy or subjugate any Ukrainian territory, and substantial funding for large scale U.S. military exercises consistent with our NATO article 5 obligations in Poland, Romania, the Baltic and other areas on NATO’s eastern flank in Europe.

Sixth District Youth Ambassadors Program Event

On Saturday, I participated in an incredible event with students in the Sixth District Youth Ambassador Program. These high school students are the next generation of leaders for our Commonwealth and our country. We had students from Fayette, Woodford, Bourbon, Anderson, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Wolfe counties attend. I appreciate their willingness to engage with some of our community’s best leaders from so many different industries. I want to thank the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky for hosting our event.

Special thanks to our guest speakers: Secret Service Agent Jon Oldham, Commerce Lexington President and CEO Bob Quick, Adam Hinton of Hinton Mills and the Director of Kentucky Welding Institute, Josh Taylor from the University of Kentucky, Fayette District Court Judge Melissa Moore Murphy, Chief Jason Wells of the Lexington Fire Department, and Army Lieutenant Colonel Jason Halligan of the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Meeting with Enes Kanter Freedom

This week, I had a great meeting with Kentucky Wildcat and champion of human rights Enes Kanter Freedom. We discussed how we could collaborate to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for its gross human rights violations and expressed disappointment with the NBA for silencing criticism of the CCP.

Hosting KY06 Congressional Art Competition Winner in D.C.

Congratulations to Abbey Rowe, who won the 2021 Congressional Art Competition! Abbey’s piece, titled “Kentucky Summer,” (center, bottom) is on display at the U.S. Capitol. Abbey and her family came to visit the Capitol this week and it was my honor to host them for a meeting in my office.

Sincerely,

Congressman Andy Barr