Kennedy initiatives, Louisiana priorities pass as part of National Defense Authorization Act
Dec 13 2023
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate with legislative wins for Louisiana and includes two of Kennedy’s bills.
“This year’s National Defense Authorization Act includes consequential investments for Louisiana and America. The funding will give our service members a much deserved pay raise, strengthen border security and keep China, Russia and Iran in check by bolstering U.S. military readiness,” said Kennedy.
Pacific Islands Forum Partnership Act
The NDAA included the Pacific Islands Forum Partnership Act, which would combat Communist China’s aggression in the Pacific Ocean by establishing a special envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The PIF is an international organization of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island nations.
Beijing recognizes that these nations are strategically located in the Indo-Pacific region and has already established a special envoy to the PIF. The U.S only recently appointed its own special envoy after Kennedy filed his original bill last year, but Kennedy’s legislation would make the position permanent and would require Senate confirmation.
A special envoy would help answer a diversity of threats from the communist regime by deepening trust and increasing dialogue on the Pacific Islands’ economic, cyber security and military concerns.
Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act
The national defense authorization also includes language from Kennedy’s Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act, which would establish a Special Inspector General (IG) for Ukraine.
The Special IG would oversee the humanitarian, economic and security assistance funding that the U.S. Congress has provided to the country and make sure that the funds are appropriately spent.
Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA)
The NDAA also includes language from the FEPA, which Kennedy co-sponsored. The legislation would criminalize foreign officials’ soliciting bribes from Americans or U.S. businesses.
Under the FEPA Act, penalties for soliciting bribes would include a fine of up to $250,000 or three times the value of the bribe (whichever is greater) and a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Military construction priorities for Louisiana
Kennedy helped authorize $155.9 million in wins for Louisiana’s military bases in the NDAA, including:
- $112 million for a weapons generation facility at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB).
- $13.4 million for an athletic track and field at Fort Johnson.
- $7 million for a dormitory at Barksdale AFB.
- $7 million for the medical facility at Barksdale AFB.
- $6.4 million for the communications grid at Naval Air Station New Orleans.
- $3.7 million for a dormitory at Camp Minden.
- $2.4 million for the dormitory at Camp Beauregard.
- $2 million for the National Guard Readiness Center at Camp Beauregard.
- $2 million for a Child Development Center at Barksdale AFB.
The NDAA also:
- Provides for a 5.2% pay raise for military service members.
- Increases funding to recruit military service members.
- Supports the modernization of the U.S. nuclear force.
- Requires all military personnel action to be based on merit and performance.
- Authorizes increased funding for cutting-edge technology to make American weapons more effective and resilient against enemy attacks.
- Supports requested funding to procure naval vessels, combat aircraft, armored vehicles, weapon systems and munitions.
- Improves America’s capabilities for long-term strategic competition with China.
- Establishes a comprehensive training, advising and institutional capacity-building program for Taiwan’s military forces to help counter Chinese aggression.
- Supports U.S. defense activities relating to the security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, known as AUKUS, which also helps counter Chinese aggression.
- Authorizes increased funding for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard operations.
Kennedy, Cassidy introduce resolution congratulating LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels on 2023 Heisman
Dec 13 2023
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today introduced a resolution congratulating Louisiana State University (LSU) quarterback Jayden Daniels on winning the 2023 Heisman Memorial Trophy.
“As all LSU fans have witnessed over and over again, Jayden Daniels earned this Heisman Trophy with talent and grit. Louisianians will celebrate his legacy as a dual-threat quarterback for many years to come. Geaux Tigers!” said Kennedy.
Daniels led the LSU Tigers to several prominent victories during the 2023 regular season, throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is the third Tiger to win the award and the only player in Football Bowl Subdivision history to have surpassed a career 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards.
“Historic numbers deserve to be recognized. The committee rightfully bestowed Jayden Daniels with this year’s Heisman Trophy. He will go down in history as one of the best to ever wear the Tiger uniform. A tremendous achievement for a tremendous player. Geaux Tigers!” said Cassidy.
The resolution also recognizes head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan, and Daniels’ teammates for their roles in this achievement. It additionally thanks LSU fans and the entire state of Louisiana for their dedication and support.
Read the full resolution here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $14,380,438 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Louisianians in Calcasieu, Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes have been working hard to recover from Hurricanes Laura and Ida. I’m grateful to see this $14.4 million help them rebuild,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $6,786,372 to Terrebonne Parish to restore streetlights and decorative lights damaged during Hurricane Ida.
- $4,221,346 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board for repairs to the S.J. Welsh Middle School resulting from Hurricane Laura.
- $2,202,877 to Lafourche Parish to repair damages to the Golden Meadow Park baseball fields caused by Hurricane Ida.
- $1,169,843 to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for the temporary relocation of Vandebilt Catholic High School as a result of Hurricane Ida.
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today passed Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement (SALE) Act. The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to release previously auctioned spectrum in order to expand broadband access to rural communities.
“I’m thankful that the House has sent this bill to the president’s desk so that the job providers who depend on wireless communications in Louisiana and across America can continue to support rural economies. My 5G SALE Act provides Americans with access to broadband by giving the FCC the authority to finish transferring previously auctioned spectrum to companies that offer 5G coverage,” said Kennedy.
The Senate passed Kennedy’s legislation this September.
The 5G SALE Act would temporarily grant the FCC auction authority it needs to complete spectrum transfers, which would allow broadband services to provide greater 5G network coverage to Americans in rural areas.
Background:
In 2022, the FCC auctioned off roughly 8,000 licenses to grant companies access to America’s broadband spectrum. These licenses are the only way companies can legally use the radio waves that deliver 5G to customers. These wavelengths are therefore highly valuable.
During the period between when companies paid for their licenses and when the FCC should have parceled the licenses out, Congress failed to reauthorize the FCC’s ability to auction off licenses altogether. Now, each company that bought spectrum in that auction is waiting to receive its transfer. Despite payments being complete, the FCC says it no longer has the authority to grant those licenses.
Kennedy’s legislation would grant the FCC a one-time, temporary authority to issue licenses purchased in auctions that were held before March 9, 2023 (when the FCC’s Congressional authorization ended).
Kennedy questioned FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the commission’s lapsed authority to transfer spectrum licenses already sold at auction.
Full text of the 5G SALE Act is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $3,229,142 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“I’m grateful to see that this $3.2 million in Hurricane Ida aid will help southeast Louisianians rebuild in Gretna and Lafitte,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $2,093,384 to the city of Gretna for debris removal operations as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,135,758 to the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District for damages as a result of Hurricane Ida.
Kennedy, Budget Committee Republicans urge Whitehouse to use hearings to address economic challenges
Dec 06 2023
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, joined Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in urging committee chairman Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to hold hearings that address the nation’s economic challenges after two credit agencies, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, reported a negative outlook on U.S. creditworthiness.
A Penn Wharton Budget Model study also found that the window to take corrective fiscal action is closing rapidly and that, once it closes, no amount of tax increases or spending cuts could avoid a government default.
“Our current national debt is $33.7 trillion. This is equivalent to over 123 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Moreover, we continue to add to our unprecedented national debt at a record clip. The United States Treasury Department recently reported that the federal government ran a fiscal year 2023 deficit of $1.7 trillion. At 6.3 percent of GDP, the FY 2023 deficit was larger than all but six deficits recorded since 1946. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that over the next decade deficits will persist at levels previously uncommon outside of war or recession—totaling nearly $19 trillion in deficit spending through 2033,” wrote the senators.
“Under your chairmanship, the Senate Committee on the Budget has dedicated significant time and attention to climate issues, holding 12 separate hearings on climate change this year alone. We implore you to direct the Committee’s agenda to the impending budgetary and fiscal crisis facing our nation—issues at the heart of this committee’s jurisdiction. There’s no time to spare,” they continued.
“Tough conversations on our nation’s fiscal health need to be had to preserve our nation’s economic strength. If we want to be the global leader in the economic marketplace, then we need to lead from the front with strong fiscal responsibility,” the lawmakers concluded.
Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
Kennedy, Grassley demand Biden HHS change rule endangering unaccompanied migrant children
Dec 05 2023
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 37 other Republican senators in writing the Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, Jeff Hild, and Director of the Office for Refugee Resettlement, Robin Dunn Marcos, to demand changes to a proposed rule that would replace certain regulations regarding the care and placement of unaccompanied minors who are in federal custody.
“This Proposed Rule ignores nearly seven years of oversight conducted by Congress and the Office of Inspector General and reveals chronic foot-dragging—if not total reluctance—when it comes to protecting vulnerable children. It provides ample protections to government bureaucrats at the expense of children. Even more concerning, ‘the requirements being [adopted] in this proposed rule are already enforced by [the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)],’” the senators wrote.
“ . . . ORR does not even consider a sponsor’s criminal record, current illegal drug use, history of abuse or neglect, or other child welfare concerns ‘necessarily disqualifying to potential sponsorship.’ . . . In effect, ORR accepts a sponsor’s representations almost entirely on face value,” they continued.
“ORR’s Proposed Rule abdicates the agency’s responsibility for protecting the vulnerable children in its custody from harmful behavior by poorly vetted, potential criminals. For these services, the taxpayer paid ORR $5.5 billion in FY2022. The Proposed Rule is wholly unworkable and ORR should discard it and its current practices. If not, Congress will have no choice but to introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act,” the senators concluded.
Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-S.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,489,394 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricanes Laura and Ida left many of Louisiana’s churches damaged. I’m grateful to see this $2.5 million help these communities return to full strength,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,480,637 to Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Lake Charles, La. for the demolition and replacement of its clothing donation building due to Hurricane Laura.
- $1,008,757 for the demolition and replacement of Goodwill Church in Holden, La. due to Hurricane Ida.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $8,156,833 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“As Louisianians continue to recover from Hurricanes Laura and Ida, this $8.2 million will support that recovery in Orleans Parish, Lake Charles and at the Louisiana Children’s Medical Center,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $5,175,735 to the Orleans Parish School Board for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,830,489 to Louisiana Children’s Medical Center for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,150,609 to the city of Lake Charles for damages to the College Oaks Recreation Center as a result of Hurricane Laura.
Kennedy, Hyde-Smith demand Biden HHS withdrawal proposed rule targeting pregnancy centers
Dec 04 2023
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J) in demanding that the Biden administration’s Health and Human Services (HHS) withdrawal its proposed rule targeting pregnancy centers.
The proposed rule would limit states’ ability to allocate funding provided through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for alternatives to abortion and pregnancy centers.
“Women deserve better than abortion and should receive support when they choose life for their babies. For decades, pregnancy centers have stood in the gap and generously provided free assistance to women, babies, and families in their moments of need—actions aligned with TANF’s purposes. The Proposed Rule, however, would undermine the TANF program and threaten to strip millions of dollars in support for pregnant women and their unborn babies through pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and alternatives to abortion programs. We urge you to withdraw the Proposed Rule immediately,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Under the Proposed Rule if any TANF expenditure ‘is identified that does not appear to HHS to be reasonably calculated to accomplish a purpose of TANF,’ the State is required to ‘show that it used these funds for a purpose or purposes that a reasonable person would consider to be within one or more of the four purposes of the TANF program.’ While we share the administration’s goal of improving program integrity in TANF, we are concerned that the Proposed Rule focuses specifically on States that direct TANF funds to pregnancy centers and alternatives to abortion programs,” they continued.
“Chillingly, HHS suggests TANF support for pregnancy centers should be steered toward family planning programs more typical of the business models of Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry instead. Specifically, HHS states TANF funds should be directed to ‘comprehensive sex education, family planning services, pregnancy prevention programs, and community mobilization services for at risk youth that increase access to pregnancy prevention programs for teens.’ This seems to be another attempt by the Biden administration to funnel taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry,” they concluded.
Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and 19 members of the House of Representatives also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
