WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate with ample legislative wins for Louisiana communities and two bills Kennedy wrote to protect Americans from Communist China’s aggression.
“Americans deserve to be protected by the world’s strongest, most capable troops, and our service members deserve to be well equipped. This bill raises their pay, funds key defense investments in Louisiana and takes significant steps to counter Chinese aggression,” 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 Pacific Ocean 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 confirmed by the Senate. 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.
Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act
The national defense legislation included Kennedy’s Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act, which would hold executives of foreign companies that are traded on U.S. stock exchanges to the same disclosure requirements that U.S.-based firms are required to follow.
Insiders at companies in Beijing and Moscow have been able to avoid billions in losses on the U.S. stock exchange by playing by a different set of rules than Americans do. This insider trading comes at a cost to American investors. Kennedy’s amendment would help stop opportunistic insider trading by requiring foreign executives to disclose trades immediately.
Military construction priorities for Louisiana
Kennedy helped secure numerous wins for Louisiana in the NDAA, including:
- $112 million for a weapons generation facility at Barksdale Air Force Base
- $13.4 million for an athletic track and field at Fort Johnson
- $7 million for a dormitory at Barksdale Air Force Base
- $7 million for a medical facility at Barksdale Air Force Base
- $6.4 million for a communications grid at Naval Air Station New Orleans
- $3.7 million for a dormitory at Camp Minden
- $2.4 million for a dormitory at Camp Beauregard
- $2 million for a child development center at Barksdale Air Force Base
- $2 million for a National Guard readiness center at Camp Beauregard
General defense wins
The NDAA:
- 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, 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.
- Requires the DOD to prioritize basing, training, and exercises in NATO countries that achieve the goal of spending at least two percent of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024.
WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $28,670,213 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana flood protection and disaster aid.
“I am thankful for this $28.7 million, which will help protect homes and businesses from flood damage and support recovery efforts in southwest and southeast Louisiana,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $17,035,265 to Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative, Inc. for permanent restoration of damaged 138kV transmission lines as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $5,996,726 to Beauregard Electrical Cooperative Power distribution repairs as a result of Hurricane Delta.
- $2,225,697 to the Southwest Louisiana Hospital Association for the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $2,135,490 to fund the elevation of 11 residential properties located throughout Jefferson Parish to mitigate flood risk.
- $1,277,035 to fund the elevation of seven structures in Terrebonne Parish to mitigate flood risk.
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats today blocked Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit allocations of special drawing rights at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from going to perpetrators of genocide and state sponsors of terrorism unless Congress authorizes the allocation.
“The Biden administration shouldn’t be able to force U.S. taxpayers to line the pockets of Xi Jinping and other American adversaries. President Biden already green-lit a deal that bankrolled China and Iran.
“Congress is responsible for stewarding taxpayer money, and this amendment would have stopped the Biden administration from making an end run around the Constitution on behalf of the world’s worst dictators. Oppressive, hostile regimes work to undermine America’s safety and success every day, but the White House and Senate Democrats shouldn’t be helping them,” said Kennedy.
President Biden previously agreed to a general allocation of special drawing rights at the IMF totaling $650 billion without consent from Congress. Large portions of that allocation flowed to dictators and countries that actively oppose American interests and violate human rights.
Background
The IMF distributes special drawing rights according to each country’s economic standing in the global economy. That means the world’s wealthiest countries received the most special drawing rights of all IMF members regardless of their hostility towards the U.S. or American interests.
In August 2021, the IMF doled out more money in one general allocation than ever before. The $650 billion outlay of IMF special drawing rights, which are backed by the U.S. Treasury, sent money to America’s enemies. Iran gained access to about $4.5 billion through the deal, and China had a windfall of $40 billion.
Text of Kennedy’s amendment is here.
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) for Animals Act to protect livestock and other animals from abuse by strengthening law enforcement’s ability to penalize abusers.
“Far too often, researchers, breeders and dealers mistreat animals. I’m proud to help introduce the Better CARE for Animals Act to ensure that law enforcement has the authority to punish people who have a hand in the mishandling of animals and rescue these creatures from dangerous environments,” said Kennedy.
“This bipartisan measure gives DOJ the tools it needs to hold animal abusers accountable. Civil penalties and suspensions of abusers’ licenses will give the Animal Welfare Act the strength and enforcement it needs to protect animals and keep them out of harm’s way. Mistreatment and neglect has no place in our society. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this bicameral effort,” said Blumenthal.
Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) are leading the legislation in the House of Representatives.
“The Better CARE for Animals Act provides for important animal protections, encourages stronger collaboration between departments, and empowers our law enforcement to combat abusers. As a member of the Animal Protection Caucus, I’m proud to support this legislation and advocate for the better treatment of innocent animals,” said Reschenthaler.
“When shocking AWA violations at the Envigo breeding facility came to light, DOJ acted. In the process, they helped thousands of animals avoid further mistreatment. As we saw with the Envigo case, DOJ has proven their effectiveness and should be provided equal authority to USDA to hold bad actors accountable. This legislation will support them in their mission of protecting innocent animals and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act,” said Quigley.
The Better CARE for Animals Act would:
- Strengthen the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ability to enforce the Animal Welfare Act by clarifying that the DOJ has the same authority that the U.S. Department of Agriculture wields under the Animal Welfare Act, including the ability to seek license suspensions, revocations and civil penalties.
- Expand on the Animal Welfare Act by granting the DOJ forfeiture authority to seize and remove animals experiencing harmful treatment.
Full text of the Better CARE for Animals Act is available here.
Democrats block Kennedy amendment to establish inspector general to oversee American aid to Ukraine
Jul 26 2023
View Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats today blocked an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) helped lead. Based on Kennedy’s Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act, the amendment would establish a Lead Inspector General (IG) for Ukraine.
The Lead IG’s office 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.
“This money didn’t fall from heaven. It came out of people’s pocket. How can we possibly look the American people in the eye and say that we don’t want to assure them that this money will not be stolen? That’s all this bill does,” explained Kennedy on the Senate floor.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) led the legislation, and Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) are all original co-sponsors of the amendment.
“American taxpayers deserve to know that their money is helping Ukraine defeat Putin effectively. Congress needs to guarantee that oversight, but Democrats refused tonight. This taxpayer investment is too big to relegate
to the normal bureaucratic channels within the Defense Department or State Department. It demands an inspector general with a singular focus on America’s return on investment in Ukraine,” Kennedy said after the vote.
The amendment would also ensure that members of Congress can access all classified reports from the Lead IG’s office and requires the IG to brief any committee or member within 15 days of the request. This provision would make dilatory behavior a violation of the law when it comes to members’ getting access to the Lead IG.
The amendment requires that all part-time Ukraine IG personnel work on Ukraine oversight full-time.
It includes an independent assessment to review whether the Lead IG responsibilities are negatively impacting an IG’s other duties. This independent assessment would also explicitly look at whether a Special IG, as Kennedy has advocated forpreviously, is more appropriate for Ukraine oversight.
View Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Senate’s passage of S. Con. Res. 14, a resolution to reaffirm the U.S.’ support for Israel.
“The rise in antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments from members of Congress is disgraceful. Israel is a friend to America, and I am glad to see that so many lawmakers agree that there is no room for bigotry against Israelis or Jewish-Americans in the United States or our government,” said Kennedy.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) led the resolution.
“I’m pleased that a bipartisan group of my colleagues supported this resolution upholding that Israel is not a racist state, that Congress rejects any form of antisemitism, and that America will always be a staunch supporter of Israel. It is unfortunate that Democrat attacks on Israel necessitated Congress passing this legislation,” said Cotton.
The Senate resolved that:
- The State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state.
- Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia.
- The U.S. will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.
Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) also cosigned this resolution.
Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) led this resolution in the House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $71,237,692 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“I’m glad to see that this $71.2 million will support Louisianians’ recovery efforts in Jefferson and Terrebonne Parishes and elsewhere, especially as communities are still rebuilding after Hurricanes Ida and Laura,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $40,422,521 to the Dixie Electric Membership Corporation for line and facility repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $15,106,751 to Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative, Inc. for repairs to a damaged 138 kV transmission system as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $12,159,663 to Terrebonne Parish School Board for a building replacement at Grand Caillou Elementary as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $3,548,757 to Jefferson Parish for private property debris removal operations as a result of Hurricane Ida.
Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today argued that the lasting inflation driven by President Biden’s “Bidenomics” is a “cancer” on the people of Louisiana during a speech on the Senate floor. Kennedy noted that the average Louisiana family pays an additional $757 each month—$9,084 per year—because of inflation.
“Bidenomics, to most fair-minded Americans, is bigger government. Bidenomics is higher taxes. Bidenomics is more regulation. Bidenomics is more spending. Bidenomics is more debt,” Kennedy said.
“Bidenomics is also inflation. Let me say that again: First and foremost, Bidenomics is inflation. President Biden's inflation—history, I believe, will demonstrate this—is a cancer on the American dream,” he continued.
To offer some relief, Kennedy urged people in Louisiana to check on whether they have unclaimed tax refunds due to them. Kennedy noted that the Louisiana Department of Revenue is sitting on $11,574,249 in unclaimed tax refunds. The department recently sent letters to more than 15,000 Louisianians who are owed refunds. He urged those who received a letter to visit the Department of Revenue’s website to get the money they are owed.
Kennedy also encouraged Louisianians to confirm that they received their federal tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service, too, by visiting IRS.gov/refunds.
“A lot of people—not just Louisianians, all across America—forget to claim their state income tax refund and/or their federal income tax refund,” Kennedy said.
“So, I hope you'll take advantage of this information—not just in Louisiana, but all across America—and go claim your tax refunds if you’re owed them,” Kennedy concluded.
Kennedy’s full remarks are available here.
Kennedy: GOMESA cap unfairly targets Louisiana
Jul 26 2023
Watch Kennedy’s full exchange here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today raised questions about the fairness of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act’s (GOMESA) limits on revenue that Louisiana can receive.
Kennedy and Louisiana’s Gov. John Bel Edwards, a witness at the hearing, agreed on the necessity of passing the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems (RISEE) Act, which would reform GOMESA to lift the current revenue cap that unfairly penalizes Louisiana.
“Do you think it's fair [that] we get 37.5 percent of offshore oil royalties under GOMESA? New Mexico gets 50 percent share from the federal government . . . Wyoming gets 50 percent, North Dakota gets 50 percent. We get 37.5 percent, and we’ve got to share it with four other states,” said Kennedy.
“And it's capped at $375 million . . . ” replied Edwards.
“All we're asking is to be treated like everybody else, aren't we . . . and we have a solution, don't we?” Kennedy continued.
“We do,” Edwards confirmed, commending the RISEE Act, the “wonderful piece of legislation” that Kennedy helped introduce and has long advocated for.
“I appreciate your work on that,” Edwards added.
“Well, to be blunt: We've proven we can use the money well, and we put our own money up, and it is patently unfair that other states get a larger share—much larger share—than Louisiana, and I think the RISEE Act—which will also help our wind industry, as Sen. Whitehouse knows, we're working together on it—is long overdue, and I appreciate you coming up here to talk about that bill,” said Kennedy.
Background:
Under GOMESA, federal revenues from the offshore energy production of Gulf states are divided into three portions. The federal government returns 37.5 percent of this revenue to Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The Land and Water Conservation Fund receives 12.5 percent of offshore revenue and directs most of that money to landlocked states. The final 50 percent of Gulf oil and gas revenue goes to the U.S. Treasury.
The GOMESA cap limits the dollar value of Gulf states’ 37.5 percent revenue share to $375 million each year, meaning the states receive no benefit when the energy sector peaks and revenues surpass the cap. Conversely, the Mineral Leasing Act ensures that states with onshore drilling operations receive 50 percent of their revenues, while there is no cap on how much money that share includes.
States with onshore energy production typically aren’t required to spend that money on environmental priorities. Louisiana constitutionally dedicates revenues from offshore energy production to pay for its coastal conservation and restoration projects.
Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,011,747 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Ida struck our state hard, and I’m grateful to see that this $1 million investment will go towards Louisianians’ recovery efforts in Terrebonne Parish,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,011,747 to the Terrebonne Parish Recreation District #4 for damages as a result of Hurricane Ida.
