WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4,944,972 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Laura landed a tough blow in Calcasieu Parish. I’m thankful that this $4.9 million will help Louisianians replace a facility that serves their community,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $4,944,972 to the Calcasieu Parish Voluntary Council on the Aging, Inc. for a building replacement required as a result of Hurricane Laura.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) today introduced the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act to save millions of federal dollars by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away.
The original bipartisan legislation set up provisions to save billions of federal taxpayer dollars by curbing erroneous government payments to deceased individuals for a temporary three-year period, and the new bill would make the temporary provisions permanent.
“Americans work too hard to see their tax dollars go to dead people. This bill would enable agencies to share information permanently so that government inefficiencies and miscommunications don’t waste money on fraudsters,” said Kennedy.
“We must be better stewards of American taxpayer dollars, and that means putting an end to wasteful spending. I am proud to have helped lead the passage of this bill in 2020 after over seven years of hard work to implement critical data sharing. Now we must ensure that this collaboration between agencies is made permanent so that our resources are used to help those who need it most,” said Carper.
The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act would amend the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File—a record of deceased individuals—with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system on a permanent basis. This change would reign in the government’s pattern of making improper payments to deceased people into the future.
The bill would also allow Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.
Background:
- Kennedy and Carper's Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act became law in December 2020. The bill mandates the sharing of the Social Security Administration's Death Master File with the Department of the Treasury’s No Not Pay working system within three years after enactment. The three-year exchange runs from December 27, 2023 to December 27, 2026.
- In 2021, Kennedy wrote this op-ed sounding the alarm on the government sending over $1 billion to deceased Americans.
- In 2019, Kennedy questioned U.S. Government Accountability Office Comptroller General Hon. Gene L. Dodaro about improper payments to deceased people.
Full text of the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) wrote this op-ed in the Washington Examiner urging his colleagues in Washington to join his effort to reduce federal spending on health care by capping the price of insulin. Kennedy explains how making insulin affordable will improve the overall health of Americans with diabetes. This care helps them avoid the costly hospital visits and health complications that often fall to the taxpayer to cover.
Earlier this year, Sen. Kennedy joined Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in introducing the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023, a bill which would ensure that all Americans, including those without insurance, have access to insulin that costs $35 per month or less.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“More than one in 10 Americans live with diabetes, and many of them cannot afford the insulin they need to stay out of the emergency room.
“For years now, Congress has nibbled around the edges of insulin affordability rather than addressing the issue directly. This failure to act results in needless suffering and financial stress for families living with diabetes, and it saddles the American taxpayer with billions of dollars in related healthcare spending.”
. . .
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Americans spend $327 billion annually to cover healthcare expenses and lost wages related to diabetic care. Louisiana alone spends an estimated $5.7 billion on care related to diabetes each year.”
. . .
“This bill would ensure that all Americans, including those without insurance, have access to a 30-day supply of insulin that costs no more than $35.
“This plan isn’t one of Washington’s out-of-control spending policies. Any costs associated with capping insulin prices will be fully offset by cutting spending elsewhere in our $6 trillion annual federal budget. More importantly, improving access to affordable insulin can lower federal healthcare spending overall. That means we’re taking a big burden off both diabetics and taxpayers.”
. . .
“We cap the price of insulin at $35 per month today, and we can save thousands of dollars—if not tens of thousands of dollars—per patient in avoided hospital expenses. You don’t need to work on Wall Street to appreciate this return on investment.
“Without adding a penny to the federal budget, Congress can make it affordable for every American to get the insulin they need to stay healthy, go to work, care for their children, contribute to the economy and their community, and avoid costly emergency room visits that end up costing American taxpayers.”
Read the full op-ed here.
Watch Kennedy’s full statement here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, explained the danger that the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023 poses to the U.S. Supreme Court and the constitutionally-mandated balance of powers.
Key excerpts of Kennedy’s statement are below:
“You don't have to be Oliver Wendell Scalia to figure out that this legislation is meant to be a Court-killing machine. For example, it would allow any jackaloon out there in America in a tinfoil hat whose own dog thinks he's an utter nutter to file a motion to recuse the United States Supreme Court justice. Now, what could possibly go wrong? What could possibly go wrong? And my Democratic colleagues know that.”
…
“This bill is dangerous, but it’s unserious. And I think my colleagues, some of them, know that and they're trying to make a point.”
…
“I think all this heated rhetoric, about ethics, about Clarence Thomas being an ‘Uncle Tom,’—I mean, come on. I think it just destroys the institution. . . . But all this rhetoric has consequences.”
Kennedy’s full remarks are available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $326,700,415 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricanes Ida and Laura battered our state, and Louisianians are still recovering. I am thankful for this $327 million, which will help folks in Lake Charles as well as in Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $75,620,610 to the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $74,226,139 to Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative Inc. for permanent restoration of damaged 69kV transmission lines as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $73,532,320 to Jefferson Parish Public School System for mold remediation as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $31,984,343 to Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District for permanent work as a direct result of Hurricane Laura.
- $18,398,568 to Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District for permanent work as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $18,215,643 to Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District for permanent work as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $13,647,374 to Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District for facility replacement required as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $12,348,363 to Louisiana Terrebonne Parish School Board for a building replacement as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $3,126,080 to the Terrebonne Parish for management costs as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $2,766,806 to the city of Lake Charles for repairs to the McNeese Street Water Treatment Plant as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $1,794,659 in federal funding to the Greater Lafourche Port Commission for damages as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,039,510 to the Lafourche Parish Fire Protection District #3 for damages to Belle Amie Station 6 as a result of Hurricane Ida.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today applauded the Appropriations Committee for approving the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act by a vote of 29-0.
“Making America’s economy and national security strong were guiding priorities for this legislation. This bill increases U.S. investment in key defense programs by six percent, ups our investment in nuclear energy and in producing its fuel sources right here at home, and cuts wasteful non-defense spending. Moreover, we’re increasing the Army Corps of Engineers’ funding by 20 percent over the president’s budget so that the Corps can keep protecting and strengthening Louisiana communities,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy helped secure the following energy and water infrastructure wins for Louisiana and America:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- $5.52 billion for the Operations and Maintenance Account.
- $2.771 billion for the maintenance and dredging needs of America’s ports and harbors.
- $2.03 billion for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects.
- $353 million for the Mississippi River and Tributaries Account.
- $36.5 million for the J. Bennett Waterway, La. (Boggs Lock and Dam).
- Includes report language encouraging the Corps to expedite the process to determine eligible pump stations for rehabilitation in accordance with WRDA 22 Section 8152.
- Funds other Louisiana projects, including the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway deepening feasibility study; Mississippi River Gulf Outlet planning, engineering and design; Calcasieu River and Pass construction; and Morganza to the Gulf construction.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) highlights
- 10 percent increase in weapons funding above FY23 enacted levels.
- Six percent increase in overall defense spending and a cut in non-defense spending.
- $35 million for the Sea-launched Cruise Missile, SLCM-N, to combat emerging Chinese and Russian threats.
- $142 million for nuclear core pit production so America’s nuclear weapons can be modernized and continue to act as a deterrent.
- $925 million for advanced nuclear fuel production.
- $420 million for work to support regulatory development, design and demonstration activities for small modular reactors.
- $255 million for quantum computing and information science, including $120 million for research and $125 million for the five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers in order to beat China in the quantum computing race.
- $30.1 million for the Delta Regional Authority.
Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced an amendment to the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023 to condemn the recent racist attacks made against Justice Clarence Thomas. After a long discussion, the committee adopted the amendment by a vote of 21-0.
“I don’t understand the reluctance to accept the fact that Justice Clarence Thomas, who happens to be a black man, has been the butt of a lot of racist statements. And I don't understand the reluctance to condemn those,” Kennedy said after Democratic members of the committee proposed amendments to his proposal. “I don’t want to water it down. I don't want to bubble-wrap it. I don't want to sugarcoat it. I want it to say, as big as Dallas, the United States Senate condemns all these racist things that have been said about Justice Clarence Thomas.”
Kennedy noted that Justice Thomas had recently been compared to a house slave in a racist statement made by Minnesota Attorney General and former U.S. Representative Keith Ellison.
“You don’t have to be a senior at Cal Tech to figure it out. [The amendment] says [that] all of this stuff about Clarence Thomas, calling him a house slave and other racist, disgusting statements, we condemn. Now, you either condemn it or you don't, and that's all this amendment does,” Kennedy said.
“If you support the racist things that have been said about Clarence Thomas, then vote against this amendment,” Kennedy later added. “If you think the things that have been said about Clarence Thomas are racist to the marrow and you condemn them, then vote for this amendment.”
Kennedy’s full remarks are available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2023 today passed the Senate Small Business Committee, and now moves to the Senate floor for consideration.
“The Small Business Committee understands the significant need to help small business and home owners access loans when they need them the most—after a disaster strikes. Now, the Senate must pass this bill so that Louisianians and all Americans can actually recover and rebuild in the wake of tragedy,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy’s legislation would indefinitely extend an increase to the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act’s initial loan limit of $14,000 to $25,000. The increase would not require borrowers to pledge collateral.
Physical disaster loans help businesses, homeowners and others rebuild damaged property in declared disaster areas.
Background:
- In March, Kennedy introduced the Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2023.
- In August 2019, Kennedy introduced the Rebuilding Small Businesses After Disasters Act to extend the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, which became law but expired in November of 2022.
- A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study showed that Kennedy’s 2019 bill reduced government spending and saved taxpayer dollars. According to the study, the GAO “reviewed more than 20 years of loan data and found that the loans approved before the change in collateral requirements had higher default rates than the loans approved after the change.”
Kennedy, Tillis, Whitehouse introduce bipartisan bill to protect U.S. businesses from foreign extortion
Jul 19 2023
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in introducing the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) of 2023 to criminalize foreign officials’ soliciting bribes from Americans or U.S. businesses.
“Bad actors in other countries try to extort Americans and U.S. businesses all the time. The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act would criminalize those who demand bribes from Americans and level the playing field by making foreign officials follow the rule of law,” said Kennedy.
This bill would protect U.S. firms from corrupt foreign officials because such officials often demand bribes as a prerequisite for doing business in their countries. The FEPA would make such demands illegal, which would ensure that U.S. companies remain competitive in international contexts.
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.
The FEPA would:
- Commission the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute foreign officials who request or receive a bribe from a U.S. individual or corporation, or from any person while in U.S. territory.
- Require that the DOJ issue an annual report that summarizes major enforcement actions, analyzes the effectiveness of efforts to shield U.S. businesses from bribery demands and addresses foreign governments’ efforts to prosecute people who solicit bribes from Americans.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Extension Act of 2023 to prevent the NFIP from expiring on September 30, 2023.
The legislation would extend the NFIP for one year, until September 30, 2024.
“No one knows the feeling of having their home or business destroyed by bad weather like Louisianians. I am introducing this bill to make sure every homeowner in my state can sleep peacefully knowing that the NFIP won’t end in the middle of hurricane season,” said Kennedy.
Of the 5 million Americans nationwide who rely on the NFIP, roughly 500,000 are Louisianians who need the program to protect their businesses and homes.
Text of the NFIP Extension Act of 2023 is available here.
