MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today penned this op-ed for Fox News outlining how Congress can dismantle the harmful energy policies President Biden put in place to help the Trump administration restore our economy and address inflation.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“If congressional Republicans intend to deliver on our promises of a booming economy and stable prices, we’d be wise to unwind quickly the disastrous energy policies that the Biden-Harris regime imposed on one of America’s most essential industries.
“President Biden is using his final days in office to rub salt in the wounds of the American energy sector. Most recently, the Biden-Harris administration implemented yet another offshore drilling ban on more than 625 million acres of American coastline. He used an obscure 1953 law to prohibit all future leases in the restricted coastal areas, making it extremely difficult for the incoming Trump administration to reverse course.
“Not only is President Biden ignoring American voters by forcing through another harmful energy policy after his party lost the White House, but he is also making it more difficult for President Trump to restore the American economy and ease inflation.”
. . .
“The only way our country will crawl out from under President Biden’s high prices is if our economy grows rapidly, but we know that high energy prices slow economic growth.
“President Trump will need every tool at his disposal to restore American energy independence and lay the foundation for the future. Congress can help. We should demand that the Department of Interior approve more lease sales, especially offshore. The department is supposed to adhere to a schedule of at least two lease sales each year. The Biden-Harris administration didn’t hold any lease sales last year.
“Existing federal regulations also prolong the permitting approval process and cripple LNG and oil producers. Congress can reform the bureaucratic permitting process to reduce unnecessary judicial overview and make reviews concurrent rather than consecutive.”
. . .
“It is going to take an all-hands-on-deck effort to unwind all of President Biden’s destructive energy policies, and Congressional Republicans should stand ready to take the handcuffs off American energy.”
Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a $2,982,469 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to repair a Lake Charles warehouse building that Hurricane Laura destroyed.
“Hurricane Laura devastated Lake Charles, and Louisianians have been working hard to rebuild buildings ever since. This $3 million will help cover the costs of replacing a warehouse facility that Laura’s storm surge gutted,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $2,982,469 to the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District to replace a warehouse building that Hurricane Laura irreparably damaged.
Kennedy, Cortez Masto introduce legislation to help Louisianians recover from natural disasters
Jan 17 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today joined Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in reintroducing the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act to provide relief for taxpayers in states that have issued state-level disaster declarations. Currently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the authority to postpone tax filing deadlines following a presidentially declared federal disaster but not following the declaration of a state-level emergency.
“Louisianians have worked tirelessly to rebuild after historic storms took their toll, so giving them the time they need to file taxes after a natural disaster is a no-brainer. Since Louisiana can’t always rely on Washington to get us the relief we need when we need it, this bill would make sure that Louisianians get tax extensions that are crucial for recovering after our state declares a natural disaster. I’m glad to partner again with Sen. Cortez Masto on this effort,” said Kennedy.
The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would allow the governor of a state or territory to extend a federal tax filing deadline following a state-declared emergency or natural disaster instead of waiting for a federal disaster declaration. This means that states would have the ability to provide federal tax extensions independent of the federal government’s involvement in an emergency or natural disaster.
The bill would also expand the mandatory federal filing extension from 60 days to 120 days.
“Nevadans experiencing natural disasters deserve tax relief, regardless of whether the state receives a federally recognized disaster declaration. My bipartisan, bicameral bill would ensure that Nevada taxpayers impacted by wildfires, winter storms, floods, and more have the financial flexibility they need to recover,” said Cortez Masto.
Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also cosponsored the bill.
The full bill text is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in re-introducing the VA Home Loan Awareness Act, which would help educate veterans about the benefits available to them through the Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Program.
“Our veterans gave so much to protect the American Dream, and we can help them as they work to achieve it themselves. Congress should pass this bill to make sure our brave warriors know about the home loan benefits they’ve earned,” said Kennedy.
“For decades, owning a home has been the bedrock of the American Dream, but too often, those who have put their lives on the line for our country have been hampered by a lack of information from their own government. I’m proud to join Senator Van Hollen and my other colleagues in introducing this commonsense measure to empower our veterans with the knowledge and resources necessary to secure a VA Home Loan and achieve the same dream they fought to defend,” said Sheehy.
“After serving our country in uniform, our veterans deserve the support of a grateful nation. The VA Home Loan Program is one way we provide that support—by helping veterans purchase homes. But far too many of our veterans are unaware of this program and what it has to offer. Our bipartisan bill will help ensure more veterans and their families have the opportunity to use it to achieve their goal of homeownership,” said Van Hollen.
The VA Home Loan Program offers benefits for veterans financing their home purchases, including no down payment, no private mortgage insurance and lower interest rates than conventional Federal Housing Administration loans.
Currently, just 13% of veterans use their VA Home Loan benefit. The legislation would:
- Add a disclosure on the Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) to inform veterans of their potential eligibility for a VA Home Loan.
- Direct applicants to consult their lenders for more information about the VA Home Loan Program.
- Instruct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review and report to Congress regarding lenders’ adoption of the URLA form updates.
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) also co-sponsored the legislation.
The full bill text is available here.
Kennedy first co-sponsored this bill in the 118th Congress in Nov. 2023.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $1,055,556 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Louisianians in West Carroll Parish depend on generators when bad storms strike. This $1 million will help make sure the community is prepared for major weather events,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,000,000 to West Carroll Parish for the installation of 13 permanent emergency generators and one portable generator.
- $55,556 to West Carroll Parish for the management costs associated with the generator project.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $3,537,919 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for infrastructure that will power water pump stations during natural disasters that affect Shreveport, La.
“Back up electricity is critical when bad weather hits. This $3.5 million will provide generators to Shreveport so that Louisianians are prepared for the next storm,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $3,351,713 to purchase and install two permanent 1250-kilowatt generators in Shreveport, La.
- $186,206 for the management costs of installing two permanent 1250-kilowatt generators in Shreveport, La.
Kennedy, Lankford, Banks introduce bill to protect infants born alive during an abortion
Jan 16 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) in introducing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
“When an infant clings to life after an abortion procedure, doctors have a duty to care for that child. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would protect these defenseless boys and girls. There’s no reason Congress should delay in sending it to the president’s desk,” said Kennedy.
“No child should be denied medical care simply because they are ‘unwanted.’ Today, if an abortion procedure fails and a child is born alive, doctors can just ignore the crying baby on the table and watch them slowly die of neglect. That’s not an abortion, that’s infanticide,” said Lankford.
“I've always fought to defend the unborn and will continue to do so in the Senate. It's unconscionable that we even need such a law, but it's essential to protect the most vulnerable among us. Now that Republicans have control of both chambers of Congress and the most pro-life President in my lifetime, we have the opportunity to see this important bill signed into law,” said Banks.
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would require health care providers to preserve the lives of infants who survive an abortion with the same care they would give to any other child born at the same gestational age. The bill would also require health care providers to transport the infant to a hospital.
The bill would also:
- Require health care workers to report failures to provide proper care to born-alive infants to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
- Penalize anyone who fails to provide proper care to born-alive infants with a fine or imprisonment.
Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Roger Wicker, (R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) also cosponsored the legislation.
The full bill text is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $20,217,180 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Louisianians in Grand Isle, Lake Charles and Tangipahoa Parish have been working hard to rebuild after devastating storms. This $20.2 million will help our south Louisiana communities repair important projects and facilities after Hurricanes Laura and Ida battered our state,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $10,424,561 to the Office of Risk Management for repairs to the West Grand Terre Beach project in Grand Isle, La. that resulted from Hurricane Ida.
- $5,226,646 to the Office of Risk Management for repairs to five facilities at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Turtle Cove complex that resulted from Hurricane Ida.
- $4,565,973 to Lake Charles, La. for repairs to wastewater treatment plant facilities that resulted from Hurricane Laura.
Kennedy, Ernst champion Sarah’s Law to require ICE to detain illegal aliens who harm Americans
Jan 15 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and colleagues in introducing Sarah’s Law to help make sure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains and removes illegal immigrants who kill or seriously injure Americans.
“Because of unfettered illegal immigration, Sarah Root, Laken Riley and other innocent Americans aren’t alive today. We need to pass Sarah’s Law to make sure we protect our communities from violent illegal immigrants,” said Kennedy.
Sarah’s Law would:
- Require ICE to take into custody illegal aliens charged with killing or seriously injuring another person.
- Direct ICE to attempt to identify victims of violent crimes at the hands of illegal aliens and inform their families of the criminal’s name, country of nationality, immigration status, criminal history and custody status. The bill would also require ICE to inform the victim’s family of any efforts to remove the alien from the U.S.
“Sarah Root had her entire life ahead of her before it was senselessly taken by someone who never should have been in this country. Her family has been forced to endure a living nightmare without closure because a glaring loophole in the law has allowed her killer to remain on the run for nearly nine years. For years, I have worked tirelessly to pass Sarah’s Law to honor her memory, hold illegal immigrants that cause bodily harm to our citizens accountable, and ensure this never happens again. I will not give up this fight for justice, because our laws should not prioritize illegal immigrants over the safety of Americans,” said Ernst.
Sarah’s Law is named after Sarah Root, a 21-year-old girl whom an illegal alien killed when he drove drunk. Sarah’s Law would help strengthen federal law so that criminal aliens like Root’s killer would stay behind bars.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Curtis (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) also cosponsored the bill.
The full bill text is available here.
Kennedy champions ROOMIE Act to require in-person work requirements for federal agency employees
Jan 15 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today reintroduced the Reinforce Occupancy Obligations for Maximized Interagency Efficiency (ROOMIE) Act to establish in-person work requirements for employees of federal agencies. The bill would also direct federal agencies to make efficient use of their office space.
“It’s past time that employees of federal agencies work in person. Right now, bureaucrats are wasting office space and Americans’ tax dollars. The ROOMIE Act would save money by demanding efficiency and hard work from federal employees,” said Kennedy.
The ROOMIE Act would:
- Require each federal agency to make sure that at least 80% of its employees work in-person from Monday through Friday of each week.
- Direct federal agencies to use at least 60% of their office space or give up that space so that a private business could purchase or re-lease it for more efficient purposes.
Background:
- A review by the Government Accountability Office found that 17 federal agencies used, on average, 25% or less of the office space they owned or leased.
- The General Services Administration (GSA) found that, when federal agencies underutilize government buildings, the buildings may pose health risks. In several federally controlled buildings, GSA found legionella, a bacterium that can cause infections and death. Legionella can spread easily when water is stagnant because remote workers have left buildings largely unoccupied.
The full bill text is available here.
