WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced today that the Livingston Parish School Board will receive $7.4 million in FEMA funds to help recover from the devastating floods of 2016.

“This funding will help replace the contents at 17 schools in Livingston Parish.  Livingston Parish was one of the hardest hit by the unexpected 2016 flooding.  This money will go a long way toward helping Livingston Parish’s schools recover and put this devastating event in the rearview mirror,” said Sen. Kennedy.

“Livingston Parish Public Schools appreciates the efforts of our congressional delegation in their work with FEMA to quickly reimburse monies spent by our school system to recover from the Great Flood of 2016,” said Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Rick Wentzel. 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today called for a thorough investigation into whether taxpayer dollars were wasted because of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ sloppy oversight of the Medicaid program.  A recent audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office determined that it’s impossible for DHH to know whether millions of dollars in taxpayer money were improperly spent.

“Louisiana’s chief auditor, who is nonpartisan and calls it like he sees it, described DHH’s management of the Medicaid program as completely willy-nilly.  It’s embarrassing,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Medicaid consumes nearly half the state budget. I don’t think it’s a matter of whether taxpayer dollars were wasted, it’s a matter of how many were wasted because of DHH’s incompetence.   Someone – preferably not DHH – needs to account for every single penny and demand repayment of any that was misspent.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced today that he has signed on to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) bill, S.3041, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018.  This legislation addresses the duplication of benefits’ problem for the 2016 flood victims, improves mitigation activities and ensures that multi-structure campuses such as schools and hospitals only have to meet one $500,000 deductible.  The duplication of benefits’ fix is especially important to the victims of the historic 2016 floods in Louisiana who are still struggling to rebuild.

Sen. Kennedy also has separate legislation S.2547, the Consolidating Losses Associated to Severe Storms Act of 2018 (CLASS Act), to relieve the financial stress that Louisiana school districts are suffering because of the 2016 floods.  S.3041 builds on Sen. Kennedy’s previous efforts to spare school districts from millions of dollars in penalties on flood-damaged buildings.

“Under the current rules, we are essentially punishing people for being diligent about rebuilding their homes after a disaster, and that has to stop.  This legislation makes some long-awaited, common sense reforms to our disaster recovery programs, including duplication of benefits,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Currently, the federal government treats a loan from the Small Business Administration like a disaster benefit which then often prevents people from qualifying for disaster grants down the road.  I am proud to be a part of this legislation that helps Louisiana families recover from the 2016 floods.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a Senate Farm Bill today that contains U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) amendment to prevent the National Flood Insurance Program from expiring in the middle of hurricane season.  H.R.2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the Senate Farm Bill, extends the program for six months.  The Senate passed the Farm Bill on an 86-11 vote.

The bill also protects Louisiana sugar cane farmers by keeping tariff-rate quotas on imports and preventing foreign countries from flooding the market with their inferior product.  The American Sugar Cane League estimates that Louisiana sugar cane production employs 17,000 people and generates 13 million tons of cane a year.

“I’m grateful that the Senate included my amendment, ensuring that the National Flood Insurance Program will continue to protect families during hurricane season.  We can’t abandon Louisiana families who faithfully pay their premiums every year,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “I also cannot emphasize enough how much this bill does for our sugar cane farmers.  Generations of families have farmed sugar cane in Louisiana.  That is a legacy we need to protect from foreign producers trying to flood the market.”

Other highlights included in the Farm Bill for Louisiana:

• Allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund projects that will deploy high-speed broadband in rural America, including Louisiana.
• Continues to fund programs that help cotton farmers and textile manufacturers.
• Reauthorizes the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program, which promotes clean source water in rural communities.  The plans identify voluntary actions that farmers and ranchers can do to prevent source water pollution.

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