Kennedy announces $13 million in Hurricanes Ida, Delta aid for St. James Parish, Oakdale, Westwego
Jan 06 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $13,030,261 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricanes Ida and Delta wreaked havoc on Louisianians’ communities. This $13 million will help cover costs for building repairs in Westwego, Oakdale and St. James Parish,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $7,984,298 to the Westwego Housing Authority for permanent repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $3,296,730 to the Housing Authority for the city of Oakdale for permanent repairs as a result of Hurricane Delta.
- $1,749,233 to the St. James Parish Fire Station Building for permanent repairs as a result to Hurricane Ida.
Kennedy demands answers about National Center for Medical Intelligence’s Covid-19 origin investigation
Jan 06 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) wrote the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Inspector General Jeremy Kirkland regarding the results of the National Center for Medical Intelligence’s (NCMI) study into the origins of Covid-19. The senator is seeking answers about whether or not the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) determined that the NCMI appropriately included the results of its study in briefings to the president and policy makers.
“In May of 2020 NCMI’s research into Covid-19’s origins was outlined in a working paper from NCMI scientists Commander Jean-Paul Chretien and Dr. Greg Cutlip. This working paper concluded that there was insufficient evidence to discount Covid-19’s creation in a laboratory,” Kennedy wrote.
“However, recent reporting has stated that NCMI’s research was not included in reports given to President Biden. The same reporting stated that Inspector General’s office opened an inquiry to determine whether NCMI’s conclusion was mishandled or suppressed. The results of this inquiry have not been made public,” he continued.
“Given the pandemic’s implications for public health, national security, and global stability[,] it is imperative to ensure all pertinent intelligence was accurately conveyed to senior policy makers. This OIG inquiry is critical in making this determination,” the senator concluded.
Kennedy asked the OIG to provide answers about whether the office completed its inquiry into the NCMI’s handling of the study, and if results from any of NCMI’s studies—or any other report that concluded that Covid-19 was manipulated in a laboratory—was mishandled or suppressed in reports to President Biden or other policy makers.
The full letter is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $19,236,232 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Ida struck southeast Louisiana hard, leaving communities in Terrebonne and St. James Parishes devastated. This $19.2 million will help cover important levee and housing repairs for our state,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $17,992,498 to the Terrebonne Parish and Conservation District for levee repairs resulting from Hurricane Ida.
- $1,243,734 to the St. James Parish Housing Authority for housing building repairs resulting from Hurricane Ida.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Julia Letlow (R-La.) and Troy Carter (D-La.) in urging President Biden to expedite Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s request for an emergency declaration in order to swiftly provide assistance to local businesses and federal support to the state.
“We respectfully request expedited approval of Governor Jeff Landry’s request for an emergency declaration for the State of Louisiana under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act,” the lawmakers wrote.
“This terrorist attack caused significant harm to our visitors and residents, disrupted essential services, and overwhelmed local and state resources. The attack occurred while the city was hosting and preparing for several large-scale events, including the Sugar Bowl and related events during the week of New Year’s Day, as well as Super Bowl LIX and the annual Carnival season in the coming weeks,” they continued.
The delegation explained that the attack resulted in the deaths of at least 14 victims, numerous injuries and damage to public and private property. The attack also affected key infrastructure, including major transportation routes and emergency services in the downtown area of New Orleans.
In addition, the lawmakers wrote a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman to request disaster loans for New Orleans’ small businesses.
“SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans would provide these businesses with much-needed financial relief, enabling them to cover operating expenses, repair damages, and stabilize their operations during this difficult time. These loans are critical to preserving an economic lifeline in New Orleans. We urge the SBA to swiftly grant this declaration and extend support to French Quarter and downtown New Orleans businesses,” the lawmakers said.
The full letter requesting an emergency declaration is here.
The full letter to the Small Business Administration is here.
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
NEW ORLEANS – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) made the following statements surrounding the attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans today:
“For those people who don't believe in objective evil, all you have to do is look at what happened in our city early this morning.”
“I'm here because these are my people. I'm here because these are my people's friends. I'm here because there are a lot of Louisianians that are scared tonight. I don't want them to be. There's a lot of information going around. Some of it is actually true. Some of it isn't.
“The federal government is now in charge of this investigation. By that, I mean the White House, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. . . . I did talk to the Secretary of Homeland Security a little while ago, and I told him that—with all the respect I could muster—that we expect to put the full force and resources of the federal government behind this investigation.”
“Here's what I want to ask from the federal government: Catch these people. Catch these people, and then tell the American people the truth. . . . After we get to the bottom of this, they need to tell the American people the truth, and the people of New Orleans the truth, and the people of America the truth.”
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
Kennedy statement on Pres. Jimmy Carter
Dec 29 2024
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement on the passing of former president Jimmy Carter:
“Becky and I extend our deepest condolences to the entire Carter family.
“We will continue to remember President Carter for his service, and we join all Americans in keeping his loved ones in our prayers tonight.”
View Kennedy’s remarks here.
WASHINGTON – The Senate has passed the Social Security Fairness Act, a bill that Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) cosponsored. The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
The Social Security Fairness Act repeals two provisions in the law that reduce the Social Security benefits for public servants and workers who receive certain pensions.
“In effect, two pieces of our law—the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset—have been penalizing public servants for working hard to earn their pensions. The good news is that the Senate just passed a bill called the Social Security Fairness Act, which I’ve been working to pass in the Senate since 2017. Our bill is going to make sure that Louisianians who receive a pension from their work in public service can collect their full Social Security benefits in retirement,” explained Kennedy.
The Windfall Elimination Provision cuts the Social Security benefits that retirees or disabled workers get if they ever worked in a job that contributed to a pension instead of Social Security. As a result, Louisianians who worked in public service for part of their careers see their Social Security benefits shrink compared to workers who spent their whole careers in the private sector.
The Government Pension Offset affects the public servants who worked in jobs that contributed to pensions instead of Social Security but are married to someone who paid into Social Security. The Government Pension Offset currently axes two-thirds—67%—of the value of that public servant’s pension from the Social Security spousal or survivor benefits that the public servant receives.
For example, if a widowed police officer receives a monthly civil service pension of $3,000, then two-thirds of that total payment—$2,000—would be deducted from the Social Security survivor benefits that he receives because his late wife paid into Social Security.
“I worked to kill these two unfair provisions back when I was state treasurer of Louisiana, and I’ve worked for seven years, almost eight years, as a U.S. Senator to get rid of them. Why? Because I wanted to make sure that Louisianians who received the pension from their work in public service could collect their full Social Security benefits in retirement—no tricky cuts that would hurt them and their families,” Kennedy said.
“Folks, these folks I've been talking about, they didn't go into public service to get rich. We shouldn't punish these good people for their public service by making them poorer—especially when some of my colleagues here in Washington have been obsessed— obsessed!—with giving taxpayer dollars to people who are in our country illegally,” he concluded.
Kennedy has cosponsored the Social Security Fairness Act in every Congress since he was elected to the Senate.
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today requested unanimous support to pass his bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program to September 30, 2025. Senators blocked his effort.
“The National Flood Insurance Program, as I think most people know, isn’t perfect, but it’s important. . . . If you traveled to Grand Isle or Port Fourchon in my state, you would see that these are middle-class Americans that depend on the National Flood Insurance Program,” said Kennedy.
Of the more than 4 million Americans nationwide who rely on the NFIP to protect their businesses and homes, more than 400,000 are Louisianians.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes $536.3 million for Louisiana military projects.
“This year’s defense bill is investing heavily in our national defense because America’s strength is the best way to deter our enemies. Louisiana is home to patriots who produce the ships and train the troops that keep the homeland safe. That’s why I made sure that more than $530 million in defense investments could head to our communities very soon,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy supported authorizing the following:
- $200 million to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in Belle Chasse, La. for the purchase of two KC-130J aircrafts.
- $116 million to the Fort Johnson Army Base in Vernon Parish for the construction of a Joint Operations Center.
- $105 million to the Fort Johnson Army Base to build new housing for troops.
- $33 million to the National Guard Readiness Center in Lafayette, La. for administrative, training and material storage spaces.
- $30 million to the U.S. Navy to purchase Yard, Repair, Berthing, Messing (YRBM) vessels, some of which are produced by Conrad Shipyards in Morgan City, La. YRBMs house sailors while their ships are being repaired.
- $22 million to the Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish to improve and expand its day care facility.
- $12 million to the U.S. Navy for the purchase of 40-foot patrol boats, many of which are made by Metal Shark Boats in Jeanerette, La.
- $5.7 million to the U.S. Navy for the purchase of a ship-to-shore connector vessel, many of which are made by Textron in Slidell, La.
This year’s NDAA also helps ensure that the sole maker of large, medium-speed marine diesel engines, Fairbanks Morse, which has operations in Shreveport, La., continues to operate and provide Louisiana jobs.
The bill also:
- Bans transgender medical treatments for service members’ children.
- Provides a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% pay raise for all other service members.
- Requires that the Department of Defense partners with Israel to beat back Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations by developing technology and anti-tunnel cooperation programs.
WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 to authorize funding for Louisiana priorities that Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) championed. The bill now moves to the president’s desk.
“Louisiana depends on crucial water projects to help keep our communities safe. This year’s WRDA will ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers can complete projects quickly and efficiently,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy helped secure a provision into this year’s WRDA that would ensure Louisiana does not pay interest on the construction costs of the Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS). The provision could save Louisiana millions of dollars.
The senator also helped secure the following wins, which would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to:
- Make channel improvements to Mile Branch in Covington, La. as part of the St. Tammany Flood Risk Management Project.
- Install closure gates in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin as part of the Lake Pontchartrain Storm Surge Reduction Project.
- Expand the Alexandria to the Gulf Project to address flood damage in the region.
- Raise levees to keep Louisianians’ communities safe from flood waters.
- Make improvements to the Pointe Celeste Pump Station in Plaquemines Parish.
- Investigate geotechnical data on the Larose and Golden Meadow levee to reduce the cost of flood control design throughout coastal Louisiana.
- Operate and restore all features of the West Bank and Vicinity, New Orleans and Louisiana Hurricane Protection Project.
- Connect the Morganza to the Gulf and Upper Barataria Basin Projects to protect the area from storm surge and backwater flooding.
- Extend the Non-Federal Project Implementation Pilot Program to 2030 so that the Corps can work with local partners to complete flood protection projects quickly and efficiently.
- Prioritize the engineering and designing of the Upper Barataria Risk Reduction System.
- Authorize Port Fourchon to study the deepening of federal water channels to more than 30 feet so that large vessels can access the port.
- Allow for more dredging as part of the Port Fourchon Belle Pass Deepening Project so that the port becomes deep enough for large ships.
- Modify the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project to include the lower 63 miles of the east bank of the Ouachita River Levee System.
This year’s WRDA also includes a provision that directs the Comptroller General to conduct a Government Accountability Office study on the Army Corps’ policies in order to prevent delays in water resource projects.
