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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson this week asking him to waive regulations that threaten to severely limit the impact of the duplications of benefits’ fix just passed by Congress.

More than 10,000 people received disaster loans from the Small Business Administration following the 2016 flooding in Louisiana.  Because of low-to-moderate income criteria in the state’s disaster recovery plan, HUD expects only 22% of homeowners to be freed from duplication of benefits’ regulations that prevent them from using federal grants to repay their SBA loans.

“We fixed part of the problem.  Now we need HUD’s help in fixing the rest of the problem,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Secretary Carson came to Louisiana and saw the devastation that the 2016 flooding caused.  I’m confident that he can help us overcome the limitations put in place by the state’s plan.  Every single homeowner impacted by the flooding deserves this assistance to recover and rebuild.”

 

 

October 3, 2018

 

The Honorable Benjamin Carson

Office of the Secretary

Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 7th St. SW

Washington, D.C. 20410

 

Dear Secretary Carson:

 

            I write to you today regarding the ongoing recovery from the historic flooding that devastated Louisiana in 2016 and urge you to waive low-to-moderate income (LMI) criteria associated with Congress’ recently-passed lifting of duplication of benefits policy for disaster recovery.

As you are aware, Congress passed legislation to eliminate federal duplication of benefits restrictions directly affecting homeowners approved for or having drawn down SBA disaster loans as they seek to rebuild. Soon, this legislation will be signed into law by President Trump. Once signed, this legislation will permit homeowners who qualified for SBA loans but were prohibited from seeking Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to either repay their SBA disaster loans with a grant or use it to supplement assistance for recovery purposes. 

The Small Businesses Administration (SBA) Office of Disaster Assistance has confirmed that there are 10,947 active disaster loans in Louisiana.  I am concerned that applying LMI rules through the State of Louisiana’s plan will significantly limit the number of loans eligible to receive CDBG-DR funds. Furthermore, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials estimate that only 22% of all active loans, or about 2,408 Louisianians, will be eligible for additional assistance under the duplication of benefits fix.  Waiving the LMI criteria would ensure that more Louisiana families qualify and receive relief under the new provisions. I believe, through the generosity of the American taxpayer, the Restore Louisiana program has more than enough funding to help everyone adversely impacted by duplication of benefits policy in the state.    

 

I am reassured that after nearly two years of work on this particular issue with you and the Trump Administration, we are close to finally cutting this bureaucratic red-tape that has plagued the recovery efforts of families and communities in Louisiana.  Thank you for all of your leadership and continued work on important issues affecting the United States of America.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

John Kennedy

United States Senator

 

 

 

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‘Senate addresses duplication of benefits, school districts’ penalty’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U. S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) voted today in favor of two major solutions for victims of the 2016 Louisiana flooding.  These solutions, which were attached to H.R. 302, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018, include resolutions to the duplication of benefits issue for homeowners.

Duplication of Benefits: “Under the current rules, 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.  We are essentially punishing people for being diligent about rebuilding their homes after a disaster, and enough was enough.  I am hopeful that this legislation will help thousands of families who are still trying to recover from the flood.  Sen. Cassidy deserves credit for taking the lead on this issue and bringing it over the finish line.”

Much-Needed Help for Flooded Schools: “The 2016 flooding was unprecedented and hit schools in Livingston, East Baton Rouge, and Ascension especially hard.  School districts need to focus on students, not on battling bureaucracy.  This solution ensures that districts won’t be penalized for every single structure that flooded.  Instead, they'll only have to pay it one time, and one time only.  They'll take a lick and be able to move on.”

Also included in the FAA Reauthorization Act, was Sens. Kennedy and Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.)’s bill, the Welfare of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) Act.  Their provision will make it illegal for anyone to place a live animal in an overhead storage compartment of an aircraft.

 

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‘If you want to make banking a red versus blue issue, then you don’t need to do business with the federal government.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the No Red and Blue Banks Act to prohibit the federal government from giving contracts to banks that discriminate against lawful businesses based solely on social policy considerations.  This legislation will ensure that banks like Citigroup and Bank of America, which enacted policies infringing on the Second Amendment rights of businesses, will not be awarded lucrative federal government contracts.  

On March 22, Citigroup issued a press release detailing how it will penalize banking clients who follow federal, state and local laws.  Citigroup’s new policy tells businesses what kind of firearms and accessories they can stock in their stores, and who they can sell them to.  On April 10, Bank of America announced that it would no longer loan money to businesses that manufacture semi-automatic rifles.  Sen. Kennedy has previously made remarks on the Senate floor about this important issue.

Click here or the photo below to watch Sen. Kennedy’s remarks in the Senate Banking Committee today:

Constitutionally Offensive: “Targeting firearms owners and business owners is not only an affront to responsible gun owners across this country; it’s a threat to the sanctity of our Constitution and the Second Amendment.”

Red Banks and Blue Banks: “Citigroup and Bank of America have decided to make banking a red versus blue issue by trampling on the Second Amendment rights of small business owners.  And if additional big consumer banks come out with similar anti-gun policies, it will get harder and harder for businesses in Louisiana and elsewhere to find banking services.  We’ll have red banks and blue banks.”

Banks Should not be Rewarded for Discriminating: “I want to make sure that the federal government isn’t rewarding this behavior with even more taxpayer dollars.  I have already petitioned the General Services Administration to cancel the federal government’s $700 billion contract with Citigroup.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, announced today that President Donald Trump signed H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act and Continuing Appropriations Act, into law on Friday.  This legislation contains four amendments authored by Sen. Kennedy, including a historic 66% increase in funding for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

“It is absolutely tragic that suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. Resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provide help and hope to those who don’t know where else to turn during a dark time,” said Sen. Kennedy. “In Louisiana alone, the suicide rate has risen by 29% from 1999 to 2016. I am very proud to lead this effort, and I will continue do what I can to uplift and support those who rely on this lifeline for help.”  

In addition to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline funding, Sen. Kennedy authored three more amendments that were signed into law:

  • S. Amdt. 3881, which reduces fraud and waste in the Department of Labor by implementing a plan to reduce improper payments.
  • S. Amdt. 3880, which prohibits awarding federal contracts to companies that have unpaid federal taxes.
  • S. Amdt. 3727, which bans using taxpayer dollars for monetary assistance to Iran.

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $6,392,000 to the Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program in New Orleans.
 
“Investment in transportation infrastructure is so important to the United States and especially in Louisiana,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This grant will allow the city of New Orleans to purchase new buses, replace old ones and make repairs to any buses or facilities that need to be rehabilitated. This funding will help the city upgrade its public bus system, which will also improve the daily commutes for many New Orleans residents.”
 

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Members of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) staff will host an informational meeting Saturday in Mandeville for prospective applicants to the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Mandeville High School auditorium, 1 Skipper Drive, in Mandeville.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

It is absolutely free to attend Academy Day.  Family members can accompany prospective applicants to the event.

“I’m honored that so many people want to serve our great country.  They make Louisiana proud,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Academy Day is an opportunity to find out more about attending the finest academies in the U.S.  You can ask 150 questions if you want.”

 

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“Congress needs to stop playing games; we need to reform the National Flood Insurance Program immediately”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) asked Congress to finally get down to the business of creating a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that middle-class families can afford.  Sen. Kennedy previously introduced comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to reform the NFIP.  

Click here or the photo below to watch Sen. Kennedy’s full remarks:

 

Affordable Flood Insurance: “Weathering a hurricane is difficult enough without the added burden of trying to do it without insurance.  And a National Flood Insurance Program isn’t doing its job if it’s so expensive people can’t afford to buy it.  Unfortunately, that’s precisely what has happened in North and South Carolina.”

What Gives?: “Why don’t people have flood insurance?  Because the costs are out of control and middle-class families have little choice but to just roll the dice.  Because Congress keeps playing games and people don’t have faith that the NFIP will be around to pay off.  Because one or two members of Congress want to get a soundbite more than they want to help ordinary Americans protect their property.  And if those members want to reform the program because they want to save the government money, they’re going about it the wrong way.”

What It’s All About: “Recovering from a natural disaster is about more than putting up drywall: It’s about our communities coming back safer, stronger and better prepared.  The NFIP is an indispensable part of that effort to rebuild.  But a flood insurance program isn’t useful if it’s too complicated to understand, or if it allows bad actors to take from hardworking families.  We need rules that make sense, government websites that a normal person can navigate, quicker decisions by bureaucrats and a faster process to get disaster dollars to the folks who need them. Most importantly, though, people need to be able to afford buy a policy in the first place.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Members of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) staff will host an informational meeting Saturday in Bossier City for prospective applicants to the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Bossier Parish Community College’s BPCC Theatre – Building C, 6220 East Texas St., in Bossier City.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

It is absolutely free to attend Academy Day.  Family members can accompany prospective applicants to the event.

“I’m honored that so many people want to serve our great country.  They make Louisiana proud,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Academy Day is an opportunity to find out more about attending the finest academies in the U.S.  You can ask 150 questions if you want.”

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Louisiana artists Trace Adkins, Jordan Davis and Kenny Wayne Shepherd applauded the passage of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) legislation that fixes a loophole in federal copyright laws for sound recordings made before Feb. 15, 1972.

The Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society Act, also known as the CLASSICS Act, will help close a flawed loophole that leaves some of our most cherished artists out of the federal copyright system.

Currently, federal copyright law does not adequately protect all sound recordings.  This has resulted in confusion, litigation and an unfair playing field for iconic artists in Louisiana and across the U.S.  The CLASSICS Act would acknowledge these artists’ contributions by compensating them when digital radio services use their recordings.  The act would bring federal law up to speed with the modern age of music platforms.

“Artists who made music, and performed, before February 15, 1972, continue to play a significant role in our country’s culture,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “My generation grew up listening to these artists’ work, and generations of musicians have been inspired by their talent.  I am proud that the CLASSICS Act passed with broad bipartisan support.  These talented musicians deserve recognition and compensation for their immeasurable contributions.”

“This is a momentous day for recording artists and songwriters and makes the laws much fairer for all of us, including the classic artists who have influenced those of us working today, as well as new songwriters and artists who deserve a future.  We appreciate the work of the Senators who helped get this bill passed unanimously in the Senate,” said Sarepta native Trace Adkins.

“Passage of this legislation will make a real difference in the lives of songwriters and recording artists,” said Shreveport native Jordan Davis.  “It creates a more fair environment for music creators who have been struggling under outdated laws for the digital era. We are thankful to all of the Senators and members of Congress who have listened to our struggles over the past few years and championed our cause.  The unanimous passage of this bill in the Senate shows what the unifying power of music can do!” 

“As a recording artist for the last 25 years, I feel strongly that all Artists should be fairly compensated regardless of the year of their copyrights.  Revenue from all digital audio transmissions should be paid to artists and not exclude those who wrote the music before 1972 that built the foundation of rock and roll,” said Shreveport native Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that FEMA awarded a $15,694,059 grant to the Livingston Parish School Board to fund repairs to nine academic buildings and facilities at Southside Junior High School.

“The 2016 flooding is still impacting the daily lives of so many people in south Louisiana,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Grants like this from FEMA will help us rebuild, and it will allow students to get back into permanent classrooms and brand new school facilities.”

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