‘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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“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. – 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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