Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Introduces Bipartisan Veterans Bill with Sens. Durbin (D-Ill.) and Duckworth (D-Ill.)
Apr 17 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced bipartisan legislation today to help expand economic opportunity for military veterans who are small business owners. The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act would allow veterans to acquire equipment and property that the federal government no longer has a use for by adding them to the list of eligible recipients for federal surplus property. The list already includes women and minority small business owners as well as Veterans Service Organizations.
“Our nation’s heroes deserve every bit of support we can give when they return home from their service,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This bill empowers veteran entrepreneurs by increasing their access to affordable equipment and property. Helping veterans’ small businesses succeed will help create jobs and grow our economy. I will continue to work for the men and women who have devoted their lives to serve and protect our country.”
“When our veterans return home from their service, they deserve our full support as they transition back into civilian life, and that includes supporting their efforts to build and manage a small business,” said Sen. Duckworth. “This bill will help veteran-owned businesses expand their operations, reduce costs, and create jobs across Illinois and around the country. Our nation should be doing much more to help our veterans and I’ll be working with Senators Kennedy and Durbin and other members on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation.”
“Part of honoring the sacrifice our nation’s veterans have made means supporting them when they return home,” said Sen. Durbin. “That is why I am proud to join Senators Tammy Duckworth and John Kennedy in introducing the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, which would encourage small business growth and give veterans opportunities to succeed at home.”
The General Services Administration (GSA) has overseen distribution of federal surplus property for 15 years in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and State Agencies for Surplus Property (SASP). When there is no federal need for excess property, SASPs disburse the property to eligible recipients who otherwise may have been unable to acquire it. This legislation is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the National Association of State Agencies for Surplus Property (NASASP).
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Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Issues Statement on the Passing of Former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush
Apr 17 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R. La) issued the following statement about the passing of former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush:
“Barbara Bush was an inspiring and influential First Lady. Becky and I are saddened by her passing, but we know that she left a powerful legacy. Mrs. Bush helped champion countless humanitarian causes over the course of her life and touched the lives of millions around the world,” said Sen. Kennedy. “It was, however, her work with literacy that distinguished her long philanthropic career. Hopefully, her goal of universal literacy will be realized in the near future. In recognition of her dream, I will ask that books from the Library of Congress be donated to a public school in Louisiana in her honor.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today on the strike against Syria:
“The of chemical weapons is immoral and a violation of international law. The United States told Syria not to do it anymore and Syria did, so we responded on behalf of all civilized nations. I congratulate President Trump, and I thank our allies the United Kingdom and France for joining with us. Our strikes were restrained and strategic; they targeted only Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons and its manufacturing facilities. The strikes targeted neither Russia nor Iran. I hope Russia and Iran will change their minds and join with the United States and the world in condemning Assad’s butchery. The only way for America to remain safe in a dangerous world is to remain strong and use our military might only when we have to. At the same time, we have to act in a way such that our friends will trust us and our enemies will respect us. I believe President Trump, Prime Minister May and President Macron have done that.”
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Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Announces More Than $4 Million In FEMA Grants For East Baton Rouge School Board
Apr 13 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R. La) announced more than $4 million in FEMA grants today to help the East Baton Rouge School Board recover from the devastating floods in 2016. Prescott Middle School is receiving $2.18 million to permanently repair seven buildings that were damaged in the 2016 floods. Glen Oaks High School is getting $1.93 million to repair and renovate four buildings that were affected by the flood.
“These funds will go a long way toward rebuilding and updating our schools after the 2016 flooding,” said Sen. Kennedy. “The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shouldn’t have to shoulder these costs. They need to invest in educating students and preparing them for bright futures.”
“We appreciate the ongoing support and advocacy of Sen. John Kennedy and his role in securing FEMA funding to complete post-flood repairs at Prescott Middle and Glen Oaks High Schools,” said East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Supt. Warren Drake. “Sen. Kennedy’s efforts have been vital in assuring the return of all students to a safe and restored learning environment.”
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Sens. Kennedy and Klobuchar to Introduce Legislation to Protect Privacy of Consumers’ Online Data
Apr 12 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced today that they will introduce legislation to protect the privacy of consumers’ online data by improving transparency, strengthening consumers’ recourse options when a breach of data occurs, and ensuring companies are compliant with privacy policies that protect consumers. Specifically, the proposed legislation will:
- Give consumers the right to opt out and keep their information private by disabling data tracking and collection,
- Provide users greater access to and control over their data,
- Require terms of service agreements to be in plain language,
- Ensure users have the ability to see what information about them has already been collected and shared,
- Mandate that users be notified of a breach of their information within 72 hours,
- Offer remedies for users when a breach occurs,
- Require that online platforms have a privacy program in place.
Social media and other online platforms routinely capture users’ behavior and personal information, which is then used to help advertisers or other third parties target those users. Senators Kennedy and Klobuchar’s legislation would protect the privacy of consumers’ online data.
“The data breach at Facebook showed the world that the digital promised land is not all milk and honey. We’ve discovered some impurities in the punch bowl,” Senator Kennedy said. “I don’t want to regulate Facebook half to death, but there are things that need to be changed. Our bill will help protect Americans’ online data fingerprint.”
“Social media and other online companies are profiting off the data of Americans—their online behavior, personal messages, contact and personal information, and more—all while leaving consumers in the dark,” Senator Klobuchar said. “Consumers have the right to know if their personal information is being sold and they have the right to easily see what data has already been sold or distributed. And most importantly, consumers should have the right to keep their information private, be alerted when a data breach has occurred, and be informed of the remedies available to them when their personal information is compromised. The digital space can’t keep operating like the Wild Wild West at the expense of our privacy.”
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WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), and Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation in the Senate (S. 2652) and House to award Washington state native, ALS champion, and former New Orleans Saints star Steve Gleason with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his work through the Gleason Initiative Foundation to provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with the assistance they need to thrive, his advocacy for federal legislation ensuring people living with diseases such as ALS have access to speech generating devices, and his leadership in bringing together the single largest coordinated and collaborative ALS research project in the world.
“Steve Gleason is a national hero, and I’m proud to help introduce this legislation to award him the Congressional Gold Medal. He was an outstanding athlete. Saints fans will always remember his seven spectacular seasons with the team,” said Sen. Kennedy. “But it has been Steve’s work off the field that has truly distinguished him. Since his diagnosis, Steve has done an incalculable amount of work to spread awareness for ALS. He has been a beacon of hope and has been the definition of courage for all touched by this disease. I can think of no better way to honor him.”
“Steve Gleason was a hero for Saints fans and now he is a hero for all Americans as he finds hope and meaning in overcoming disability and creating greater opportunity for others who are disabled,” said Dr. Cassidy.
“Few people make Washington state as proud as Steve Gleason, a Spokane native and WSU standout who not only excelled on the field, but who has gone on to make his biggest impact as a tireless advocate in the health world,” said Sen. Murray. “Together with his wife, mother, and everyone at their foundation, Steve has changed countless lives for the better and this legislation symbolizes the strong support Steve and Team Gleason have in the United States Congress.”
“Steve, a Spokane native, is a hero to me and to so many of us in Eastern Washington,” said Rep. Rodgers. “As a tireless advocate for those with ALS and other degenerative diseases, Steve has helped usher legislation through Congress to permanently provide access to important speech-generating devices for those who’ve lost their ability to communicate. He has chosen to fight back against ALS, and to undergo this very personal battle in the public eye to bring awareness to this disease and the people who it impacts on a daily basis. That’s why I’m proud to join in this effort to recognize Steve with the Congressional Gold Medal.”
“Steve Gleason is not just a beacon of hope in New Orleans, but across the country,” said Rep. Richmond. “His work on the field lifted the hearts of Saints fans, but his work off the field is actually improving lives. Steve is doing remarkable work and is truly an inspiration. Awarding him a Congressional Gold Medal would be the best way to honor him.”
“Just like the New Orleans Saints were an inspiration to the city when they returned to the Dome after Hurricane Katrina, Steve Gleason has been a hero in his own right for the city of New Orleans,” said Whip Scalise. “His spirit and determination serve as an inspiration to us all.”
“We strongly support the nomination of Steve Gleason for a Congressional Gold Medal,” said ALS Association President and CEO Calaneet Balas. “Steve’s efforts to successfully secure access to speech-generating devices was critical to all those who have ALS. Speech-generating devices aren’t a luxury for people with diseases like ALS - they’re a lifeline. These devices allow people living with ALS to communicate with healthcare professionals, loved ones, and their communities. We encourage Congress to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Steve Gleason – he is a national hero.”
“Steve Gleason is so deserving of this honor. He has inspired and challenged all of us to push the boundaries of technology to empower people with disabilities, even as he has waged his own battle against ALS,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith. “Steve is a huge reason we’ve pursued eye control solutions for Windows and wheelchairs, giving people with limited speech and movement independence through technology.”
“On behalf of the New Orleans Saints we extend our most sincere support for awarding Steve Gleason with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Saints Owner Gayle Benson. “Along with his wife, Michel, and everyone at Team Gleason, they are courageously confronting ALS with an unwavering determination, unselfishly providing countless afflicted people with the latest in technology and services. Steve is leaving a truly indelible mark in American history.”
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. Before a medal is awarded, the legislation must be passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the president.
Previous recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal include Orville and Wilbur Wright, Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, Irving Berlin, Robert Frost, Bob Hope, Walt Disney, Roberto Clemente, Sir Winston Churchill, John Wayne, the 1980 U.S. Summer Olympic Team, Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Ruth and Billy Graham, Frank Sinatra, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus.
The legislation states in part:
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Stephen “Steve” Gleason was born March 19, 1977, in Spokane, Washington to Mike and Gail Gleason.
(2) Steve attended Gonzaga Preparatory School for high school where he excelled as both a football and baseball player.
(3) In 1995, Steve enrolled at Washington State University where he was a 2-sport athlete for the baseball and football teams and helped the Cougars football team advance to the 1997 Rose Bowl.
(4) In 2000, Steve signed a professional football contract with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League as an undrafted free agent but later joined the New Orleans Saints in November of that same season.
(5) Steve would go on to play 7 more seasons as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
(6) Steve will always be remembered for his blocked punt on September 25, 2006, against the Atlanta Falcons, the night the Louisiana Superdome reopened for the first time after Hurricane Katrina in a game the Saints would win 23 to 3.
(7) In January, 2011 Steve was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, considered a terminal neuro-muscular disease.
(8) Following his diagnosis, Steve, with the loving support of his wife, Michel, began a mission to show that patients can not only live but thrive after a diagnosis of ALS and established The Gleason Initiative Foundation also known simply as “Team Gleason”.
(9) At the time of his diagnosis, however, Steve said there will be “No White Flags”, which has become the mantra of Team Gleason.
(10) The Gleason Initiative Foundation helps provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with leading edge technology, equipment and services, raises global awareness about ALS to find solutions and an end to the disease, and has helped hundreds of people with ALS experience life adventures they never thought possible after their diagnosis.
(11) Steve’s story and mission have been told by the NFL Network, ESPN, HBO, ABC, CBS, CNN, and many local media outlets, as well as in a 2016 documentary titled “Gleason”, which was heralded at the Sundance Film Festival and premiered across the country with Variety calling the production “an emotional powerhouse”. The documentary won several awards, including the 2016 Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary.
(12) Steve was named 1 of 2 Sports Illustrated’s Inspirations of the Year in 2014, has been a keynote speaker for Microsoft and at 2 United Nations sponsored Social Innovation Summits, and received the 2015 George S. Halas Courage Award, given to a NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
(13) Steve helped advocate for the Steve Gleason Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–40; 129 Stat. 441), and the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act of 2017, H.R. 2465, 115th Congress (2017), which permanently ensures people living with diseases such ALS have access to speech generating devices regardless of their setting, whether at home or a healthcare institution.
(14) In 2014, Steve and Team Gleason hosted a global summit to bring together researchers, patients, caregivers, and all ALS stakeholders to create a plan to ultimately end ALS. That summit resulted in the single largest coordinated and collaborative ALS research project in the world, Answer ALS, which brings together nearly two dozen research institutions, 1,000 patients and 20,000,000,000,000 data points that are important to the project and that will define the unknown pathways that will lead to treatments or finally a cure.
(15) In 2015, Steve and Microsoft worked together to create a method for people who are completely paralyzed to navigate their power wheelchairs with their eyes. Today, Steve, Microsoft and all wheelchair manufacturers are working collaboratively to make it widely available to all who need this technology. In addition, Microsoft has also made eye tracking technology part of all Windows 10 products across the globe.
(16) In 2011, 10 months after his diagnosis, Steve and Michel made their most significant accomplishment, becoming parents to their son Rivers.
(17) Steve and Michel Gleason continue to fight to find a solution for ALS so they can share many years together and as parents to Rivers.
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Sen. Kennedy Requests Classified Briefing For Members of Congress On Recent Chemical Attack In Syria
Apr 11 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) is requesting a classified hearing for members of Congress on this past weekend’s chemical attack near Damascus, Syria. Specifically, Sen. Kennedy wants information on who is responsible and the likely impact for the region if U.S. forces leave Syria. Sen. Kennedy’s letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is below.
“The images of children struggling to breathe after the chemical attack are unconscionable. Whoever did this is a human butcher,” said Sen. Kennedy. “We need answers to fully understand who is responsible for the attack. We can’t let this go unanswered. If we do, our friends won’t trust us and our enemies won’t respect us.”
April 10, 2018
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
S-230 Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Leader McConnell,
I write today to respectfully request a classified briefing on the recent violence in Syria. Media reports published over the weekend indicate at least 42 people are dead after a chemical attack near Damascus. This attack and other similar chemical attacks in the region are of grave concern.
In order to fully understand the ongoing situation, a classified briefing would help members understand who is responsible for the attack, disclose background on previous chemical weapon attacks in the region, and reveal the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) latest position in Syria. Officials with knowledge of the situation should share their views on the impact for the region if American forces stay or leave Syria.
This situation is dire, and I request this briefing take place as soon as possible. Thank you for your consideration of my request, and I look forward to working with you on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
John Kennedy
U.S. Senator
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“Our promised digital utopia, we have discovered, has minefields.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today questioned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a joint hearing with the Senate Judiciary and Senate Commerce committees. This hearing comes after Sens. Kennedy and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) called for the hearing early last month. Below is the video of Sen. Kennedy’s questions during the hearing.
“I don’t want to have to vote to regulate Facebook, but, by God, I will. A lot of that depends on Mr. Zuckerberg,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Mr. Zuckerberg has built an extraordinary company, and he’s done a lot of good. But there are some impurities in the Facebook punchbowl, and they’ve got to be fixed. Mr. Zuckerberg can spend $10 million on lobbyists and fight us or he can help us solve the problems.”
Click here or the image below to watch the video.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) sent the following letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army R.D. James and Lieutenant General Todd Semonite requesting full funding of Freshwater Bayou Lock:
April 9, 2018
The Honorable R.D. James
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
108 Army Pentagon
Room 3E446
Washington, DC 20310
Lieutenant General Todd Semonite
Chief of Engineers
Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
441 G Street,
Washington, DC 20314
Dear Secretary James and LTG Semonite,
In the recently passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Omnibus), the Army Corps of Engineers received $3.63 billion under the Operations and Maintenance account, an increase of $481 million from FY 2017. These funds will be eligible to fund critical projects in Louisiana that represent the three main mission areas of the Corps. We write to you today to reiterate our full support for the restoration of full funding for the Freshwater Bayou Lock and ask for your consideration that the additional funding provided in the Omnibus under this account be used at the Freshwater Bayou Lock.
As you know, Freshwater Bayou Lock plays a critical role in our nation’s commerce, typically ranking in the top 10 nationwide in terms of commercial lockage. It provides access from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Intracoastal City for the offshore oil supply and commercial fishing industries and serves as a mechanism for salinity control of the Mermentau Basin. However, the proposed FY 2019 funding for lock operations has been cut from $1.4 million to $759 thousand. Without full funding, Freshwater Bayou Lock will be unable to meet the level of service mandated by the Inland Marine Transportation Systems (IMTS) standards adopted Corps-wide and will be forced to drastically reduce its hours of operations.
With the additional monies made available to the Corps through the FY18 Omnibus, we respectfully ask that you restore full funding for this critical project. We look forward to continuing working with you to ensure that the Freshwater Bayou Lock is able to continue operating within its normal parameters.
Respectfully,
_______________ _______________ _______________
Bill Cassidy, M.D. John Kennedy Clay Higgins
United States Senator United States Senator United States Congressman
Cc: Colonel Michael N. Clancy
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today on the death of former legislator Thomas Alcade Casey. Sen. Kennedy and Casey served in the Roemer administration together.
“Tom was one of the kindest and most decent people I have ever known, in or out of politics. I worked with Tom in my first job in government with Gov. Buddy Roemer. Tom was Executive Counsel, and I was Special Counsel. He was very patient with me and taught me a lot. Thinking of Tom with his meticulous notes on his assortment of legal pads and his consistent good humor makes me smile. Tom loved the law, loved his state, loved his city, and, especially, loved his family. He also loved his church. He was the consummate gentleman. If Tom’s not in Heaven — and I believe he is — the rest of us don’t have a chance.”
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