U.S. Sen. Kennedy Announces $13.1 Million in Flood Mitigation Funding For Louisiana Property Owners
Jul 06 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that FEMA will spend $13.1 million in the parishes of Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Tammany and Livingston to protect property owners from future floods.
“This is a smart use of money through the National Flood Insurance Program,” said Sen. Kennedy. “In fact, I’ve offered legislation to reauthorize the program and to put a bigger focus on mitigation efforts. No one wants to flood. People lose their homes and businesses, and the federal government ends up spending a lot of money to help them rebuild. What we need to do is ensure that you don’t flood in the first place through elevation, the purchase of flood-prone properties and other mitigation work.”
According to FEMA, the grants are:
Lafourche (residential elevations) - $1.2M
- This grant will fund the elevation of eight properties. The elevated properties will exceed base flood elevation ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. This activity reduces damages to residential structures in flood events, thereby reducing long-term costs to NFIP, the homeowners, reduces impact to emergency response personnel, and breaks the repeat-claim cycle. The cost share is 93% and comprised of three-severe repetitive loss properties and five-repetitive loss properties. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
Jefferson Parish - 2016 Reconstruction of Flood Prone Structures - $4.6M
- This grant will fund mitigation reconstruction of 24 properties in Jefferson Parish. The reconstructed properties will exceed base flood elevation with an additional two-feet of elevation to meet local ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. This activity reduces damages to residential structures in flood events, thereby reducing long-term costs to the National Flood Insurance Program and the homeowners, reduces impact to emergency response personnel, and breaks the repeat-claim cycle. The cost share is 100% federal because the properties are severe repetitive loss. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
St. Tammany Parish – FMA 2016 Elevation Application II - $5.2M
- This grant will fund the elevation of 23 properties. The elevated properties will exceed base flood elevation ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. The cost share is 94% federal because the project is comprised of 10 severe repetitive loss properties, 11 repetitive loss properties, and two insured properties. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
Livingston Parish 2016 FMA - $2.1M
- This grant will fund the elevation of four properties and the voluntary acquisition of nine properties. The elevation properties will exceed base flood elevation ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. The acquisition and elevation activities will reduce or eliminate damages to residential structures. The cost share is 99% federal due to the composition of two repetitive loss and 11 severe repetitive loss properties. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
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U.S. Sen. Kennedy Announces $8.6 Million in FEMA Funding For Recovery From August 2016 Floods
Jul 06 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that FEMA has awarded $8.6 million to help Louisiana recover from the August 2016 floods.
FEMA awarded:
- $5.9 million to Ascension Parish.
- $2.7 million to Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School
“This money is vital to parishes that were devastated by the August 2016 floods,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Ascension Parish sustained heavy flooding and incurred expensive cleanup work. Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School took over a historic Baton Rouge campus only to be relocated by the flooding a week after starting classes. This money will help them recover and rebuild.”
The flooding created extensive debris that Ascension Parish had to remove. Cristo Rey was forced to relocate to a temporary location after losing its campus to the flood.
“Sen. Kennedy has worked hard to secure the flood recovery funding we need, and I appreciate his efforts,” said Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa. “Every penny counts in our mission to rebuild Ascension Parish and make our community whole again.”
“The August flooding forced us to relocate last year from the former Redemptorist High School campus just a week after starting classes. Every single building on that historic campus was lost,” said Brian Moscona, principal of Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High. “This funding will allow us to return to a campus that has been part of the north Baton Rouge community for more than 65 years. I want to thank Sen. Kennedy for working with us to secure the funding that we need to recover.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and nearly a dozen colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Friday requesting the cancellation of the August state work period so the Senate can focus on delivering important and necessary reforms to the American people.
The senators emphasized that little time remains in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
“We need to focus on passing meaningful reforms for health care and taxes. We also need to pass all 12 appropriations bills that fund the federal government and extend the National Flood Insurance Program,” said Sen. Kennedy. “We don’t have time to go on vacation when there’s work that remains to be done for the American people. You wouldn’t put a cake in the oven and then leave to go on vacation before it has finished baking. I am ready to work nights, weekends and holidays.”
The senators wrote: “Our current Senate calendar shows only 33 potential working days remaining before the end of the fiscal year. This does not appear to give us enough time to adequately address the issues that demand immediate attention. Therefore, we respectfully request that you consider truncating, if not completely foregoing, the scheduled August state work period, allowing us more time to complete our work.
“Delivering meaningful results was never assumed to be easy, but the millions of Americans who placed their confidence in our leadership expect our full and best effort.”
View the full text of the letter below:
Dear Leader McConnell:
We are united in our belief that we must work with a sense of urgency to deliver conservative solutions for pressing legislative issues on behalf of the American people. Our current Senate calendar shows only 33 potential working days remaining before the end of the fiscal year. This does not appear to give us enough time to adequately address the issues that demand immediate attention. Therefore, we respectfully request that you consider truncating, if not completely foregoing, the scheduled August state work period, allowing us more time to complete our work.
There are five imperatives which must be accomplished this year. We must complete the first phase of Obamacare repeal and replace. Next, we have to pass a budget that serves as a reconciliation vehicle for reforming our outdated tax code. Before September 30th, we must agree on an appropriation that responsibly funds the government. Also, we must deal with our debt limit before that approximate date. If we successfully navigate those priorities, we can finally get to our once in a generation opportunity on tax reform. Growing the economy, repairing our infrastructure, and rebuilding our military are all dependent on accomplishing the tasks before us.
Each of these issues is challenging in its own right. For example, the passage of a budget and all twelve appropriations bills before September 30th is a rarity, occurring only 4 times in the last 43 years. However, the stakes are much higher this year. We simply cannot afford to lose any additional time in resolving these issues when tax reform is hanging in the balance. Robust change to our tax code is our single most important economic growth tool, and there is already growing anticipation for us to act. Failure to deliver could have devastating economic consequences.
We appreciate your leadership, both in advancing our agenda and by moving a package of bills this year to roll back regulations. This effort has already helped deliver much needed relief and advance economic growth. Further, we have been encouraged by your work to date to help us stay on track. However, there is much to be done.
Please be assured that our request is fully backed by our commitment to thoughtfully and diligently work through these issues. We simply recognize that making America great again requires a certain time commitment. Delivering meaningful results was never assumed to be easy, but the millions of Americans who placed their confidence in our leadership expect our full and best effort.
Sincerely,
______________________________ ______________________________
John Kennedy David Perdue
United States Senator United States Senator
______________________________ ______________________________
Joni Ernst Dan Sullivan
United States Senator United States Senator
_____________________________ _____________________________
Mike Rounds Thom Tillis
United States Senator United States Senator
______________________________ ______________________________
James Lankford Mike Lee
United States Senator United States Senator
______________________________ ______________________________
Steve Daines Luther Strange
United States Senator United States Senator
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Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Applauds Secretary Perry’s Approval of Lake Charles LNG Project Proposals
Jun 29 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement after Secretary of the Department of Energy Rick Perry approved two long-term applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Lake Charles LNG Liquefaction Project:
“I am pleased to announce the approval of two applications to export additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Lake Charles LNG Liquefaction Project in Louisiana,” said Sen. Kennedy. “LNG has generated economic growth throughout Louisiana, and the approval of these two long-term applications will help grow our economy, create thousands of jobs and move our nation towards energy independence.”
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Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Continues Effort to Fight for Money for the Comite River Diversion Project
Jun 29 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has been continuing efforts to fight for more funding and resources for the Comite River Diversion Project in the greater Baton Rouge region. Sen. Kennedy released the following statement on efforts today:
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Energy and Water, I have been leaning on the Army Corp of Engineers to dispense the promised funds for the Comite River Diversion Project. We need these funds now to start putting shovels in the ground as quickly as possible,” said Sen. Kennedy.
At the end of May, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it was setting aside $6.7 million for the Comite project. Senator Kennedy is prodding the Corps on when they can begin using the money towards the project.
“I have been pressing the Corps relentlessly trying to get a date nailed down on when we can get this project moving. That’s why yesterday I met with Lt. General Todd Semonite and acting Assistant Secretary Lamont to discuss the urgency of this project. I will continue to use every avenue and channel available to me to get this project pushed through and out of the mud as fast as possible.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement after meeting with President Trump, Vice President Pence, Reince Priebus, and Republican Senators at the White House to discuss health care reform this afternoon:
“I had a productive meeting at the White House this afternoon with President Trump, Vice President Pence, my colleagues in the Senate, and Trump administration Chief of Staff Reince Priebus about finding viable solutions for our broken health care system. As premiums continue to rise, insurers drop out of exchanges, and states continue to suffocate under the rising cost of Medicaid, it is more important than ever to come together and stop the unmitigated disaster that is Obamacare,” said Sen. Kennedy. “I will continue to work towards a better, more sensible health care system that benefits all Americans.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced today that Louisiana State University will be receiving $22 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the department’s National Domestic Preparedness Consortium Program(NDPCP).
LSU has been a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s prestigious National Domestic Preparedness Consortium Program for almost twenty years. These funds will go to ongoing federal, state, and local efforts to support training programs for state and local first responders around the nation.
“I am proud to announce the continued funding of LSU’s membership in the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium Program,” said Sen. Kennedy. “As a member of the NDPCP, the $22 million awarded will allow LSU to continue its focus on training programs for law enforcement and emergency responders that help secure and protect our nation. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for programs that help keep Louisiana and our country safe.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) led a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to President Donald Trump today ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to Washington D.C. The letter implores President Trump to use his meeting with the prime minister as an opportunity to discuss India’s discriminatory policies against foreign religious and humanitarian organizations.
Sens. Blunt, Crapo, Lankford, and Klobuchar signed on to Sen. Kennedy’s letter encouraging the president to make it clear to Prime Minister Modi that human rights and religious liberty remain a top priority.
“Over the past few years, the Indian government has made it difficult – if not impossible - for religious and humanitarian organizations to get funding to their charitable operations in India. Many of these organizations are simply trying to meet the basic needs of the citizens of India. Compassion International even had to leave India. This humanitarian aid organization had helped feed and provide health care to children in India for nearly 50 years. Now thousands of innocent children will be left without this critical support,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Discriminating against foreign organizations that help the citizens of India is counterproductive, and it needs to change. I ask that President Trump address this serious issue with Prime Minister Modi during his upcoming trip to Washington.”
Below is the text of the letter.
June 23, 2017
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Thank you for your commitment to protecting and advancing religious liberty around the world. You have made it clear that protecting religious freedom deserves our constant vigilance. We agree that our support for democracy requires persistent efforts to support and advocate for religious liberty around the world.
We are particularly concerned about violations of religious liberty in India. India is the world’s largest democracy and therefore holds a position of importance on the world stage, making the ongoing violations even more disturbing. Despite India’s size and religious diversity, violations of religious liberty have existed for years.
Every year, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) releases a report outlining the state of religious freedom across the world. India has consistently remained a “Tier 2” country, meaning that USCIRF believes it requires close monitoring based on evidence of violations of religious freedom. These include violence, discrimination, and forced conversions, as well as harassment and intimidation.
Of significant concern is India’s recent use of its Foreign Contributions Regulations Act (FCRA) to target humanitarian and religious organizations. Any foreign religious organizations, including missionaries, working in India must comply with this law. In 2011, the Indian Parliament amended FCRA to allow the government to block funds for foreign organizations that conduct any “activities detrimental to the national interest.”
The Indian government has since used this broad provision to target foreign humanitarian and religious organizations that serve the Indian people, such as Compassion International that was forced to leave India and the 145,000 Indian children it served. Other organizations that have come under scrutiny include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace. Other evangelical Christian organizations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, have also faced discrimination of various kinds. The number of organizations that have lost their licenses has exceeded 10,000 since Prime Minister Modi took office.
Based on these troubling developments, we ask that you make religious liberty a top priority when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the United States this month. We request that you use the United States’ strong, longstanding relationship with India to encourage Prime Minister Modi to alleviate the discrimination against these organizations, particularly religious-based aid groups, and to take steps to advance religious liberty for all of India’s citizens.
The United States has served as an example of religious liberty for the entire world ever since its founding. These principles underlie the essence of what it means to be American. Even more importantly, the freedom to practice one’s own religious beliefs underlies the essence of what it means to be human and live in a democracy. We encourage you to bring these violations to Prime Minister Modi’s attention and continue to work to protect religious liberty across the globe.
Sincerely,
______________________________ ______________________________
John Kennedy Roy Blunt
United States Senator United States Senator
______________________________ ______________________________
Mike Crapo James Lankford
United States Senator United States Senator
______________________________
Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement on the severe weather in Louisiana:
“Severe weather is nothing new in Louisiana, and we sometimes downplay the seriousness of storms like this. A young child was hit by flying debris in Alabama today and killed. I urge everyone to remain calm and stay safe as Tropical Storm Cindy approaches our state. Monitor local radio and TV for updates and emergency information. If you have to be on the road, give yourself a little extra time to get where you’re going,” said Sen. Kennedy. “What matters right now is keeping your family safe.”
Below are some helpful tips, information, and guidelines, provided by FEMA, on how to stay safe and informed over the next several days.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Cindy will approach the coast of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas late today or tonight and then move inland over southeastern Texas or Louisiana on Thursday. Very heavy rain totaling 6 to 9 inches, with isolated amounts of 12 inches, bring a high risk of reaching excessive levels and producing life threatening flash floods along the central Gulf Coast. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for San Luis Pass, Texas, to the Alabama-Florida border, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. History shows that storm tracks can change quickly and unexpectedly.
A FEMA liaison officer is deployed to the emergency operations center in Louisiana to help coordinate any requests for federal assistance. Additionally, FEMA incident management assistance teams are deployed to the Louisiana and Arkansas state emergency operations centers to support response activities and ensure there are no unmet needs.
FEMA encourages individuals and families in the affected areas to continue to monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information, and to follow the instructions of state, tribal and local officials. Only enter areas that have sustained damage after local officials have said it is safe to do so.
If you have a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood policy, you may be eligible for reimbursement of actions taken to protect your property. Call your insurance agent to find out more.
To file a flood insurance claim under the NFIP, contact your insurance agent immediately. You can also call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) – select option 2 – to learn more about your policy, and be directed to the appropriate claims resource. Within 24 to 48 hours, an adjuster will call you to schedule an appointment.
Download the FEMA mobile app to set up alerts for the latest weather updates, shelter information, disaster resources, preparedness information, and safety tips, in English and in Spanish. The app provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.
Preparedness
- We urge all individuals to monitor NOAA Weather Radio and their local news for updates and directions provided by their local officials.
- Be familiar with evacuation routes, have a communications plan, keep a battery-powered radio handy and have a plan for your pets. Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about these and other preparedness tips for tropical storms.
- Tropical storms have the potential for tornado formation. If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately in the center of a small interior room (closet, interior hallway) on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
- There is the potential for flooding with this storm. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous and almost half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. When in your car, look out for flooding in low-lying areas, at bridges and at highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
- If you encounter flood waters, don’t attempt to pass through water – TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN. Don’t drive or walk through flood waters. It only takes a small amount of water to move people or vehicles.
- Get to know the terms used to identify tropical storms and discuss with your family what to do if a watch or warning is issued.
- A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 39 MPH or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours.
- A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when sustained winds of 39 MPH or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less.
- Get to know the terms used to identify floods and discuss with your family what to do if a flood watch or warning is issued.
o A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding.
o A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
o A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding.
o A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is imminent or occurring.
o A Flash Flood Emergency is issued when severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is imminent or ongoing.
o A River Flood Watch is issued when river flooding is possible at one or more forecast points along a river.
o A River Flood Warning is issued when river flooding is occurring or imminent at one or more forecast points along a river.
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA’s Congressional Affairs Division at (202) 646-4500.
Download the FEMA App to locate and get directions to open shelters across the state, and receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States.
Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Issues Statement on How Sugar Agreement with Mexico will Benefit Louisiana
Jun 19 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement after a deal was reached between the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. sugar growers on addressing Mexico’s illegal dumping of sugar.
“For the last two and a half years, U.S. sugar growers have been getting the short end of the cane because Mexico has not been adhering to its end of the agreement from 2014. I am pleased to see that under our new administration the U.S. government is finally cracking down on lousy trade deals that don’t live up to the promises that were made,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This agreement will help make sure that Louisiana sugar cane farmers and millers get a fairer price for their product.”
“Louisiana’s Congressional sugar champions are entirely aware of the importance of our 223-year-old sugarcane industry in the state’s economy and heritage and we thank them for their diligent support during our trade dispute with Mexico. They understand our farmers and millers can compete with any farm or mill in the world but realize our producers can’t compete against governments who prop up inefficient industries. We are cautiously optimistic the administration will manage sugar policy effectively and not allow Mexico to adversely affect the market with unfair trade practices,” said Jim Simon, manager of the American Sugar Cane League.
