HOUMA, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today spoke at the Bayou Region Joint Chamber of Commerce luncheon about his work to defend the energy industry from the Biden administration’s attacks, securing disaster recovery aid and other local issues. Kennedy also toured the Terrebonne Churches United Foodbank and spoke with officials and volunteers about responding to economic hardship.
“Louisianians in the Bayou have demonstrated their resilience time and again. Two years after Hurricane Ida, Louisiana’s southeast corner is still rebuilding, and I’m thankful to have had a hand in making sure federal resources supported that recovery,” said Kennedy after his visit with the Joint Chamber.
Kennedy has helped deliver more than $22 billion to Louisiana for disaster recovery across the state, with more than $5 billion of that aid focused on responding to Hurricane Ida, which hit southeast Louisiana incredibly hard. The Hurricane Ida resources have included funding to rebuild communities and homes, finance business loans and cover the cost of emergency response measures.
The senator also toured the Terrebonne Churches United Foodbank to hear from volunteers and officials about how the facility is meeting local needs as historic inflation takes a toll on the community.
“Families in Houma and around Louisiana are spending an extra $765 every single month to make ends meet because of the reckless, relentless spending that President Biden and Democrats in Congress are doing. Putting food on the table is harder than ever for too many people around here, and I’m thankful that good people like those at Terrebonne Churches United Foodbank are putting their hearts and elbow grease into caring for this community,” said Kennedy.
In an effort to stop this historic inflation, Kennedy has voted against numerous spending bills from the Biden administration, including the $1.2 trillion misnamed “infrastructure” package, $1.9 trillion in additional COVID spending, $240 billion in a pet project that funded Big Tech semi-conductors and two massive government funding bills that totaled $3.2 trillion. Kennedy also opposed the misleadingly titled “Inflation Reduction Act” that could prove to have a price tag of $1.2 trillion.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $7,842,214 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Louisianians in Lafourche Parish, Sulphur and throughout south Louisiana are still recovering from the blow that Hurricanes Laura and Ida dealt them. I’m glad to see that this $7.8 million will support recovery in their communities,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $2,519,865 to the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association for system-wide repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,697,214 to the Louisiana Department of Military for emergency protective measures required as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,292,269 to the Lafourche Parish School Board for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,233,426 to the city of Sulphur for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $1,099,440 to Jefferson Parish for the demolition of 34 homes in danger of collapse and debris removal resulting from Hurricane Ida.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in the American Press detailing how inflation has stretched Louisiana families thin during back-to-school season. He argues that Washington’s spending habit is to blame for the sky-high prices parents are facing as they try to fill backpacks and lunchboxes this fall.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Following two years of national economic mismanagement, the cost of notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other school supplies has increased by 24 percent. The average family expects to spend $597 per student to cover supplies—and that’s just the start of back-to-school spending.”
. . .
“In total, inflation is costing the average Louisiana family an extra $9,180 per year, and Washington’s out-of-control spending habit is to blame.
“At President Biden’s direction, the federal government has grown faster than America’s economy. From 2020 to 2023, federal spending jumped by nearly 33 percent. In just the past 12 months, federal spending increased nine percent—or roughly half a trillion dollars.
“Some of the spending at the start of the pandemic was necessary, but a lot of it was short-sighted and foolish. It has done more to hurt Louisianians than help them. We paid workers to stay home. We paid schools to stay closed. We even paid dead people $1.4 billion in stimulus checks!”
. . .
“All this spending floods our economy with cash, causing prices to float far above what many families can afford. As families tried to keep up with skyrocketing prices, consumer credit card debt hit a record high of $1 trillion. The average personal savings rate approached an all-time low. And nearly two in five families said they cannot afford to cover an unexpected $400 expense. Congress has also saddled our children with more debt than we’ve ever seen before.
“Bidenomics has kneecapped the American Dream, yet some Democrats in Washington are hoping to normalize this high inflation rate to continue their spending spree. This inflation isn’t normal, though, and I won’t let the coastal elites forget that.”
. . .
“I’m sorry that some in the federal government have left Louisianians with soaring debt and inflation. Some of our federal spending is as foolish as it is dangerous, and I’ll continue to work to find new ways to get our spending back under control.
“In the meantime, I believe my colleagues in Washington could learn a lot by watching families make tough decisions to afford this back-to-school season. Parents know what it means to live within a budget. They stretch each dollar to its fullest potential every day. Think how much stronger our country could be if Congress stuck to its budget, too.”
Read the full op-ed here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in raising concerns about the Biden administration’s decision to release $6 billion in frozen assets to the Islamic Republic of Iran in exchange for the release of five American detainees.
In the letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the senators expressed concerns that the Biden administration is attempting to circumvent congressional authority to enter into a nuclear agreement with the Iranian Regime, as the Obama administration attempted.
The letter also asked the cabinet members to commit to blocking Iran’s access to special drawing rights at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a threat to which Kennedy has repeatedly drawn attention. Iran gained access to about $5 billion in special drawing rights through the IMF deal that President Joe Biden made in 2021 without approval from Congress.
“When the Obama administration released $400 million in liquidated assets to Iran in 2016, we warned that this dangerous precedent would put a price on American lives. Seven years later, the current administration is providing a ransom payment worth at least fifteen times that amount to the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, in yet another violation of the United States’ long-standing ‘no concessions’ policy,” wrote the senators.
“The release of such a significant sum to the Iranian regime runs entirely counter to that claim and will only serve to encourage additional hostage taking for financial or political gain,” they continued.
“We are also worried that your administration is attempting to sidestep Congress and pursue other pathways to financially compensate Iran in an attempt to renegotiate a successor to the ill-fated 2015 nuclear deal. Any agreement with the Iranian regime that entails financial reward for malign behavior is wholly unacceptable,” the senators stated.
The lawmakers also requested an in-person briefing on the risk the agreement poses to American citizens overseas and to U.S. national security interests.
Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) also joined the letter.
The full letter is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,635,462 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana flood protection.
“Livingston Parish has dealt with serious flooding over the years, so I’m thankful this $1.6 million will help Louisianians stay ahead of future floods,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,635,462 to Livingston Parish for the elevation of 8 structures.
Kennedy announces $6.9 million in Hurricane Laura aid, flood protection for Lake Charles, Livingston Parish
Aug 17 2023
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,875,056 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid and flood mitigation.
“Louisianians in Lake Charles and Livingston Parish have had to endure tough times, and I’m glad to see that this $6.9 million will support Hurricane Laura recovery efforts and flood protection measures in their communities,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $4,749,381 to the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District for management costs as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $2,125,675 for the elevation and acquisition of seven properties within Livingston Parish.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,715,458 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Laura hit Lake Charles hard, and I’m glad to see that this $1.7 million will support ongoing recovery efforts in southwest Louisiana,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,715,458 to the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Laura.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in calling out the Biden administration for its plan to block funding for elementary and secondary schools that have hunting and archery programs.
The letter condemns the Biden administration’s attempt to use last year’s gun control bill to justify defunding schools with hunter and archery education programs. More than 500,000 students participate in and are certified through hunter education courses each year. These important programs help students learn how to handle firearms safely, which decreases firearm-related injuries and accidents.
“We write to express our deep concern about the Biden administration’s attempt to use the gun control bill passed last year to block funding for elementary and secondary school,” Kennedy and his colleagues wrote.
“While the administration claims to be eliminating dangerous activities, this guidance will, in fact, have the opposite effect. These programs provided thousands of students with the opportunity to learn proper instruction for firearm and archery safety,” they continued.
“We voted against the gun control legislation. It is now clearer than ever that the Biden administration will use the bill to attack the constitutional rights of Americans. Hunting and archery are strongly connected to the traditions and heritage of America. This outrageous overreach is an attack on hunters and outdoor recreation that must be addressed,” the lawmakers stated.
Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
Kennedy in The Advocate: Washington’s soft-on-crime policies hurt Louisiana’s small businesses
Aug 14 2023
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in The Advocate describing how the soft-on-crime policies and anti-cop rhetoric coming out of Washington have harmed Louisiana’s small businesses. He argues that liberal policymakers, including President Joe Biden, must do more to address rising crime by securing the border and respecting law enforcement.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Starting a business is one of the riskiest decisions one can make. Entrepreneurs embrace that risk because they love what they do, the people they work with, and the customers they serve.
“But today, many Louisiana business owners face risks far beyond their comfort levels. Violent crime has made it untenable for many business owners to keep their doors open. The threat to their employees and customers is just too great.”
. . .
“Louisiana isn’t alone. Crime-related business closures have increased nationwide. This crime wave is ravaging local economies, and Washington’s anti-cop rhetoric and soft-on-crime policies are to blame.
“For years, the loon wing of the Democratic Party has worked to tear down the entire law enforcement community. Rather than working for commonsense reforms, these activists called cops ‘pigs’ and urged lawmakers to defund local police departments.
“Where these activists failed to defund most police departments, they succeeded in demoralizing all of them. Today, police officer shortages plague communities everywhere. The New Orleans Police Department is on pace to have the fewest officers in 75 years. Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and the Louisiana State Police are facing massive officer shortages, too.”
. . .
“Many in Washington also embraced soft-on-crime policies that shortened federal prison sentences. I opposed these criminal reforms, including the First Step Act, because I believed it would lead to more families and businesses becoming victims of preventable crimes. Unfortunately, my fears were correct. Eleven percent of convicts released under the First Step Act reoffended—so far.
“At the border, cartels exploit our broken catch-and-release policies to flood Louisiana communities with poisonous fentanyl. Yet when I tried to increase prison sentences for fentanyl dealers earlier this year, Senate Democrats blocked my bill, apparently because they hate the idea of keeping poison dealers in prison.
“This cocktail of bone-deep, down-to-the-marrow stupid policies has fueled crime nationwide. Now, those who promoted these foolish ideas want Americans to think they’re imagining crime, rather than experiencing it.”
. . .
“If we let rampant crime suffocate these businesses, the economies and charisma of Louisiana neighborhoods will wither, too.
“Crime and the destruction that follows it are not inevitable. With fair policies, well-trained and supported police officers, and leaders dedicated to enforcing the law, we can reduce crime and make Louisiana a safe place to invest. I’ll continue to push lawmakers and officials to embrace policies that protect businesses, our people, and their livelihoods.”
Read the full op-ed here.
Kennedy announces $11.8 million for Lafourche, Calcasieu communities in Hurricanes Ida, Laura aid
Aug 11 2023
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $11,769,782 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricanes Laura and Ida hit Louisianians hard. This $11.8 million will help Calcasieu Parish, Lafourche Parish, and nearby communities recover,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $8,907,510 to the Calcasieu Parish School Board to support school facility repairs resulting from Hurricane Laura.
- $1,812,815 to the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux for mold remediation in school buildings related to Hurricane Ida.
- $1,049,457 to Lafourche Parish for the demolition of 44 homes in danger of collapse as a result of Hurricane Ida.
