“Louisiana’s wetlands protect our state from hurricanes and other serious storms. For years, nutria have devoured miles of our marshes, and some areas have no chance of growing back. This bill would help prevent these invasive swamp rats from further destroying Louisiana’s marshland.”

WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have introduced legislation to amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act.

The legislation would authorize an additional $6 million a year to increase assistance for states participating in the Nutria Eradication Program, which provides funding to states that implement initiatives to eradicate the invasive species. The measure also makes financial assistance proportional to the total area of a state that is affected by nutria.

“Louisiana’s wetlands protect our state from hurricanes and other serious storms. For years, nutria have devoured miles of our marshes, and some areas have no chance of growing back. This bill would help prevent these invasive swamp rats from further destroying Louisiana’s marshland,” said Kennedy.

“The explosive population growth of the nutria rodent could overwhelm our farms and wetlands if we don’t take aggressive action now. In California, there could be as many as 250,000 nutria within five years that could cause more than $1.2 billion a year in agriculture losses and eradication costs. Our bill will make all states eligible for federal funds to control this invasive species and stop its spread before we lose control of the situation,” said Feinstein.

WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today praised the confirmation of David Joseph as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.

“David Joseph has served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana since 2018 and is well-respected in the Louisiana legal community. I’m confident he will serve our state well as a district court judge, and I am proud to have supported his nomination,” said Kennedy.

“David Joseph’s intelligence, integrity, and experience make him an ideal federal judge. He will serve the Western District of Louisiana and our country well. I’m very happy for David and his family. I thank him for serving our country,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“For months, state and local governments have been working under the weight of an incredible health crisis. Giving those governments the flexibility to help their communities weather this pandemic—by using money they already have—is a no-brainer. I’m glad to see this commonsense provision in the Senate’s relief package.” 

WASHINGTON– Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility for State and Local Government Act has been included in the Senate’s coronavirus relief package. The bill would give state and local governments more flexibility as they use funds provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“For months, state and local governments have been working under the weight of an incredible health crisis. Giving those governments the flexibility to help their communities weather this pandemic—by using money they already have—is a no-brainer. I’m glad to see this commonsense provision in the Senate’s relief package,” said Kennedy.

The Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility for State and Local Government Act would allow states and local governments to use CARES Act funding for operating expenses unrelated to the coronavirus. This bill does not allow officials to spend this CARES Act money on shoring up their pension funds.

The CARES Act established the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, which has provided payments to state, local and tribal governments to help them respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Every state received at least $1.25 billion from this allocation.

“This funding will give the doctors and nurses in Plaquemines Parish the additional resources they need to treat those most in need. I’m also grateful to see the Office of Behavioral health receive resources to help prevent suicide during this difficult time."

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,720,833 in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services for Plaquemines Parish Hospital and the Louisiana State Office of Behavioral Health. 

“Health centers care for the most vulnerable populations and are facing serious challenges while fighting the coronavirus. This funding will give the doctors and nurses in Plaquemines Parish the additional resources they need to treat those most in need,” said Kennedy.

“I’m also grateful to see the Office of Behavioral Health receive resources to help prevent suicide during this difficult time.”

This funding includes $920,833 for health centers that are part of Plaquemines Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 and $800,000 for the Louisiana State Office of Behavioral Health.