Senate passes Kennedy-backed resolution to repeal Biden-era methane fee for U.S. energy producers
Feb 27 2025
WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed a joint resolution of disapproval under Congressional Review Act procedures that Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) helped introduce. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) led the resolution, which would overturn the Biden administration’s proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule to implement a fee on methane emissions.
Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives. The resolution now moves to the president’s desk.
“For four years, the Biden administration waged war on oil and gas drilling—and hardworking Americans paid the price because of that. Today, the Senate voted to roll back another misguided policy and unleash U.S. energy production,” said Kennedy.
The EPA’s methane fee rule would effectively create a new tax on key parts of the American oil and gas industry, including both onshore and offshore natural gas production and liquefied natural gas import, export and storage.
On Jan. 17, 2025, the rule went into effect. Earlier this month, Kennedy helped introduce the resolution in the Senate.
Text of the resolution is available here.
Kennedy renews calls to protect Diego Garcia military base ahead of UK PM Starmer’s visit to Washington
Feb 26 2025
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) urged United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to move forward with his plan to hand over the Chagos Islands, including the U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, to Mauritius in a speech on the Senate floor. Starmer will travel to Washington this week to meet with President Trump.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“Now, there is one other thing you need to know. Mauritius is very close to China. Mauritius has a very lucrative trade agreement with China, and you’ll not be surprised to learn that, after all of this has been developing, China all of a sudden is Mauritius’s best friend. Do you know why? Because if Prime Minister Starmer does this, Mauritius is going to own the base. They are going to own the base.”
. . .
“I don’t care what Prime Minister Starmer promises you. The only reason he is doing this is because he feels guilty because the United Nations has said that the United Kingdom should be ashamed of its history and ashamed that it at one time owned colonies.
“People of the United Kingdom can feel what they want. That is none of my business. But we have got an American military base there, and it is very important to defend the Indian Ocean against China. . . . I am sorry he feels guilty. He needs to go buy an emotional support pony, but he doesn’t need to give away an American military base.”
Background
- The U.K. had previously announced on Oct. 3, 2024, that it had reached a deal with Mauritius to cede the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. This deal between the U.K. and Mauritius would jeopardize the security of a key U.S.-U.K. military base on Deigo Garcia by potentially exposing the island to Chinese espionage efforts, according to a report from the Policy Exchange.
- Negotiations between the U.K. and Mauritius followed a years-long pressure campaign from the United Nations to get England out of the Chagos Islands. The Biden administration also reportedly pressured the U.K. to enter the deal with Mauritius before the American and Mauritian elections took place—an idea Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially endorsed.
- On Oct. 23, 2024, Kennedy wrote to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken seeking answers about the Biden administration’s involvement in the deal between the U.K. and Mauritius.
- Kennedy also penned this op-ed in Oct. 2024 arguing that the Biden administration owes the American people an explanation for its decision to allow this deal between the U.K. and Mauritius to move forward.
- On Jan. 15, 2025, Starmer announced that he wanted President Trump and his administration to weigh in on any deal struck between the U.K. and Mauritius regarding the transfer of the Chagos Islands, including the transfer of the U.S.-U.K. shared military base on the island of Diego Garcia.
- Kennedy published this op-ed in Jan. 2025 welcoming the U.K.’s change of heart after Starmer announced that he would include the Trump administration in the ongoing negotiations with Mauritius.
- As a congressman, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has criticized the Oct. 2024 deal, saying, “Should the U.K. cede control of the Chagos to Mauritius, I have no doubt that China will take advantage of the resulting vacuum.”
- As a senator, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has similarly condemned the deal and said it “poses a serious threat to our national security interests in the Indian Ocean and threatens critical U.S. military posture in the region.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
Kennedy condemns Biden admin for doling out $2B to Abrams-backed climate change organization
Feb 26 2025
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), in a speech on the Senate floor, questioned how a six-month-old nonprofit with $100 in the bank and ties to former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams was able to secure a $2 billion climate change grant from President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“I try to see the world from other people’s bell towers as much as I can, but I cannot come up, not for the life of me, with a single rational justification as to why the EPA under the Biden administration thought it was appropriate to give Power Forward and Rewiring America—two brand new nonprofits with no business experience, no accomplishments according to the IRS forms, and only 100 bucks in the bank—to give them $2 billion of taxpayer money, especially to the exclusion of every other qualified applicant for that money, if there were any other qualified applicants.”
. . .
“The average Louisianian, because of President Biden’s inflation, had to spend an extra $890 a month—extra—for food and clothing and car notes, and they didn’t get an $890-a-month raise.
“President Biden and my Democratic colleagues told us that the Inflation Reduction Act—I remember when it was passed. They said: ‘If you spend $1.2 trillion on the Inflation Reduction Act, it will be a lifeline to every family in America.’ That is not what it looks like to me. It is starting to look like to me that it was really a slush fund—a slush fund for Washington insiders.”
. . .
“Now, this is just the beginning of the type of spending porn that President Trump and Mr. [Elon] Musk are uncovering that people are screaming about. I am going to repeat what I started with: There is nothing wrong with wanting to know what they do and did with our money, and that is all President Trump and Mr. Musk are doing.”
Background
- In April 2024, President Biden’s EPA announced the award of a $2 billion federal grant to Power Forward Communities through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Green House Gas Reduction Fund. The grant was to help homes transition from gas appliances to electric.
- Power Forward Communities formed in Oct. 2023 as a coalition of nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity International, United Way Worldwide, and Rewiring America. According to its tax filings, Power Forward Communities had just $100 in revenues in 2023.
- Rewiring America similarly formed in 2023. Abrams joined the nonprofit in March 2023 as senior counsel. The organization stated in its tax filings that 2023 was a “startup year for the organization.” Rewiring America’s only listed accomplishment was that it had “joined a coalition of other national organizations to apply for a grant from the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.”
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has pledged to claw back more than $20 billion in improper Inflation Reduction Act grants, including the $2 billion to Power Forward Communities.
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today reintroduced the Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act to increase penalties for hospitals that hide the true costs of their items and services from patients.
“It’s unfair for hospitals to keep the costs of their services hidden from patients. My Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act would make sure that health care providers make their prices publicly available and understandable for Americans seeking care,” said Kennedy.
The Trump administration’s Hospital Price Transparency Rule, which went into effect in January 2021, requires hospitals to establish and make public a list of the prices that they charge for items and services. Hospitals must also display charges in a consumer-friendly manner. A November 2024 study of 2,000 hospitals found that only 421—or 21%—were fully compliant.
Currently, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires non-compliant hospitals with 30 or fewer beds to pay a penalty of $300 per day, those with 31 to 550 beds to pay between $310 and $5,500 per day and those with more than 550 beds to pay $5,500 per day.
The Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act would:
- Double the current government penalties on non-compliant hospitals. Penalties would increase to $600 per day for hospitals with 30 or fewer beds, $620 to $11,000 per day for hospitals with 31 to 550 beds and $11,000 per day for hospitals with more than 550 beds.
- Require all hospitals to comply with the higher penalties within six months of the law’s passage.
- Prohibit hospitals from shielding information on their websites using webpage coding.
- Give non-compliant hospitals 60 days after notice of non-compliance to pay their monetary penalty.
- Require CMS to publish the names of hospitals that have not complied.
Kennedy first introduced the bill in 2022.
Text of the Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act is available here.
Senate passes Kennedy resolution to repeal Biden admin rule targeting offshore oil and gas production
Feb 25 2025
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today led the Senate in passing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to reverse the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) rule that targeted oil and gas production in the outer continental shelf. Kennedy’s resolution passed with bipartisan support and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Kennedy explained in a speech on the Senate floor that the Biden administration’s rule places an immense burden on small oil and natural gas producers by forcing them to map the ocean floor in search of shipwrecks before they could begin production.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“We've surveyed the entire Gulf of America in the 87 years since we started drilling there. We have surveyed 311,652 square nautical miles—the surface area of Texas and California put together. That's how we found 4,000 shipwrecks, and it's cost hundreds of hundreds of millions of dollars. So, we know what's there.”
“Well, in Sept. 2024, the Department of Interior—in a midnight regulation in an effort to try to further hurt fossil fuels—passed a new rule, and they said, ‘Look, we know we’ve surveyed the entire Gulf . . . but every time you drill a new well, we want you to survey again.’ Why? I mean, what's the benefit?”
. . .
“So, I’m going to try to kill the regulation today under what—as you know, Mr. President—is called the Congressional Review Act. . . . I realize that common sense, as I’ve said before, is illegal in Washington. This is not a normal place, but I hope folks who still have common sense will vote to get rid of this foolish rule.”
Background:
- On Sept. 3, 2024, the Biden administration published a rule requiring all new oil and gas leaseholders on the outer continental shelf to submit an archaeological report to the BOEM before drilling or laying pipelines. The rule burdens lessees with conducting costly surveys for marine archaeological resources, such as shipwrecks or “cultural resources.”
- This rule replaces BOEM’s long-standing policy of requiring oil and gas operators to conduct archaeological surveys only when there was a “reason to believe” that an archaeological resource may be present.
- The Biden administration admitted that this rule would harm small oil and gas producers most, writing, “100 percent of the increased Gulf of [America] compliance cost . . . would be borne by operators that are small entities.” Small and independent operators account for one-third of all oil production in the Gulf of America.
- On Feb. 4, 2025, Kennedy introduced his CRA joint resolution of disapproval to repeal the rule. This is one of more than 225 harmful regulations that the Biden administration levied against the oil and natural gas industry.
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
Kennedy champions bill to protect investor privacy by prohibiting vulnerable SEC database
Feb 21 2025
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act. The bill would protect information that could reveal the identity of American investors by prohibiting the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring brokers to submit investors’ personally identifiable information to its Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT).
Earlier this month, the Trump administration’s SEC issued an order that exempts certain personally identifiable information consisting of investors’ names, addresses and years of birth from CAT reporting. Kennedy’s bill would permanently remove reporting requirements on investors’ personally identifiable information.
“Americans assume their private information is secure when they invest money in the U.S. stock market. However, the SEC’s unlawful Consolidated Audit Trail could put their data in jeopardy. My bill would protect American investors from foreign enemies and bad actors by preventing the SEC from collecting personal information it doesn’t need and storing it on a dangerous database,” said Kennedy.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.
“The SEC’s collection of personal financial information through the Consolidated Audit Trail is unconstitutional and entirely unnecessary; and it exposes American investors to serious cybersecurity risks from foreign adversaries and criminal hackers. This is why I developed the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act in the House. The bill would effectively eliminate the potential for both accidental and intentional breaches by restricting the SEC’s automatic collection of investors’ PII. Among its provisions, the SEC will only be permitted to request this data in cases directly tied to investigating or enforcing violations of federal securities law. I want to thank Senator John Kennedy for introducing the Senate companion to this important bill,” said Loudermilk.
Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) cosponsored the bill.
“Investors rely on the SEC to safeguard sensitive financial information. Requiring brokers to submit investors’ private, identifiable information, including social security numbers, into a central database will invite even more attempts to compromise Americans’ data privacy. I am pleased to join my colleagues to reject this ill-advised scheme and protect personal information,” said Boozman.
“The SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail database holds millions of Americans’ sensitive financial information. Since taking office, I’ve pushed back against the profound risks the CAT poses to Americans’ individual liberty and personal privacy. The Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act would permanently prohibit the requirement of submitting personal information to the CAT, protecting American investors,” said Britt.
“Investors put their faith in the U.S. when they choose to invest in our stock market, and they should not have to worry about their personal information being stolen. This bill will increase our cybersecurity and stop the over-collection of unnecessary personal information for the millions of people who trust our stock market system with their savings and their privacy,” said Daines.
“Protecting the information of American investors helps build trust and security that encourages investments in our markets. As adversaries target Americans’ personal data through cyberattacks, it is important that the SEC only keeps the data it needs instead of housing additional, personal information that could place investors at greater risk,” said Moran.
“The Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act is a necessary step in protecting the information and identities of American investors. The American people should feel confident that their participation in the stock market does not mean the leaking of their private information,” said Ricketts.
The American Securities Association (ASA) supports the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act.
“Senator Kennedy is a true champion for the American people and we applaud his bill to stop the federal government from collecting individual investors’ personal and financial information in a national registry, which is a sitting duck for hackers. The SEC can conduct responsible oversight of our equity markets without collecting the most sensitive personal information of working families, retirees, and savers,” said Chris Iacovella, CEO of the ASA.
The SEC’s CAT became operational on May 31, 2024, making it the largest government database of its kind. The CAT will collect all customer and order information for equity securities and listed options, including data that might be considered personally identifiable information.
The SEC is implementing the CAT despite concerns from investor protection groups and the securities industry and in the wake of vulnerabilities that recent cyber-attacks have revealed at federal agencies.
Kennedy’s bill would prohibit the SEC from requiring market participants to submit investors’ personally identifiable information to the CAT. Under this legislation, the SEC can obtain personally identifiable information related to investors only by requesting it on a case-by-case basis. Companies and investors trading on the U.S. stock exchanges would need to fulfill the SEC’s request for this information within 24 hours, though additional time may be requested.
The bill would also require the SEC to delete personally identifiable information once the agency resolves the investigation or issue that required that information.
Text of the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act is available here.
Kennedy reintroduces bill to establish Special IG to oversee use of American taxpayer aid to Ukraine
Feb 20 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today reintroduced the Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act to establish a Special Inspector General (IG) for Ukraine. The Special IG would oversee the humanitarian, economic and security assistance funding that the U.S. Congress has provided to the country, and make sure that the funds are appropriately spent.
“America’s military and economic aid to Ukraine isn’t charity—and it can’t go to waste. My bill would help President Trump appoint a Special Inspector General to shine a light on how Americans’ tax dollars have been spent since the war began,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy’s bill would equip the Special IG for Ukraine with $20 million from the money that Congress has already provided in Ukraine aid. That $20 million represents less than 0.01% of the $175 billion in supplemental aid that has been set aside for Ukraine.
In order to prevent an indefinite expanse of the federal bureaucracy, the bill also includes a termination clause that would end the Special IG role once U.S. taxpayer spending for Ukraine drops below $250 million per year.
In 2023, Kennedy introduced the Independent and Objective Oversight of Ukrainian Assistance Act.
The text of the bill is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) today reintroduced the bipartisan Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act. The bill would enable the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to respond to disasters and other emergencies effectively and promptly.
“When a disaster hits, time and effectiveness are crucial to supporting communities. However, an outdated emergency response law can limit recovery efforts. Our bill would help Louisianians and all Americans by making sure that private sector and federal officials work together to respond to catastrophes efficiently,” said Kennedy.
“As natural disasters continue to affect communities across the nation, it is imperative that the federal government is able to help those in need efficiently and effectively. This bill would ensure that DHS can streamline the process of helping disaster survivors rebuild their lives in the wake of these tragedies,” said Peters.
The HELP Response and Recovery Act would repeal Section 695 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, which restricts the length of non-competitive DHS contracts for urgent and compelling requirements to 150 days. The repeal of this regulation ensures that DHS deadlines for emergency contracts follow current government-wide rules that allow contracts of up to one year. Extending non-competitive DHS contracts to one year gives private businesses and government more time to help communities recover after a disaster.
In March 2024, the Senate passed the HELP Response and Recovery Act by unanimous consent.
Text of the HELP Response and Recovery Act is available here.
Kennedy champions bill to expand law enforcement concealed-carry rights, help protect more Americans
Feb 20 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today reintroduced the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act to expand the concealed-carry rights of qualified law enforcement officers.
“Day in and day out, our brave law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to keep Americans safe—even when they’re retired or off-duty. The LEOSA Reform Act would help empower cops to keep our communities safe by expanding their rights to carry concealed firearms in public places,” said Kennedy.
The LEOSA Reform Act amends the original LEOSA of 2004, which gives qualified officers—whether they are active-duty, retired or no longer working in law enforcement—the right to carry concealed firearms in any U.S. state or territory, regardless of state or local laws. The original legislation, however, contains numerous exceptions that prevent qualified law enforcement officers from adequately protecting themselves and the public, including bans on concealed-carry rights on certain state, local and federal government property.
Kennedy’s LEOSA Reform Act would expand the original bill by allowing qualified officers to carry their concealed firearms in the following locations:
- state, local and private property otherwise open to the public;
- national parks;
- certain federal public access facilities; and
- school zones.
Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) co-sponsored the LEOSA Reform Act.
The LEOSA Reform Act is supported by the National Association of Police Organizations, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Fraternal Order of Police, National District Attorneys Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, New York Police Department (NYPD) Sergeants Benevolent Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Major County Sheriffs of America and the National Sheriffs’ Association.
“On behalf of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Kennedy for reintroducing the LEOSA Reform Act. This legislation is a critical step in ensuring that law enforcement officers who have served their country honorably are able to protect themselves and their families after they retire. The LEOSA Reform Act will correct long-standing barriers, ensuring retired officers can carry concealed weapons across state lines without unnecessary restrictions. This law is not just about enhancing officer safety; it’s about honoring those who have dedicated their careers to safeguarding our communities. We urge Congress to pass this important legislation and stand with those who have stood for justice,” said Mathew Silverman, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
“While the purpose of LEOSA has always been clear, several actions at the federal, state, and local level have prevented its proper implementation and altered or watered-down key provisions of the Act. The SBA is grateful for Sen. Kennedy’s continued leadership on the ‘LEOSA Reform Act’ to effectuate Congress’ original intent in passing LEOSA in 2004,” said Vincent Vallelong, President of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association.
“With the rise in targeted violence against law enforcement officers and violent crimes in our communities, allowing all qualified officers and retirees, who have sworn to serve and protect our communities, to be armed in accordance with LEOSA would allow them to respond more efficiently and effectively in emergencies for the safety of themselves and those around them. The LEOSA Reform Act will go a long way to ensuring all qualified off-duty and retired officers across the country can legally carry their firearm under the law. NAPO thanks Senator Kennedy for his leadership and stands with him in support of this important legislation,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations.
“This legislation prioritizes safety in our communities by empowering active and retired law enforcement officers to continue to protect citizens in areas where criminals are known to victimize innocent lives who are otherwise left defenseless. The LEOSA Reform Act enables those individuals we already trust with our safety to be able to continue to provide that service without being encumbered by well-intentioned, but misguided laws. Criminals, by definition, have no respect for the law. This commonsense legislation removes barriers for those who enforce the law. Handcuffs belong on criminals, not law enforcement who are working to protect their communities. NSSF is grateful to Senator John Kennedy for his leadership to improve safety in our communities,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
“The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) applauds Senator Kennedy for his leadership on the LEOSA Reform Act. This vital legislation allows qualified retired and active law enforcement officers to carry firearms across state lines and in public spaces such as national parks, school zones, and other public properties. For law enforcement officers, the ability to carry a firearm across state lines and in public spaces ensures their continued ability to protect and respond effectively, enhancing safety for both officers and our communities,” said Megan Noland, Executive Director of the MCSA.
The full bill text is available here.
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) highlighted some of the biased reporting from National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and argued that the federal government should not keep subsidizing these programs through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in a speech on the Senate floor.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“At least half of America would look at these headlines and be offended. They would be offended . . . really for three reasons. Number one, they disagree with opinion journalism. Number two, they would disagree with the headline. And number three, they would disagree with the fact that these headlines are not fair. They are not objective. They are obviously slanted to one point of view, and they are using taxpayer money.”
. . .
“I have introduced legislation, not to eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, not to eliminate the Public Broadcasting Service, and not to eliminate the National Public Radio—they can go exist on their own if they want to—but I do want to defund them.
“We are running $36 trillion in debt. This is disgraceful in 2025. It is disgraceful whether it is left-of-center opinion journalism or right-of-center opinion journalism. It is disgraceful to the American people to have to fund this rot. It doesn’t mean the rot doesn’t have a right to exist, but they don’t have a right to taxpayer money.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
