MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $32,204,014 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Laura left many buildings in the Lake Charles community with severe damage. I’m grateful to see that this $32.2 million will help repair the St. Louis High School and benefit Louisianians in the area,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $21,022,561 to the Society of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Lake Charles for repairs to the St. Louis High School Main Building as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $7,602,012 to the Society of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Lake Charles for repairs to facilities at St. Louis High School as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $3,579,441 to the Society of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Lake Charles for the replacement of St. Louis High School old gym as a result of Hurricane Laura.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in the Daily Advertiser detailing how activists have pressured parents to allow their children to undergo irreversible gender procedures. Kennedy commended the Louisiana legislature for outlawing the use of these extreme procedures on minors and urged Congress to do more to support parents who wish to protect their children from these harmful treatments.
This piece also appeared in the Shreveport Times, Houma Today, The Daily Comet, The Town Talk, The News-Star, The Weekly Citizen and Daily World.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Those who advocate for minors to be able to change genders believe powerful medications and surgery are the only way to help gender dysphoric children. Most parents in Louisiana, however, believe that irreversible medical procedures could harm these children in the future if they change their minds about changing their sex.”
. . .
“It’s tough to be a kid, and there are many reasons children might question who they are and who they want to be. School is challenging, bullies are mean, and puberty is awkward for most boys and girls.
“We shouldn’t, however, allow children to go through irreversible physical changes to address what, statistically, is likely a temporary season of confusion or anxiety. The Louisiana state legislature was wise to pass a bipartisan bill, H.B. 648, which outlawed these irreversible treatments on Louisiana’s children until they are of the majority age.”
. . .
“In some states, parents can lose custody of their children for refusing to affirm the child’s stated gender preference. Other states allow minors to access puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones without parental consent. Parents shouldn’t be punished for choosing to protect their children from extremists.
“That’s why I’m cosponsoring the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, a bill that would help parents fight back if they are attacked for opposing the transgender agenda. Supporting parents who want to protect their children and help them make the right decision if they are gender confused is the safest, strongest way to lift up our kids and foster healthy families.
“There are too many stories of minors who end up regretting taking puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones or undergoing sex-change surgery, and I fear that many more stories are going to come to light. I’m going to do all I can to allow kids to be kids until they are old enough to decide for themselves.”
Background:
- The population of transgender children in the United States nearly doubled between 2017 and 2020. In Louisiana, 13-to-17-year-olds are nearly three times more likely to say they identify as transgender than adults aged 25 to 64.
- Most young children outgrow their gender dysphoria. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, roughly 85% of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria at a young age did not remain dysphoric after adolescence.
- Many gender-confused children also suffer from mental health issues. Children who identify as transgender are up to 13 times more likely to have ADHD, depression or anxiety than non-transgender children. A study out of the United Kingdom found that 35% of the children who received gender treatment had moderate or severe autism.
- Still, many activists encourage parents to “affirm” their children’s gender dysphoria no matter how young their children may be. Activists also encourage parents to allow their children to receive “gender-affirming care,” including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries. These drugs and surgeries can inflict irreparable harm on children.
- Puberty blockers are hormone-based injections or implants given to children as young as 8 years old to delay the onset of puberty. Gonadotropin, the hormone used in puberty blockers, is the same hormone used to chemically castrate sex offenders. It can leave children with diminished bone density and harm their future fertility.
- Cross-sex hormones begin to transition children to appear more like the other gender. Boys take estrogen, which can cause infertility, blood clots and heart problems. Girls take testosterone, which can also cause infertility, male-pattern baldness and high blood pressure. Adults have given cross-sex hormones to children as young as 13 years old.
- Sex-reassignment surgeries, including mastectomies, phalloplasty and vaginoplasty, are largely irreversible. They can result in infertility and loss of sexual function. Activists have advocated for 15-year-old girls to access double mastectomies and 17-year-old boys to receive vaginoplasties.
- Activists claim that “gender reaffirming care” improves the mental health of children with gender confusion. However, a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that there is no significant reduction in mental health issues following hormone treatments or sex-reassignment surgeries.
- American parents have struggled to protect their children from these radical procedures. Parents in some states can lose custody of their children for refusing to abide by the transgender ideology. In Oregon, children as young as 15 years old can receive Medicaid-funded hormone treatments without their parents’ consent.
- Kennedy is a co-sponsor of the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, a bill that would help parents defend themselves when radical bureaucrats attack them for refusing to comply with the transgender agenda.
Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here. Read more about the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,009,182 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Ida left many buildings in Lafourche Parish damaged and in danger of collapse. I’m grateful this $1 million will help Louisianians demolish these unsafe buildings,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,009,182 to Lafourche Parish for the demolition of homes that Hurricane Ida severely damaged.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) in introducing the Laken Riley Act to require the Biden administration’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses.
“There’s no reason that Laken Riley’s accused murderer was allowed to walk free after officials arrested him for other crimes. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas may be determined to let dangerous lawbreakers come here illegally and roam our communities, but Congress isn’t. The Laken Riley Act would get criminal aliens out of our country before they further victimize innocent Americans,” said Kennedy.
The Laken Riley Act is named after a 22-year-old nursing student whom an illegal immigrant allegedly murdered. Prior to Riley’s murder, the suspect had been arrested for shoplifting, but ICE did not detain him. The legislation would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft or similar offenses until they are removed from the country.
The Laken Riley Act would also ensure that states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who do not enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
The legislation is a companion bill to the House of Representative’s H.R. 7511, which passed last week in a bipartisan vote of 251-170.
“Make no mistake—Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy. I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately,” said Britt.
Background:
- In February, Kennedy demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about why Riley’s suspected murderer was paroled into the U.S.
- Earlier this month, Kennedy called for the Senate take up impeachment charges against Mayorkas. The House of Representatives charged Mayorkas for his failure to make case-by-case parole determinations for illegal immigrants.
- In Nov. 2023, Kennedy helped introduce the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would require the DHS to disclose catch-and-release data, including the number of migrants that the Biden administration has paroled into the country.
Full text of the Laken Riley Act is available here.
Kennedy announces $1.6 million in Hurricane Ida aid for Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority
Mar 13 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,575,627 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Ida left many in southeast Louisiana without a safe place to work. I’m grateful this $1.6 million will help cover the costs of temporary offices in Houma,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,575,627 to the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority for the creation and use of temporary offices in response to Hurricane Ida.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4,281,920 in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Louisiana disaster aid.
“When waterways overflow, Louisianians’ homes and businesses are at risk of serious damage. I’m grateful to see that this $4.3 million will reduce the risk of flooding in Concordia Parish,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $4,281,920 for the second phase of the Lake St. John and Lake Concordia Drainage Project, which will help alleviate flooding in the northern portion of Concordia Parish.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Patients Choice Act of 2024 to prevent the Biden administration from restricting short-term, limited duration insurance plans (STLDI) for consumers.
In July 2023, the Biden administration announced a proposed rule to roll back a Trump-administration era policy that allows consumers to buy short-term, affordable health care insurance policies that last for up to 12 months. Trump’s policy allows consumers to renew such plans so that they can access coverage for up to three years. The Biden administration’s rule would limit STLDI contract periods to just four months.
“President Biden’s rule would limit Americans’ freedom to get affordable, short-term health insurance plans that fit their needs. The Patients Choice Act would make sure bureaucrats can’t force Louisianians to pay more for insurance through Obamacare,” said Kennedy.
Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“These insurance plans are designed to provide Americans with temporary, limited, and affordable health coverage while they search for more permanent solutions. This bill stops the Department of Health & Human Services, Labor, and Treasury from imposing burdensome regulations on Americans,” said Self.
STLDI plans allow Americans to access short-term, affordable coverage while they transition from one form of health insurance to another. Currently, STLDI plans provide coverage to more than 1 million Americans.
The Patients Choice Act of 2024 would:
- Stop the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Treasury and Department of Labor from implementing or enforcing its proposed rule.
- Codify the Trump-administration era regulations, which allow STLDI plans to last for 12 months and give consumers the option of renewing or extending coverage for up to 36 months.
Full text of the Patients Choice Act of 2024 is available here.
WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed a bill package including Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) amendment to protect veterans’ Second Amendment rights from bureaucrats at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“Unelected bureaucrats shouldn’t be able to strip veterans of their Second Amendment rights unilaterally. The Senate did the right thing for veterans and all freedom-loving Americans by passing my amendment today,” said Kennedy.
Current law requires the VA to send a veteran’s name to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) whenever a fiduciary is appointed to help that veteran manage his or her VA benefits. Placement on NICS blocks veterans from purchasing or owning firearms.
Because unelected bureaucrats at the VA ultimately decide—without a court ruling—whether veterans receive help from a fiduciary and therefore end up in NICS, current law denies veterans due process and infringes on veterans’ right to bear arms.
Kennedy’s amendment included in today’s package changes current law to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from sending a veteran’s personal information to NICS unless a judge rules that the veteran is a danger to himself or others.
Background
- In the 116th Congress, Kennedy introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.
- In the 118th Congress, Kennedy and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) re-introduced the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act with six co-sponsors.
- In Oct. 2023, the Senate passed an amendment based on the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. The same language passed into law as part of a package in March 2024.
WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement on the funding bill that makes important cuts to federal programs and makes investments in Louisiana’s economy.
“Government shutdowns are catastrophic, and this bill keeps the government up and running. It turns Louisiana’s priorities into realities. Our jobs, our communities and our freedom are a focus of this bill,” said Kennedy.
The bill also includes Kennedy’s language protecting veterans’ Second Amendment rights. Kennedy successfully amended the bill to include a provision based on his veterans Second Amendment Protection Act. This provision would prevent veterans from losing their right to purchase or own firearms when they receive help managing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
“Veterans who sacrificed to defend our Constitution shouldn’t see their own rights rest on the judgment of unelected bureaucrats—but right now, they do. The Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act would stop government workers from stripping veterans of their Second Amendment rights just because they get a helping hand to manage their hard-earned VA benefits,” Kennedy explained.
Current law infringes on veterans’ right to bear arms because the VA is required to send a veteran’s name to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) whenever a fiduciary is appointed to help that veteran manage his or her VA benefits. Placement on NICS blocks veterans from purchasing or owning firearms.
Because unelected bureaucrats at the VA ultimately decide—without a court ruling—whether veterans receive help from a fiduciary and therefore end up in NICS, current law denies veterans due process.
Because today’s package includes Kennedy’s legislation, it would prohibit the VA Secretary from transmitting a veteran’s personal information to NICS unless a judge has ruled that the person is a danger to himself or others.
Louisiana priorities secured in the bill:
- $36.5 million to provide the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway the resources it needs to maintain the 200-mile commercial artery. The funding will prevent a dam-safety emergency or navigation loss at the Boggs Lock and Dam, which would cut off all access between the waterway and the Mississippi River.
- $15 million to move planning, environmental and engineering work for the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor forward. The corridor is an elevated roadway along the 40 Arpent Canal that will connect Lower St. Bernard to the interstate system.
- $13.4 million to build an athletic track and field at Fort Polk in Vernon Parish, La. to support troop readiness.
- $7 million to construct an addition to Barksdale Air Force Base’s medical facility to relieve overcrowding and reduce wait times. The medical facility is currently 52% over its capacity.
- $6.7 million to plan and design a dormitory for Security Forces Airmen to support more personnel at the new weapons generation facility at Barksdale Air Force Base.
- $6 million to provide Ruston, La. with initial construction planning for the first phase of a new service road that will connect Ruston to Grambling, La.
- $4 million to give vehicles access to the 8th District U.S. Coast Guard Station in Venice, La. Currently, this vital roadway needs serious improvements because it regularly floods, which prevents access to the Coast Guard station.
- $3 million to upgrade and modernize to the original National World War II Museum’s 23-year-old D-Day Invasion of Normandy building and its exhibitions.
WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that Ariel Clarke will accompany him to this year’s State of the Union address.
Clarke is a second generation American whose parents came to the U.S. from Jamaica. She has lived in Washington for 19 years, and she works in the Senate as part of the AbilityOne Program.
“It’s my honor to bring Ariel as my guest to the State of the Union. She has a positive attitude and brings joy to Russell’s fourth floor, where we both work. A great deal of what lawmakers do in the Capitol isn’t possible without the work of the AbilityOne team, and I am always grateful to them,” said Kennedy.
“I’m excited to go to the State of the Union to bring light to what Goodwill actually is and what we stand for,” said Clarke.
Clarke has more than four years of experience working for Goodwill of Greater Washington. She began her role in the Russell Senate Office Building three years ago, supporting senators, staff and constituents as a custodian.
The AbilityOne Program is an independent federal initiative that helps people with disabilities attain meaningful employment. The AbilityOne Program employs roughly 40,000 individuals—including more than 2,500 veterans—who are blind or otherwise disabled.
This year marks the fifth time Kennedy has invited a Senate custodian as his guest for the president’s State of the Union address.
