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.
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.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the No Industrial Restrictions In Secret (No IRIS) Act to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using data from the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) to make rules that punish America’s chemical manufacturing industry.
“For four years, the Biden administration weaponized the EPA’s IRIS program against America’s chemical industry. My bill would prevent this kind of abuse from happening again and safeguard American businesses from government overreach,” said Kennedy.
The No IRIS Act would prohibit the federal government from using the IRIS to inform its rulemakings unless Congress explicitly authorizes the program.
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) is leading the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“Unelected bureaucrats have often disrupted the work of Wisconsin's chemical manufacturers and inhibited the success of the industry through the abuse of the EPA’s IRIS program. Instead of grounding regulatory decisions in sound science, IRIS has demonstrated a poor track record by issuing assessments that conflict with the industry’s best available scientific expertise and methodologies. The No IRIS Act will protect American jobs, promote innovation, and hold the EPA accountable for acting against the best interest of the industry and our economy,” said Grothman.
"American success relies on American chemistry. Computer chips, national defense, modern healthcare, housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and energy are all made possible by America’s chemical industry. Unfortunately, the EPA’s IRIS program puts many critical chemistries in jeopardy. The IRIS program has a troubling history of being out of step with the best available science and methods, lacking transparency, and being unresponsive to peer review and stakeholder recommendations. It’s time for Congress and EPA to take action and put sound science at the forefront of regulatory decision-making, and we applaud Senator Kennedy and Congressman Grothman for their leadership on this important issue,” said Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council.
Background:
- The EPA established the IRIS program in 1985 to gather data on how chemicals impact human health. The EPA designed the system to spot health hazards—not make policy.
- The IRIS program is not currently authorized in statute. As a result, unelected bureaucrats have abused the system to hurt chemical makers in Louisiana and across the country with virtually zero Congressional oversight.
- President Joe Biden’s EPA used unscientific methods in the IRIS to justify rules that hurt businesses and cost Americans their jobs.
- As of 2023, Louisiana was the second-largest chemical-producing state in the country, with its chemical industry paying $3.49 billion in wages.
The full bill text is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and 44 other colleagues in introducing the Death Tax Repeal Act to end the federal estate tax for Americans.
Current law requires Americans to pay the federal estate tax when a property, business or land is transferred to them after an individual passes away.
“The government shouldn’t discourage Louisiana’s farmers or landowners from keeping family businesses alive when a person passes away. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Death Tax Repeal Act to support America’s family-run businesses,” said Kennedy.
“Family farms and ranches play a vital role in our economy and are the lifeblood of rural communities in South Dakota. Losing even one of them to the death tax is one too many. It’s time to put an end to this punishing, burdensome tax once and for all so that family farms, ranches and small businesses can grow and thrive without costly estate planning or massive tax burdens that can threaten their viability,” said Thune.
Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) cosponsored the bill.
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives.
The full bill text is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in introducing the Simplifying Subcontracting Act to require the federal government to write subcontracting applications in plain, understandable language.
“Government agencies speak an entirely different language from the American people. The Simplifying Subcontracting Act would help Louisiana’s small business owners better compete for contracts by ending Washington’s bureaucratic terminology in the application process,” said Kennedy.
“Small businesses are vital to our economy but are often left out in federal government contracting due to overly complicated, bureaucratic language. The Simplifying Subcontracting Act requires certain federal government contracts to use plain language, enabling more small businesses to compete for these contracts,” said Risch.
Currently, overly technical and specialized language discourages many small businesses from applying for and entering into government contracts.
Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) also cosponsored the bill.
Kennedy first backed the bill in the 118th Congress, during which the Senate Small Business Committee approved it.
The full bill text is available here.
Kennedy introduces resolution to repeal Biden admin’s EPA rule targeting chemical manufacturing
Feb 13 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule targeting the use of trichloroethylene (TCE).
In Dec. 2024, the Biden administration published its final rule to prohibit all uses of TCE. TCE is a liquid chemical that is found in industrial cleaning products, lubricants, adhesives, sealants, paint and more.
“The Biden administration waged war against America’s chemical producers who provide critical products to many industries and help keep our economy running. Congress should move quickly to take off the handcuffs that President Biden placed on Louisiana and U.S. businesses,” said Kennedy.
Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives.
“The Biden rule for TCE is one of many examples of the Biden Administration’s overregulation. This regulation harms our national security, economy, and critical infrastructure and will cost jobs in my district, so we’re doing everything we can to stop it. I’m proud to partner with Senator Kennedy and get this over the finish line,” said Harshbarger.
The Biden administration’s rule classifies TCE as a regulated substance despite it being a byproduct of two different chemicals, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer. These chemicals can be found in pipes, flooring, medical devices and more. Kennedy’s resolution would repeal the EPA regulation to protect the manufacturing of products that Americans rely on daily.
The full resolution text is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,619,792 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana National Guard emergency protective measures and the restoration of a damaged building in Lafourche Parish.
“Louisiana communities depend on the Louisiana National Guard during disasters. This $2.6 million will help cover costs the Guard sustained during Hurricane Francine and restore a facility in Lafourche Parish that Hurricane Ida damaged,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,500,842 to the Louisiana Department of Military for emergency protective measures that the Louisiana National Guard undertook during Hurricane Francine.
- $1,118,950 to the Greater Lafourche Port Commission for repairs to the Galliano Main Administrative Office Building due to Hurricane Ida damage.
Kennedy: Congress should not be picking winners and losers in the news media by funding PBS, NPR
Feb 13 2025
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) argued that the federal government should not continue to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP), including the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR), on the Senate floor.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“It might have made sense many, many, many years ago for the federal government to subsidize and fund public broadcasting. Fifty years ago, that might have made sense, but the ability of the American people today to access whatever news they would like to hear from whatever form of media they choose is no longer limited. It is virtually unlimited—only by the imagination.
“So here is my question, Mr. President. . . . If all this is true, if media has changed and it is accessible to everyone, why is the U.S. Congress still spending half a billion dollars a year—not half a million a year—half a billion dollars a year to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting? It makes no sense.”
. . .
“Congress does not send taxpayer money to the most popular podcast host in America. We don’t. The anchors on Fox News, the anchors on CNN, the anchors on MSNBC, nor their stations—they don’t get any taxpayer dollars. Nor do any of the journalists that ask me questions every day in the hallway in this building—unless they work for NPR or PBS or their affiliates or the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Congress should not be picking winners and losers in the news media, but that is what we are doing.”
. . .
“President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency is looking for fat to trim, Mr. President. As far as I am concerned, this gravy train—this gravy train with biscuit wheels called the Corporation for Public Broadcasting—is the perfect example of a project the American people no longer need and should not fund.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
Kennedy introduces bipartisan bill to help rural small businesses secure capital, create jobs
Feb 13 2025
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act to help remove the hurdles that rural small businesses face when they try to access capital.
“Small businesses keep Louisiana’s economy running, and Congress should make sure our rural entrepreneurs aren’t facing unnecessary hurdles to securing capital. Our bill would help rural job creators get their businesses off the ground and better serve American communities,” said Kennedy.
The bill would amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require the Securities and Exchange Commission Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation to submit an annual report on the unique challenges rural businesses face when trying to secure capital. These reports would allow Congress to better weigh legislative action to expand small businesses’ access to capital.
Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) cosponsored the bill.
Kennedy previously introduced the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act in the 117th and 118th Congresses. The Senate passed the bill in the 118th Congress.
The full bill text is available here.
