Senate passes Kennedy-backed bill to bring transparency to Louisianians about grants process
Dec 04 2024
WASHINGTON – The Senate passed the Grant Transparency Act, a bill that Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) cosponsored. It now moves to the president’s desk for consideration.
The Grant Transparency Act would require government agencies to give Americans who apply for competitive grant applications more information about the selection process.
“Louisianians deserve to know how the government chooses competitive grant recipients. The president should move quickly to sign the Grant Transparency Act into law so that applicants can better understand how organizations can access this crucial funding,” said Kennedy.
“Grant applicants often don’t have enough information to know why they are not awarded a competitive grant despite meeting all of the criteria. The Grant Transparency Act would require government agencies to shine a light on how they decide between applicants behind closed doors, and I urge the President to swiftly sign it into law,” said Cornyn, who introduced the bill.
The legislation would require a Notice of Funding Opportunities for competitive grants to include a description of selection criteria, a statement from the agency about whether it used a weighted scoring method for the competitive grant and any other approach the agency used to evaluate the applicants.
Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) also cosponsored the bill.
The full bill text is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today introduced the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Expansion Act to increase the annual contribution limit for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) so that Americans can afford child or dependent care while they work.
Between 2018 and 2022, child care costs in Louisiana rose more than 11%.
“Louisianians work tirelessly, but many still struggle to afford the rising cost of caring for a child or loved one. The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Expansion Act would help Americans save more money so that they can continue to provide for their families while managing caretaking expenses,” said Kennedy.
A Dependent Care FSA is a pre-tax benefit account that allows Americans to save for dependent care expenses such as preschool, daycare for children or adults, babysitting or elder care.
Under current law, the maximum contribution limit for a Dependent Care FSA is $5,000 per year if the filer is married and filing a joint tax return or if the filer is single. The annual limit is $2,500 if the filer is married and filing a separate tax return.
Kennedy’s legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the amount of Americans’ income that can be tax-exempt by expanding the Dependent Care FSA annual contribution limit to $7,500 per household, per year for a married person making a joint filing or to $3,750 for a person who is married but filing separately.
The full bill text is available here.
Kennedy announces $3.7 million in disaster aid for Tangipahoa, Jefferson, Tensas Parishes
Dec 02 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $3,732,973 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Louisianians depend on back-up power when harsh weather hits. This $3.7 million will fund the purchase of emergency generators for Tangipahoa, Jefferson and Tensas Parishes,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,285,560 for the purchase and installation of 15 portable generators in Jefferson Parish.
- $1,250,940 for the purchase and installation of eight permanent and two portable generators in Tangipahoa Parish.
- $1,000,000 for the purchase and installation of 12 permanent industrial generators, switches, the associated foundation pads and security fencing in Tensas Parish.
- $71,420 to Jefferson Parish for management costs associated with the purchase of 15 emergency generators.
- $69,497 to Tangipahoa Parish for management costs associated with the purchase of 10 emergency generators.
- $55,556 to Tensas Parish for management costs associated with the purchase of 10 emergency generators.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $13,491,124 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricanes Laura and Ida left south Louisiana with bad damage. This $13.5 million will help our communities rebuild and recover,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $6,509,261 to the Louisiana Children’s Medical Center to repair Hurricane Ida damage to East Jefferson General Hospital buildings.
- $3,262,494 to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for office building repairs resulting from Hurricane Laura.
- $1,312,837 to Office of Risk Management to repair Hurricane Ida damage to the Barataria Landbridge Shoreline Protection Project.
- $1,270,732 to Lafourche Parish Fire District 3 to repair Hurricane Ida damage to the Central Fire Station headquarters building.
- $1,135,800 to the Office of Risk Management to repair Hurricane Ida damage to marsh habitat.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $9,468,698 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricanes Laura and Ida left behind massive damage to key utilities across south Louisiana. This $9.5 million will help Louisianians cover the costs of restoring education facilities, streetlights, utility poles and water control structures,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $4,020,823 to the Office of Risk Management to repair Hurricane Laura damage and provide greater resilience to Grand Chenier water control structures.
- $3,567,010 to the Office of Risk Management to repair Hurricane Ida damage to facilities on Southeastern Louisiana University campuses.
- $1,880,865 to the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association to repair Hurricane Ida damage to streetlights and utility poles.
Kennedy, Warnock introduce bipartisan bill to research fiber optic cable connection to Africa
Nov 22 2024
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in introducing the DiasporaLink Act. The legislation would direct the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to research the feasibility of building an undersea fiber optic cable between the U.S. and Africa.
“Every day, China is laying the groundwork to dominate Africa by controlling internet infrastructure. Beijing is building undersea cables for intelligence transmission, financial transactions and more. This bipartisan bill would help the U.S. defend American interests and support our friends in Africa against the predations of Communist China,” said Kennedy.
“This bipartisan effort is a crucial first step in strengthening America’s global leadership in the telecommunications space–something that impacts our daily lives in an increasingly digital world–and I am proud to work across the aisle with Senator Kennedy to get it done. If constructed, this cable would be an investment in both a physical connection and stronger diplomatic and economic connections between the United State and African nations, and in turn bolster America’s national security by curbing China’s growing influence after years of activity in the region,” said Warnock.
Background:
- There are currently more than 500 undersea fiber optic cables that transmit data around the globe. However, none provide a direct connection between the U.S. and countries in Africa.
- China is rapidly expanding its influence in Africa, including by investing billions into telecommunications infrastructure.
- The DisporaLink Act would provide valuable research to the U.S. about how important and feasible it is to build a direct undersea fiber optic cable line that connects the U.S. and Africa.
- A direct undersea cable would support U.S. national security by strengthening ties between the U.S. and African nations as well as providing an alternative to the Chinese technology that often indebts developing countries to the communist nation.
Kennedy supports Trump admin’s efforts to protect Diego Garcia military base from China
Nov 21 2024
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) supported the Trump administration’s early efforts to prevent America’s Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands from falling into the hands of Mauritius, a small island nation with close ties to China. Kennedy argued that the U.S. must do all it can to prevent the United Kingdom (U.K.) from ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, to Mauritius.
Key excerpts from the speech are below:
“America has a military base in the Chagos Islands. . . . One of the islands is called Diego Garcia, and we built a military base here. And it is not just any military base. It is an extraordinarily important military base. Our military base is one of the few in the world where our military can reload submarines—hugely important.”
. . .
“Now, why am I talking about this military base? Because President Biden and Vice President Harris . . . are giving away this military base. They're giving it away.”
. . .
“Why? I mean, no offense, but that’s cell-deep stupid. Why? Mauritius and the Chagos Islands don't have a relationship anymore, and we’ve got a military base here. I'll tell you why: The United Nations. . . . They have scolded the United Kingdom. They said the United Kingdom is a colonizer, and the people of the United Kingdom are bad people.
“Now, remember, this is coming from the United Nations. This is the same United Nations that has [had] the following countries on its Human Rights Council: Somalia, Iraq, Venezuela, China. That's who thinks we ought to get rid of this military base.”
. . .
“China says, ‘Fine. That sounds good to us.’ Why? Because, number one, China has already started currying favor with Mauritius. And, number two, Mauritius will now be in charge of the security of the Chagos Islands and our military base and the waters surrounding it. China—Xi Jinping—he's as happy as a gopher in soft dirt. He'll be hacking the Mauritius security as soon as the trade is made.
“This foreign policy crisis is being prosecuted right now . . . and it's going on all because of President Biden. All because President Biden and Vice President Harris want to appease the United Nations and China.”
Background
- On October 3, the U.K announced that it had reached a deal with Mauritius to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia. The transfer of the islands followed a years-long pressure campaign from the United Nations.
- The Biden administration reportedly pressured the United Kingdom to enter the deal with Mauritius before the American and Mauritian elections took place.
- On October 23, 2024, Kennedy sent a letter to 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 October 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.
- Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump’s nominee for National Security Advisor, recently said, “Should the U.K. cede control of the Chagos to Mauritius, I have no doubt that China will take advantage of the resulting vacuum.”
- Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, 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 remarks here.
Kennedy demands answers about FEMA employee who denied hurricane assistance to Trump supporters
Nov 20 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today joined Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in demanding answers from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administer Deanne Criswell regarding reports that an employee purposely avoided assisting Hurricane Milton disaster victims because of their political affiliation.
“We are writing today to express our deep concern over recent reports that a U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee advised disaster assistance teams in Florida responding to Hurricane Milton to avoid homes that had yard signs supporting President-Elect Donald Trump,” the senators wrote.
“For a FEMA employee to withhold aid or support from a household due to political affiliation is unacceptable and frankly reprehensible. While there are many dedicated public servants who are working around the clock to help disaster survivors at their most vulnerable point, it is clear that FEMA has fallen well short of its core mission to provide disaster relief to all Americans impacted by a natural disaster,” they continued.
“The idea that citizens, whose tax dollars fund FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DFR) and pay FEMA officials’ salaries, may be purposely excluded from vitally needed aid is chilling and further erodes many people’s already tenuous trust in this administration. . . . We demand answers, accountability, and transparency to hold your agency accountable to the American people and ensure that FEMA employees are providing support to all victims,” the senators explained.
The senators are seeking answers from Criswell regarding:
- The number of houses that FEMA bypassed during the agency’s Hurricane Milton response,
- when FEMA became aware of the employee’s misconduct,
- what steps the agency will take to investigate the claim that FEMA officials told employees to avoid of households based on their political affiliation and
- what laws FEMA believes its employees may have violated.
Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
View Kennedy’s remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today released the following statement on how to grow the U.S. economy to help Louisianians and all Americans after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris caused record-high inflation.
Kennedy’s key remarks are below.
“We've got to grow our way out of these high prices.”
. . .
“That’s another way of saying that we have got to stimulate our economy so that income and wages go up and so people will have more money to be able to afford the products that now are priced higher because of President Biden and Vice President Harris's inflation.”
. . .
“The idea was that if we let people keep more of their money, they would invest it and stimulate the economy and grow it, and we'd all be better off—and it worked,” Kennedy said, explaining the impetus behind the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
. . .
“Over the first three years of President Trump's term, our economy grew between 8 and 9% after we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. After we passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the median household income—that means basically the average household income in America—increased over two years by $5,000.”
. . .
“If you want to increase wealth, you've got to increase output. How do you increase output? By reducing taxes and reducing regulation. When you tax something, you get less of it. When you regulate something, you get less of it. When you tax and regulate less, you get more of it.”
. . .
“We're going to beat these high prices by getting America growing again and getting wages growing again.”
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
Senate passes Kennedy, Cassidy-backed bill to name Rayville post office after Luke Letlow
Nov 20 2024
WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed a bill that Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) supported to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 103 Benedette Street in Rayville, La., as the "Luke Letlow Post Office Building." Kennedy helped lead the Senate version of the bill.
“Luke Letlow dedicated his career to improving the lives of Louisianians, and our state is very grateful for his life and contributions. Now that the Senate has passed our bill to rename the post office in Rayville after Luke, his memory will live on for years to come in Richland Parish,” said Kennedy.
Luke Letlow served Louisianians throughout his years of work in the congressional and gubernatorial offices of Bobby Jindal and later as the chief of staff to former Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-La.).
In 2020, Letlow was elected to represent Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional District but passed away from complications due to COVID-19 just five days before being sworn into office. He left behind his wife, Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), and two children, Jeremiah and Jacqueline.
“Luke’s death at too young of an age due to COVID robbed his family, Louisiana, and our nation of a man who served others his entire professional life. This post office naming memorializes his work, his life, and the tragedy of COVID,” said Cassidy.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) introduced the House’s legislation with the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Reps. Letlow, Clay Higgins (R-La.), Garrett Graves (R-La.) and Troy Carter (D-La.). The House passed H.R. 7423 in a bipartisan vote.
