Kennedy’s bill to give states flexibility to use CARES funds included in next coronavirus package
Jul 22 2020
“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.
“Louisiana’s future depends on the next generation of problem solvers, and this funding will help support important research and education projects to give our students the resources to succeed.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $4,076,892 in grant funding to help support education and research projects around Louisiana.
“Louisiana’s future depends on the next generation of problem solvers, and this funding will help support important research and education projects to give our students the resources to succeed,” said Kennedy.
Projects supported by this funding include:
- $2,715,141 from the Department of Health and Human Services to help support the Head Start program through the Iberville Parish School Board.
- $1,361,751 from the National Science Foundation to support the purchase of a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer to help train Louisiana State University students in spectroscopy, chemical and structural biology, microbiology, plant biology and biomaterial research.
Kennedy announces $1.7 million for Louisiana health providers, including Plaquemines Parish
Jul 21 2020
“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.
Kennedy statement on passing of Rep. John Lewis
Jul 18 2020
“John Lewis made America better. He believed in, and espoused in word and deed, the ideal of America as a color-blind meritocracy. Becky and I mourn his passing. Thank you, Congressman Lewis, for giving so much to our great country.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement on the passing of Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.):
“John Lewis made America better. He believed in, and espoused in word and deed, the ideal of America as a color-blind meritocracy. Becky and I mourn his passing. Thank you, Congressman Lewis, for giving so much to our great country.”
Kennedy announces $1.7 million FEMA grant for Acadia Parish residential elevation project
Jul 17 2020
“Hurricane season is here, so we have to be vigilant in protecting Louisiana properties from flood damage. This grant will help preserve housing for people who call Acadia Parish home.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a $1,743,685 FEMA grant to support a residential elevation project in Acadia Parish.
“Hurricane season is here, so we have to be vigilant in protecting Louisiana properties from flood damage. This grant will help preserve housing for people who call Acadia Parish home,” said Kennedy.
This funding is authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act. As required by FEMA and local ordinance, structures that have received repetitive flood damage will be elevated one foot above the base flood elevation.
“Medical professionals have gone above and beyond to mitigate this pandemic, and this $224 million in CARES Act funding will help give health care providers resources to continue saving lives in Louisiana.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on $223,580,330 in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help 47 hospitals respond to the coronavirus outbreak in Louisiana.
“Medical professionals have gone above and beyond to mitigate this pandemic, and this $224 million in CARES Act funding will help give health care providers resources to continue saving lives in Louisiana,” said Kennedy.
These payments are part of HHS’s delivery of $10 billion to hospitals with more than 161 coronavirus admissions between January 1 and June 10, 2020. These funds are provided under the authority of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
This funding includes $45,312,748 to Ochsner Medical Center. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center is receiving $43,843,357, while its children’s hospital is receiving an additional $800,000 in federal aid.
Additional information about this CARES Act funding is available here.
“Louisiana is working each day to promote the health of families and children, and this funding will help support key programs to protect the well-being of our communities.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,985,578 in federal funding to support health projects around Louisiana.
“Louisiana is working each day to promote the health of families and children, and this funding will help support key programs to protect the well-being of our communities,” said Kennedy.
Projects supported by this funding include:
- $2,609,141 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The grant is awarded to the Louisiana Department of Health.
- $376,437 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to support genetic research through Tulane University.
“It’s imperative that we continue to care for, and ensure the safety of, our children and their families during this pandemic. This funding will help reimburse DCFS for its response to the coronavirus.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a $1,153,375 FEMA grant to reimburse the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for the cost of emergency management responsibilities during the coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s imperative that we continue to care for, and ensure the safety of, our children and their families during this pandemic. This funding will help reimburse DCFS for its response to the coronavirus,” said Kennedy.
DCFS’s emergency management responsibilities include providing staff liaisons to the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security, managing its emergency operation center and operating warehouses for medical monitoring and coronavirus isolation sites. This funding is authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Act.
“President Trump has always made certain that Louisiana gets the resources we need to fight COVID-19. We’re thankful for this supply of remdesivir and for the lives it will help.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s securing a shipment of the coronavirus therapeutic remdesivir to help treat patients in Louisiana.
“President Trump has always made certain that Louisiana gets the resources we need to fight COVID-19. We’re thankful for this supply of remdesivir and for the lives it will help,” said Kennedy.
On July 13, Louisiana will receive 60 cases of remdesivir, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use authorization for treating hospitalized coronavirus patients.
“Louisiana’s health and education systems are working each day to adapt to the coronavirus outbreak, and these grants will help support key programs and services to help Louisianians build healthy futures.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $57,834,112 in federal funding to help support health and education projects around Louisiana.
“Louisiana’s health and education systems are working each day to adapt to the coronavirus outbreak, and these grants will help support key programs and services to help Louisianians build healthy futures,” said Kennedy.
Projects supported by this funding include:
- $51,033,433 from FEMA to help reimburse Ochsner Medical Center for completing construction of its west tower facility in Jefferson Parish to increase capacity for coronavirus patients.
- $3,021,520 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help support maternal and child health services through the Louisiana Department of Health.
- $1,584,468 from HHS to help support the Head Start and Early Head Start programs through Total Community Action, Inc.
- $930,680 from HHS to help support The Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth Innovation and Impact Network through the Policy and Research Group.
- $700,000 from HHS to help support the Louisiana Zero Suicide Initiative through the Louisiana State Office of Behavioral Health.
- $318,967 from HHS to help support tubular lysosomes in health and disease research at Louisiana State University A&M.
- $130,592 from HHS to help expand capacity for coronavirus testing through Acadiana Cares, Inc.
- $114,452 from HHS to help expand capacity for coronavirus testing through Greater Ouachita Coalition Providing Aids Resources & Education, Inc.
