Kennedy announces $10 million DOT grant for Lafayette’s University Avenue Corridor Project
Sep 10 2020
“Lafayette will benefit greatly from this investment in our infrastructure. I’m thankful that the DOT has prioritized building and revitalizing Louisiana roadways, especially as we work to recover from both a pandemic and Hurricane Laura.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement in response to the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s decision to award a BUILD grant to the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government. The $10 million grant will fund two components of the University Avenue Corridor Project.
“Lafayette will benefit greatly from this investment in our infrastructure. I’m thankful that the DOT has prioritized building and revitalizing Louisiana roadways, especially as we work to recover from both a pandemic and Hurricane Laura,” said Kennedy.
As part of the funding for two phases of the University Avenue Corridor Project, the grant will build a multi-lane roundabout at the Willow Street intersection and make the five-lane University Avenue into a four-lane road with a raised median between Walker Road and Wilshire Lane. The project will also construct a multi-lane roundabout at Alcide Dominique Drive. Additional improvements will include a landscaped pedestrian zone.
Kennedy wrote to the DOT in May in support of the Lafayette Consolidated Government’s application. His letter is available here.
Kennedy introduces bill to support Hurricane Laura recovery by increasing disaster relief fund
Sep 09 2020
“To help people rebuild their homes and businesses, I’ve introduced a bill to make sure FEMA’s disaster funding doesn’t run dry. Louisianians have worked hard for our state and our country, and they’re not going to walk through recovery alone.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today introduced the Hurricane Laura Recovery Funding Act to provide $10 billion to the Disaster Relief Fund, which funds FEMA’s recovery efforts.
“Hurricane Rita did massive damage to our state, and it looks like Hurricane Laura may eclipse that devastation. To help people rebuild their homes and businesses, I’ve introduced a bill to make sure FEMA’s disaster funding doesn’t run dry. Louisianians have worked hard for our state and our country, and they’re not going to walk through recovery alone,” said Kennedy.
The Disaster Relief Fund has $58 billion, though the account is currently providing resources for a number of emergencies, including the coronavirus pandemic. Federal unemployment costs due to COVID-19 alone account for approximately $44 billion in emergency funding.
Kennedy is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and the text of this bill is available here.
“As Louisiana begins to recover from Hurricane Laura, we must ensure residents have access to quality health care. This funding from HHS will support critical equipment and construction projects to help our health centers respond to and prepare for disasters.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,700,000 in funding to provide financial assistance to Louisiana health centers to ensure health care services for residents affected by Hurricane Laura. The Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provides this Capital Assistance for Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts funding.
“As Louisiana begins to recover from Hurricane Laura, we must ensure residents have access to quality health care. This funding from HHS will support critical equipment and construction projects to help our health centers respond to and prepare for disasters,” said Kennedy.
Projects supported by this funding include:
- $1,000,000 to support major construction at Morehouse Community Medical Centers, Inc. in Bastrop.
- $1,000,000 to support major construction at Access Health Louisiana in Luling.
- $250,000 to support construction at Southwest Louisiana Primary Health Care Center Inc. in Opelousas.
- $250,000 to support construction at Catahoula Parish Hospital District #2 in Sicily Island.
- $100,000 to provide new equipment to Rapides Primary Health Care Center, Inc. in Alexandria.
- $100,000 to provide new equipment to Primary Health Services Center in Monroe.
“I look forward to working with you in my capacity as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to identify the appropriate resource needs for a new courthouse in Lake Charles and secure the necessary funding for this courthouse and other Federal facilities damaged by Hurricane Laura.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, wrote to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to secure resources needed to build a new federal courthouse in Lake Charles. The Edwin F. Hunter, Jr. U.S. Courthouses suffered extensive damage when Hurricane Laura struck the coastal city.
“Following numerous conversations with court personnel and other Federal employees who work in the building, it has become abundantly clear to me that the devastating impacts of this storm warrant a new Federal courthouse in Lake Charles,” wrote Kennedy.
U.S. District Court operations for the Western District of Louisiana and other federal operations will not have suitable courtroom and office space for the foreseeable future.
“I look forward to working with you in my capacity as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to identify the appropriate resource needs for a new courthouse in Lake Charles and secure the necessary funding for this courthouse and other Federal facilities damaged by Hurricane Laura,” Kennedy told Murphy.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government has jurisdiction over GSA and the federal judiciary.
The letter is available here.
Kennedy urges IRS to extend tax filing date, expedite refunds for Hurricane Laura victims
Sep 07 2020
Kennedy, Cassidy, Cornyn, Cruz urge Senate leadership for emergency supplemental appropriations
Sep 04 2020
“Families and businesses affected by the hurricane must now contend with the difficulty of rebuilding their lives during a global pandemic. They warrant the Senate’s immediate attention and support during this critical time.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to request that the Senate consider emergency supplemental aid to help Louisiana and Texas residents recover from Hurricane Laura.
“In light of the destruction from Hurricane Laura, we write today to request the Senate consider emergency supplemental appropriations to ensure efficient and robust recovery operations in Louisiana and Texas,” wrote the senators.
With winds higher than 170 miles per hour, Hurricane Laura made landfall on August 27, 2020 as a category four storm.
“As it currently stands, without additional funding for these accounts, there may be insufficient funds to fully recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Laura. . . . Families and businesses affected by the hurricane must now contend with the difficulty of rebuilding their lives during a global pandemic. They warrant the Senate’s immediate attention and support during this critical time,” the senators continued.
The letter is available here.
“Even as we begin to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Laura, we can’t take our eyes off the opioid epidemic. Fighting opioid addiction remains a priority for Louisiana, and these HHS grants will help prevent, treat and promote recovery from substance abuse in our communities.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $17,637,461 in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support health projects around Louisiana, particularly to combat the opioid epidemic.
“Even as we begin to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Laura, we can’t take our eyes off the opioid epidemic. Fighting opioid addiction remains a priority for Louisiana, and these HHS grants will help prevent, treat and promote recovery from substance abuse in our communities,” said Kennedy.
Projects supported by this funding include:
- $17,262,461 to support the Louisiana State Opioid Response Program through the Louisiana State Office of Behavioral Health.
- $125,000 to support the Union Parish for Community Transformation program through Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, Inc.
- $125,000 to support the Bienville Community Coalition through Community Support Program of Louisiana, Inc.
- $125,000 to support youth substance abuse prevention in Latino communities through Metro Centers for Community Advocacy.
“Hurricane Laura severely damaged highways and roads throughout Louisiana. This DOT funding will help restore infrastructure we need to start reconnecting and rebuilding our state.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a $5 million grant from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration to repair highways and roads damaged by Hurricane Laura.
“Hurricane Laura severely damaged highways and roads throughout Louisiana. This DOT funding will help restore infrastructure we need to start reconnecting and rebuilding our state,” said Kennedy.
This funding is authorized by the major disaster declaration President Donald Trump issued for Louisiana in response to Hurricane Laura.
“Louisiana is committed to promoting the health of families and children, and I’m grateful for HHS’s support for the well-being of our communities. Louisianians across the state are recovering from Hurricane Laura, and every piece of help for these areas counts.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,689,026 in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support health projects around Louisiana.
“Louisiana is committed to promoting the health of families and children, and I’m grateful for HHS’s support for the well-being of our communities. Louisianians across the state are recovering from Hurricane Laura, and every piece of help for these areas counts,” said Kennedy.
Projects supported by this funding include:
- $2,239,026 to support the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program.
- $450,000 to support food safety and standards through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture.
“Administrator Gaynor heard me out today. More importantly, he listened to the plight of our people around Alexandria, and I’m thankful FEMA added Rapides Parish to the disaster declaration this evening.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) released the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today added Rapides Parish to the major disaster declaration issued for Louisiana. The addition makes Rapides residents eligible for individual assistance.
“Hurricane Laura hit south Louisiana hard, but it didn’t stop there. The destruction in south, central and north Louisiana is unlike any I’ve seen before. The only reasonable response from Washington is to expand the original disaster declaration to include other devastated parishes.
“Administrator Gaynor heard me out today. More importantly, he listened to the plight of our people around Alexandria, and I’m thankful FEMA added Rapides Parish to the disaster declaration this evening.
“There are still parishes that are struggling alone and need help from their fellow Americans, but there’s no end to how hard I’ll fight to get them the aid they deserve,” said Kennedy.
Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Sabine and Winn Parishes were also granted individual assistance through the disaster declaration.
On August 28, Kennedy led the Louisiana delegation in asking the president for a disaster declaration. The declaration releases funds for individual assistance, in order to help people and communities recover from damage that occurred during Hurricane Laura, from August 22 to August 27, 2020.
FEMA added Vernon Parish to the declaration on August 30, followed by Acadia, Ouachita and Vermilion Parishes. FEMA continues to assess the damage Hurricane Laura did to other parishes in order to make those communities eligible for more aid.
