MADISONVILLE, La. – The Save the Liberty Theatre Act, which Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced in the Senate and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) introduced in the House, was today signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill allows the city of Eunice to restore its historic Liberty Theatre.
“I’m grateful that we could finally get through a bureaucratic roadblock which has been blocking the restoration of the historic Liberty Theatre. The people of Eunice are finally free to start bringing the Liberty Theatre back to life,” said Kennedy.
The National Park Service owned a section of the Liberty Theatre that provides a handicap accessible entrance, but this ownership interest in the property has been hindering efforts to restore the theater. The Save the Liberty Theatre Act grants Eunice full ownership of the theater property so that the city can begin restoration efforts.
Text of the Save the Liberty Theatre Act is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $9,925,219 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants in disaster aid for Louisiana.
“Hurricanes Zeta and Ida tore through Louisiana and devastated many families. This $9.9 million will help our state recover from the damage,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $6,973,049 to Jefferson Parish for Public Assistance emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Zeta.
- $1,845,816 to the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Ida.
- $1,106,354 to the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Ida.
Kennedy leads members of Louisiana delegation in urging Biden admin to help crawfish farmers
Apr 18 2022
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today led members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation in urging Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to grant assistance to Louisiana crawfish farmers recovering from natural disaster damage.
The lawmakers point out that, in early 2021, Louisiana experienced a historic deep freeze that caused six deaths, damaged infrastructure and hit Louisiana’s crawfish industry.
“Crawfish require warm temperatures in order to flourish and grow. In fact, even a day or two of severe cold weather can significantly stunt their growth. As we saw, this historic winter freeze did not kill the crawfish, but instead substantially slowed down their growth, crippling supply at the beginning of the season. Later that year, while crawfish farmers were still recovering from losses, Hurricane Ida ripped through Louisiana causing tens of billions in property damage,” the lawmakers wrote.
“As you know, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or other loss conditions. In May 2021, we were relieved food fish and other aquatic species were granted eligibility to request ELAP assistance. While we’re encouraged to learn that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) began delivering this much needed assistance to our crawfish farmers just two weeks ago, we’ve since received several concerns from farmers whose applications have been denied due to the failure to report their acreage prior to the September deadline,” continued the lawmakers.
“We understand that acreage reporting is a normal practice for FSA programs, and traditional crop farmers are aware of the process, requirements, and deadlines. However, it is essential to note that crawfish farming is a unique, niche practice to which some producers’ first time engaging with FSA was for this purpose. . . . We urge you and the FSA Administrator to review this time-sensitive request and grant much needed assistance to our Louisiana crawfish farmers,” they concluded.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Reps. Clay Higgins (R-La.), Mike Johnson (R-La.), Julia Letlow (R-La.) and Steve Scalise (R-La.) also signed the letter.
The letter is available here.
Kennedy, Judiciary Republicans push for hearing on Title 42 public health order, impact on border crisis
Apr 14 2022
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and the other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to call for a Committee hearing about the potential consequences at the southern border of the Biden administration’s decision to rescind the Title 42 public health order.
“Termination of the Title 42 order will likely result in a large influx of migrants at the southern border–larger than the already record levels of illegal immigrant crossings currently taking place along the border. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz recently stated that there are already approximately 7,000 encounters per day with illegal immigrants crossing the border, and that the number of encounters is likely to pass the 1 million mark for the first 6 months of FY2022 alone,” the senators wrote.
“Given this reality, it is imperative that DHS have an effective and detailed plan in place to deal with such an influx before Title 42 is terminated. This is not a partisan issue, and senators of both parties have raised concerns about the Administration’s recent announcement that it will rescind the Title 42 order in May,” continued the senators.
“. . . we believe it is important that DHS develop an effective contingency plan, share the details of the plan with Congress, and come before the Judiciary Committee to discuss the plan and answer any questions committee members of both parties may have,” the senators concluded.
The letter is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has been awarded the title of “True Blue” member by Family Research Council Action (FRC Action). Kennedy scored 100 percent for his voting record in both 2020 and 2021, earning him two “True Blue” awards for his unwavering support of faith, family and freedom.
“I am proud to fight for Louisiana families and their values, and I’ll never stop defending life and our core freedoms,” said Kennedy.
Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins praised Kennedy’s record.
“We thank Sen. Kennedy for defending faith, family, and freedom. He has voted to reject the radical gender ideology that would overhaul our federal civil rights framework to mandate special privileges for sexual orientation and gender identity. He voted to protect women, the military, homeless shelters, and public restrooms from this harmful ideology. He has voted to protect the sanctity of human life for unborn babies, end taxpayer funding of abortion, and prevent additional taxpayer funding of abortion both domestically and overseas. He also voted to expand protections for conscience rights, reject the increasing acceptance of marijuana use, and reject pro-abortion, anti-family, judicial and executive appointments.
“Louisianans should be encouraged to know that they have a champion like Sen. Kennedy in Congress who, despite relentless attacks from the Left and the media, is standing strong for faith, family, and freedom,” concluded Perkins.
Kennedy, senators urge Biden not to remove Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from terrorist list
Apr 11 2022
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today led 13 other senators in urging President Joe Biden not to remove the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an Iranian terrorist group responsible for hundreds of American deaths.
“Not only would this removal be wildly misguided, but it would betray our partners and allies in the region—particularly Israel and the Gulf states. These allies and partners already hold concerns that the United States is reducing its regional presence. The enactment of such a deal would provide the Iranian regime access to funds that it would use to destabilize the region through terrorist proxies,” wrote the senators.
“When it comes to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the realities are grim. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is actively trying to kill U.S. politicians and public servants on U.S. soil—most notably, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for the deaths of more than 600 American troops in Iraq through the provision of lethal aid and improvised explosive devices to Iran-backed Shia militia groups. . . . The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has shown no meaningful change in conduct and is actively engaging in terrorist activities,” continued the senators.
The senators asked Biden several questions, including whether he believes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps no longer engages in terrorist activity or threatens U.S. security.
“We humbly request that you meet this test of resolve and conscience by publicly and categorically rejecting any discussion of delisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization,” the senators concluded.
Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) also signed the letter.
The senators also directed the letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The letter is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $51,781,894 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants in disaster aid for Louisiana.
“Louisianians are still feeling the devastation from Hurricanes Laura and Ida. This $51 million will help our state recover and ensure our communities are free from debris and other storm material,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $11,047,518 to Lake Charles, La. for debris removal related to Hurricane Laura.
- $10,228,210 to Terrebonne Parish for right of way debris removal and monitoring related to Hurricane Ida.
- $8,334,973 to Grant Parish for debris removal related to Hurricane Laura.
- $6,781,304 to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for alternate procedures debris removal related to Hurricane Laura.
- $4,498,007 to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Laura.
- $3,373,305 to Plaquemines Parish for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Ida.
- $2,715,239 to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Laura.
- $2,607,697 to Slidell, La. for right of way debris removal and monitoring related to Hurricane Ida.
- $1,116,669 to the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Ida.
- $1,078,972 to Welsh, La. for substation electrical repairs related to Hurricane Laura.
ICYMI: Kennedy: Biden war on energy may do irreparable damage to economy, national security
Apr 06 2022
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today cautioned against the Biden administration’s moves to throttle the production of American oil and gas, especially as Louisianians are suffering under historic inflation and rising gas prices.
Below are Kennedy’s remarks.
“As I have said before, the problem is that the oil is in Louisiana, and Texas, and Oklahoma, and Kansas, and North Dakota, and Alaska and in many other states, but the dipsticks are in Washington, DC.
“This is a problem of simple economics, and, in my opinion, the Biden administration will continue to kick its own ass politically and do what may be irreparable damage to the American people’s pocketbooks and standard of living—and to America’s national security—until the president transitions to an all-of-the-above energy policy.”
“Take national security: We know that it will be very difficult—if impossible—to defeat Putin until we cut off his cash flow. You can’t cut off his cash flow until you cut off his oil and gas exports. You can’t cut off his oil and gas sales, his exports—much of which go to Europe—until Europe has a way to replace the fossil fuels.
“America has a way to help Europe replace those fossil fuels. Except for one problem: The Biden administration has put its boot on the neck of the oil and gas industry, and, until the Biden administration takes it off, the American people and the Western world will continue to suffer.”
Video of Kennedy’s comments is available here.
Kennedy, Carper call for Kigali ratification
Apr 06 2022
WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) today urged the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to send the “Kigali Amendment” to the full Senate for ratification.
The Kigali Amendment would include a global phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are greenhouse gases.
“Ratification of the Kigali Amendment will further open up global markets to American-made products and will allow the federal government to further prevent illegal Chinese dumping of HFCs in the United States, which hurts U.S. businesses,” the senators wrote.
“Similarly, to the AIM Act, ratification of the Kigali Amendment is broadly supported across industry and environmental stakeholders, because these groups know ratification will be good for our economy, our planet, and our communities,” they continued.
Background on the Kigali Amendment
- In 2016, more than 170 countries agreed to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which requires an 85 percent phase down in HFCs over the next 15 years.
- HFCs have thousands of times more heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide, and the Kigali Amendment is widely seen as crucial to limiting global temperature rises in the coming decades.
- Beginning in 2033, the amendment will restrict trade between countries that have joined the agreement and those that have not.
- The Kigali Amendment has strong support from the U.S. business community and non-governmental organizations.
- China and India ratified the Kigali Amendment in the summer of 2021, and China is the world’s largest consumer and exporter of HFC products.
- U.S. ratification of the amendment would advance American interests by helping the U.S. remain a leader in the development and deployment of HFC alternatives.
- U.S. ratification will help generate 33,000 new American manufacturing jobs, increase America’s overall share of the global export market, and improve America’s balance of trade annually by $12.5 billion.
Background on the AIM Act
- Kennedy authored the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which became law in December 2020. The AIM Act gave American businesses a 15-year timeline for the phasedown of HFCs, which are commonly used in products such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
- The AIM Act defends jobs in the state of Louisiana and adds new ones by helping businesses and chemical plants in Geismar, Baton Rouge and St. Gabriel to transition to the use of safer coolants.
- The international heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration market is expected to more than double over the next decade. The AIM Act allows Louisiana to stay relevant in the global market for manufacturing jobs.
Read more about how the AIM Act benefits the environment and Louisiana jobs here.
The letter is available here.
ICYMI: Kennedy questions Army Corps of Engineers in Energy and Water Appropriations hearing
Apr 06 2022
Watch Kennedy’s remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today highlighted taxpayer interests at a subcommittee hearing focused on the Army Corps of Engineers.
Excerpts include:
“Hurricane Katrina, as we all know, was a Cat Five hurricane. It hit New Orleans, August 29th, 2005—not just New Orleans, it hit all of south Louisiana. . . . It caused unprecedented losses. We had 1800 fatalities, $125 billion in damage. There was a 28-foot storm surge, 85-foot waves.”
. . .
“The Corps improved approximately 70 miles of interior risk reduction structures within the levee that encircles the New Orleans metropolitan region. Among the Corps’ technically advanced engineering solutions, HSDRRS [Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System] now includes a surge barrier wall that’s 1.8 miles long. It’s an engineering marvel. It’s the largest design build Civil Works project in your history, one of the—maybe the largest in America’s history.
“HSDRRS also includes the largest drainage pump station in the world. HSDRRS works and has already spared lives and property, saved taxpayers millions of dollars in my area from expensive storm recovery. Last year, Hurricane Ida hit us. Category Four storm. It hit southeast Louisiana. Its surge would have overtopped our levees before your good work.”
Kennedy also had the following exchange with Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
Kennedy: “With the exception of a really small number of projects, less than one percent, is it not true that Congress doesn’t authorize construction of proposed Corps projects without a comprehensive study that can take up to years to complete, to determine if the project’s economically justified? Is that accurate?”
Spellmon: “Yes, sir.”
Kennedy: “That study’s also got to show that the project’s environmentally sound, right?”
Spellmon: “Yes, sir, that’s correct.”
Kennedy: “Technically feasible, is that correct?”
Spellmon: “Yes, Senator.”
Kennedy: “So, somebody just can’t call you folks up at the Corps and say, ‘I’ve got a project, and I want it done, and you better get it done.’ It doesn’t work that way, does it?”
Spellmon: “That’s correct, Senator. It does not.”
Kennedy: “Alright. And, in your years at the Corps, what percentage of all Corps projects have been authorized for congressional—by Congress—for construction without meeting this three-part test?”
Spellmon: “Sir, I’ve been with the Corps six-and-a-half years. I’m not aware of any.”
Kennedy: “Any? Every project has had to be economically justified, environmentally sound, and technically feasible, based on any objective study?”
Spellmon: “Senator, that’s correct.”
Kennedy: “Not by politicians?”
Spellmon: “That’s correct.”
. . .
Kennedy: “Ok. And, not to put too fine a point on it, but one of the things that the Corps looks at in this study, which can take years, is whether the taxpayers are getting a return on their investment. In other words, the benefits have to substantially outweigh the costs. Is that right?”
Spellmon: “Yes sir, that’s correct.”
Video of Kennedy’s comments is available here.
