WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved record funding for the Army Corps of Engineers. This funding package will allow the Corps to tackle critical programs and projects, including important flood control and dredging work in Louisiana.
The Fiscal Year 2018 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill contains $6.2 billion in funding for the Army Corps of Engineers.
“As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, I have fought to secure funding that is vital to Louisiana families and businesses,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Waterways are to Louisiana what the oil wells are to Texas and the orange groves are to California. They are our lifeblood, but they also must be safeguarded and maintained. This bill accomplishes that. I will work with Lt. Gen. Semonite to ensure that Louisiana’s priorities are met. My work on behalf of Louisiana isn’t over.”
Sen. Kennedy’s priorities going forward include:
- Finishing the Comite River Diversion Canal.
- Dredging Louisiana’s shipping channels, from Calcasieu to the Atchafalaya, to the Mississippi River to the Red River all the way down to the Houma Navigational Canal.
- Ensuring that homes and businesses across Louisiana are better protected from devastating flooding.
- Investing in and maintaining water-centered commerce and infrastructure.
Bill Highlights:
Army Corps of Engineers- Provides record funding of $6.2 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers. Included in the funding is the following:
- Provides $1.7 billion for their construction account.
- The Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project can compete for funding from a $20 million pool in order to continue construction in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes.
- Provides $3.48 billion for the Corps Operation and Maintenance account.
- At least $160 million will be dedicated to levee protection, dredging, river bed cleanup and debris removal in Louisiana.
- Provides $375 million for the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MRT) account.
- The operation and maintenance of the Tensas Basin, the Atchafalaya Basin, the Baton Rouge Harbor, Bayou Cocodrie, Bonnet Care and other tributaries will benefit.
- Provides $1.34 billion the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). This represents a $40 million increase from last year.
Delta Regional Authority- The bill provided $25 million, which includes $10 million set aside for flood control, basic public infrastructure development and transportation improvements for the eight states of the Delta region, which include Louisiana.
- To date, the Delta Regional Authority has invested in more than 200 projects providing more than $28 million in projects in Louisiana.
Department of Energy- This bill also provides stable funding for the Department of Energy. The bill prioritizes and increases funding for energy programs that encourage U.S. economic competitiveness and that will advance an “all-of-the-above” solution to U.S. energy independence.
- Includes $4 million to support the U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence. This program was created after the passage of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014.
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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will allocate a total of $326,930 in funds to help Louisiana fight the opioid epidemic. This is in addition to the $8.1 million Sen. Kennedy helped secure for Louisiana in April.
“Opioid addiction is a dire problem in our state, and we must work together to help our Louisiana families who are battling this epidemic,” said Sen. Kennedy. “I am grateful for these funds that will allow us to continue to fight against opioid related deaths and prevent families from being torn apart.”
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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that FEMA will invest $7.7 million in funds for the elevation and reconstruction of 83 additional properties in Jefferson Parish, specifically in and around Lafitte. The elevation and reconstruction of these structures will improve flood-resistant housing and significantly reduce the potential of those structures to sustain flood damage.
“This is a smart use of money through FEMA,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Lafitte has experienced 14 tropical storms in the last 25 years. These people have experienced a lot of damage and it’s about time they see some relief so they’re not fearful every time it rains.”
“It’s a wonderful thing what Sen. Kennedy and the rest of the delegation has done to help Lafitte,” said Mayor Kerner. “With all of the important things that are going on around the world, it means a lot that Lafitte is still a top priority.”
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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) voted this week in favor of record-shattering funding for U.S. troops, veterans and their families and critical infrastructure projects on military bases.
“I’m as fiscally conservative as they come, but I will not skimp on funding for our troops and our veterans,” said Sen. Kennedy. “As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I want to ensure that our troops and our veterans receive top notch medical care and that we maintain Barksdale Air Force Base, Fort Polk and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in Belle Chasse by investing in important infrastructure projects critical to their mission.”
The FY2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill was the first appropriations bill to come before the Senate Committee on Appropriations. It was unanimously approved. The highlights of the bill include:
- $70.1 billion for VA medical care, including treatment of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, women veterans and traumatic brain injury patients.
- $9.5 billion for military construction projects on bases in the U.S. and around the world. This is a $1.8 billion increase from FY2017.
- $1.4 billion for military family housing.
- $556 million for medical facilities that care for 9.8 million people as well as injured troops abroad.
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U.S. Sen. Kennedy (R-La.) Announces Nearly $1 Million To Help Dozens of Businesses in West Monroe
Jul 14 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that the Economic Development Administration will spend nearly $1 million to resolve a flooding problem that is impacting 47 businesses at West Monroe Industrial Park.
“This money will be used to build a storm water and drainage system at the Industrial Park,” said Sen. Kennedy. “A number of businesses are experiencing flooding problems that threaten their economic viability. When business suffers, jobs suffer.”
To learn more about the EDA’s funding process, please visit www.eda.gov.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) announced today that the latest version of the health care bill corrects a funding issue that would have treated Louisiana unfairly compared to other states.
“This unfair treatment would have cost Louisiana $2 billion in health care funding. This was a legitimate issue that needed to be fixed, and I’m pleased to say it has been,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Now we can focus on creating a health care system that actually works.”
“The problem with Obamacare is that it picks winners and losers. As we repeal and replace Obamacare we need to do so with something that is fair to all Americans. This draft resolves a Louisiana specific issue and I look forward to working to ensure it meets all of President Trump’s goals,” said Sen. Cassidy.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), while questioning the nominee for FBI director, Christopher Wray, today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, secured a promise that the potential FBI director will help New Orleans’ growing crime problem.
“We have an extraordinary crime problem in New Orleans. The city is rapidly becoming the murder and armed robbery capital of the western hemisphere. Something needs to change before New Orleans becomes the next Detroit,” said Sen. Kennedy. “That’s why I asked Mr. Wray if I could count on him to give the city of New Orleans advice and help with our growing crime problem. Because right now the city of New Orleans is losing its fight against crime.”
Mr. Wray responded to the Senator’s request saying: “Sen. (Kennedy), you can count on me to take a hard look and figure out how we can be more effective in New Orleans.”
To watch Sen. Kennedy’s questioning of Christopher Wray, click below:
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U.S. Sen. Kennedy Announces $45.4 Million In Funding For Coastal Restoration and Gulf Ecosystem
Jul 12 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that Louisiana will benefit from more than $45 million in funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for coastal projects.
The funding includes:
- $28,785,121 to restore 380 acres of coastal marsh habitat and protect the marsh from damaging wind-generated waves. This project is located in Cameron Parish.
- $16.7 million to protect fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. The funding will focus on the sustainability of Bluefin tuna, blue crabs, oysters and other species found in the Gulf. LSU will receive $2 million of the overall funding to assess how marshes are influenced by river diversions.
“Our coastal marsh habitats and the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem are the bread and butter of many Louisiana families, and they have been for generations,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Future generations are depending on us to sustain this way of life through science and research.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate leadership have granted a request by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Sens. Perdue, Daines, Strange, Tillis, Ernst, Lankford, Rounds, Sullivan and Lee to work during the August recess.
“I’m pleased Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate leadership have agreed to delay the August recess for two weeks. I would prefer to stay the entire month of August, but I will take what I can get. This delay of recess is not just about health care, it’s about tax reform, infrastructure, the debt ceiling, the budget, and the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program,” said Sen. Kennedy. “I am ready to work in order to deliver meaningful results to the American people.”
Click the photo below to watch the Senator’s comments on the delay of August recess on Fox News:
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U.S. Sen. Kennedy Announces $1.5 Million Investment Award From The Economic Development Administration
Jul 10 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will invest $1.5 million in funds for the construction of road infrastructure to support the expansion of Venable Lane from US Highway 165 to the new entrance linking CenturyLink Village at the IBM Building.
“This money is critical for commercial as well as industrial development for Northeast Louisiana,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This money will create 80 jobs and preserve 94 jobs. Private industry is contributing $20 million, making this a true public-private partnership.”
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