Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Copyright Protections for Artists
May 02 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced Wednesday the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act, S.1273. This bipartisan legislation establishes the Copyright Claims Board at the Copyright Office to make it easier and less expensive for creators, like photographers, musicians and graphic designers, to defend their intellectual property from theft.
Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
“Creative ideas are your property, whether you’re a photographer or an independent movie director,” said Sen. Kennedy. “It shouldn’t cost you a fortune to protect your creativity from copyright infringement. This bill creates a legal avenue for artists to pursue copyright violations more quickly and less expensively. Louisiana’s rich culture and history are rooted in the successes of talented artists, musicians and authors. We need to make sure that Americans’ creative spirit is preserved and protected.”
“Independent artists who rely on copyright laws to protect their work play an important role in our communities, but the current system makes it difficult for them to receive damages in a cost-effective manner,” said Sen. Tillis. “This bipartisan bill will provide a more efficient way for copyright holders to protect their intellectual property and ensure that our content creators can be properly paid when their work is used without authorization.”
“I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing the CASE Act, which will provide individual content creators and small businesses with the option of using a small claims Copyright Office tribunal to address infringement claims. Copyright infringements that involve several thousand dollars in damages can have a huge impact on an individual creator or small business, but claims this size are rarely brought in federal court. Our bill would create a voluntary small claims process to allow content creators to seek meaningful recourse for their small dollar claims,” said Sen. Durbin. “We have worked to make this bill fair to all participants in the copyright system, and we look forward to advancing it in both the House and Senate this Congress.”
“In its current form, the copyright system leaves no practical way for many creators to protect their rights as copyright holders. Federal district court litigation is simply too expensive and too complex for small photographers, artists, and the like to pursue valid claims against copyright infringers. The result is a system where those who rely most on their copyrighted works for their livelihoods are forced to sit back and watch while others use those copyrighted works free of charge,” said Sen. Hirono. “The CASE Act will go a long way toward fixing this situation. By creating the Copyright Claims Board, the CASE Act establishes a venue where small creators can actually enforce their intellectual property rights and finally bear the fruit of their work.”
On Wednesday, Sen. Kennedy met with country music artist Raelynn and members of the Nashville Songwriters Association to discuss the positive impacts of the CASE Act on the music industry.
Supporters of the CASE Act include:
- American Association of Independent Music
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- American Photographic Artists
- American Society for Collective Rights Licensing
- American Society of Journalists and Authors
- American Society of Media Photographers
- Association of American Publishers
- Authors Guild
- Copyright Alliance
- Digital Media Licensing Association
- Dramatists Guild of America
- Future of Music Coalition
- Garden Communicators International
- Graphic Artists Guild
- Horror Writers’ Association
- Nashville Songwriters Association International
- National Press Photographers Association
- National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981
- News Media Alliance
- North American Nature Photography Association
- Novelists, Inc.
- Recording Academy
- Professional Photographers of America
- Recording Industry Association of America
- Romance Writers of America
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America; Screen Actors Guild?American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
- Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators
- Songwriters Guild of America
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) met with President Donald Trump at the White House today to detail how devastating the granting of a 10-year waiver to the Jones Act would be for Louisiana. A long-term waiver would threaten thousands of maritime jobs in Louisiana.
The Jones Act prohibits the shipment of goods between U.S. ports unless the ships are American made, owned and crewed. Sen. Kennedy sent a joint letter asking President Trump to deny a 10-year waiver for natural gas shipments to Puerto Rico and possibly the Northeast U.S. The Jones Act supports 71,000 jobs in Louisiana.
“After talking to President Trump, I am confident that he realizes how important the Jones Act is to Louisiana’s maritime industry and that no changes will be made. I made the case that the livelihood of Louisiana families is at stake. Louisiana is the greatest beneficiary of the Jones Act with thousands of jobs that depend on it. Our maritime industry is part of the lifeblood of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast economy,” said Sen. Kennedy. “It would be foolish to push aside those jobs in favor of foreign made and foreign crewed ships.”
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WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today following Attorney General William Barr’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Kennedy is a member of the committee.
“This was much ado about nothing,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Mr. Mueller said no indictment on conspiracy. No indictment on collusion. No indictment on obstruction of justice. My Democratic friends are down to accusing Trump of covering up a crime that nobody committed. It’s preposterous. This thing is over. They threw everything they had at the president and now it’s over.”
Click here or the photo below to watch Sen. Kennedy question Attorney General Barr.
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Sen. John Kennedy Files Legislation To Protect Consumers By Reforming Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
Apr 30 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) filed the MSRB Reform Act today to make changes to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) that will benefit consumers across the U.S.
The MSRB is a regulatory organization that oversees the muni bond market which finances airports, roads and other public projects. The 21 person board consists of several public and private representatives raking in exuberant salaries with little oversight from Congress or the SEC. Sen. Kennedy’s legislation aims to make the MSRB less of an insider’s club by requiring a cap on board members’ compensation and placing more distance between the board’s public representatives and their private sector ties.
“The MSRB oversees a municipal securities market that is worth trillions of dollars in public projects. It’s supposed to represent the consumer. Instead, it’s an insider’s club. It’s more incestuous than King Tut’s family,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Public seats on the board shouldn’t be filled by executives who just quit their Wall Street jobs. These reforms are long overdue.”
Specifically, the legislation will:
- Require public representatives to be no less than five years removed from association with a municipal securities broker, dealer or adviser.
- Require the SEC commissioners to confirm new members of the MSRB committee.
- Require the SEC to make a rule to cap compensation for the board within 60 days of the bill’s enactment.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, announced today that BBQGuys of Baton Rouge is the Senate Small Business of the Week.
After serving in the Air Force for 10 years, Mike Hackley started the Grill Store & More in 1998. Recognizing early on the potential for e-commerce, Mike founded bbqguys.com in 2001. Today, BBQGuys has grown to become one of the largest outdoor living online retailers in the world employing nearly 300 people.
“Mike has a keen sense of how things work in the business world and has turned a small business of single-digit employees into a global business that’s constantly evolving,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Not only does Mike run a first-rate business, he also makes it a priority to say good morning to team members every day and treats his staff and customers with the utmost respect. I am proud that he and his business call Louisiana home.”
Mike has created a welcoming environment for customers and staff, and as a result, BBQGuys has been named one of the Best Places to Work several times by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. BBQGuys also received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Committed to the community, BBQGuys has participated in several local community activities including Toys for Tots, the Youth Oasis Children’s Center, LifeShare Blood Center and Friends of the Animals of Baton Rouge.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Kennedy issued the following statement on today’s advancement of House Bill 413 by state Rep. Miguez:
“We don’t need banks that ask you how you voted before they’ll do business with you. We don’t need red banks and blue banks. I applaud Rep. Miguez for his bill,” said Sen. Kennedy. “In Washington, I’ve filed the Freedom Financing Act to prohibit big banks from refusing to do business with customers who legally sell firearms. I’ve also filed the No Red and Blue Banks Act to stop discriminatory banks from receiving federal contracts. I’m just sorry that bills like this are necessary to protect law-abiding Louisiana citizens’ constitutional rights.”
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Sen. Kennedy Announces Approval of LNG Project
Apr 18 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced today that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the authorization of Tellurian Inc.’s $30 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility near Lake Charles.
“Tellurian’s Driftwood LNG project is an important investment in Louisiana’s future,” said Sen. Kennedy. “A project like this will support Louisiana families by creating well-paying jobs. The oil and gas industry has been such an important part of Louisiana’s economy for decades. It just continues to evolve with investments like this.”
Tellurian is expected to make a decision soon on the investment.
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Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Urges Louisiana Legislature To Remove Loophole from Nondisclosure Bill
Apr 16 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) urged the Louisiana Legislature today to address a glaring oversight that guts a bill that is supposed to prohibit the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual harassment allegations against public employees.
The governor’s executive counsel acknowledged this week that House Bill 197 still would allow victims to be silenced through agreements that prohibit them from making disparaging remarks. The woman who accused the governor’s deputy chief of staff, Johnny Anderson, of sexual harassment signed an agreement prohibiting her from making disparaging remarks about Anderson.
“The Louisiana Legislature is about to ban nondisclosure agreements but allow nondisparaging remarks’ agreements. That is utter insanity. We need to be serious about bringing sexual predators into the sunlight,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This is a mockery and a disservice to victims. By allowing ridiculous loopholes like this, we encourage violators who cover up their sins and pay their victims with taxpayer money.”
After recess, Sen. Kennedy will file the Stop Silencing Victims Act by prohibiting government employees from hiding behind nondisclosure agreements. The bill will apply to state and federal employees.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) met with President Donald Trump today to discuss a solution to the ongoing duplication of benefits’ issue affecting thousands of Louisiana families impacted by the 2016 floods.
“I had lunch with the president today to talk about the duplication of benefits’ issue that is impacting so many Louisiana families,” said Sen. Kennedy. “We talked for an hour and a half. President Trump loves Louisiana, and he wants to help. I’m hopeful that the president is going to take steps to resolve this problem. In the end, if it’s not the answer I want, then I intend to join as a plaintiff in the litigation against the federal government for violating Congress’ legislative intent in producing a solution. The people of Louisiana deserve the disaster relief they were promised.”
Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead
Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead
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U.S. Sens. Kennedy, Cramer Introduce No Red and Blue Banks Act To Protect Second Amendment
Apr 10 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) today introduced the No Red and Blue Banks Act to prohibit the award of federal contracts to banks that discriminate against lawful businesses through social policy considerations. In particular, the legislation will ensure that corporate banks like Citigroup and Bank of America will not be awarded lucrative federal government contracts after trampling on business owners’ Second Amendment rights.
Last year, Citigroup and Bank of America announced policies that will restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens. Citigroup wants to tell businesses what kind of firearms and accessories they can stock in their stores and who can buy them. Bank of America will no longer loan money to businesses that manufacture semi-automatic rifles.
“Banks that violate law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights have no business profiting off the federal government. They’re threatening the sanctity of the Constitution and the Second Amendment,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Citigroup and Bank of America are trying to make banking a red versus blue issue. Anti-gun policies force business owners to abandon their Second Amendment rights in order to find banking services. That’s a slap in the face to every American who helped bail out Citigroup and Bank of America during the financial crisis.”
“Banks should not be the arbiters of constitutionality,” said Senator Cramer. “This legislation ensures financial institutions cannot do business with the federal government if they do not respect the constitutional rights of their customers. The federal government should not be rewarding banks who target supporters of the Constitution.”
Sens. Kennedy and Cramer also filed the Freedom Financing Act to ban financial institutions from refusing to do business with customers who may not share the same political values as the banks.
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