Media

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today spoke with Chris Cuomo on CNN’s New Day about President Trump’s State of the Union address.

“President Trump’s State of the Union address showed the true strength and fortitude of the American people,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “The American people are better off today than they were a year ago.  We are seeing the economic engine of our nation move forward in ways we wouldn’t have thought possible.  Last night, President Trump laid out an ambitious plan for our country, and I look forward to working with him to achieve these important goals.  We need to lower prescription drug costs.  We need to invest in our nation’s infrastructure.  We need an immigration system that looks like someone designed it on purpose.”

Click here or the image below to watch the Senator’s full interview.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R. La) invited Calvin Franklin to attend the President Trump’s State of the Union address.  Sen. Kennedy and Franklin became friends through Franklin’s role as a Senate custodian through Goodwill’s AbilityOne Program.  Franklin is a 23-year-old Washington, D.C., native who enjoys playing in his local soccer and fast-pitch softball leagues. 

“I am proud to take Calvin as my guest to the State of the Union.  He works hard behind the scenes at the U.S. Senate and deserves a front row seat to history unfolding,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “I’m excited that he will be able to enjoy this moment and look forward to hearing what he thinks about the experience.”

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued a statement today applauding President Trump for inviting Cajun Navy 2016 founder Jon Bridgers to the State of the Union.

“The results seen by the Cajun Navy 2016’s efforts to help those in need are an example of what can be accomplished when you don’t have stacks of governmental red tape to cut through,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “What the Navy was able to get done in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey is simply incredible.  I cannot think of a better way to honor this group than by inviting its founder, Jon Bridgers, to the State of the Union.”

Jon Bridgers founded the Cajun Navy 2016, as a non-profit rescue and recovery organization to respond to flooding in south Louisiana.  Last year, the Cajun Navy 2016 set out to provide aid to those in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey.  He and the Cajun Navy 2016 have helped thousands of people across the South, and to this day, they are helping collect resources and donations for those who lost their homes in the storms.

Sen. Kennedy dropping off supplies at one of the Cajun Navy 2016’s drop off points.

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R. La) issued a statement today after the Senate failed to put the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act up for a vote.  With the failure to invoke cloture, Senate Democrats have prohibited the bill to be voted on for final passage.  Sen. Kennedy is a co-sponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

“This vote is another black mark for Senate Democrats.  We are one of only seven countries, including China and North Korea, that allows abortions after 20 weeks,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “It has been scientifically proven that babies at this age can not only suck their thumbs, make faces, and yawn, but they can also feel pain.  By not allowing this bill to be voted on, Senate Democrats have shown a disregard for the preciousness of human life.  That is disgraceful.”

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today after a lawsuit was filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Health Law Program and the Kentucky Equal Justice Center to prevent Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin from implementing a Medicaid work requirement:   

“Gov. Matt Bevin should be applauded for attempting to rein in the out-of-control costs of the Medicaid program. Instead, he’s being sued,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “A work requirement for Medicaid doesn’t ask mothers with children in their arms to work.  It doesn’t ask the elderly to work.  It simply asks able-bodied adults to get a job, enroll in job training or do volunteer work in order to receive tax-payer funded Medicaid.  I don’t think that’s asking too much. Medicaid is supposed to help able-bodied adults become healthy and sufficient and be an off-ramp from poverty, not a parking lot.  A work requirement is a helping hand, not a slap in the face, and I support Gov. Bevin’s efforts to make it a reality.”

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) thanked his colleagues today for working together to achieve long-term security for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, also called CHIP, by acting quickly to end the ill-advised government shutdown.

Under the spending plan approved Monday, CHIP will be renewed for six years.  CHIP was created with bipartisan support and currently covers basic medical costs for at least 122,000 children across Louisiana.  According to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), the federal government contributed $325.6 million and the state contributed $18.4 million to the CHIP program in federal fiscal year 2016

“My Democratic friends did not have a Lincoln moment when they decided to shut down the entire U.S. government and turn children’s health insurance into a hostage.  Fortunately, good sense eventually prevailed,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “CHIP now has long-term security, ensuring that kids can get the health care they need to grow into healthy adults.”

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today after voting for the three-week federal government funding bill, which includes the long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP):

“This type of bi-partisan bickering is a disservice to the American people.  While I am happy that my Democratic colleagues have finally agreed to stop taking the federal government hostage, I’m left wondering how we got there in the first place,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “I have always said that there better be an emergency to shut down government.  I am still waiting on someone to tell me what that emergency was.  Hopefully, we can use this opportunity in the coming days to address the numerous immigration problems facing our country, including border security, the diversity visa lottery and DACA.”

 

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) issued the following statement today after Democrats blocked the government funding bill and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization:

 

“This is an embarrassment to Congress, democracy and the United States of America.  If you shut down government, you’d better have a good reason for doing it.  I defy any Democrat to explain why it was so important to ask our military to sacrifice their pay, furlough hundreds of thousands of workers and reject a long-term renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “They need to get their heads out of the sand and do what’s best for this country.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) urged Gov. John Bel Edwards today to rally support among his fellow Democratic governors and leaders for the continuing resolution that includes six years of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).


“The Democrats are threatening to shut down government at the expense of a program that ensures more than 120,000 children in Louisiana receive basic medical care.  This is petty politics that is pitting long-term health insurance for kids against a silly political squabble,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Gov. Edwards and I agree on the importance of CHIP, and I urge him to make the case to his fellow Democrats.”

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act today to make it illegal to abort an unborn child because of gender.  The bill introduction coincides with the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

“All human life is a blessing from God,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “It is simply unconscionable that anyone would abort a child simply because they didn’t get the gender they wanted.  That’s why I introduced the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act to put a stop to sex-selective abortions.  All life is precious, and it needs to be protected.”

 

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