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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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will invest $83.5 million in federal funding towards ongoing recovery efforts across Louisiana.
“This money is crucial to disaster recovery efforts in Louisiana,” said Sen. Kennedy. “FEMA is providing funding to homeowners, schools, a food bank, parishes, cities and law enforcement, among others. This is money that is needed to recover and rebuild.”
According to FEMA, the grants are:
Recovery School District-$49M
- This award provides $49,077,383.61 in federal funding for the Recovery School District for an adjustment of the scope of work and project costs.
Governor’s Office Homeland Security & Emergency Management-$23.9M
- This award provides an additional $23,994,873.93 in federal funding for homeowners.
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank-$1M
- This award provides $1,032,101.20 in federal funding to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank for their distribution facility.
East Baton Rouge Parish School Board-$5.8M
- This award will provide $2,930,976.66 in federal funding to East Baton Rouge School Board (EBRSB) for Emergency Protective Measures.
- The award provides $1,698,012.21 in funding to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, to provide funding associated with remediation activities at Brookstown Magnet Middle School.
- The award provides $1,211,377.76 in funding to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, to provide funding associated with remediation activities at Glen Oaks Park Elementary School.
Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) Statewide Generator Project-$1.9M
- This grant will fund generators for critical facilities and key state-owned facilities throughout the State of Louisiana.
- Funding will be utilized to harden facilities with the installation of permanent generators, portable generators and automatic transfer switches to remain operational and functional during and after disasters.
- This request includes the following parishes and cities: St. Tammany, Jefferson, St. Charles and Lincoln parishes and cities of New Orleans and Thibodaux.
LA Dept. Of Public Safety (State Police)-$1.6M
- This award provides $1,667,951.83 in federal funding to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety (State Police) for Emergency Protective Measures.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) hosted a meeting in New Orleans today for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) officials and Louisiana bank leaders.
“FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg was gracious in coming to Louisiana in order to meet with our community bank leaders. I know he has a busy schedule so I appreciate his time,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Our community banks have a powerful story to tell, and it’s one that the FDIC needs to hear. This meeting is a signal of transparency to our communities that are hurting from the collapse of First NBC.”
Sen. Kennedy hosted a roundtable discussion for FDIC officials and bank representatives. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to a question-and-answer session between the FDIC and local banks about the failure of First NBC.
“I would like to thank Sen. Kennedy for the opportunity to meet with local business people and bankers in New Orleans and explain the FDIC’s processes to respond to issues arising from bank failures,” said FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg.
As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Sen. Kennedy has fought for community banks in Louisiana and has introduced legislation to strengthen Louisiana’s community financial institutions.
Sen. Kennedy with FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg
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U.S. Sen. Kennedy Announces $13.1 Million in Flood Mitigation Funding For Louisiana Property Owners
Jul 06 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that FEMA will spend $13.1 million in the parishes of Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Tammany and Livingston to protect property owners from future floods.
“This is a smart use of money through the National Flood Insurance Program,” said Sen. Kennedy. “In fact, I’ve offered legislation to reauthorize the program and to put a bigger focus on mitigation efforts. No one wants to flood. People lose their homes and businesses, and the federal government ends up spending a lot of money to help them rebuild. What we need to do is ensure that you don’t flood in the first place through elevation, the purchase of flood-prone properties and other mitigation work.”
According to FEMA, the grants are:
Lafourche (residential elevations) - $1.2M
- This grant will fund the elevation of eight properties. The elevated properties will exceed base flood elevation ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. This activity reduces damages to residential structures in flood events, thereby reducing long-term costs to NFIP, the homeowners, reduces impact to emergency response personnel, and breaks the repeat-claim cycle. The cost share is 93% and comprised of three-severe repetitive loss properties and five-repetitive loss properties. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
Jefferson Parish - 2016 Reconstruction of Flood Prone Structures - $4.6M
- This grant will fund mitigation reconstruction of 24 properties in Jefferson Parish. The reconstructed properties will exceed base flood elevation with an additional two-feet of elevation to meet local ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. This activity reduces damages to residential structures in flood events, thereby reducing long-term costs to the National Flood Insurance Program and the homeowners, reduces impact to emergency response personnel, and breaks the repeat-claim cycle. The cost share is 100% federal because the properties are severe repetitive loss. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
St. Tammany Parish – FMA 2016 Elevation Application II - $5.2M
- This grant will fund the elevation of 23 properties. The elevated properties will exceed base flood elevation ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. The cost share is 94% federal because the project is comprised of 10 severe repetitive loss properties, 11 repetitive loss properties, and two insured properties. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
Livingston Parish 2016 FMA - $2.1M
- This grant will fund the elevation of four properties and the voluntary acquisition of nine properties. The elevation properties will exceed base flood elevation ordinance levels, reducing the impact of large and small flood events. The acquisition and elevation activities will reduce or eliminate damages to residential structures. The cost share is 99% federal due to the composition of two repetitive loss and 11 severe repetitive loss properties. This award is pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act.
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U.S. Sen. Kennedy Announces $8.6 Million in FEMA Funding For Recovery From August 2016 Floods
Jul 06 2017
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced that FEMA has awarded $8.6 million to help Louisiana recover from the August 2016 floods.
FEMA awarded:
- $5.9 million to Ascension Parish.
- $2.7 million to Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School
“This money is vital to parishes that were devastated by the August 2016 floods,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Ascension Parish sustained heavy flooding and incurred expensive cleanup work. Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School took over a historic Baton Rouge campus only to be relocated by the flooding a week after starting classes. This money will help them recover and rebuild.”
The flooding created extensive debris that Ascension Parish had to remove. Cristo Rey was forced to relocate to a temporary location after losing its campus to the flood.
“Sen. Kennedy has worked hard to secure the flood recovery funding we need, and I appreciate his efforts,” said Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa. “Every penny counts in our mission to rebuild Ascension Parish and make our community whole again.”
“The August flooding forced us to relocate last year from the former Redemptorist High School campus just a week after starting classes. Every single building on that historic campus was lost,” said Brian Moscona, principal of Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High. “This funding will allow us to return to a campus that has been part of the north Baton Rouge community for more than 65 years. I want to thank Sen. Kennedy for working with us to secure the funding that we need to recover.”
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