Kennedy backs two resolutions to block Biden admin’s rules forcing Louisianians to buy unaffordable EVs
May 02 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and colleagues in introducing two joint resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act. The resolutions would block the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing its rules for light and medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
“Most Louisianians and Americans can’t afford Pres. Biden’s scheme to eliminate gas-powered cars. His administration’s unfair EV mandates benefit Chinese manufacturing by butchering America’s auto industry. Congress must move fast to stop these rules from punishing American workers and families,” said Kennedy.
The EPA’s two rules, “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium Duty Vehicles” and “Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3,” would require U.S. car manufacturers to make up to two-thirds of cars and 40% of trucks electric within eight years.
Nearly 4,000 automotive dealers report that their lots are full of electric vehicles that buyers do not want. They have asked President Biden for relief from his misguided sales mandate for electric vehicles.
“President Biden’s EV mandate is delusional. This rule will make it harder for low-income families to buy a car or rural families to get to their jobs. I promised Nebraskans I’d use every tool I have to fight this. Our bipartisan legislation will keep costs down, defend consumer choice, and protect us against becoming more dependent on the CCP,” Ricketts said.
“These regulations are not only disastrous for our economy, but Alaskans know well that EV technology just doesn’t work in rural states—especially those with extreme cold temperatures and communities separated by thousands of miles where reliable transportation is a matter of life and death. Make no mistake, this thinly-disguised attempt to get rid of the internal-combustion engine without congressional authority will only hurt hard-working families across the country, worsen the supply chain crisis, and deepen our reliance on Chinese Communist Party-controlled critical minerals. We’re urging every one of our colleagues to put the interests of American families above the demands of the radical environmentalists, and support our CRA resolutions overturning these ludicrous rules to ensure Americans and Alaskans continue to have access to the vehicles of their choice that actually work,” said Sullivan.
Reps. John James (R-Mich.) and Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) each introduced one of the resolutions of disapproval in the House of Representatives.
Background:
- In January, Kennedy called on the Biden administration to withdraw its Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks.
- Kennedy also called for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to block funding for the Biden administration’s EV mandates, which were included in recent appropriations bills.
- In Oct. 2023, Kennedy helped introduce a bill to prevent the Biden administration from limiting the sale of gas-powered vehicles.
The senators’ joint resolution of disapproval for light and medium vehicles is available here.
The joint resolution of disapproval for heavy-duty vehicles is available here.
Kennedy introduces bill to stop Biden admin from funding housing for illegal aliens over veterans
May 02 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees, today introduced the Heroes Over Aliens Act to prohibit the use of federal dollars to house illegal aliens in the United States when veterans remain homeless.
“Veterans sacrificed for our country and deserve our thanks and support. The Heroes Over Aliens Act would prevent the Biden administration from prioritizing illegal immigrants over homeless heroes,” said Kennedy.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) cosponsored the legislation.
“With so many Americans, especially veterans, struggling thanks to Joe Biden’s failed economic policies, our country should not spend money housing the millions of migrants that his administration let cross our border. This bill will ensure that not a cent can be spent on shelter for illegal immigrants until our veterans are taken care of first,” said Cotton.
“In Joe Biden’s America, illegal immigrants are prioritized over our veterans. As homelessness increases across the nation, it is unthinkable that taxpayer funds are used to house those who break the law instead of American heroes. It’s common sense to stop all federal funding for this offensive practice while there are still thousands of veterans living on the streets,” said Blackburn.
“The Biden administration’s backwards border policies prioritize housing assistance for illegal aliens while neglecting homeless veterans. We must take care of each and every one of our own American heroes before using federal funds to house undocumented migrants,” said Cramer.
Background:
- On June 12, 2023, August 21, 2023, and April 12, 2024, the Biden administration announced three separate actions to fund housing for immigrants—the majority of whom crossed the border illegally.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report found that there were 35,574 homeless veterans living in the U.S.—a 7.4 percent increase from the previous report and the largest increase in 12 years.
- The Biden administration’s open border policies have consumed federal and local resources and made it harder for states and localities to address veteran homelessness effectively.
Full text of the Heroes Over Aliens Act is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in Newsweek arguing that the Biden administration’s new interpretation of Title IX will destroy educational opportunities for women and girls. Kennedy also warned that President Biden’s new rule will allow gender activists to weaponize Title IX against schools that don’t abide by a student’s pronoun preferences.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Title IX has helped make the United States home to some of the highest educated, most athletically dominant women on the planet. But that won't stop the Biden administration from destroying Title IX to appease the most radical members of its party.”
. . .
“Put differently, Title IX will no longer protect women based on their immutable physical characteristics. Instead, activists can weaponize Title IX to force schools to prioritize the comfortable education of the boy with gender dysphoria above the academic and emotional well-being of the dozens of girls who would rather not share a locker room or learn about puberty alongside biological boys.
“President Biden's new rule defeats the purpose of Title IX. By interpreting Title IX to be about protecting ‘gender identity’ instead of physical gender, President Biden will place countless women and girls in uncomfortable—or even unsafe—learning environments.
“The Biden administration is unperturbed. It dismissed the concerns of parents who don't want their daughters to share a bathroom with a biological man by denying that the ‘mere presence of a transgender person in a single-sex space compromises anyone's legitimate privacy interest.’ Put down the bong.”
. . .
“The Biden administration's Title IX rule will also require language restrictions, mandated by the federal government, on any teacher who wishes to use grammatically correct pronouns. Under the new rule, any teacher who refers to a little boy as ‘he’ instead of ‘they’ in a way that the federal government finds objectively offensive will trigger a lawsuit for discrimination. Grammar teachers might as well cancel the lesson on pronouns now.”
. . .
“Title IX has protected women and girls for more than 50 years. President Biden ought to hide his head in a bag if he allows his administration to destroy decades of progress for women by turning Title IX into a weapon that his party can use to tear apart schools that don't support these anti-women gender policies.”
Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and all other Republican senators in demanding that Pres. Joe Biden withdraw his administration’s support for two international agreements being considered at this month’s World Health Assembly (WHA).
The agreements would give more power to the World Health Organization (WHO) and weaken United States sovereignty.
“Some of the over 300 proposals for amendments made by member states would substantially increase the WHO’s health emergency powers and constitute intolerable infringements upon U.S. sovereignty. As such, it was essential that the WHO abide by the four-month notice period to allow member states time to ensure that no traces of such proposals were included in a final amendment package for consideration by the WHA. Having failed to do so, amendments are not in order,” the senators wrote.
“Instead of addressing the WHO's well-documented shortcomings, the treaty focuses on mandated resource and technology transfers, shredding intellectual property rights, infringing free speech, and supercharging the WHO. Moving forward with a new pandemic preparedness and response treaty ignores the fact that we are still unsure of COVID-19's origins because Beijing continues to block a legitimate independent investigation. We strongly urge you not to join any pandemic related treaty, convention, or agreement being considered at the Seventy-seventh WHA,” they continued.
“In light of the high stakes for our country and our constitutional duty, we call upon you to (1) withdraw your administration's support for the current IHR amendments and pandemic treaty negotiations, (2) shift your administration's focus to comprehensive WHO reforms that address its persistent failures without expanding its authority, and (3) should you ignore these calls, submit any pandemic related agreement to the Senate for its advice and consent,” the senators concluded.
The full letter is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and all other Republican members of the committee in urging Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to hold a hearing regarding civil rights violations of Jewish students and the growing support for terrorist ideology on college campuses.
“The right to protest peacefully and the right to freely express one’s views—no matter how controversial—are enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. These rights are proud American traditions. Violent mobs and the intimidation of individuals because of their faith, however, are not,” the senators wrote.
The senators highlighted how an increase in anti-Israel activism is threatening the safety and rights of Jewish students at federally funded universities.
“Jewish students are being actively targeted, harassed, intimidated, threatened, and in some cases assaulted for one reason: their heritage and religion. This is fundamentally un-American. It is also a federal crime. . . . Equally disturbing are the prominent displays of symbols, flags, and slogans of terrorist groups at these campuses,” the senators expressed.
The lawmakers also highlighted that since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, the Judiciary Committee has held hearings concerning other civil rights issues in the U.S. but has not held any hearings regarding the blatant violations of Jewish students’ rights or the proliferation of terrorist ideology on campuses.
“. . . our Committee should examine why more is not being done to protect the civil rights of innocent students across America. We must also examine the threat to national security posed by the proliferation of radical Islamist ideology in the academy. These pressing issues demand our immediate attention,” the senators concluded.
The full letter is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and 33 other colleagues in urging the Biden administration not to bring Gazan refugees to the U.S. and to focus instead on bringing American hostages back home.
Earlier this week, reports revealed the White House is considering welcoming Gazans to the U.S.
“Your administration’s reported plan to accept Gazan refugees poses a national security risk to the United States. With more than a third of Gazans supporting the Hamas militants, we are not confident that your administration can adequately vet this high-risk population for terrorist ties and sympathies before admitting them into the United States,” wrote the lawmakers.
“We are also frustrated that your administration is pushing ahead with a plan to evacuate Gazans from the Strip when there are still American citizens held hostage by Hamas. We demand that your administration cease planning for accepting Gazan refugees until you adequately answer our concerns and focus your attention instead on securing the release of U.S. hostages held by Hamas,” the senators explained.
Recent polling found that more than 70% of Gazans support Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack against civilians in Israel.
“We must ensure Gazans with terrorist ties or sympathies are denied admission into the United States—no easy feat, given the fact that the Gazans were the ones who voted Hamas into power in 2006. Without thorough vetting, your administration may inadvertently accept terrorists posing as refugees into the interior. This is especially the case as Hamas terrorists have a long track record of co-mingling with civilian populations in Gaza,” they continued.
“Unfortunately, the risk of terrorists entering our homeland is no hypothetical matter. Border officials have arrested 169 people on the FBI terror watch lists in Fiscal Year 2023, a record-setting number that exceeds the total of the last six fiscal years combined. Apprehended terrorists include a Hezbollah fighter who intended ‘to make a bomb’ and was headed for New York. Given your administration’s abject failure at countering the flow of potential terrorists at our border, how can Congress trust your administration to adequately vet the refugees crossing the Egypt-Gaza border, located nearly 6,000 miles away from Washington, D.C.?” the senators concluded.
Background:
- Kennedy authored a bill to ban U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) permanently due to employees of the refugee agency support for Hamas.
- Kennedy introduced the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act to address reports indicating that Palestinian students are being taught inaccurate or racist content about Israel and the Jewish people.
The full letter is available here.
Kennedy confirms future of LNG center with Buttigieg: “It’s going to be placed in Lake Charles”
May 02 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today confirmed with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that the National Center of Excellence for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Safety will be located in Lake Charles, La. The exchange occurred during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
“We have directed the GSA [General Services Administration] to provide options in Lake Charles for that LNG Center of Excellence. Of course, we need to make sure we follow the procurement process, and we need to make sure that there are adequate resources coming in from the Center, and we’re working with you on that,” Buttigieg said.
“But we certainly recognize the importance and the potential of this facility and the value that it could bring, making sure that we have the safest and most environmentally responsible LNG processes in the world,” the secretary concluded.
Buttigieg confirmed that the Center would be located in Louisiana in partnership with Louisiana colleges, including McNeese State University.
“Within Louisiana, it’s going to be placed in Lake Charles, is that right?” asked Kennedy.
“That’s what we’ve directed the GSA to do: to find sites in Lake Charles that would meet the mission,” Buttigieg confirmed.
In 2020, Kennedy advocated for the creation of a new National Center of Excellence for LNG and drafted legislation to guarantee it would be built in Louisiana. He later secured funding to build and operate the Center. Kennedy also fought to ensure that Lake Charles would overcome the efforts of several competing sites along the Gulf Coast to become the Center’s home.
Kennedy then worked to secure a partnership between the Center, McNeese State and other Louisiana colleges to create opportunities for students to get hands-on experience with industrial-grade LNG equipment. Once completed, the Center will promote and facilitate training, education and research and development within the LNG sector.
Kennedy told Buttigieg that Louisianians have been waiting for years for this project to move forward.
“We’re trying to get this built. It’s frustrating, of course. It’s not, altogether, your fault. Some days it seems like it takes longer than medical school to get something done around here,” Kennedy explained.
Watch Kennedy’s full exchange with Buttigieg here.
Kennedy on antisemitic campus protests: “President Biden could stop this stuff on a dime”
May 01 2024
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and colleagues in calling on officials to end the antisemitic protests and violence that continue to infect on college campuses.
Key remarks from the senator are below:
“What we're seeing at some of our college campuses is a rule by the mob. That's what many of you—not all of you, but many [members of the press]—would call a ‘threat to democracy’ if it were being perpetuated by Republicans. Democrats seem to be able to do it without consequence.”
“We shouldn't paint with too broad a brush. Some of our universities have done a good job. I'll mention three: Vanderbilt, Tulane and the University of Florida. They have done a good job in dealing with this rule by the mob because of their leadership. The presidents of those three universities are passionate advocates of free speech. They understand that the Constitution protects free speech against government, but it does not protect disruptive behavior.
“And they understand the First Amendment to the Constitution makes a distinction between speech and behavior, and it's not complicated. . . . I want to thank them. I think the president of Columbia could learn a lot from them.
“I think much of the problem comes from members—some members, not all, but some members—of these universities’ faculty. There are members of the faculty at some of these universities who believe in diversity, equity, inclusion and the right to kill Jews.”
. . .
“And many of these professors—not all of them, and not at all universities—but many of these professors, instead of celebrating their universities as a diverse place of diversity and ideas, they are convinced they are right, and they want to punish people who disagree with them—and that's a big part of the problem.
“President Biden could stop this stuff on a dime. . . . All he would have to do is pick up the phone and call the president of Columbia University quietly and say, ‘Madam President . . . You’ve got 14 days to get control of your campus, or you’re not getting any more federal money.’ And she will pounce on that like a ninja.
“But Joe Biden hasn't done that, and President Biden is not going to do that. . . . He's not going to do that because of the raw, gut politics.”
View Kennedy’s full remarks here.
Kennedy calls on Biden admin to end burdensome regulations destroying energy production in the Gulf
May 01 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and colleagues in urging the Biden administration’s Commerce and Interior Departments not to move forward with proposed regulations that would destroy offshore energy production in the Gulf of Mexico.
In July 2023, the Biden administration entered an agreement with environmental organizations to restrict the use of oil and gas carrier vessels in certain parts of the Gulf due to unfounded claims that the ships interfere with the Rice’s whale species in the area.
“The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as well as the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), have actively pursued unnecessary measures for the Rice’s whale at the expense of communities along the Gulf of Mexico. While we appreciate that NOAA denied the petition to establish vessel speed measures in the Gulf and that BOEM removed Rice’s whale stipulations from Lease Sale 261, we strongly urge that NOAA, NMFS, and BOEM refrain from advancing regulations that lack sound scientific backing,” the senators wrote.
“While NOAA and BOEM’s data is incomplete, we do have a robust understanding of the economic impact of the Gulf of Mexico. Our ports provide a clear view of commercial activity in and out of the Gulf. In Texas, the Port of Houston generated $439 billion in statewide economic value in 2022. Ports across the state of Louisiana generated $182 billion in statewide economic impact, which includes nine ports located directly on the coast. In Alabama, the Port of Mobile generated more than $85 billion in total economic activity in 2021. Imposing restrictions on development in the Gulf of Mexico would directly harm the economic activity and jobs across coastal communities,” they continued.
“When issuing regulations with such significant impacts to our economy and national security, it is imperative to rely on the best available science. We agree with the importance of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act but caution you to avoid moving forward with regulations without verifiable scientific data. Just yesterday, NOAA announced supposed sightings that ‘could be used to improve the Rice’s whale abundance estimate,’ clearly highlighting that more work is needed before any agency action. Rather than depending on centuries-old whaling records and non-peer reviewed claims for rulemaking, NOAA and BOEM should gather new, verified data on the species in question,” the senators concluded.
Background:
- The Biden administration entered a settlement agreement with the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth and Turtle Island Restoration Network to block 6 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico from being used for oil and gas production.
- The organizations claim that ship traffic in the region would disturb the habitat of the Rice’s whale, a species native to the Gulf. Yet, the organizations cited a study that uses flawed methodology and lacks scientific evidence.
- BOEM also may impose a 10-knot speed limit for ships and restrict nighttime transit for oil and gas vessels throughout the area, which will disrupt the production of oil and gas in the Gulf. BOEM also intended to enforce its restrictions solely on oil and natural gas companies, which make up only a small portion of the overall ship traffic in the area.
- The administration’s restrictions will hinder America’s energy production and reduce bids for offshore lease sales.
The full letter is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) in announcing that the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act now has support from more than 60 members of the Senate.
The bill would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.
“When a hurricane strikes, Louisianians depend on AM radio to get emergency updates. I am proud to see broad support for this commonsense bill, and I hope the Senate moves quickly to protect AM radio,” said Kennedy.
More than 200 members cosponsored the House of Representatives’ companion legislation.
“Democrats and Republicans are tuning in to the millions of listeners, thousands of broadcasters, and countless emergency management officials who depend on AM radio in their vehicles. AM radio is a lifeline for people in every corner of the United States to get news, sports, and local updates in times of emergencies. Our commonsense bill makes sure this fundamental, essential tool doesn’t get lost on the dial. With a filibuster-proof supermajority in the Senate, Congress should quickly take it up and pass it,” said Markey and Cruz.
Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) also cosponsored the bill.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
