WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today announced $59,321,853 in disaster aid grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Louisiana.
“Communities across our state are still rebuilding after the damage that Hurricanes Ida, Laura and Katrina did. This $59 million will help recovery efforts in Allen, Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis Parishes and around Louisiana,” said Kennedy.
The grants will fund the following:
- $1,075,234 to the Facility Planning and Control (State of Louisiana) for direct administrative costs as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina.
- $3,189,029 to Allen Parish for debris removal operations as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $3,654,302 to Calcasieu Parish School Board for repairs as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $22,477,433 to Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative Inc. for restoring damaged transmission lines from Manchester to Gibbstown as a result of Hurricane Laura.
- $27,476,452 to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,449,403 in federal funding to Children’s Hospital for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
Kennedy calls on Garland to extend special counsel authority for Hunter Biden investigation
Sep 19 2022
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and 30 Republican colleagues in urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to extend special counsel protections and authorities to U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss to conduct the Hunter Biden investigation.
“As you know, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware—led by U.S. Attorney Weiss—has been investigating Hunter Biden. There is no way of knowing the entire scope of the investigation, but evidence seems to be mounting that Hunter Biden committed numerous federal crimes, including, but not limited to, tax fraud, money laundering, and foreign-lobbying violations,” the senators wrote.
“Given that the investigation involves the President’s son, we believe it is important to provide U.S. Attorney Weiss with special counsel authorities and protections to allow him to investigate an appropriate scope of potentially criminal conduct, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and provide additional assurances to the American people that the Hunter Biden investigation is free from political influence,” they continued.
“Given the politicization of the DOJ under your watch and the importance of avoiding any appearance of impropriety, the undersigned request that you provide U.S. Attorney Weiss the full protections and authorities of a special counsel. This is one important action that you can take that will go a long way in restoring faith in our governmental institutions,” concluded the lawmakers.
Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dan Sullivan (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore-Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) also signed the letter.
The full letter can be found here.
WASHINGTON – Pres. Biden signed the Patient Advocate Tracker Act into law that Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) spearheaded in the Senate. The law increases transparency and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans who report concerns they experience with VA health care services.
“With the Patient Advocate Tracker Act now law, our veterans will get more efficient, better quality health care from the VA,” said Kennedy.
The VA uses the patient advocate tracking system (PATS) to track and report complaints from veterans. The Patient Advocate Tracker Act would allow veterans to access PATS in order to file complaints and view the status of those health care concerns, including interim and final actions that the VA has taken to resolve issues facing individual veterans.
By granting veterans access to PATS, VA employees could more effectively route veterans’ concerns to the appropriate department within the VA, avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
WASHINGTON – The National Federation of Independent Business has given Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) the Guardian of Small Business Award, its most prestigious legislative title. The Small Business Investor Alliance has also named Kennedy a Champion of Small Business Investing. These awards recognize lawmakers who consistently advocate for small businesses through their legislative voting records.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I’m thankful for the jobs they create and sustain. The National Federation of Independent Business and the Small Business Investor Alliance work hard for small and independent businesses, and I’m honored to receive these awards.”
Kennedy is a member of the Small Business Committee and has worked to protect small businesses from tax increases and unwarranted IRS audits.
During the 117th Congress, Kennedy also voted in support of the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act of 2021.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today addressed rising crime rates Americans are experiencing in the wake of Pres. Biden’s soft-on-crime policies.
Kennedy outlined the four steps needed to reduce crime in Louisiana and American communities:
- Hire more police officers.
- Keep police officers on the force.
- Get rid of prosecutors whose attitude is, “Hear no evil. See no evil. Prosecute no evil.”
- Stop disrespecting the police.
Key excerpts from Kennedy’s statement include:
“Long term, we can debate the solutions to crime, but short term, in my judgment, we have to do three things. Number one: We've got to hire more cops.”
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“Number two: We're going to have to stop the retirements among our police officers. They're retiring in droves.”
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“The third thing we need to do to get control of crime [won't] cost any money, but it may be the most difficult of all three of the things we have to do. We have to improve the morale of our cops, and that starts with our elected officials.”
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“But I think that if you talk to most moms and dad in this country, and ask them what are they worried about when they lie down to sleep at night and can’t, I don’t think they’re worried about proper pronoun usage. I don’t think they’re worried about the president’s war against oil production in America. I think they’re more worried about their job and the economy and inflation, and I think they’re worried about crime.”
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“And you’re not going to get control of crime until you keep the cops you have, you add more cops and you stand behind your cops when they’re right, which is 99.9 percent of the time. And folks, that doesn’t cost money.
“…We have sent a breathtaking amount of money to state and local government. I mean, they’ve got more money now than they’ve ever had in their entire histories, adjusted for inflation. They’ve got the money to do this.”
View Kennedy’s complete remarks here.
WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Gary Peters’ (D-Mich.) resolution designating the week of Sept. 11 through Sept. 17, 2022 as Patriot Week.
Patriot Week honors the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, celebrates Constitution Day and encourages students to delve into American history.
“Patriot Week celebrates what the American spirit is all about and encourages us to reflect on the people who shaped our nation. We will always remember the victims who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and the many sacrifices first responders made that day. Patriot Week helps tell America’s story—a story that we can’t afford to forget,” said Kennedy.
“More than 21 years since the horrific Sept. 11th terrorist attacks on our nation, we must never forget how Americans rallied together to unite in the face of such tragedy. Patriot Week provides folks with an opportunity to honor those we lost on Sept. 11th, reflect on our nation’s history, engage in civics, and embrace the values and ideals that define who we are as a nation. I was proud to again work with Senator Kennedy to lead this bipartisan, annual recognition in the Senate, and am thankful to Judge Warren and his daughter for their efforts to help spearhead this movement,”said Peters.
More than 10 states have officially recognized Patriot Week through gubernatorial proclamations and legislative resolutions.
Full text of the resolution is available here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $7,205,168 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants in disaster aid for Louisiana.
“I’m grateful to see Youngsville receive this much-needed aid to protect against future flooding and bolster the city’s storm water management. This $7.2 million will help Youngsville and other parts of Louisiana protect themselves from natural disasters,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $5,230,350 to the city of Youngsville to construct retention ponds to mitigate flood damage.
- $1,974,818 to the GOHSEP Statewide Planning Project to update hazard mitigation plans in Richland, Bossier, Caldwell, Grant, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Evangeline, East Baton Rouge, Ouachita, Caddo, Acadia, Winn, East Feliciana, Allen, Concordia, Jefferson Davis, Red River, Bienville, Union, Claiborne, Madison, Tensas, St. Charles, Avoyelles, Plaquemines, Ascension, Jackson, St. Tammany and St. Bernard Parishes.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $10,670,285 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants in disaster aid for Louisiana.
“Hurricanes Laura and Ida devastated far too many lives and livelihoods when they struck. I’m grateful to see this $10.6 million go to Natchitoches, Grand Isle and Sulphur where hard-working Louisianians can continue to rebuild together,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $1,784,434 to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Laura.
- $1,281,633 to the city of Natchitoches for the removal and replacement of damaged infrastructure related to Hurricane Laura.
- $1,130,627 to the LA Department of Public Safety for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Laura.
- $1,029,759 to West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Laura.
- $1,009,687 to the town of Grand Isle for sand debris removal related to Hurricane Ida.
- $2,486,489 to Dixie Electric Membership Corporation for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Ida.
- $1,947,656 to Children’s Hospital for emergency protective measures related to Hurricane Ida.
WASHINGTON – The Senate today passed Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Raphael Warnock’s (D-Ga.) legislation, the Patient Advocate Tracker Act, to increase transparency and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans who report concerns they experience with VA health care services.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.
“The Patient Advocate Tracker Act will help America’s veterans overcome bureaucracy to get the efficient, effective health care they deserve. I am thankful for Rep. McClain’s leadership in the House and look forward to seeing the president sign this into law,” said Kennedy.
The VA uses the patient advocate tracking system (PATS) to track and report complaints from veterans. The Patient Advocate Tracker Act would allow veterans to access PATS in order to file complaints and view the status of those health care concerns, including interim and final actions that the VA has taken to resolve issues facing individual veterans.
By granting veterans access to PATS, VA employees could more effectively route veterans’ concerns to the appropriate department within the VA, avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
Text of the Patient Advocate Tracker Act is available here.
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today celebrated the release of Sister Suellen Theresa Tennyson of the Marianites of Holy Cross convent, headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, from captivity. She has no serious injuries.
“I am grateful to God that Sister Suellen has been released from captivity, and I am thankful to everyone who helped return her to safety,”said Kennedy.
On April 5, the Archdiocese of New Orleans informed Kennedy that Sister Suellen had been kidnapped during an attack by armed gunmen in the town of Yalgo, located in the country of Burkina Faso in West Africa. Kennedy’s office quickly alerted the Department of State of the crime and was notified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of her release on August 30.
