Kennedy announces $7.7 million in Hurricane Ida, Laura aid for Calcasieu, Lafourche, Terrebonne Parishes
Mar 25 2024
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $7,714,438 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Hurricane Ida ripped through Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, and Hurricane Laura wreaked havoc in Calcasieu Parish. This $7.7 million will help Louisianians in south Louisiana continue restoring their communities,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $2,796,235 to the Lafourche Parish Hospital Service District #1 for reconciliation of management costs incurred as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $2,385,389 to the Terrebonne Parish for replacement of the Agriculture Center Office as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,368,847 to the Terrebonne Parish Recreation District #4 for the replacement of the Grand Caillou community pool as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $1,164,967 to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for building repairs as a result of Hurricane Laura.
WASHINGTON – The Senate passed legislation from Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) that would protect two hydropower construction projects in the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway on Louisiana’s Red River.
“Hydropower is an important part of our all-of-the-above energy policy, and these projects would bring construction jobs to our state. It would be foolish to allow supply chain issues from the pandemic to derail Louisiana’s hydropower developments. With this extension, Louisiana would be able to bring these two projects online to provide additional sources of reliable, clean energy to Louisianians,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy’s bill would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend hydropower construction permits for both projects. This will provide both of Louisiana’s Red River projects with additional time to begin construction in order to bring these projects online.
“Hydropower is reliable, safe, and responsible. The federal government should be enabling projects, not standing in the way. Today’s actions are bipartisan, pro-jobs, and pro-American energy. I’m glad to see Congress cut the red tape holding up the Red River and Overton Lock projects,” said Cassidy, who introduced the bill with Kennedy.
The bill from Kennedy and Cassidy now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Background:
- In the United States, companies must secure a permit from FERC to begin construction on dams and other hydropower facilities. FERC’s hydropower construction permits expire after just 10 years. The COVID-19 pandemic caused many unforeseen delays due to supply chain issues and high labor costs. In turn, many projects will require more than 10 years to reach completion.
- Louisiana is home to two developing hydropower facilities located on the J. Walter Bennett Waterway along the Red River. Construction of the two facilities would bring hundreds of jobs to northwest Louisiana.
- Hydropower is an affordable, reliable and clean energy source that can strengthen the power grids in Louisiana and beyond. Without Kennedy’s bill allowing FERC to extend their construction permits, Louisiana project managers would not be able to bring these facilities online to power the surrounding communities.
- As the top Republican on the Senate’s Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Kennedy has expanded America’s hydropower capabilities. The FY 2024 Energy and Water appropriation package included $440 million in investments for the nation’s dam and levee infrastructure, including $36.5 million Kennedy secured to reinforce the Boggs Lock and Dam on the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway.
- Senate Democrats initially blocked a bill that would have granted FERC the ability to extend permits for any hydropower construction projects that suffered pandemic-related delays. Kennedy helped spearhead negotiations with his Democratic colleagues to pass this narrower legislation to ensure that these Louisiana projects could receive the permit extensions they need to reach completion.
Full text of the bill is available here.
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the confirmation of Adeel Mangi to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Kennedy warned that Mangi’s ties to extremist groups make him unfit for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.
Key excerpts from Kennedy’s speech include:
“I [think] any fair-minded person would have to conclude that, over the past several years, President Biden has nominated some people to the federal bench who, quite frankly, are not qualified to judge a pie contest.”
. . .
“With respect, the president’s pick of Mr. Adeel Mangi is frankly one of his worst. Mr. Mangi is affiliated with an organization that calls itself the, quote, ‘Alliance of Families for Justice.’ . . . In fact, Mr. Mangi is not just affiliated with this group: He’s on their advisory board.
“One of the Alliance’s founders was a member of a domestic terrorist organization. What does that mean? One of the Alliance’s founders was convicted of murdering police officers in cold blood. . . . Now the Alliance [of] Families for Justice—on whose board Mr. Mangi [sat]—advocates for the release of people who kill cops.”
. . .
“Now, by itself, Mr. Mangi’s work for and with this organization that I refer to as the ‘Alliance’ should be disqualifying, but there is more. . . . Mr. Mangi also served on the advisory board of another group, and this group calls itself, quote, the ‘Center for Security, Race and Rights.’ . . . This organization is steeped in hatred and antisemitism.”
. . .
“On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Mr. President, Mr. Mangi’s Center for Security, Race and Rights . . . sponsored an event entitled, [quote], ‘Whose narrative? 20 years since 9/11, 2001.’ This event, the purpose of this event, was to blame America and blame Americans for 9/11. That’s why they held the event.
“This event and the speakers there blamed, quote, ‘U.S. imperialism’—not the terrorists—‘U.S. imperialism’ for the 9/11 attacks that killed thousands of innocent American citizens.
“And the event featured some of the most despicable speakers that even the most fertile imagination would be challenged to come up with. One of those speakers [was] Mr. Sami Al Arian. Mr. Al Arian was convicted of providing support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
“Another speaker, [Dr.] Rabab Abdulhadi has ties to terrorist hijackers.
“A third speaker, Mr. Hatem Bazian, publicly called for an intifada in the United States.”
. . .
“Now, Mr. Mangi claims that he didn't know about this event—that’s what he told us in committee, but his Center has a long, long history of sponsoring vile, hate-filled events, and that’s just a fact. That’s not rhetoric. That’s just a fact.
“Are we really expected to believe that Mr. Mangi had no idea what the Center was up to? He sat on its advisory board.”
. . .
“Now, let’s talk about the director of the Center on whose advisory board Mr. Mangi sat. The director also has a vile history of bad behavior. . . . The director says that she is, quote, ‘in awe’—in awe—‘in awe of the Palestinian struggle to resist violent occupation, removal, erasure and the expansion of Israeli settler colonialism.’
“‘Israeli settler colonialism.’ Hamas murdered, raped, maimed Jewish men, Jewish women, little Jewish children, and, according to Mr. Mangi’s organization’s director, it’s Israel's fault.
“The Center’s director describes [her]self as being in respectful ‘awe.’ I think the vast majority of Americans would describe themselves as being nauseated.
“The Center’s director, of whom I speak, also personally recruited Mr. Mangi to serve on the Center’s advisory board. Again, are we really expected to believe that Mr. Mangi didn't know about the director’s vile behavior? Did Mr. Mangi not even run a single Google search on this person?
“Now, on top of all that . . . I do not believe that Mr. Mangi told me the truth in our Judiciary hearing, Mr. President. When I asked him about his involvement with this radical organization, Mr. Mangi told me he only provided, quote, ‘advice on academic areas of research’ . . . but it turns out he was also funneling money to the organization—tens of thousands of dollars from himself and from his law firm.”
. . .
“Some senators have suggested that asking Mr. Mangi questions about his involvement with these organizations [is] ‘Islamophobic.’ One of my colleagues . . . said that certain Republican members of the committee, quote, believed that he, referring to Mr. Mangi, must be a terrorist because he’s a Muslim.
“Wow. That got my attention. That’s not true. I believe that Mr. Mangi is not qualified to be a federal judge because he supports organizations that celebrate people who kill law enforcement officers. He supports organizations that hate Americans, and he supports organizations that hate Jews.”
. . .
“When President Biden has nominated quality people—qualified people—to serve on the federal bench, I’ve supported them regardless of their race, regardless of their gender, regardless of their religion.”
. . .
“Just a few years ago, for example, I voted to confirm one of President Biden’s nominees: Mr.—now judge—Mr. Zahid Quraishi. Mr. Quraishi happened to be, at the time, the first Muslim-American federal judge. I voted for him, [and he is] doing a great job.
“Unlike Mr. Mangi, Judge Quraishi [was] not on the board of an organization that celebrates and advocates for the release of cop killers. He was not on the board of an organization that sponsors anti-American events and blames 9/11 on American imperialism.
“Judge Quraishi was qualified and is qualified to serve on the federal bench. Mr. Mangi is not. He’s just not. That’s not Islamophobia, Mr. President. That’s just a fact, and I think anyone who’s being honest with themselves—particularly if you go look at the confirmation hearings and read the evidence—I think any person who’s being honest with themselves will agree.”
Background:
- Mangi served on the advisory board of the Center for Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers Law School from 2019 to 2023. During his time on the advisory board, the Center sponsored several radical events, including an event titled “Whose Narrative? 20 years since September 11,” which analyzed the “exceptionalization of 9/11/2021.” The event featured commentary from several radical speakers, including:
- Sami Al-Arian, a man who pled guilty to conspiring to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group.
- Rabab Abdulhadi, a professor who has ties to a terrorist hijacker.
- Hatem Bazian, a co-founder of Students for Justice in Palestine, who previously called for intifada in the United States.
- The Center’s staff has expressed antisemitic viewpoints. For example, the Center’s director issued a statement saying she was “in awe of the Palestinian struggle to resist violent occupation, removal, erasure, and the expansion of Israeli settler colonialism.”
- In addition to serving on its advisory board, Mangi donated roughly $6,500 to the Center. Patterson Belknap, Mangi’s law firm, also donated roughly $13,000. Mangi did not disclose these financial contributions to the Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing.
- In 2019, Mangi joined the advisory board of the Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ), an anti-law enforcement group. AFJ has lauded cop killers as “freedom fighters” and routinely advocates for their parole. Additionally, AFJ established a fellowship in honor of its co-founder, Kathy Boudin, a member of the Weather Underground terrorist group who participated in a robbery that left a security guard and two police officers dead.
- Several law enforcement organizations have opposed Mangi’s confirmation, including the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Trooper’s Coalition and the Rockland County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association—the association that represented the officers killed in the robbery committed by the AFJ’s co-founder.
- Kennedy voted in committee (May 2021) and on the Senate floor (June 2021) to confirm Zahid Quraishi, who is the first-ever Muslim-American federal judge.
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and colleagues in hosting a press conference on the Laken Riley Act, which Kennedy helped introduce in the Senate.
The Laken Riley Act would require the Biden administration’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses until they are removed from the country.
Illegal aliens have victimized people in Louisiana. Last month, law enforcement in Louisiana arrested an illegal immigrant for allegedly stabbing a man while robbing him and for raping a 14-year-old girl. Kennedy called on President Biden to “stop putting out a welcome mat for criminal aliens who sneak into America and victimize innocent people.”
Kennedy’s key remarks are below.
“In opening up the southern border—and that’s clearly what President Biden and the Democrat Party [have] done—he and they have clearly summoned spirits that they can’t control.”
. . .
“Many, many members of the Democratic Party believe that vetting people at the southern border is racist. Most Americans don't agree with that. They think it's prudent.”
. . .
“The [Laken] Riley Act is yet one more attempt by the Republican Party to try to stem the chaos at the border, and—make no mistake—the border is chaotic by design.
“The Democratic Party, led by President Biden, now clearly believes in no distinction between legal and illegal immigration. If—according to the Biden administration—if you are a Nigerian doctor or a German engineer and you want to come to the United States legally and you filled out all the forms and you've undergone the vetting and you're waiting patiently in line, you're a chump. You're a chump because this administration believes there should be no distinction between legal and illegal immigration.
“There’s another provision in the [Laken] Riley Act that you should pay very close attention to because it would be far reaching, and that is this [bill] would create a cause of action for a state—probably through its attorney general—that can prove damage to sue federal officials who do not enforce America's immigration laws.”
Background:
- In February, Kennedy demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about why Riley’s suspected murderer, José Ibarra, was paroled into the U.S.
- Earlier this month, Kennedy called for the Senate take up impeachment charges against Mayorkas. The House of Representatives charged Mayorkas for his failure to make case-by-case parole determinations for illegal immigrants.
- In Nov. 2023, Kennedy helped introduce the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would require the DHS to disclose its catch-and-release data, including the number of migrants that the Biden administration has paroled into the country.
Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.
Senate passes Kennedy, Peters bipartisan legislation to make FEMA emergency response more efficient
Mar 21 2024
WASHINGTON – The Senate passed Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Gary Peters’s (D-Mich.) bipartisan Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act. The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration.
“The Senate just unanimously passed our common-sense solution to help the private sector and federal officials work better together to respond to emergencies. Now the House needs to send this solution to the president’s desk. I’ll keep working to get Louisianians and all Americans the help they need when disaster strikes, and I’m thankful to partner with Sen. Peters to that end,” said Kennedy.
The legislation would enable the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to disasters and other emergencies more efficiently and promptly.
“The federal government should have every tool available in order to help survivors of disasters get back on their feet. This bill will allow the Department of Homeland Security to respond to emergencies and natural disasters quickly and more effectively by streamlining the process to help disaster survivors recover and put their lives back together after tragedy strikes,” said Peters.
The HELP Response and Recovery Act would repeal Section 695 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, which restricts the length of non-competitive DHS contracts for urgent and compelling requirements to 150 days. The repeal of this obsolete regulation ensures that DHS deadlines for emergency contracts follow current government-wide rules that allow contracts of up to one year.
Text of the HELP Response and Recovery Act is available here.
Kennedy, Barrasso condemn Biden admin over massive proposed tax hike on American energy producers
Mar 21 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and 22 colleagues in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen questioning the Biden administration over its proposed $110 billion tax hike on traditional American energy producers.
“We write with grave concern regarding the administration’s continued hostility towards American energy production. Working families and small businesses are facing immense challenges including high energy prices. At the same time, our allies and partners across the globe are asking for reliable American energy resources to escape their dependence on Russian energy and to deal with the energy crisis,” the senators wrote.
“Instead of increasing U.S. energy production, the administration is focused on increasing energy taxes. The administration has once again doubled down on weaponizing the tax code against U.S. energy producers,” they continued.
In its FY 2025 Revenue Proposals “Greenbook,” President Biden’s Treasury Department recommended $5 trillion in new taxes on the American people, including $110 billion in new tax increases on oil, gas and coal production. The Biden administration also proposed eliminating many existing provisions of the IRS code that benefit the American energy sector.
“When facing a whole-of-government assault, American energy producers cannot continue to make long-term investments, which provide stability and energy security both at home and overseas. These crushing tax proposals, paired with the administration’s heavy-handed regulations and mandates, would threaten American families’ access to affordable and reliable energy, while giving our adversaries the upper-hand in global energy markets,” the senators concluded.
Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
WASHINGTON. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $9,443,948 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Many Louisianians are still recovering from Hurricane Ida’s damage. This $9.4 million will help repair electric lines in south Louisiana and support Lafourche Parish Hospital’s continued recovery,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
- $6,941,868 to the Dixie Electric Membership Corporation for line and facility repairs as a result of Hurricane Ida.
- $2,502,080 to Lafourche Parish Hospital for emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Ida.
Kennedy, Scott introduce bill to protect job creators from Biden admin’s SBA lending plan
Mar 20 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to introduce the Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act, a bill that would prevent the Biden administration from using the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a direct lender for the 7(a) Loan Program.
“Fraud and inefficiency characterize the Small Business Administration’s history in direct lending. The government shouldn’t crowd out private lenders that are already doing a good job getting funds to the small businesses that need them. I’m proud to partner with Sen. Scott to stop the SBA from replacing private lenders and those in our communities with Washington bureaucrats,” said Kennedy.
“When acting as a direct lender, the SBA has a consistent history of failure and inefficiency when compared to the private sector. The administration’s proposal is just a vehicle for a big government overreach into nearly all aspects of American life and private institutions. There’s simply no reason to use the federal government to funnel tax dollars that will later be loaned back to small businesses,” said Scott.
The Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act would block the SBA from issuing direct 7(a) loans and competing with small lenders.
Background:
- The 7(a) Loan Program provides small businesses with loans of up to $5 million to help job creators grow and maintain their businesses. Today, small business owners work with private lenders in their communities to receive loans through the program.
- In his 2025 budget request, President Biden proposed a small-dollar lending program that would allow the SBA to issue 7(a) program loans directly, forcing small lenders to compete with the federal government.
- Democrats attempted to implement a similar direct lending option for the SBA in 2021. Kennedy, Scott and a dozen other Republicans wrote a letter warning that the federal government has a history of developing botched lending programs. The SBA’s Inspector General, for example, estimated that the government-run Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program issued $79 billion in fraudulent loans during the pandemic. Businesses also suffered lengthy delays while waiting for EIDL funding.
- Private lenders have a far better record of efficiently and safely distributing loans to small businesses. Under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), private banks distributed $800 billion in loans to nearly 12 million small businesses. Fraud experts identified fewer than 1% of accounts as potentially fraudulent.
Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) also cosponsored the legislation.
Full text of the Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act is available here.
Kennedy, Coons introduce bipartisan bill to help more small businesses win government contracts
Mar 19 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today joined Sen. Chris Coons (D-Conn.) in introducing the bipartisan Small Business Contracting Transparency Act to help more businesses that participate in the Small Business Administration (SBA) programs win contracts with federal agencies.
“Louisiana’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve a fair shot at working with the federal government. The Small Business Contracting Transparency Act would require the SBA to tell the public about the contracts it grants so that job creators can take advantage of every opportunity that’s open to them,” said Kennedy.
“When small businesses are able to fulfill federal contracts, everyone wins. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation is a key step toward ensuring the federal government keeps its promises to women, veterans, and underserved communities when awarding federal contracts. This bill will increase oversight of programs that provide valuable opportunities for the hardworking yet underrepresented entrepreneurs and small businesses that are the foundation of our state’s economy,” said Coons.
Federal agencies are supposed to award participants in certain SBA programs—including the Women-Owned Small Business program (WOSB), the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) initiative and the Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program—with a certain percentage of awards. However, since 2000, government agencies have only met their goals twice.
The Small Business Contracting Transparency Act would require the SBA submit reports on:
- The number of small businesses certified to participate in the WOSB program, the HUBZone program and the SDVOSB program.
- The total dollar amount and percentage of federal contracts that agencies award to qualifying small businesses in each SBA program.
- The number of ineligible businesses in each SBA program that agencies mistakenly awarded a contract.
Full text of the Small Business Contracting Transparency Act is available here.
Kennedy, Barrasso urge Biden admin to reverse bureaucratic mandates for apprenticeship program
Mar 19 2024
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in urging the Biden administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) to withdraw its proposed rule to discourage small businesses and non-union shops from taking part in the National Apprenticeship System.
“The new regulation the Biden administration is putting in place effectively attacks good jobs that use apprenticeship programs to train Americans for a variety of careers. By punishing non-union job creators, the Department of Labor is also making it harder for Louisiana job seekers to build a career on their own terms,” said Kennedy.
The Biden administration’s rule would discourage small businesses and other employers from participating in the apprenticeship program by mandating unrealistic union requirements.
“Businesses and other sponsors of apprenticeship programs already face financial and administrative burdens. The proposed rule further discourages employer participation. The DOL is imposing burdensome requirements, hindering flexibility, limiting non-union worker training, and forcing employers to comply with a grave agenda,” the senators wrote.
“The proposed rule requires all apprenticeship programs to provide a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom training. Employers understand the qualifications and skills a prospective employee needs to be successful. The one-size-fits-all Washington mandate does not take into consideration the various dynamics of apprenticeship programs across localities and industries. The burdensome requirement will also be particularly difficult for small businesses to fulfill as they may lack the flexibility and resources necessary,” they continued.
“In addition, the Administration is attempting to limit non-union apprenticeships. . . . This rule creates conditions where union membership is all but compulsory and undermines workers’ rights to choose union membership. This is especially pertinent in rural areas where a majority of apprenticeship programs are sponsored by small businesses with no union affiliation or where unionized workforces do not meet their unique needs. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, union membership rate in the private-sector for 2023 was 6 percent throughout the United States,” the senators concluded.
Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) also signed the letter.
The full letter is available here.
