In the News

Editor's note: The following is an analysis by Greg Hilburn, Louisiana's political reporter for the USA Today network.

Louisiana's congressional delegation shrank along with its population in recent decades, but its influence and clout has expanded.

In fact, it can be argued that Louisiana has more influence per capita in the 118th Congress than any other state, led by Republican Congressman Steve Scalise as the new majority leader in the House.

"We're punching way above our weight," Republican Congressman Mike Johnson told USA Today Network. "I think Louisiana is in a better position as a delegation than it ever has been."


Here's how Louisiana's members stack up in the new 118th Congress:

In the House
Steve Scalise (R-1st Congressional District): Only Speaker Kevin McCarthy wields more power in the House than Scalise.

As majority leader, Scalise sets the committee and bill schedules, placing Louisiana interests in a plum position.


Many of his colleagues believe Scalise is actually in a better position than the speaker because of the Republicans' slim hold on the majority.

One of Louisiana's members of Congress, on background, said: "Being the speaker is going to be incredibly difficult during the next two years. Few people envy (McCarthy), but (Scalise) as majority leader better positions him for the future. "

Troy Carter (D-2nd Congressional District): Carter is Louisiana's only Democrat in Congress, but he is well positioned to help his state and district because of his alliance with Scalise and his committee assignments, especially House Transportation and Infrastructure, where he helped craft the final language of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

He's also popular among his colleagues. Carter was appointed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to the Regional Leadership Council and was elected second vice-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“I will keep up the good work of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, making life better for Louisianans by focusing on infrastructure resilience, creating good-paying jobs, and emergency response and preparedness," said Carter, who is also a member of the Homeland Security Committee.


Clay Higgins (R-3rd Congressional District): Acadiana's congressman made a big move in the new Congress, securing the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation and Operations within the Homeland Security Committee.

It's a high-profile position from which Republicans can criticize President Joe Biden, who they believe is vulnerable on his handling of the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Higgins wasted no time going on the offensive, describing Biden's border policies as "treasonous."

Higgins also returns to the House Oversight Committee, where his warnings this week to Twitter officials that they would be jailed for interfering in the 2020 election went viral on social media.

Mike Johnson (R-4th Congressional District): Johnson has continued his rapid rise on the Republican leadership ladder in the new Congress.

He was elected as the Republican Conference vice chair and secured the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government of the Judiciary Committee.


He also returned to the House Armed Services Committee, a massive assignment to protect the interests of Barksdale Air Force Base, Fort Polk and Louisiana's other military installations.

Julia Letlow (R-5th Congressional District): In just her second term, Letlow is a rising star in Congress.

She is Louisiana's only member in the House on the Appropriations Committee, a rare assignment for someone with limited seniority. The committee controls the nation's purse strings.

Just as important are her subcommittee assignments on Appropriations, which include: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; and Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.

Garret Graves (R-6th Congressional District): Graves has key assignments on House Transportation, where he also chairs the Subcommittee on Aviation, and House Natural Resources, all critical seats at the table for Louisiana.

But Graves has also become one of the kingmakers within the Republican Conference as a staunch ally of McCarthy, who has appointed Graves to chair a council of GOP leadership and placed him on the steering committee that doles out committee assignments.


The big question now is whether Graves will remain in Congress or run for governor back home.


In the Senate
Bill Cassidy (R): Cassidy has risen to the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, an assignment he relishes as a doctor.

He is also a member of the Finance Committee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Veterans Affairs Committee.

"As ranking member of the HELP Committee and as a doctor, it is a priority to not only protect Americans’ financial health, but ensure the access and innovations that benefit their physical health," Cassidy said in a hearing this week. "This is an area where Democrats and Republicans can work together to benefit patients."

John Kennedy (R): Kennedy sits on powerful committees that control spending, the budget and the federal judiciary, which may be why he decided to remain in the Senate rather than run for governor.


"At this juncture, I just think I can help my state and my country more in the Senate," Kennedy said in January.

He serves on the Appropriations Committee, the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Small Business Committee, the Budget Committee and the Judiciary Committee.