In the News

• JNK JOINS JBE: U.S Sen. John Kennedy teamed up with Gov. John Bel Edwards this week when the governor rolled through DC to lobby policymakers for hurricane assistance. The duo met with Sens. Richard Shelby of Alabama and Susan Collins of Maine. Kennedy released this statement: "Our people are desperate, and we have to help them. It’s that simple. The fact that Louisiana stands strong in the wreckage of category 4 storms doesn’t mean we should stand alone. Our state sends a lot of tax dollars to Washington, and Louisianians need a little help now. I’m thankful that Sens. Shelby and Collins took the time today for the governor and me to outline Louisiana’s needs for the Senate Appropriations Committee."

• SO DID TROY: The governor also got to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week, and Congressman Troy Carter was there for the exchange. Carter said, "Meetings with congressional leaders this week have been productive, and I am hopeful they will remember the challenges facing Louisianians as the House continues to do its work. However, I continue to request that a bipartisan congressional delegation visit southeast Louisiana to witness the unforgettable devastation firsthand."

• BILL’S REV-SHARE BILL: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy has joined his colleagues in requesting a committee hearing on the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act. The bill would both amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and create a new dedicated stream of funding from future offshore wind development for coastal protection and resiliency. According to Cassidy, this would allow for more equitable resource sharing between states, the federal government and conservation programs.

• JULIA WANTS ACTION ON DELTA: Congresswoman Julia Letlow recently led a group of 12 colleagues in asking President Joe Biden to prioritize filling the Delta Regional Authority’s top leadership positions. Since the Administration took office in January, Letlow said the DRA has been unable to distribute millions in grant funding with these key positions vacant. Letlow co-signed a letter to the president, which included this excerpt: "DRA stands ready to award approximately $33 million in total grant funding. These programs provide vital resources for physical and human infrastructure improvements across the eight state Delta region," the letter states. "It is essential that these funds be allocated in a timely manner to ensure our communities can proceed with projects that provide for job creation to rebuild and strengthen communities, especially as we move past the COVID-19 pandemic."  

• MIKE ON THE MIC: Congressman Mike Johnson led a series of Republican speeches Wednesday evening on the House floor regarding "the House Democrats' radical pro-abortion legislation." Johnson said, "You'll hear a lot tonight about the Democrats' 'Abortion on Demand Until Birth' legislation — one of the darkest, most brazen, most extreme bills ever brought to this floor. It would legalize on-demand abortion until birth. It would remove nearly all pro-life protections for the unborn. And, it would abolish laws that prevent even late term abortion. It is barbaric, and it must be stopped." 

• ALL IN FOR BLUE ROOF: Congresswoman Julia Letlow, GOP Whip Steve Scalise and Congressmen Garret Graves, Clay Higgins and Troy Carter sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking it to speed up the completion of Operation Blue Roof. In the wake of Hurricane Ida, more than 62,000 Louisiana households have applied for assistance under the program, but only 3,743 installations have been completed to date. The bipartisan group noted that while the Corps is dedicating additional resources to the program, even the advanced completion rate will not meet the pressing need in Southeast Louisiana. "While we appreciate the accelerated speed under this ramp up, at that rate it would take approximately 98 days to complete installation for every applicant under the Blue Roof program," the letter states. "This timeframe is unacceptable and will lead to additional damage to homes while people’s roofs remain exposed to the elements."