Press Releases
Cassidy Introduces Legislation to Repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Under the RFS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the volumes of ethanol and biodiesel that are required to be blended into the U.S. transportation fuel supply. The EPA has overstepped its authority and has mismanaged the fuel standard, missing deadlines for the 2014 and 2015 RFS regulations. The EPA's mandates overestimate how much ethanol consumers will purchase and the fu… Continue Reading
06.12.15
Cassidy Applauds Announcement Louisiana National Guardsman Allowed Burial at Arlington National Cemetery
U.S Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. applauded the announcement that Louisiana National Guard Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Staff Sgt. Florich was one of 11 service members who died in a helicopter crash during a training mission off the coast of Florida in March. The U.S. Army previously said that he did not qualify to be buried at Arlington Cemetery because he died in training, rather than active duty. Dr. Cassidy and the Louisiana delegation hav… Continue Reading
06.10.15
Cassidy to Chair HELP Committee Hearing on Improving Electronic Health Records for Physicians
- Today, U.S. Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced that Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D (R-LA) will chair a full committee hearing on the burdens the government's electronic health records program puts on physicians. It is the second in a series of bipartisan hearings on possible solutions to address the failed promise of electronic health records (EHRs). The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 10am EST in Senate Dirksen 4… Continue Reading
06.09.15
Cassidy Introduces Obamacare Replacement Plan: The Patient Freedom Act is a Conservative Response to King v. Burwell
Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Patient Freedom Act, a conservative response to protect millions of Americans who are at risk of losing their health care coverage following the Supreme Court's ruling in King v. Burwell. The Patient Freedom Act lowers costs, eliminates mandates, gives states the power and puts patients in control of their health care. Original cosponsors include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), Sens. Da… Continue Reading
06.05.15
Cassidy Discusses Harmful Effects of EPA’s WOTUS Rule
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke out against the Obama administration's recently released "Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule" that defines which streams, rivers, ponds, wetlands, ditches, and waterways are subject to federal oversight under the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have bypassed Congress and broadened the scope of their jurisdiction to regulate waters of the United States, creating uncertainty for Louis… Continue Reading
06.04.15
Cassidy, Vitter, Graves Introduce Legislation to Improve Ship Recycling, Create Jobs
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Ships to Be Recycled in the States (STORIS) Act, legislation to reform the domestic marine recycling industry. Their legislation would improve the domestic ship recycling industry and promote transparency by requiring reports from Maritime Administration (MARAD) and an audit by the Government Accountability Office. Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA) is introducing the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives… Continue Reading
06.03.15
Cassidy Wants to Save $4 Billion Taxpayer Dollars, Cut Government Waste
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan concerning federal agencies wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on the lack of management and the duplication of software products for these agencies. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said implementing oversight and management policies of federal software licenses is estimated to save up to $181 million tax dollars per agency per year, or more than $4 billion tax dol… Continue Reading
06.02.15
Cassidy Statement on Obamacare Rate Increases
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after the proposed Obamacare rate increases were announced to be an average of 24 percent for Louisiana families, and the Obama administration approved increases of 60.5 percent, 48.8 percent, and 20 percent on select plans: "Some Louisiana families might face a 60.5 percent increase in their health care premiums-that's unacceptable. Our workers, small businesses and families are being crushed by Obamacare's mandates and… Continue Reading
05.29.15
Cassidy Comments on EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Mandates
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume mandate for 2014-2016: "Our goal should be helping families and workers have the ability to grow their businesses and get good paying jobs. The Obama administration's unworkable mandates will hurt Louisiana's seafood industry, contribute to the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico and threaten manufacturing jobs. The R… Continue Reading
05.28.15
Cassidy Announces National Seersucker Day
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced National Seersucker Day will be held this year on Thursday, June 11, 2015: "Seersucker is more than fabric-it's a symbol of American made products that create manufacturing, shipping and sales jobs across the country. It is also the melding of fashion with comfort. Seersucker was invented in Louisiana but now belongs to all Americans. I am proud to further a Congressional tradition." A part of Louisiana's heritage, the original seersucker suit w… Continue Reading
05.28.15
Cassidy, Vitter Urge FERC to Protect Families, Small Businesses from Energy Rate Hike
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and David Vitter (R-LA) sent a letter to Norman Bay, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), regarding Gulf South Pipeline Company's rate hike and restructuring proposal, which would dramatically increase rates for current consumers. "Modernizing natural gas infrastructure is certainly important and worth the investment. But before anything is decided, we need to consider how this would affect current consumers, including Gulf Coast f… Continue Reading
05.27.15
Cassidy Meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions and the P5+1 negotiations to lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for changes to Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his concerns that the negotiations will lead to Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. "In our meeting, I expressed to Prime Minister Netanyahu my strong support for the nation of Israel. We share a common goal for peace in the region and … Continue Reading
05.27.15
Cassidy Announces Funding for Louisiana Military Priorities
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced projects critical to Louisiana were prioritized in the Senate Appropriations Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he also secured funding for projects in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. Dr. Cassidy offered the following statement: "Threats abroad are growing, and our budget is shrinking. Optimizing military funding to ensure ou… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Cassidy Stands By Offshore Energy Access Legislation
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) responded to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's (D-FL) inaccurate criticism of his legislation to expand offshore energy production: "Florida is a part of the Gulf and their residents should benefit from the Gulf's natural resources. Families across the nation, including in Florida, would hold jobs with better wages and better benefits that are created by expanding offshore energy production. I don't understand why anyone would deny Floridians, or anyone else, acc… Continue Reading
05.21.15
Cassidy Announces Funding for Louisiana Energy and Coastal Priorities
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced projects critical to Louisiana will be prioritized in the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he also secured funding for projects in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Dr. Cassidy offered the following statement: "Funding for coastal restoration, whether it be through revenue sharing or appropriations, is a… Continue Reading
05.20.15
ICYMI: Cassidy Obamacare Replacement Plan Gaining Momentum
Tomorrow, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. will present his plan, the Patient Freedom Act, a conservative response to protect millions of Americans who are at risk of losing their health care coverage following the Supreme Court's ruling in King v. Burwell. The Patient Freedom Act lowers costs, eliminates mandates, gives states the power and puts patients in control of their health care. Register to attend the event at the Hudson Institute HERE and read more below: Top Republican drafts bill to… Continue Reading
05.20.15
Amid the Ruins of Obamacare
…This column will bring to light another Republican bill, the Patient Freedom Act to be rolled out Thursday at the Hudson Institute by its author, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)… That's why the GOP needs to be waiting with something to replace Obamacare. "Let it burn" would be a good idea if the Democrats controlled Congress, but the fact that, largely because of Obamacare, the 2010 and 2014 midterm blowouts created Republican majorities in both houses of Congress imposes a larger burd… Continue Reading
05.19.15
Energy Committee Holds Hearing on Cassidy Offshore Energy Access Legislation
The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy's legislation S. 1276, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act of 2015, to expand offshore energy production by opening parts of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that are currently restricted from oil and gas exploration and lift the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) cap to provide Louisiana and fellow Gulf states with increased amounts of revenue to protect their coasts. Watch his remarks HER… Continue Reading
05.19.15
Cassidy, Lankford Religious Freedom Amendment to Trade Promotion Authority Passes Senate
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) joined Senator James Lankford (R-OK) to introduce an amendment to the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Act that promotes international religious freedom. It passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 92 to 0. The amendment adds a provision to the overall negotiating objectives outlined in TPA, requiring the Administration to take religious freedom into account whenever negotiating trade agreements. If signed into law, this would be the first time in histor… Continue Reading
05.15.15
ICYMI- The Hill: Top Republican drafts bill to replace ObamaCare
As Republicans debate how to respond to a Supreme Court ruling on ObamaCare next month, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) promises to have a plan for what happens next. The freshman senator plans to introduce a bill called the Patient Freedom Act in late May, which is meant to serve as "part two" to the GOP's response to the looming court case, King v. Burwell. Cassidy's plan, which would let states opt out of ObamaCare mandates and instead receive tax credits for health savings accounts, would work i… Continue Reading
