Press Releases
Cassidy Statement on BP Settlement
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. released the following statement after Gulf State officials announced they had reached a settlement with BP for $18.7 billion following the BP oil spill in 2010: "The people of Louisiana were affected more than any other by the BP oil spill and the federal government ordered moratorium that followed. The environmental and economic effects are still seen and felt by Louisianans. This settlement is the next step, and a very important one, in completing this recove… Continue Reading
06.19.15
Cassidy, Vitter, Fleming, Abraham Question Inaccurate Red River Crest Predictions
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, Senator David Vitter, Representative John Fleming and Representative Ralph Abraham are questioning federal agencies on their inaccurate cresting predictions for the Red River, which crested 3 feet higher than expected and resulted in flood damage across northwest Louisiana. "…Predictions on the crest of the Red River changed seven times in thirteen days," write the Congressmen. "Predictions went from a 31.5-foot crest on May 24th to a 34-foot crest on May 29th.… Continue Reading
06.17.15
Cassidy Secures Funding for Louisiana Priorities, Stops Obama Administration Mandates
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced projects critical to Louisiana were prioritized in the Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill and the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2016. In addition, Dr. Cassidy helped block funding from going toward implementing Obama Administration's proposed mandates. "The Obama administration's mandates targeting our energy industry threa… Continue Reading
06.17.15
Cassidy, Fellow Physicians Urge EPA to Protect Human Health, Maintain Existing Ozone Standards
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. joined fellow congressional medical professionals to send a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy urging the EPA to maintain the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground level ozone. The EPA has proposed lowering the current standard from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 65-70 parts per billion (ppb). This would put many parishes and counties out of compliance and is estimated to cost the economy $140 bi… Continue Reading
06.16.15
Cassidy Chairs HELP Committee Hearing on Improving Electronic Health Records
- U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) chaired a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) full committee hearing on how to improve the electronic health records (EHR) system and the burdens EHRs put on physicians. Treating uninsured and underinsured patients in Louisiana's charity hospital system for nearly 30 years, Dr. Cassidy has firsthand experience working with EHRs. "As a physician, time is better spent looking into a patient's eyes to make sure that she comprehends that even thoug… Continue Reading
06.16.15
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
