Press Releases
Cassidy Looks at Safety Measures for Offshore Oil and Gas Production
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. questioned officials in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Well Control Rule and other regulations related to offshore oil and gas production. Dr. Cassidy questioned whether the 20 new receptacles would create more possibility for leaks and safety hazards, the Well Control Rule shifting command and control authority from rig to shore, and cautioned against rushed-over prescriptive regulations that could lead to unintended safety risks… Continue Reading
11.18.15
Democrats Oppose EGO Act - Would Have Banned Taxpayer-Funded Oil Paintings of Government Officials
"I have no clue why the Democratic Leader objects… It is an incredible insensitivity to working families… They look at people in Washington like a new version of The Hunger Games. It is the capitol of this country and all the riches of this country are brought to the capitol to paint paintings of government officials to be hidden away-while they struggle to make their mortgage and their car note and to make sure that their child is properly fed." WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. … Continue Reading
11.17.15
Cassidy Supports Vitter Legislation to Stop Influx of Syrian Refugees
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced he is a cosponsor of Senator David Vitter's (R-LA) legislation to stop the influx of refugees from Syria until verification safeguards are in place to confirm that each refugee arriving is not a threat to the United States. At least one of the terrorists in the Paris attacks was confirmed to have entered France by posing as a Syrian refugee. Dr. Cassidy released the following statement: "The President might not think this is a War on Terror-but … Continue Reading
11.16.15
Cassidy: Stop Obama's Syrian Refugee Plan
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement on the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Louisiana: "The President has zero credibility when he claims Syrian refugees will be screened. He's ignoring the genocide of Christians and other religious groups, and still refuses to say 'radical Islam.' Hours before the attacks in Paris he said ISIS is contained, minimizing the seriousness of the threat they pose. Top FBI officials said there's no way to adequately screen all th… Continue Reading
11.10.15
Cassidy Honors Louisiana Veterans
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. thanked veterans for their service in honor of Veterans Day. He recounted the stories of two World War II heroes from Louisiana and thanked staff members who served. Watch his speech here and read his remarks below: "In commemoration, celebration and honor of Veterans Day, I'd like to share the stories of two Louisiana heroes who served in World War II: Lucius Forsyth and Robert "Emmett" Stanley - two Louisianans who answered the call to serve and di… Continue Reading
11.10.15
FDA Tightens Safety Regulations on Imported Seafood Following Cassidy Concerns
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) questioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August regarding the FDA's oversight of imported seafood. Studies show the amount of bacteria or antibiotic residue is alarmingly high in imported seafood, specifically shrimp. Today, the FDA responded to Dr. Cassidy's inquiry, explaining their efforts to improve the safety of seafood. This includes screening 100 percent of import entries prior to the products entering the country, inspections of s… Continue Reading
11.10.15
Cassidy Advocate OpEd: Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion will not Work for Louisiana
I received a text this past weekend from a friend whose relative broke a bone. The relative was seen in the ER, but because their "insurance" was Medicaid, they were having problems finding a physician for follow-up. Since Medicaid doesn't cover the cost of a doctor's utilities, rent, employees and malpractice insurance, most doctors limit the number of Medicaid patients they see. This is the problem with the Obamacare Medicaid expansion: high cost with limited access, hurting patient outcomes. … Continue Reading
11.06.15
Cassidy Comments on President's Keystone Rejection
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after President Obama rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline: "The president's rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline shows his allegiance to his supporters, not the American people. He rejected more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs that the American people want created. He ignored the 60 percent of Americans who want the pipeline built. Keystone could save workers' lives because transporting oil by pipeline means fewer accid… Continue Reading
11.04.15
Louisiana Awarded College Football National Championship Game Following Cassidy's Urging
Today, it was announced that the 2020 College Football Playoff title game will be played in New Orleans on January 13, 2020, following the urging of Dr. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). In March, Dr. Cassidy wrote a letter to The Playoff Group's Bill Hancock supporting the proposal of hosting the game in New Orleans. Read the letter HERE and below: March 27, 201 Bill Hancock Executive Director The Playoff Group 545 East John Carpenter Freeway Suite 1025 Irving, TX 75062 Dear Mr. Hancock: I… Continue Reading
11.04.15
ICYMI - Cassidy: Louisiana should not take Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, and instead should look for better ways for health care
Louisiana should not take Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, and instead should look for better ways for health care By Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. The Advocate I received a text this past weekend from a friend whose relative broke a bone. The relative was seen in the ER, but because their "insurance" was Medicaid, they were having problems finding a physician for follow-up. Since Medicaid doesn't cover the cost of a doctor's utilities, rent, employees and malpractice ins… Continue Reading
11.03.15
Cassidy Pushes Back on EPA's WOTUS Rule
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a cosponsor of the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, S.1140, released the following statement after voting to push back on the Obama administration's "Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule," which defines what streams, rivers, ponds, wetlands, ditches, and waterways are subject to federal oversight under the Clean Water Act: "When I'm in Louisiana, I consistently hear about the impacts this rule could have on private property, private property deve… Continue Reading
10.29.15
ICYMI: Sens. Cassidy-Murphy Op-Ed: Mental Health Reform Act of 2015
ICYMI: Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 By Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) & Chris Murphy (D-CT) The Hill When President Kennedy signed the community Mental Health Act he called for a "bold new approach" and set out to shut down hundreds of inhumane "insane asylums" and move people into more effective community-based care. The idea was revolutionary, but in the fifty years since, the promise of this vision was never realized. What we have now is a fragmented, dysfunctional, and under-… Continue Reading
10.28.15
Cassidy, Murphy to Hold Press Call Following Senate Hearing on Mental Health
CASSIDY, MURPHY TO HOLD PRESS CALL FOLLOWING SENATE HEARING ON MENTAL HEALTH Will call for action on Cassidy-Murphy Mental Health Reform Act Legislation will make critical reforms to address lack of resources, enhance coordination & develop meaningful solutions to improve outcomes for Americans dealing with mental illness **Thursday, October 29th at 12pm EST, call-in information below** WASHINGTON - Tomorrow, after the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee … Continue Reading
10.27.15
Cassidy, 48 Senators Push Back on Obama's Carbon Mandates
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. released the following statement after joining a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing a resolution disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan regulations for existing power sources: "Our goal should be to create better jobs with better benefits for families, but the EPA's Clean Power Plan will hurt jobs and raise costs for all Louisianans. Low income families and low wage workers will be hit hardest. Companies wil… Continue Reading
10.23.15
Cassidy: OSERS Guidelines on Dyslexia is a Step in the Right Direction, But More Needs To Be Done
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. released the following statement after the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) released guidance to state and local educational agencies clarifying that students with specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, have unique educational needs: "Having the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) acknowledge that students with dyslexia have unique educational needs that must be addressed is a step in the right… Continue Reading
10.21.15
Cassidy: The Time For Mental Health Reform Is Now
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. urged Congress to discuss and finally address how to fix America's broken mental health system. Dr. Cassidy and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), members of the U.S. Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to comprehensively overhaul and strengthen America's mental health care system. The Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 will make critical reforms to address a lack of resources, enhance coordination, and devel… Continue Reading
10.21.15
Cassidy Remarks on Mental Health
Mr. President, for 25 years I have worked in the Louisiana public hospital system, and you can't help but notice when you work in a public hospital system, but also in private hospitals how often mental health issues are directly a part of a patient who comes to see you. But it doesn't just have to be a physician seeing patients in the emergency room, each of our families, mine included, has a family member or a friend who has serious mental illness. It is non-partisan, it cuts across demograp… Continue Reading
10.20.15
Cassidy Votes to Stop Illegal Criminals
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) voted to stop the release of criminal illegal immigrants by eliminating federal funding supporting sanctuary cities. These cities harbor illegal criminals who are in the U.S. committing further crimes or repeatedly entering the U.S. after being deported. Orleans and Lafayette parishes are sanctuary cities. Dr. Cassidy released the following statement: "Louisiana families want our cities to be safe and our immigration laws to be enforced. We've seen what h… Continue Reading
10.20.15
Cassidy Votes to Stop Illegal Criminals
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) voted to stop the release of criminal illegal immigrants by eliminating federal funding supporting sanctuary cities. These cities harbor illegal criminals who are in the U.S. committing further crimes or repeatedly entering the U.S. after being deported. Orleans and Lafayette parishes are sanctuary cities. Dr. Cassidy released the following statement: "Louisiana families want our cities to be safe and our immigration laws to be enforced. We've seen what … Continue Reading
10.16.15
Cassidy: Common Core and PARCC Assessment Wrong for Students with Dyslexia
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. chaired two Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Hearings in New Orleans and Baton Rouge this week. The hearings follow the passage of a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. Senate designating October 2015 as "National Dyslexia Awareness Month," recognizing that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed. The Resolution, S. Res. 275, can be read here. Sen. Cassidy released a statement about the Co… Continue Reading