Press Releases
Cassidy, Schatz Introduce the Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act, legislation to create a permanent fund to allow quick and effective responses to future public health emergencies. "We may not know when the next infectious disease outbreak will happen, but we can be better prepared. This bill provides immediate funding and takes lessons learned from COVID-19 to quickly and effectively respond to future public health emergenc… Continue Reading
07.27.21
Cassidy Statement on Passing of Senator Mike Enzi
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement on the passing of former Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi. "Mike was an exemplary human being, a man of quiet faith in God and country. If senators are either show horses or work horses, he was a double down work horse. He worked for Americans and also to extend our values worldwide. We once had a long talk discussing one of his proudest achievements, PEPFAR. Trips to Africa convinced him of the need and the George W. Bush administ… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Commend the Service of Hamilton-Class Coast Guard Cutters
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D., Roger Wicker (R-MS), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced a resolution to commend the service of Hamilton-class Coast Guard Cutters and crew who served on them. These vessels were constructed at Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana. "These ships, mostly built in Avondale, Louisiana, are a symbol of the prestige and power of the United States … Continue Reading
07.23.21
Cassidy, Schatz, Collins, Young, Leahy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reform Disaster Recovery
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Todd Young (R-IN), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced legislation to help communities plan for and recover from major disasters. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would strengthen the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's disaster recovery grants for states, local governments, and tribes. It would also improve coordination at the federal level by establishing an office within the U.S. Department o… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Cassidy Announces $2.2 Million for Natchitoches Regional Airport
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will grant $2,222,222 to the Natchitoches Regional Airport to repave 4,000 feet of existing runway. "Having a good airport is critical to draw businesses, investors, or even families to move to your community," said Dr. Cassidy. "This federal funding invests in Natchitoches' economic future." This grant is funded by the bipartisan CARES Act, which was passed in March 2020, and provided funding for econom… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Cassidy, Cruz, Colleagues Voice Opposition to Biden Administration Fossil Fuel Transportation Ban
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and John Kennedy (R-LA) expressed concern over the Biden administration's proposal to ban the Army Corps of Engineers from funding projects that facilitate fossil fuel transportation in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young. "This policy goes far beyond establishing priorities through the budget process and is instead an attempt t… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Cassidy, Graham, Senators Reintroduce Legislation to Increase Penalties for Robbing Gun Stores
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and 19 colleagues today reintroduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2021 to address the rapid increase in the number of "smash-and-grab" thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers. The legislation increases the statutory maximum penalty for knowingly stealing any firearm in an FFL's business inventory from 10 to 20 years, imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years for burglary from an FFL and 5 year… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Cassidy Brings Attention to ICE Drop Offs throughout Louisiana on Senate Floor
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today delivered a speech on the Senate Floor on the drop off of migrants in Shreveport, Monroe, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with little to no notice to state and local officials. "This situation in Shreveport, Monroe and Baton Rouge shows the degree of failure of their policies. It's hard to believe they are the only communities dealing with this," said Dr. Cassidy. "It's unfair to every single person in… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Senate Unanimously Passes Cassidy, Kennedy Resolution Congratulating Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion Zaila Avant-garde
Today, the U.S. Senate passed S.Res. 311, a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) to congratulate Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde. Miss Avant-garde is the first Louisianan and African-American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. "Zaila Avant-garde is an incredible 14-year-old young lady from Louisiana. Proud to see the Senate formally recognize her impressive national spelling bee victory," said Dr. Cassidy. "She … Continue Reading
07.21.21
Entire Louisiana Delegation Urges Administration to Support Supplemental Disaster Relief for Southwest Louisiana
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today urged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prioritize Louisiana's request for supplemental disaster relief in response to Hurricanes Laura and Delta in a Louisiana congressional delegation letter. "Today marks 328 days since the disaster, and as we approach the one-year anniversary of these devastating storms, we are hopeful that OMB will acknowledge the extreme need for supplemental disaster relief and issue a formal request," wrote the Loui… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Cassidy, G22 Senators Release Statement on Infrastructure Vote
U.S. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and the Group of 22 Senators released the statement below following the failed motion to proceed vote today: "We have made significant progress and are close to a final agreement. We will continue working hard to ensure we get this critical legislation right-and are optimistic that we will finalize, and be prepared to advance, this historic bipartisan proposal to strengthen America's infrastructure and create good-paying jobs in the coming days. We appreciate our … Continue Reading
07.20.21
Senate Confirms Louisiana Native Kenneth Polite
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today released a statement following the Senate confirmation of Kenneth Polite, a Louisiana native, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. "From humble beginnings in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Polite has accomplished much due to his intelligence, hard work, and support from his family," said Dr. Cassidy. "Mr. Polite is well qualified to succeed in this position." Polite served as the U.S. Attorney for th… Continue Reading
07.18.21
Cassidy Statement on ICE Immigrant Dropoff in Shreveport
Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement on the drop off of approximately 80 Haitian immigrants in Shreveport, Louisiana by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with little to no notice to state and local officials. "The White House cannot dump groups of Haitian refugees into Louisiana communities with nowhere to go, no photo ID, and no money. It appears Washington told ICE to just 'send them somewhere,' and apparently gave little to no notice… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Senate Energy Committee Advances Energy Infrastructure Bill, Cassidy Secures Wins for Louisiana’s Energy Future
Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, voted to advance a bill to invest in the energy and outdoor infrastructure of the United States to deploy new and innovative technologies, update existing infrastructure to be reliable and resilient, and secure energy infrastructure against physical and cyberthreats, and for other purposes. The Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act was included as part of the larger energy in… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Cassidy, ENR Republicans Call on Biden to Withdraw Tracey Stone-Manning’s Nomination
Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and the other Republican members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to withdraw the nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning to serve as director of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In addition to Cassidy, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of ENR, along with Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Lee (R-UT), Steve … Continue Reading
07.14.21
Cassidy, Menendez Introduce Legislation to Lower Drug Prices for Seniors
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the bipartisan Seniors Prescription Drug Relief Act to strengthen Medicare Part D and make it easier for seniors to afford their medication. "If someone on Medicare cannot afford their medication, they are going to get sicker or not get better. This bill takes on the root causes of high drug prices because we want to make it easier for seniors to pay for their prescriptions," said Dr. Cassidy. "Our bipartisan bill woul… Continue Reading
07.13.21
Cassidy: ‘Remove the Bullseye from the Back of My Hardworking Constituents’
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today delivered a speech on the Senate Floor highlighting the hypocrisy of the Biden administration's energy policy while average gas prices have soared beyond $3.00. "It's been only six months of the Biden administration, but every day, that target on the back of an oil and gas worker and on their family's future gets bigger and bigger and bigger," said Dr. Cassidy. "It's almost, if you will, a quadruple whammy: weakening U.S. security, increasing green… Continue Reading
07.13.21
Cassidy on Spelling Bee Winner Zaila Avant-garde: ‘Her future is very bright and we look forward to watching her succeed,’ Offers Internship
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today delivered a speech on the Senate Floor in which he congratulated Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion Zaila Avant-garde. "[L]et me give a heartfelt congratulations to Zaila Avant-garde, this incredible 14-year-old young lady just won the national spelling bee. She is Louisiana's first winner and the first African American winner of the spelling bee. She dominated, getting words that I don't think any of the rest of us would be able to spell. I sh… Continue Reading
07.12.21
Cassidy, Kennedy Introduce Senate Resolution Congratulating Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion Zaila Avant-garde
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced a Senate Resolution congratulating Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde. Miss Avant-garde is the first Louisianan and African-American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. "Congratulations Zaila Avant-garde, Louisiana's own - and first - Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. You've made our state proud," said Dr. Cassidy. "Becky and I are thrilled to see Zaila Avant-garde become Louis… Continue Reading
07.09.21
Cassidy Announces $57 Million in FEMA Funding for Hurricane Laura Emergency Shelter Program
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will grant $56,766,773.29 to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) for the Louisiana non-congregate shelter program that housed those effected by Hurricane Laura last year. This grant reimburses GOHSEP for the costs of housing 11,654 evacuees across 42 hotels. At its peak, the Louisiana non-congregate shelter program for Hurricane Laura sheltered 21,510 e… Continue Reading
