Press Releases
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
07.09.21
Cassidy Announces $1 Million to University of Louisiana at Lafayette for Hydrogen Technology Research
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced $1 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) to advance clean hydrogen technologies. ULL will develop high-performance metal-supported solid oxide electrolysis cells and innovative diagnostic methodologies to achieve net-zero or negative emissions. ULL is one of 31 projects using the nation's vast fossil-fuel and power infrastructure for decarbonized energy and commodity productio… Continue Reading
07.08.21
Cassidy Announces $1.3 Million Grant to Develop Biotech Labs in New Orleans
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.3 million grant to the New Orleans Business Alliance to develop two wet labs and a clean room for the Information Technology Center at the University of New Orleans (UNO) Research and Technology Park. This EDA grant is expected to create 39 jobs and generate $5.1 million in private investment. It will also be matched with $370,000 in local funds. "Investing… Continue Reading
07.01.21
Cassidy Announces $25.2 Million to Rebuild Louisiana’s Airports
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced airports in 12 parishes will receive $25,190,364 in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for drainage system improvements, taxiway construction, pavement rehabilitation, and more. Airports in Allen, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Orleans, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Richland, and Terrebonne Parishes will benefit directly from these grants. "Having a good airport is critical to draw bu… Continue Reading
07.01.21
Cassidy, Gillibrand Push to Fund Centers of Excellence to Fortify Emergency Response Preparedness and Build Resiliency Against Future Pandemics
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) are pushing for funding to establish a COVID-19 and Pandemic Response Centers of Excellence Program to designate academic medical centers as research and communication hubs that will improve the United States' ability to swiftly respond to emerging public health threats and to continue battling COVID-19. Academic medical centers have been at the forefront of our nation's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and have historicall… Continue Reading
06.30.21
Cassidy Announces $3.6 Million for Hurricane Preparedness in Baton Rouge
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is granting $3,638,001 for hurricane mitigation in Louisiana. The grant will fund the construction of a hurricane community safe room and training center for first responders in East Baton Rouge Parish. "Making sure Louisiana's first responders are prepared for hurricane season saves lives," said Dr. Cassidy. "This grant gives our first responders the infrastructure they need to keep our commu… Continue Reading
06.30.21
ICYMI: Cassidy Explains Need for Natural Disaster Safety Board
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today penned a letter to the editor in The Advocate explaining the need for Congress to establish a Natural Disaster Safety Board (NDSB) to strengthen our response and recovery efforts to natural disasters. "This bipartisan legislation makes sure that lessons learned benefit Louisiana and every other state hit by natural disasters. We should not be reinventing the wheel every time there is a natural disaster. We need to be listening to local leaders and th… Continue Reading
06.29.21
Cassidy Cosponsors TRUST Act
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) joined Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and a bipartisan group of colleagues to cosponsor the Time to Rescue United States' Trusts (TRUST) Act. The bipartisan and bicameral bill would create a process to rescue endangered federal trust funds and rein in the national debt. "We must get serious about saving Social Security and Medicare from bankruptcy," said Dr. Cassidy. "This bill modernizes and preserves these programs for our children and grandchildren." "Ther… Continue Reading
06.29.21
Cassidy, Smith Lead Bipartisan Push for Senate HELP Committee to Hold Hearing on Global Vaccine Distribution
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are leading a bipartisan group of their colleagues in calling on leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee-on which they serve-to continue the series of important and productive conversations on COVID-19 by holding a hearing to examine global vaccine production and distribution. "We are at a moment now when expanding worldwide access to vaccines is central to controlling this virus and dangerous va… Continue Reading
06.26.21
Cassidy Presents Purple Heart to Mr. Johnnie A. Jones
BATON ROUGE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today presented the Purple Heart to Mr. Johnnie A. Jones, for serving in Operation Overlord (known as the invasion of Normandy) during World War II, despite being injured during the battle. Mr. Jones is a 101-year-old resident of Baton Rouge who served as a Warrant Officer (Junior Grade) in the 494th Port Battalion, 6thEngineer Special Brigade. He took part in the third wave of Operation Overload when he was injured on Omaha Beach. Mr. Jone… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Cassidy, McConnell, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Withdraw Gun Braces Ban
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Leader McConnell (R-KY) and 47 other Republican senators called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to withdraw their proposed rule banning the use of stabilizing braces on firearms. "We write to express our grave concern regarding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' (ATF) Proposed Rule 2021R-08," wrote the senators. "The way the proposed rule is written makes clear that ATF intends to bring the most common us… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Cassidy Visits Café Reconcile, Addresses American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians
METAIRIE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today visited Café Reconcile in New Orleans, where he spoke with their staff and interns and ate a local, New Orleans-style meal they cooked. Café Reconcile is operated by Reconcile New Orleans, an organization in the Central City neighborhood which trains young adults aged 16-24 to work in the hospitality industry, and for alternative employment pathways. Reconcile New Orleans also teaches them basic independent living skills, and… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Cassidy, Manchin, Collins Lead Bipartisan Push to Allow Relief Funding to Cover State Matches for Federal Grants
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) called on U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to allow local governments to use funds from the American Rescue Plan to satisfy the local match requirement for federal discretionary grant programs. The American Rescue Plan, which… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Cassidy, Rosen National Cybersecurity Education Week Resolution Passes the Senate
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement after their bipartisan resolution designating National Cybersecurity Education Week unanimously passed the Senate. The resolution designates the week of June 21 through 25 as National Cybersecurity Education Week. The resolution also commits the Senate to raising awareness about cyber education and taking legislative actions to address cybersecurity education expansion and address the cybersecurity wo… Continue Reading
06.24.21
Cassidy, Senators’ Joint Statement, Framework on Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
U.S. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and 20 colleagues issued the following statement alongside their bipartisan infrastructure framework: "Today, we're proud to advance this bipartisan proposal to make a historic investment in America's critical infrastructure needs, advance cleaner technologies, create jobs, and strengthen American competitiveness, without raising taxes. This agreement shows that the two parties can still come together, find common ground, and get things done that matter to everyda… Continue Reading
06.24.21
Cassidy, Wyden, Larson, Buchanan Introduce Know Your Social Security Act
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Members John Larson (D-CT-01) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL-13) introduced the Know Your Social Security Act. This legislation will clarify the requirement for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to mail a yearly Social Security Statement to eligible workers. Since 2011, SSA has only mailed annual Statements to a limited group of workers: those who are age 60 years or older, are not receiving So… Continue Reading