Press Releases
Zinke Commits to Working with Cassidy on Addressing GOMESA Funding
Today, US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke committed to working with US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) to address GOMESA funding and improve the Gulf. This came during Secretary Zinke's testimony at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the President's FY18 proposed budget. At the hearing, Senator Cassidy expressed the importance of Louisiana's coastal restoration projects to reduce the severity of potential damage, caused by future storms, to local communities an… Continue Reading
06.15.17
Cassidy Comments on Red Snapper Season Extension
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) commented on the US Department of Commerce's announcement yesterday to extend the federal red snapper season for private recreational anglers in the Gulf of Mexico. Prior to yesterday's announcement, the federal red snapper season was three days (June 1st-3rd). "While we welcome this decision, there is still a need for long-term solutions," said Dr. Cassidy. "NOAA says the number of red snapper is increasing, yet shortened the season. We need to make… Continue Reading
06.15.17
Cassidy Comments on Amended Sugar Agreement
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) released a statement on yesterday's US Department of Commerce announcement of the Amended Sugar Agreement between the United States and Mexico. The Commerce Department is now seeking public comment on the agreement. "I commend Secretary Ross for his efforts, and for working closely with us, in negotiating a deal that protects Louisiana sugar workers," said Dr. Cassidy. "This is a positive development for US sugar growers, processors and refiners. Thi… Continue Reading
06.14.17
Cassidy Speaks on Shooting and Scalise
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) spoke on the Senate floor to offer his prayers and support for US Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA), his family, and all of those injured in today's attack. To watch the full speech, click here. Remarks as delivered below: Mr. President, This morning an unbalanced individual carried out a cowardly attack not only against members and staff of this Congress, but against Democratic institutions. This terrorist, and he is a terrorist… Continue Reading
06.09.17
Cassidy Amendment Enacted by BSEE
Today, The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announced a rule that would double the amount of time offshore oil and gas operators will have to coordinate development operations and retain their leases in federal waters of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf from 180 days to a year. Dr. Cassidy offered the following amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, which was signed into law. Sec. 121. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Se… Continue Reading
06.08.17
Cassidy Comments on Delay of EPA Ozone Standards
This week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would delay the implementation of the 2015 ground-level ozone standards to give states more time to comply. Those regulations would require states to meet a 70-parts-per-billion (ppb) standard by October of this year. The EPA's decision pushes back those requirements to 2018. "The EPA is working to ensure clean air and that jobs for Americans are preserved. This decision reflects those goals," said Dr. Cassidy. Kyle Zer… Continue Reading
06.08.17
National Seersucker Day Photo
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) and fellow US Senators took an official photo in celebration of National Seersucker Day. From left to right: US Senators Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) US Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) To see more photos from National Seersucker Day, click here. A part of Louisiana's heritage, the original seersucker suit was created in Louisiana. Former Senator Tr… Continue Reading
06.07.17
Cassidy, Gillibrand, Capito Introduce National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Bill
Today, US Senators Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced legislation to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for 10 years. The NFIP is currently set to expire on September 30, 2017. "This is a product of listening to those affected, finding from stakeholders those policies that would address affordability and sustainability within the NFIP," said Dr. Cassidy. "The goal of this bipartisan bill is to bring peace of mind… Continue Reading
06.06.17
Cassidy, Casey, Hatch, Hassan Introduce RISE ACT
US Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the RISE Act in an effort to ease the burden of transitioning to college life for students with disabilities. The act, which amends the Higher Education Act (HEA), would clarify that documentation used in K-12 education and other settings to receive special education or accommodations would be acceptable as proof of a disability for students in higher education. "Dyslexics can be as suc… Continue Reading
06.06.17
Cassidy Speaks on Conservative Health Care Solutions Everyone Can Get Behind
US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) spoke on the Senate floor to detail conservative solutions on health care that both Republicans and Democrats can support. These proposals included giving more power to states to address their specific needs, ensuring a replacement is fiscally conservative and instituting free market values like price transparency. He also encouraged his Senate colleagues to come together and take action to bring relief to struggling families: "So I challenge my Democra… Continue Reading
05.26.17
Cassidy Introduces Bill to Improve Veteran’s Access to Timely and Quality Care
WASHINGTON-US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) introduced the Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017 in the US Senate, which would require the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) to pay for care provided to our nation's veterans in urgent care centers. US Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA-3) plans to introduce companion legislation in the US House of Representatives. Urgent care centers (UCC) have the capacity to care for veterans in the communities where they live without excessive wait… Continue Reading
05.26.17
Cassidy Explains Plan to Maintain Health Coverage and Lower Premiums
WASHINGTON- Last night, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) spoke on the Senate floor to explain provisions in Cassidy-Collins, his Obamacare replacement plan, that would maintain and expand health care coverage and bring down premiums. "We have an approach to do this called-some call it auto-enrollment-I call it making it easy. And by this way, we can increase coverage, achieve the goals of President Trump to lower the premiums. We are using something which is already used in Medicare and 40… Continue Reading
05.24.17
Cassidy Comments on Latest ACHA CBO Score
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) released a statement, following the scoring of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO): "Congress's focus must be to lower premiums with coverage which passes the Jimmy Kimmel Test. The AHCA does not. I am working with Senate colleagues to do so." ###… Continue Reading
05.23.17
Cassidy Speaks on the Importance of Taking Action to Reduce Premiums
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) spoke on the Senate floor advocating for the need to reduce premiums and bring relief to struggling middle-class families. In his speech, he discussed features in the Cassidy-Collins health care plan that would work to reduce premiums. These features include expanding coverage through auto-enrollment and bringing down the cost of health care through price transparency. To watch the full speech, click here. ###… Continue Reading
05.23.17
Cassidy Comments on Administration Budget Proposal
Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) released a statement following the announcement of the administration's budget proposal: "Taking funding away from Louisiana's coastline is a nonstarter. Our state's future depends on this funding to rebuild our coastline. However, this budget is a guideline; Congress must now hold hearings and do the necessary work to ensure the bill protects American taxpayers and families. There are deal breakers for me in the current budget. For one, this budget … Continue Reading
05.22.17
Cassidy Announces National Seersucker Day to be Thursday, June 8, 2017
WASHINGTON-US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) announced National Seersucker Day will be held this year on Thursday, June 8, 2017: "National Seersucker Day celebrates American-made products. Seersucker suits originated in Louisiana, but are now worn across the country," said Dr. Cassidy. "Seersucker Thursday began in 1996 and I am proud to continue this tradition alongside my colleague Senator Feinstein." A part of Louisiana's heritage, the original seersucker suit was created in Louisian… Continue Reading
05.18.17
HUD Announces $51,435,000 in Additional Flood Relief for Louisiana
US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced an additional $163 million to help several state and local communities to recovery from severe flooding that occurred in 2015 and 2016, $51,435,000 of which is allocated to Louisiana. The grants announced today are provided through HUD's Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program. This brings Lousiana's combined amount allocated from current and prior appropriations to $1,708,407,000. C… Continue Reading
05.16.17
Cassidy Calls on Democrats to Engage in Health Care Discussion
Cassidy Calls on Democrats to Engage in Health Care Discussion WASHINGTON-Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) spoke on the Senate floor, calling for Republicans and Democrats to work towards fulfilling President Trump's goal to create a better health care plan that lowers premiums, protects those with pre-existing conditions, and maintains coverage without mandates. "Americans are sick of partisanship when it comes to issues of greatest concern. They are asking, if you will, that w… Continue Reading
05.16.17
Cassidy, Klobuchar, Mcmorris Rodgers, Larson Introduce Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and John Larson (D-CT) today introduced the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act, which builds upon the successes of the Steve Gleason Act of 2015. The Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act permanently fixes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy that limited access to speech generation devices for people with degenerative diseases. "The silence and isolation that co… Continue Reading
05.15.17
Cassidy, Hatch, Warren, Whitehouse Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Reporting of Student Outcomes
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), today introduced the College Transparency Act (CTA), legislation to modernize the college reporting system for postsecondary data in order to provide greater transparency for students, families, institutions, and policymakers. CTA will provide actionable and customizable information for students and families as they consider higher education opportunities by accurately reporting on stud… Continue Reading
