Press Releases
Cassidy, Jones, Moran, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Allow Health Savings Accounts to Be Spent on Direct Primary Care
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today introduced bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of health care and expand patients' access to their primary care providers. The Direct Primary Care (DPC) model encourages patients to develop personal relationships with their primary care physician, including extending access to care beyond office visits and business hours and through telemedicine. It focuses on prevention and prima… Continue Reading
12.09.19
Cassidy , Hassan Introduce Bill to Lower Costs for Medicare Patients
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced legislation to lower health care costs and strengthen patient choice in their treatment plans. The bill would launch a shared patient savings program with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to drive down insurance costs for patients under Medicare Part D. The program would reward patients and provide them with a portion of the financial savings if they choose to switch to a less expensive medic… Continue Reading
12.08.19
Cassidy, Hassan, Bennet Statement on Senate, House Agreement on Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs, Stop Surprise Medical Bills
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) released a joint statement following the announcement of a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation to lower health care costs announced today by the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee. The agreement will include several health care provisions championed by Cassidy, Hassan and Bennet, including a solution to stop patients fro… Continue Reading
12.05.19
Cassidy: Senate Passes Permanent Funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Education Committee, today announced the Senate passage of the FUTURE Act, legislation to permanently authorize funding for America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). Previously, authorization for funding of HBCUs and MSIs expired on Sept. 30, creating uncertainty for these institutions and the students they serve. The legislation now awaits consideration by the House … Continue Reading
12.05.19
Cassidy, Larson, Buchanan, Wyden Introduce Know Your Social Security Act
Senate Finance Committee Member U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the "Know Your Social Security Act" along with Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson (D-CT) and Ways and Means Committee Member Vern Buchanan (R-FL). The legislation will clarify the requirement for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to mail an annual Social Security Statement to all workers ages 25 and older with cove… Continue Reading
12.05.19
Cassidy, Tillis, Coons, Hirono Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Seize Counterfeit Products and Protect American Consumers and Businesses
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize imported merchandise that infringes a design patent and harms U.S. consumers and businesses. According to a recent study, the estimated value of international and domestic trade in counterfeit and pirated goods was over $1 trillion in 2013 and the estimated value is projected to reach nearly $2 trillion… Continue Reading
12.04.19
Cassidy, Sinema, Allred, Stefanik Introduce Bipartisan Bill Supporting Parents in Critical First Year Following Births, Adoptions
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and U.S. Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) today introduced legislation with resources to pay for leave and cover the cost of daycare, baby supplies and other expenses associated with a new child. The Advancing Support for Working Families Act would allow families the option to advance up to $5,000 of their recently-doubled child tax credit in the first year of a child's life or the first year a famil… Continue Reading
12.04.19
Cassidy, Hassan Statement on Report that White House Open to Surprise Medical Bill Compromise
Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement on Politico's report that the White House is open to a surprise medical bill fix similar to what Senators Cassidy, Hassan, and their bipartisan working group put forward. "We deeply appreciate the White House's shared goal of getting legislation to end the practice of surprise medical bills signed into law before the end of the year. Our bipartisan working group put forward legislation that first and foremost… Continue Reading
12.02.19
Cassidy, Kennedy Applaud Confirmation of Dan Brouillette as DOE Secretary
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, and John Kennedy (R-LA) joined the Senate in confirming Louisiana native Dan Brouillette as the secretary for the Department of Energy (DOE). His confirmation passed 70-15 in a vote this evening. "Dan Brouillette understands that sound energy policy benefits energy workers, creates jobs and furthers America's goal of energy dominance. He will serve our country well as secretary. Louisiana is fortunate to hav… Continue Reading
11.22.19
Cassidy, Menendez Introduce Legislation to Help Seniors Pay for Medicine
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced legislation to help seniors afford their medications. The drug package recently passed out of the Senate Finance Committee would put a limit on the yearly amount of money a patient could be required to pay out of pocket for their medications. The Seniors Prescription Drug Relief Act would allow seniors who reach that limit early to spread their payments over the course of the entire year. This helps seniors on fixed incom… Continue Reading
11.21.19
Cassidy, Jones Introduce Bill to Improve Red Snapper Numbers
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) introduced legislation this week to improve the health of reef fish populations in the Gulf of Mexico. Reef fish, such as red snapper, caught and rapidly brought to the surface from deep water can suffer from barotrauma, a condition that kills fish because they cannot readjust to deep water upon release. Venting tools and descending devices reduce barotrauma and save fish harvested for both recreational and commercial uses. The Nat… Continue Reading
11.20.19
Cassidy, Senate Colleagues Demand Answers in Google, Ascension Health Data Harvesting
Following alarming reports of Google's efforts to obtain the health records of millions of Americans through their partnership with Ascension, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Senate colleagues wrote Google today demanding answers to the serious questions and concerns raised by "Project Nightingale." "We write with concern over reports that Ascension has entered into a partnership that provides Google with the health records of tens of millions of Americans without their awareness or… Continue Reading
11.20.19
Cassidy, Warner, Van Hollen, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs, Improve Patient Care
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Shelley Moore Capito (D-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the independent nonprofit corporation established to save Americans money on their health care costs and help patients better understand their diagnostic and treatment options. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) helps inform health care decisions by providing evidence on the effectiveness, benefits an… Continue Reading
11.19.19
Cassidy’s Legislation to Increase Louisiana Coastal Restoration Funds Passes Senate Committee
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, to increase the royalties that Gulf states like Louisiana receive from offshore energy production. Cassidy's COASTAL Act increases the percentage of revenue sharing under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) from a 37.5 percent share of energy produced in federal waters to 50 percent. That brings the offshore percentage in … Continue Reading
11.19.19
Cassidy, Baldwin, Capito, Stabenow Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Trade Cheating
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today introduced the bipartisan Play by the Rules Act to crack down on unfair trade cheating from nonmarket economies like China. "The United States can outcompete any country in the world if the rules are applied the same to both countries," said Dr. Cassidy. "This has not been the case between The United States and China, and it has hurt the American worker. We can do better.… Continue Reading
11.18.19
Cassidy, Carper, Lankford, Tester Introduce First Ever Bipartisan Senate Bill to Protect Student Veterans by Closing the 90/10 Loophole
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tom Carper (D-Del.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), introduced the Protect Veterans' Education and Training Spending (Protect VETS) Act of 2019 last week. The Protect VETS Act is the first bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate that would protect military and veteran students by closing the 90/10 loophole and require for-profit schools to secure at least 10 percent of their revenues from sources other than taxpayers. More than t… Continue Reading
11.14.19
Cassidy Rosen Bill Fixes Gap in Health Data Privacy Protections
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) today introduced legislation to prevent data mining of Americans' personal health data stored on wearable personal devices, such as smartwatches. The bill comes amid renewed concerns of Google's plans to buy Fitbit in light of recent reports that Google has partnered with Ascension to secretly harvest the nonanonymized private health data of millions of Americans. The actions of Google and Ascension raise questions about how Google … Continue Reading
11.14.19
Cassidy Introduces Trump's Pick for Energy Secretary at Confirmation Hearing
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, today introduced Louisiana native and President Trump's pick for Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette at his confirmation hearing. Brouillette, born in Assumption Parish, has served as the No. 2 person at the Department of Energy since 2017. He will take over for outgoing Energy Secretary Rick Perry, pending confirmation before the full Senate. "It is no surprise as a Louisiana native that he understands the imp… Continue Reading
11.07.19
Cassidy’s Offshore Revenue Bill Taken Up by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) today held a hearing on legislation by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) to increase Louisiana's share of revenues generated by offshore energy production. Coastal states receive only 37.5 percent of revenues from energy produced in federal waters under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA). Cassidy's COASTAL Act raises that figure to 50 percent to bring it in line with the revenue percentage states receive from onshore prod… Continue Reading
11.07.19
Cassidy, Warren Introduce Legislation to Protect Student Veterans’ Housing Benefits During Natural Disasters
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced legislation protect student veterans from losing their housing benefits in the event a natural disaster. Under current law, veterans' housing benefits could end if a natural disaster closes a school for longer than a month. The Strengthening Disaster Assistance for Student Veterans Act grants the Veterans Affairs secretary the authority to extend those benefits. "Student veterans have earned their benefits wit… Continue Reading
