Press Releases
Cassidy, Smith, Cardin, Thune Introduce Bill to Remove Barriers to Telemental Health Care
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the bipartisan Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2021 to remove barriers to telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. "Over the pandemic, we've seen an increased need for telehealth services whether it's for substance use disorders, physical ailments or mental health issues. Medicare patients deserve direct access to telemental health services and this bill removes bar… Continue Reading
06.14.21
Cassidy, Finance Committee Republicans Demand Investigation into Massive, Illegal IRS Data Leak
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Senate Finance Committee Republicans demanded an investigation into the apparent massive leak of more than 15 years of legally protected, personal taxpayer information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to the media outlet ProPublica. In a letter to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the senators note the nature of the information suggests it came directly from the IRS, constituting a serious breach of privacy and crimin… Continue Reading
06.11.21
Cassidy, Manchin, Moran, Collins, Boozman Introduce Bipartisan VA Provider Accountability Act
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the bipartisan VA Provider Accountability Act to address the 2019 GAO Report that found the VA must take action to ensure its health care providers have the appropriate qualifications and clinical abilities to deliver safe, high quality care to Veterans. "Veterans who went to war for our freedom deserve quality care," said Dr. Cassidy. "Increasing acco… Continue Reading
06.11.21
Cassidy, Risch, Leahy, Colleagues: Biden Should Act to Restore Democratic Governance in Nicaragua
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) led a group of colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden encouraging the administration to hold the Ortega-Murillo regime accountable for undermining democracy, denying the right to free and fair elections, and committing gross human rights abuses in Nicaragua. "We write in support of immediate actions in response to the Ortega-Murillo regime's systematic dismantling of independent civil institutions, w… Continue Reading
06.10.21
Cassidy Statement on Lifting of COVID Workplace Restrictions for Federal Agencies
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today released a statement following guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that repealed limits on the number of employees allowed in the workplace. This replaces the previous 25 percent cap on capacity inside federal offices during the pandemic. "This is long overdue. The science knows it, the CDC knows it, and Americans know it. It's high time federal employees got back to work and serve the American people," said Dr. Cassidy. This ann… Continue Reading
06.10.21
Cassidy, Bipartisan Infrastructure Group Release Joint Statement
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and the group of 10 senators working on a bipartisan infrastructure package released the following joint statement: "Our group - comprised of 10 Senators, 5 from each party - has worked in good faith and reached a bipartisan agreement on a realistic, compromise framework to modernize our nation's infrastructure and energy technologies. This investment would be fully paid for and not include tax increases. We are discussing our approach with our respective … Continue Reading
06.10.21
Cassidy Secures $1.6 Million Investment in Bossier City to Build Economic Development Resource Center
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Coordinating and Development Corporation, Bossier City, Louisiana, to construct the Northwest Louisiana one-stop resource center, allowing for business development and growth. The bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law in March 2020. This EDA grant will be mat… Continue Reading
06.10.21
Cassidy, Cortez Masto, and Bipartisan Group Introduce Legislation to Boost Emergency Ambulance Service in Rural Areas
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and a group of four bipartisan senators today introduced legislation to ensure rural and underserved communities have access to quality emergency health care. The Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act ensures ambulance providers are adequately reimbursed by Medicare for the cost of providing services, protecting ambulance and EMT services across the country and particularly in rural areas. "Emergency acc… Continue Reading
06.09.21
Cassidy Announces $46.5 Million Grant to Lake Charles for Debris Removal After Hurricane
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $46,498,869 million in federal funding to reimburse the city of Lake Charles for debris removal in the wake of repeated natural disasters, including Hurricane Laura. "Lake Charles has been pounded by natural disasters," said Dr. Cassidy. "This funding is another step to get Lake Charles back on its feet." Last fall, Hurricane Laura made landfa… Continue Reading
06.09.21
Cassidy Announces $1.6 Million to the Water Institute to Establish the Lower Mississippi River SmartPort & Resilience Center
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Agency to the Water Institute of the Gulf for the development of a Lower Mississippi River SmartPort & Resilience Center (SmartPort). This EDA grant, to be matched with $1.4 million in state funds and $26,000 in local funds, is expected to create 31 jobs, retain 64 jobs, and generate $2 million in private investment. "With this grant funding, SmartPort is a… Continue Reading
06.09.21
Cassidy, Risch, Senate Republicans Introduce Bill to Save Keystone Jobs
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jim Risch (R-ID) and 10 Senate Republicans today introduced the Defending Keystone Jobs Act, which would require the Department of Labor to submit a report to Congress on the number of jobs lost as a direct or indirect result of the Biden administration's move to cancel construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Cancelation of Keystone construction stands in contrast with the Biden administration's decision to waive sanctions on the company constructing Ru… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Cassidy, Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Overhaul National Stockpile and Expand Domestic Manufacturing
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-08) introduced the bipartisan Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act to improve the Strategic National Stockpile, which is maintained by the federal government to ensure access to critical medical supplies during public health emergencies. This bipartisan bill reduces America's dependence on foreign adversaries like China, boosts domestic manufacturing of medical suppli… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Cassidy, Murphy, Cardenas, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Compliance with Mental Health Parity Laws
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced legislation to enforce federal mental health parity laws that requires patients have the same access to mental health services as they do physical health services. The Parity Implementation Assistance Act would authorize $25 million in grants to states to support their oversight of health insurance plans' compliance with mental health parity requirements, as long as states collect and review comparative analyses from insu… Continue Reading
06.07.21
Cassidy Announces June 17 as National Seersucker Day
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), announced National Seersucker Day will be held this year on Thursday, June 17. "Proud to share the unique, American tradition of seersucker, a New Orleans invention and fun summer staple," said Dr. Cassidy. "I encourage all to participate in the celebration of National Seersucker Day and look forward to continuing this tradition alongside my colleague Senator Feinstein." "Every summer the Senate recognizes National Seersucker Day, a decades-long traditio… Continue Reading
06.03.21
Cassidy Visits Port of Morgan City, Examines New Dredge and Bayou Chene Floodgate
LAFAYETTE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today visited the Port of Morgan City. While there, he toured the Bayou Chene Floodgate Project and viewed the port's new dredge. "The Bayou Chene Floodgate Project is a local solution to protect against flooding," said Dr. Cassidy. "Good for us all that the St. Mary Parish Levee District and Port of Morgan City got this done." The Bayou Chene Floodgate Project received $80 million from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), of whic… Continue Reading
06.02.21
Cassidy Congratulates Service Academy Appointees from Louisiana for 2021
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced that 15 students he nominated to America's Service Academies have accepted offers of admission (appointments). These students will enter the Class of 2025 at the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force and Merchant Marine Academies. Upon graduation, they will become commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. "We're thankful for these students who have chosen military service and for their parents who provided an example of service," said Dr. Cassid… Continue Reading
06.02.21
Cassidy Visits Business Hurt by Biden Economic Policies in Port Allen
BATON ROUGE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) visited Deloach Marine Services in Port Allen. Deloach Marine Service operates towing vessels and pushing barges along the lower Mississippi River and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. They also provide shipyard repair services to the inland marine industry. While there, Cassidy learned about the difficulties Deloach Marine Services has had in hiring workers. Due to the enhanced unemployment benefit re-authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act… Continue Reading
06.01.21
Cassidy Meets Business Owner Harmed by Biden Economic Policies, Tours International High School of New Orleans
METAIRIE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today met with Mr. Richie Lewis, the owner of Gerald's Famous Burgers and Donuts and toured his Arabi location. Gerald's Famous Burgers and Donuts is one of many Louisiana small businesses negatively affected by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The extension of enhanced unemployment benefits by the bill has made it difficult for small business owners to hire workers. In May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy gained on… Continue Reading
06.01.21
Cassidy, Marshall Call on President Biden to Reopen Federal Offices to Better Serve the American People
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) led a group of colleagues in demanding President Biden immediately reopen all federal offices and facilities, and require federal employees to return to the office to better serve the American people. "Nationwide, the number of coronavirus cases has decreased more than 85% from its peak in January. The CDC has advised that fully vaccinated adults can now forgo masks both outdoors and inside, and vaccines are readily availa… Continue Reading
06.01.21
Cassidy, Schatz Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create New Independent Board to Investigate major Natural Disasters, Make Policy Recommendations, Help Save Lives
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced the Disaster Learning and Life Saving Act. The bipartisan legislation will create a new permanent and independent board to study the underlying causes of disaster related fatalities and property damage nationwide. The National Disaster Safety Board (NDSB) will make recommendations to all levels of government on how to improve the resiliency of communities across the country. "I just visited Cameron and Calcasieu… Continue Reading
