Press Releases
Cassidy: Louisiana Benefits from $454 Million in COVID-19 FEMA Funding
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced today that Louisiana has received more than $454 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This money was appropriated by Congress through relief measures Cassidy supported. "The federal funding secured for Louisiana's COVID-19 response has saved lives and protected the health of frontline workers. As Congress debates a new coronavirus response bill, the health and safety of the people… Continue Reading
07.24.20
Cassidy Announces $5.3 Million for New Orleans Passenger Ferry Repairs
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is receiving $5.3 million from the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration to revamp its passenger ferry terminal and marine maintenance facility. "This federal funding will enhance the passenger ferry experience for Louisiana residents. Reliable ferry service is vital for some workers and we should support this unique travel service whenever possible," said Dr. Cassidy… Continue Reading
07.23.20
Cassidy Votes to Support Louisiana Military Bases
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today supported the men and women in America's armed forces voting in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill includes millions in funding for Louisiana military bases. "Louisiana is the proud home of major military bases that play critical roles in our national defense. The NDAA includes authorization for $73 million for enhancements at Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk. This is important funding for the future of these bases and th… Continue Reading
07.23.20
VIDEO: Cassidy Speaks on Urgent Need to Lower Drug Costs
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., delivered a speech on the Senate floor yesterday to call on Congress to pass legislation to lower prescription drug costs. "The high price of drugs is not a new problem, but it is a problem that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of households have seen their income suffer due to economic lockdowns aimed at containing the virus. Americans simply do not need the added burden of expensive drugs, particularly right now," Dr. Cassidy said. … Continue Reading
07.17.20
Cassidy Announces Nearly $224 Million in COVID-19 Funding for Louisiana Hospitals
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced that Louisiana hospitals are receiving nearly $224 million in federal funding to continue their fight against COVID-19. The funding is part of $10 billion that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing in a second round of payments to high-impact areas. Louisiana is receiving $223,580,330 to be disbursed to 47 facilities. The individual recipients have not been released. "COVID-19 is on the rise, meaning that more pat… Continue Reading
07.16.20
Cassidy Applauds Private-Sector COVID-19 Anti-Fraudulent Goods Campaign in Louisiana
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today applauded a private-sector initiative's launch in Louisiana to raise awareness of the trade in fraudulent personal protective equipment amid the COVID-19 crisis and spotlight the resources available to combat the trade in these goods. The advertising campaign, which began on July 13 and will run for two months across the U.S., is led by Philip Morris International (PMI) and supported by other private industry brand integrity leaders and organization… Continue Reading
07.15.20
Cassidy Announces $141 Million for Louisiana Rural, Safety Net Hospitals
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced that rural specialty hospitals and safety net hospitals are receiving $141 million in coronavirus relief payments from the Department of Health and Hospitals (HHS). Safety nets are receiving $88 million, and rural specialty hospitals are receiving $53 million. The combined total is the second-highest amount any state is receiving. The funding is part of a $4 billion relief package released this week by HHS. "Rural and safety net hospitals … Continue Reading
07.14.20
Cassidy Issues Statement on Pence Visit to Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spent today with Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Baton Rouge. He released the following statement on the visit: "Vice President Pence and I both want universities and schools to reopen safely. Students are losing invaluable learning time, which can never be recovered. Today's discussion is an important step forward to developing and implementing strategies to resume educations while protecting health," said Dr. Cassidy. ###… Continue Reading
07.09.20
Cassidy, Durbin: Amazon Right to List Seller Info, More Action Needed
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today offered the following statements on Amazon's decision to add more seller information for goods sold on their website. Beginning in September, Amazon will display business names and addresses of sellers in the U.S. marketplace. "Consumers are safer when they know from where and from whom they are shopping. While Amazon's decision is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to crack down on the sale of illicit, count… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Cassidy, Kaine Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Benefits for Near Retirees Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Protecting Benefits for Retirees Act, legislation that would protect the annual retirement benefits of those set to receive Social Security in a few years. The Social Security Administration uses the Average Wage Index (AWI) in the year the worker turns 60 to adjust past earnings and calculate a worker's retirement benefits. The AWI is meant to account for wage growth over time; however, due to a flaw in how the f… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Cassidy, Smith Lead Bipartisan Effort Calling on Nation’s Health Agencies to Continue Expanded Telehealth Services After Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) continued their bipartisan work on health care by leading over 35 of their Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide Congress with a written plan and timeline about any potential changes to Medicare rules governing telehealth.Through the coronavirus relief package, Congress provided HHS with the authority … Continue Reading
07.01.20
United States Mayors Endorse Cassidy’s State and Local Funding Bill
The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) endorsed a bipartisan bill written by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to provide states and local governments with assistance to recover from COVID-19 and avoid mass layoffs of essential workers. The USCM represents 1,400 cities across the country. The organization passed the resolution during its annual meeting this week. Louisiana's parish presidents, the Louisiana Municipal Association, and Louisiana's chambers of … Continue Reading
06.30.20
Cassidy Leads Bipartisan Letter Calling for Safe Harbor Extension for Offshore Wind Production
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, led a bipartisan letter of nine senators who wrote the Treasury Department asking for a safe harbor extension for energy projects that qualify for the production tax credit (PTC) and the investment tax credit (ITC). The extension would help projects that have been delayed due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter asks Treasury for broader guidance that can help industries better adapt to… Continue Reading
06.29.20
Cassidy Issues Statement on SCOTUS Ruling on Louisiana Abortion Clinic Law
U.S Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's law that required abortion clinics to have hospital admitting privileges: "Women who use a clinic without hospital admitting privileges are in danger of complications and death should the procedure go badly. The Supreme Court ensured this danger remains," said Dr. Cassidy. ###… Continue Reading
06.26.20
Cassidy, Stabenow Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help School Districts, Colleges Safely Reopen this Fall
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday to help schools and colleges cover the costs of protecting students and educators from COVID-19. The Reopen Schools Safely Act will establish a major federal grant program at the U.S. Department of Education to help school districts and colleges reopen this fall. A conservative analysis by the School Superintendents Association found that an average school district needs up to $1.8 million t… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Cassidy, Fischer, Colleagues Ask USDA to Fund ‘Last Mile’ of Food Delivery to People in Need
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) joined U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and a bipartisan group of 26 of their colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allocate $50 million in funding from the Farmers to Families Food Box program towards addressing "last mile" needs. The "last mile" involves getting food from a food bank or other nonprofit to the people in need. "Whether in the heartland, the south, or o… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Cassidy: Democrats Are Scared to Debate JUSTICE Act, Confront ‘Defund Police’ Movement
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a fiery speech on the Senate floor today to call out Democrats for blocking consideration of the JUSTICE Act, a bill that reforms the policing practices in the wake of national protests demanding change. Cassidy is a cosponsor of U.S. Senator Tim Scott's (R-SC) bill to bring real, practical changes to policing practices to address police brutality and build trust between police and disenfranchised communities. Republicans planned an open amendmen… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Cassidy: Senate NDAA Includes $73 Million for Barksdale, Fort Polk
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced today that the Senate's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $73 million for Louisiana military bases including Fort Polk and Barksdale Air Force Base. Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish would receive $48 million for construction of an entrance road and new gate structure. The project will allow base access from Interstate 220 and is part of the base's ultimate plans to build a nearly $300 million weapons storage facility. … Continue Reading
06.24.20
Parish Presidents, LMA, Chambers of Commerce Support Cassidy’s SMART Act
Louisiana community leaders are urging Congress to pass a bill written by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) that supports state and local governments that have seen their budgets bottom out because of COVID-19. Cassidy's SMART Act creates a fund to assist state and local governments avoid layoffs of essential workers such as police officers, firefighters, teachers and sanitation workers. It has received support from 22 parish presidents, more than 80 mayors and the… Continue Reading
06.23.20
Cassidy, Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Protect U.S. Energy Jobs
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) is an original cosponsor of a bill introduced today by John Cornyn (R-TX) to provide relief to America's energy industry during the coronavirus pandemic. The SAVE Jobs Act aims to promote liquidity and flexibility for domestic energy companies so that they may maintain their workforce through the pandemic's economic downturn. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankfo… Continue Reading
