Press Releases
Cassidy: VA Benefits Under Secretary to Host Town Hall for Louisiana Veterans
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, today announced that Louisiana veterans can participate in a town hall today (June 23) with VA officials to learn more about benefits during COVID-19, the launch of the Blue Water Navy Act, and the Solid Start program. The event is only open to veterans and their families. WHO: Louisiana veterans; Paul Lawrence, VA undersecretary for benefits WHAT: Telephone town hall about COVID-19, the Blue Water Na… Continue Reading
06.18.20
Cassidy Issues Statement on DACA Ruling
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling upholding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: "The President offered to extend citizenship to DACA recipients if Democrats would agree to secure the southern border. That would still be a good deal. I ask Democrats to stop blocking the security of the southern border and take President Trump up on this deal," Dr. Cassidy said. ###… Continue Reading
06.18.20
Cassidy, Hassan Lead Bipartisan Paid Leave Roundtable
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), co-chairs of the Senate Finance Paid Leave Working Group, held a roundtable discussion today on the importance of paid leave amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To watch the full roundtable discussion, click here. "Too many Americans face the tough choice of caring for their new child or returning to work for essential income. Covid-19 has compounded this problem. Today's roundtable serves as a positive step forward in the debate ov… Continue Reading
06.18.20
Cassidy Announces $225 Million in COVID-19 Funds for Louisiana
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $225 million in funding to assist in Louisiana's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Louisiana was among the hardest-hit states from Covid-19. This funding is badly needed and a welcomed," said Dr. Cassidy. "Congress did whatever it could to help families and small businesses through this crisis. Our work continues so that America can fully recover and be stronger than ever be… Continue Reading
06.18.20
Cassidy, Smith, Sullivan, Jones Introduce ‘Enhancing Preparedness Through Telehealth Act’
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Doug Jones (D-AL) today introduced legislation that directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to inventory telehealth programs across the country to learn how telehealth can be used more effectively in future health emergencies. "Telehealth has been instrumental in connecting patients and health care professionals during Covid-19. It saves lives, allows doctors to spend more time with patients, a… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Cassidy Joins Scott in Introducing JUSTICE Act
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) signed on as an original cosponsor to the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, a bill authored by U.S. Senator Tim Scott that reforms policing practices in response to the issues of police brutality and racism. "What happened to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others should never happen again. Policing procedures, especially the use of deadly force, must be reviewed and changed accordingly. I thank Senato… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Cassidy Votes Against Great American Outdoors Act
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today voted against passage of the Great American Outdoors Act because it failed to include language providing more money to invest in coastal resiliency. "The Senate missed an opportunity to invest in coastal resiliency to protect against flooding and hurricanes. This is money the coast needs for its communities to survive. This fight is not over," said Dr. Cassidy. ###… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Cassidy, Coons, Colleagues Unveil Bill to Expand National Service in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy M.D. (R-LA), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Angus King (I-Maine), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand national service programs significantly to help the country respond to and recover from the public healt… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Cassidy, Hassan to Hold Paid Leave Roundtable
Senate Finance Paid Leave Working Group Co-Chairs, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), announced that the Working Group will host a roundtable titled "Paid Leave Proposals in the COVID Era" at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 18 in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, with some participants joining in person and others joining virtually. A live stream of the roundtable will be available here. In order to ensure social distancing, there will be limited in-person … Continue Reading
06.12.20
Cassidy, Hassan Announce Roundtable on Paid Leave Proposals in the COVID Era
Senate Finance Paid Leave Working Group Co-Chairs, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), announced today that the Working Group will hold a roundtable titled "Paid Leave Proposals in the COVID Era" at 11 a.m. Thursday, June18. The roundtable will be held in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, with some participants joining in person and others joining virtually. A live stream of the roundtable will be available here. The interim update of the Working Gr… Continue Reading
06.12.20
Cassidy Announces $15.2 Million for Louisiana Hospitals Fighting COVID-19
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced $15.2 million in federal funding to Louisiana hospitals to provide them with the resources needed to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Louisiana's public health system continues to need resources to fight COVID-19. These funds allow our state's hospitals to respond to the pandemic and serve the needs of patients," Dr. Cassidy said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $15,285,719.80 for improvement projects … Continue Reading
06.12.20
VIDEO: Cassidy to Senate: Put People Before Parks
In a Senate floor speech Thursday night, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) continued his efforts to include language in the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) that would increase the amount of funds available for coastal states to improve coastal resiliency. Cassidy wants to include his COASTAL Amendment in the base bill. The amendment removes the cap on revenue sharing funds Gulf coast states receive from energy production, and it makes more leases eligible for revenue sharing through the… Continue Reading
06.12.20
Cassidy, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Ensure Seniors Can Safely Volunteer During Pandemic
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation that will help ensure seniors can continue to safely volunteer during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Seniors are uniquely vulnerable to infection during the pandemic and are also the single largest group of national service participants. The Senior Corps Distance Volunteering Act will allow seniors to safely connect remotely to volunteer and community engagement opportunities. "Seniors are willing an… Continue Reading
06.10.20
VIDEO: Cassidy: Great American Outdoors Act Spends Billions on Vacation Spots, Little on Coastal Resiliency
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, again urged his colleagues to allow an amendment to the Great American Outdoors Act so that coastal states can invest in coastal resiliency and flood protection. "My problem with the Great American Outdoors Act is that it spends billions on places where we vacation, but the authors of this bill will not allow us to spend millions to protect places where people live," Dr. Cassidy said. Cassidy is proposing an a… Continue Reading
06.09.20
Cassidy Urges Amending Great American Outdoors Act to Provide Equity for Coastal States
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, addressed the Senate today to urge his colleagues to amend the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to provide more funds available to Gulf and coastal states to address environmental issues such as land loss and coastal resiliency. Cassidy wants to include language he authored that amends the GAOA to remove the cap on Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) revenue sharing funds that Gulf states can receiv… Continue Reading
06.08.20
Cassidy Announces $778,000 for Port of New Orleans
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced today that the Port of New Orleans is receiving more than $778,000 in federal highway funds to improve the port. Port intends to build and install more storage area for cargo to be held before it is loaded onto ships. This will increase the use of barges and traffic at the port. "Now is the time to invest in infrastructure. Louisiana ports are the gateways to the world. This grant allows the Port of New Orleans to increase its storage ability so… Continue Reading
06.04.20
Cassidy Proposes Language to Give Equity to States for Coastal Resiliency Efforts
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and chairman of Senate Energy Subcommittee, today said he has prepared an amendment to the Great American Outdoors Act to increase the amount of offshore revenue Gulf Coast states receive to address coastal resiliency and restoration efforts. Cassidy's legislation removes the existing cap on the amount of money Gulf states receive from energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf. The funds generated go to support costal resiliency and restoration effo… Continue Reading
06.02.20
Cassidy, Cantwell, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Consumer Privacy, Promote Public Health for COVID-19 Exposure Notification Apps
As public health officials around the country continue to explore exposure notification technologies as a way to combat the spread of COVID-19, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), introduced bipartisan legislation Monday to protect consumer privacy and promote public health in the development of these tools. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will also cosponsor the legislation. The legislation makes participation in commercial online exposure notification systems vol… Continue Reading
05.31.20
Cassidy Statement on Trump Designating Antifa as Domestic Terrorists
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement today after President Trump designated Antifa as a domestic terror organization. "Looting, destroying personal property, and violence cannot be tolerated. Antifa seized upon a movement of legitimate grievances to promote violence and anarchy, working against justice for all. The President is right to recognize the destructive role of Antifa by designating them domestic terrorists," Dr. Cassidy said. In July 2019, Cassidy and… Continue Reading
05.28.20
Cassidy Announces $40.6 Million for Livingston Parish School System
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced $40.6 million in federal funding to help the Livingston Parish School System repair schools damaged by flooding in 2016. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $40,563,209 for repairs to Denham Springs Elementary School, Southside Elementary School, Southside Junior High School and system wide school contents damaged by the flood. "Louisiana continues to recover from devastating flooding in 2016. These funds allow Livin… Continue Reading