Press Releases
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
11.07.19
Cassidy Statement on FEMA Decision to Delay Risk Rating 2.0
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that it would delay implementation of Risk Rating 2.0 until October 2021. "This prevents potential increases in flood insurance premiums. It highlights the need for a long-term fix to make sure the National Flood Insurance Program is affordable for homeowners," said Dr. Cassidy. In a letter to the Senate Banking Committee, Cassidy warned that Risk Rating 2… Continue Reading
11.06.19
Cassidy Announces $32M for Projects in Baton Rouge, Ruston
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D (R-LA) today announced that Louisiana will benefit from over $32 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve transportation infrastructure in Baton Rouge and Ruston. Baton Rouge will receive a $15 million grant, and Ruston will receive a $17.2 million grant. Both were awarded through DOT's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. Baton Rouge will use the money to fund Louisiana's first bus rapi… Continue Reading
11.06.19
Cassidy to Join Trump at LSU-Alabama Game
When No. 1 LSU takes on No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the Tigers will be playing in front of President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). Cassidy will sit with President Trump during the "Game of the Century II" where he will pitch the president on the endless merits of cheering for the Purple and Gold. "President Trump is always with the best. He is going to the best game with the best team. He will also see Alabama play," said Dr. Cassidy. Cassidy, an avid LSU fan, is … Continue Reading
11.06.19
Trump Picks New Orleans Attorney for Tax Court Judge
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) is praising President Trump's appointment of Christian Weiler from New Orleans to the United States Tax Court. The Tax Court provides a national forum to quickly resolve disputes between taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Only 19 judges from across the United States serve on the court. Weiler graduated with an Accounting degree from LSU and a Masters of Law in Taxation from Southern Methodist University. He obtained his law degree from Loyo… Continue Reading
11.06.19
Cassidy Cosponsors Legislation to Disrupt Funding of Criminal, Terrorist Organizations
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), is cosponsoring legislation to disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations that use the illegal tobacco trade to fund their activities. The Combating the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Act authorizes the executive branch to deny development and security assistance to countries that knowingly profit from the trade and to implement sanctions on the individuals responsible. "Cartels and terrorists are getting creative to fund their criminal activity, put… Continue Reading
10.31.19
Senate Approves Cassidy, Murphy Resolution Recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today released statements following the enactment of their Senate resolution recognizing October as Dyslexia Awareness Month. "One in five Americans has dyslexia. Increasing dyslexia awareness assists our schools in identifying it earlier, which means getting resources to students in need sooner," said Dr. Cassidy. "Raising awareness about the needs of children with dyslexia is critical to making sure they get the attention and r… Continue Reading
10.30.19
Cassidy and Hassan Discuss Legislation to End Surprise Medical Bills at Bipartisan Policy Center
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today discussed their bipartisan efforts to end surprise medical bills at a panel discussion hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center. You can watch the full discussion here. During the conversation, the Senators took questions from Bipartisan Policy Center President Jason Grumet and members of the public about why legislation to end surprise medical bills is important to their constituents, the current prospects for the bill, … Continue Reading
