Dear friends:

The United States is already $22 trillion in debt, and that number keeps climbing every second. This week the Senate voted on budget legislation that would continue to increase the national debt.  I could not in good conscience vote to support this irresponsible spending habit. The American people deserve better.

Between heavy rainfall, Hurricane Barry and record high water in the Mississippi River, it’s been a pretty wet year for Louisiana. This month I introduced two bills to help Louisianans deal with flooding: the National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and the Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture Protection Act.

National Flood Insurance Reform

Thousands of families in Louisiana live in flood zones and rely on the National Flood Insurance Program to protect their homes.  I joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing a reformed flood insurance program that would fund the program for the next five years.  The improved NFIP would also invest in flood mitigation and keep premiums low and affordable.

I joined several of my colleagues in introducing a reformed National Flood Insurance Program that will make the program more affordable and sustainable.

Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture Protection Act of 2019

Flooding in south Louisiana has wreaked havoc on the seafood industry.  I regularly hear from fishermen who are struggling with low yields this year.  That is why I joined Sen. Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in introducing a permanent disaster assistance program for commercial fishing and aquaculture operations.  Similar to well-established USDA disaster programs for farmers, this legislation would help alleviate financial losses caused by hurricanes, floods, changes in water salinity and other disasters.

I met with fishermen from St. Bernard Parish and parish leaders to discuss the seafood disaster they are facing.

Questioning Facebook Executive on Cryptocurrency

Facebook wants to control the world’s money supply … What could possibly go wrong?  With two billion users, Facebook is no longer a company; it’s a country.  During a Senate Banking Committee hearing, I questioned Facebook executive David Marcus on Facebook’s new digital currency called Libra.  Between election interference and data breaches, Facebook has not earned the trust of the American people or its users.  Click here or the photo below to watch my questioning.

Small Business Disaster Relief Bill

Disasters like flooding and hurricanes leave our homes and businesses in ruins.  I introduced the Rebuilding Small Businesses After Disasters Act with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).  This legislation helps families rebuild their businesses after a disaster by making certain small business loans readily available.  Our bill unanimously passed the U.S. Senate.

 
Senator Sightings

I enjoyed meeting Laurel and his service dog, Aero.  Laurel is a Senate intern, and he and Aero are a great team.

Mike Richard and Tyler Weaver were recognized as the Acadian Paramedic and EMT of the year. I was honored to meet with them and learn more about their work.

I enjoyed visiting with some Louisiana students from Woodlawn Baptist Church. They asked great questions and were a delightful bunch of kids.

I made a young friend named Reagan. We thought it was pretty cool that we both have a president’s name.

Grant Roundup

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