A Note From the Desk of Congresswoman Letlow

This month I had a mix of visiting with constituents both at home in the Fifth District and in Washington, D.C. Hearing your stories and perspectives is vital to our work so that I can effectively be a voice for you and your priorities in Congress.

While I was back home, I visited with farmers, local leaders, teachers, students, and so many others who keep our communities growing and thriving. I also had the honor of speaking at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention to hundreds of farmers and producers from our critical agriculture industry who make up the backbone of the Fifth District.

Taking these stories from back home with our local leaders and teachers, we were able to champion legislative efforts to support new mothers and their babies, advocate for border security, and bolster our national security.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with your questions and concerns. Our team is always accessible through this newsletter and our website. We are here to serve you!

Continue reading for more on my travel through the Fifth and work in D.C. for Louisianans. 

Sincerely,

Julia Letlow, Ph.D.
Member of Congress

It was the honor of a lifetime to receive the Golden Plow Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. I am humbled to be able to serve so many farmers and producers in Louisiana, but my efforts would be lost if it were not for the Farm Bureau’s collaboration and support.

Jim Harper, Zippy Duvall, and the entire Farm Bureau have taught me so much. I will always be a champion for them and for the agriculture industry that makes up the backbone of our home in the Fifth District.

I take my seat on the House Appropriations Committee very seriously to ensure your taxpayer dollars are not being wasted. This month, we were able to consider numerous Appropriations bills that are focused on bolstering national security, supporting our servicemembers, and protecting our allies. As a Committee, we worked hard to go through each line of every bill to ensure the language reflects your priorities. I’m pleased to say the following bills have passed on the House floor:

Motherhood is one of life's greatest joys and blessings, but it does not come without its challenges. After giving birth, mothers and their newborns need a great deal of care but oftentimes don’t have access to the supplies and support they need. I introduced the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act to address this issue and ensure any woman receives the information and support necessary to create a nurturing environment for their child.

The NEST Act will establish a pilot program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to distribute newborn supply kits made up of essential goods critical to new mothers and their infants. This bill will also provide important information about the maternal mental health hotline and federal programs providing support to postpartum women. Through public-private partnerships, HHS will work with community-based organizations, hospitals, and other organizations serving mothers and infants, to distribute the supply kits.

To learn more about this legislation, click HERE.

As always, I had the opportunity to meet with numerous groups from #LA05 in Washington D.C. this month. Our discussions covered a variety of topics such as agriculture, infrastructure, and education. Additionally, I had the privilege of hearing from a group of students who are already getting involved in our communities. Each individual residing in Louisiana’s Fifth District contributes significantly to our state's success, and I am grateful to everyone who made time to meet and collaborate with me.

At the beginning of the month, I wrapped up a tour through some of #LA05’s communities. Witnessing firsthand the growth and development across our diverse communities was truly remarkable. Conversations with small business owners highlighted their resilience and determination, while discussions with educators underscored the importance of investing in our children's futures. I am energized by the collaborative spirit I encountered, and I am more determined than ever to bring their voices to Washington. Together, we will continue to build a brighter and more prosperous future for every resident of the Fifth District.

June Legislative Update:

Floor Activity:

• I supported H.R.8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 increasing pay by 19.5% for junior enlisted and 4.5% for other service members and providing the necessary equipment and technology for our military to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
• I supported H.R.8580, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 providing crucial funding to meet the healthcare needs of our veterans and investing in programs to support military families.
• I supported H.Res.1215, a resolution calling on elected officials and community leaders to work together to honor and recognize the contributions of the Jewish-American community.

Notable Bills and Letters:

• I cosponsored H.R.8281, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act requiring individuals to provide in-person proof of citizenship when registering to vote and removing non-citizens from voter rolls.
• I cosponsored H.J.Res.165 - Providing for a Congressional Resolution of Disapproval of the Department of Education's new Title IX rule. Expressing my opposition to this rule and the Biden administration's efforts to undermine protections for biological women in school environments. 
• I cosponsored H.J.Res. 166- A Congressional Resolution of Disapproval of the Department of Labor’s new Overtime rule. I am opposed to this rule because it will put a financial strain on small businesses and non-profit organizations already facing inflation and labor shortages and provide less job flexibility for employers and employees.

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