Calling for Bipartisan Action on Police Reform

The JUSTICE Act by Senator Tim Scott and Rep. Pete Stauber promotes equal justice, transparency, and accountability, while also recognizing the important role law enforcement officers play in keeping our communities safe. This week, House Democrats blocked this legislation from coming to the House Floor and moved forward with their misguided and unnecessarily partisan reform bill. Every single Republican amendment that we brought forward to this legislation was shut down.

I took to the House Floor to speak on the JUSTICE Act and to emphasize that this critical moment can affect real, lasting change if we come together to debate and hash out our differences on the issue. We need real, bipartisan reform. Not more chaos and politics. We need to work together to get this done, and hopefully we will do that before this moment is lost.

Click here or on the video below to watch my speech.

Discussing police reform on the House Floor 

Announcing an Agreement on the Dangerous Old Metairie Train Issue

This week, I joined the Jefferson Parish Council meeting to discuss issues that I’ve been working on, including federal COVID-19 support for our local small businesses and hospitals, meaningful police reform, and the dangerous issue of trains blocking intersections along roadways in Old Metairie for hours at a time.  

I’m very happy to announce that we have reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific railroads to move the crew exchange point out of residential areas and back to the I-10 rail bridge crossing near Metairie Cemetery. This agreement addresses the concerns I recently raised to the top executives at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern regarding trains blocking intersections along multiple roadways in Jefferson Parish for hours at a time. The agreement also addresses the safety concerns I brought to the railroads from the community, first responders, and local leaders.

Today, I joined Senator Cameron Henry, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, Jefferson Parish Councilman Scott Walker, and Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken to announce this agreement. Click here or on the image below to view my remarks. 

Discussing the Old Metairie train issue with Jefferson Parish officials

Speaking to the Northlake Christian School Class of 2020

I was honored to speak at the Northlake Christian School commencement ceremony to congratulate the Class of 2020 on their exciting achievements. Although this hasn't been the senior year many students were expecting, each of these students persevered and will be stronger because of their  unique experience. Congratulations to all graduates in the Class of 2020 and best of luck as you embark on your next journey!

Speaking to the Northlake Christian School Class of 2020

Community Updates

• The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hosted a hearing this week to discuss the Federal COVID-19 response. This has been the most substantial response to eradicate a virus and reopen our economy in recent memory, and even though we have a long way to go, we have accomplished a great amount in a short period of time. View my full remarks here.
  
  
• McDonald’s announced they are hiring approximately 6,500 new employees in Louisiana this summer. This announcement comes as McDonald’s begins to reopen their restaurants and dining rooms with extra precautions in hopes to have a positive impact on local communities and job markets.
  
  
• As a reminder, the deadline to apply for a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan is June 30th. As of June 20th, over 70,000 businesses in Louisiana have been approved for over $7 billion in PPP funding. Click here to find information on how to apply.
  
  
• Walmart worked with Quest Diagnostics and local officials to open COVID-19 testing sites at their pharmacy drive-thru windows in Covington, Mandeville, Meraux, and Slidell starting today. Click here to find a testing site near you.
  

It is an honor to represent you in Congress. For more information please visit my website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.


God Bless,