Opposing Speaker Pelosi's Radical Energy Tax
Earlier this week, I offered an amendment to Speaker Pelosi’s massive $3.5 trillion “reconciliation” bill that would prevent the energy tax in the bill from going into effect until the Environmental Protection Agency can ensure that it won't cause increased health care costs. This vote was taken in my committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Democrats on the committee defended the tax and blocked my amendment.
This radical new tax will raise electricity costs on hard-working families by more than 12%, and directly violates President Biden’s promise not to increase taxes on families making less than $400,000 as well as his promise to lower health care costs. America’s hospitals and families shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of Washington liberals’ radical Green New Deal policies that will cause their health care and energy costs to skyrocket. This new tax will negatively impact our hospitals which are already stretched thin as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will raise health care costs on families who are already experiencing the inflationary sticker shock from President Biden’s wasteful spending bills that already are hitting their pocket books.
This tax also aims to destroy America’s oil and gas industry, and will certainly raise energy costs for American families above the skyrocketing increases they’re already paying. We should be focusing on smart policies that increase American energy production so that families don’t get saddled with higher utility costs and our hospitals are equipped to better serve our communities.
Meeting With HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge
This week, I met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, Congressman Troy Carter, and state and local officials in Jefferson Parish to discuss disaster relief for Hurricane Ida victims, including temporary housing options for displaced residents. We also discussed how we can cut red tape to get people back in their homes as quickly as possible.
Urging FEMA to Delay NFIP Rate Hikes
Earlier this week, Congressman Garret Graves and I wrote a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell urging her to delay FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 policy, which would cause National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rates to skyrocket for policyholders who play by the rules.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Ida and the long road to recovery in its aftermath have placed difficult burdens on Louisiana families as we work to rebuild. With communities continuing to recover, it would be devastating for FEMA to enforce Risk Rating 2.0. We must continue working to implement long-term reforms to the NFIP to ensure the program remains affordable and stable for the future.
Touring Hurricane Ida Damage
On Wednesday, I toured damage from Hurricane Ida in Kenner with Mayor Ben Zahn. Kenner was hit hard by Ida, and I’ll continue to work with Mayor Zahn and our local leaders to help our communities recover in the aftermath of the storm. For many families, it will be a long road to recovery, but Louisianans are resilient, and we’ll get through this together.
It is an honor to represent you in Congress. For more information, please visit my website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.
