Dear Friends,
As we get ready to close the chapter on 2021 and look toward a brighter new year, I wanted to share with you an update from this past year on issues affecting the hard-working families of Southeast Louisiana that I am honored to represent.
If you would like to continue receiving these updates, please sign up for my newsletter and visit my website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.
Hurricane Ida Relief
After Hurricane Ida roared ashore in South Louisiana and left thousands of homes and businesses with significant damage, I immediately went to work with officials from the federal, state, and local levels to provide relief to those impacted by the storm.
- Operation Blue Roof – Operation Blue Roof, which FEMA and the Corps of Engineers deployed to install temporary roofs for homeowners, was important to many Louisiana families. I was concerned about the initial rollout of the program and sent a letter with Members of Louisiana's Congressional Delegation urging the Corps to expedite the implementation of the program, resulting in the Corps installing more than 33,000 blue roofs across 25 parishes in Louisiana.
- Debris Removal and Infrastructure Repair – I worked to ensure that the federal government covered 100 percent of the initial costs for debris removal in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ida, including in some neighborhoods that FEMA was initially reluctant to cover. I also pressed FEMA to approve reimbursements in several affected parishes to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, levees, and facilities that power our everyday home utilities, like water and sewer.
Investing in Louisiana's Coastal Communities
Hurricane Ida served as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in hurricane and flood protection, as well as coastal restoration efforts for our state. An investment in Louisiana's coastal communities is an investment in America’s economy, which is why I'm glad we were able to secure the following funding in 2021:
- Morganza-to-the-Gulf – In January, I announced that the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project received $12.46 million in New Start construction funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- the first ever federal dollars awarded for this project. I worked hard to secure this critical funding to help protect the thousands of families and businesses in South Louisiana.
- Mississippi River Deepening – Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced $45 million to complete the deepening of the Mississippi River to 50 feet. Deepening the river will give the state the ability to take sediment and use it to rebuild our coast, increasing lifesaving flood protection.
- Coastal Restoration – In March, I was proud to announce that Louisiana received nearly $110 million in revenue sharing funding as required by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA). This funding allows us to restore our coast and protect families and small businesses from future storms, as well as protecting the vital energy infrastructure important to our entire nation.
Holding FEMA Accountable for Lack of Transparency Regarding Risk Rating 2.0
Earlier this month, I wrote a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell expressing serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the agency's rollout of its new NFIP premium rating system, Risk Rating 2.0.
Hard-working families in Louisiana and across our nation should not be left holding the bill for FEMA's inability to be transparent about this new scheme it is already implementing. This is causing tremendous harm to families, and I urge FEMA to take immediate action to provide much needed transparency regarding Risk Rating 2.0 methodology, including how mitigation measures are taken into account, and how individual risk is calculated under this new NFIP rating scheme.
Protecting U.S. Telecom Networks Against National Security Threats From China
Last month, I was proud to see my bill, the Secure Equipment Act, signed into law. This bipartisan new law prevents Chinese companies identified as national security threats from gaining access to the private data of American families, adding an extra layer of security that protects our personal information from infiltration of America's telecommunications networks by the Chinese Communist Party.
ACT for ALS Bill Becomes Law
I was excited to see the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (ACT for ALS) signed into law just before Christmas. I was proud to cosponsor this important bipartisan legislation to advance critical research and increase access to lifesaving drugs, which will be beneficial for so many people who are diagnosed with ALS.
I spent the last year working with colleagues from both parties, as well as ALS champions like New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason, to get ACT for ALS passed through Congress, and get this important lifesaving bill signed into law.
President Biden's Multiple Self-Made Crises
Through just 11 months of one-party government control in Washington, it is abundantly clear that President Biden and Congressional Democrats' policies are hurting middle-class families, destroying our economy, raising the cost of living for hardworking families, and damaging our relationships with America’s international allies.
- Inflation – Inflation is at its highest level in nearly 40 years, and Washington Democrats' out-of-control spending and inflationary policies are causing American families to pay more for food and household goods at the grocery store and gas at the pump.
- COVID-19 – President Biden recently admitted that "there is no federal solution" to defeat COVID-19 and conceded he has no plan to get the virus under control despite running as a candidate with the platform that he would "shut down the virus." His devastating failures on testing kits and alternative therapies have been noted by scientists and pundits of all parties.
- Border – Migrants are continuing to illegally enter the United States at a record pace because of President Biden and Speaker Pelosi's reckless open-border policies. Since President Biden took office, more than 1.7 million illegal immigrants have been allowed to walk across our southern border, with thousands more pouring in every day, including drug cartels bringing fentanyl and other deadly drugs into every community in America.
- Energy – Gas prices across America have risen to their highest levels since 2014, when President Biden was still Vice President. Energy prices are skyrocketing with no end in sight. Washington Democrats should abandon their costly Green New Deal agenda and prioritize an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps energy safe, affordable, and reliable.
It is an honor to represent you in Congress. If you would like to continue receiving these updates, please sign up for my newsletter and visit my website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages.
