A Note From the Desk of Congresswoman Letlow

As we begin the month of August, you’ll see more of our team on the ground in the Fifth District meeting with local leaders, hearing directly from stakeholders, and seeing firsthand what is happening in our communities. Congress has entered the annual “August Recess” – a period for us to spend time in our districts, interacting with constituents and learning more about how we as policymakers can address the pressing problems facing our country.

When we took office just over 16 months ago, I pledged that we would be an office focused first and foremost on delivering the best possible services to the people of the Fifth District. We’re incredibly proud that we’ve returned more than $7.4 million directly to constituents by helping resolve issues such as late tax refunds from the IRS, delayed VA benefits, and navigating the Small Business Administration’s loan process.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with a federal agency, our team is here to help. You can click HERE to find the contact information for each of our district offices and learn more about how to connect with a caseworker in your local area.

Please feel free always to reach out directly when you have questions, comments, or concerns. Our team is also always accessible to you through this newsletter and our website. We are here to serve you.

Sincerely,

Julia Letlow
Member of Congress

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Legislative Update - WEP/GPO

Before Congress adjourned for the August recess, we had a significant breakthrough in our fight to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. H.R. 82 – The Social Security Fairness Act, a bill by Congressman Rodney Davis of Illinois to eliminate these unfair penalties, received more than 290 bipartisan co-sponsors. We’ve begun the process to force a vote in the House procedurally.

As I’ve traveled across the Fifth District, I’ve heard from many hardworking public servants – our teachers, firefighters, and police officers- who have lost most of the Social Security benefits they paid into because of this bureaucratic rule. To keep up with the latest on this bill, click HERE.

Legislative Update - Alexandria VA Hospital

In March, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recommended the complete closure of the VA Hospital in Alexandria. This hospital is not only a critical healthcare resource for nearly 40,000 veterans across our state, but it is also the fourth largest employer in Central Louisiana.

I’ve personally met with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to voice our objections, and our team has been working on legislative solutions that will keep the hospital open.

We successfully worked across party lines to support language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that dissolves the VA’s Asset and Infrastructure Review Board, which is the bureaucratic entity that would begin the closure process.
We joined Republicans and Democrats to attach an amendment to the VA’s budget that will take the funding for the administrative costs of hospital closures and instead redirect those dollars directly to veterans’ healthcare.

Legislative Update

Telehealth services are critical for the residents of the Fifth District’s rural communities. I was proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues to pass H.R. 4040 – The Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act that will remove existing barriers and expand life-saving care across our region.
Louisiana alone paid out $405 million in fraudulent unemployment claims during the pandemic. That number is incredibly frustrating. We’re co-sponsoring H.R. 8000 – The Chase COVID Unemployment Fraud Act, a bill that will incentivize states to investigate this fraud and reclaim lost taxpayer dollars.
I firmly believe that every woman should be able to access contraception safely, but we must always respect pro-life protections and religious freedom. I co-sponsored H.R. 8421 – The Access to Safe Contraception Act, a common-sense measure that accomplishes both.

Visiting America's Southern Border

I believe that there is no better way to understand a situation than seeing it firsthand. Last week, I visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, and met with law enforcement and community leaders. These meetings and our ride-along with the US Border Patrol and local sheriffs emphasized the need for Congress to finally pass legislation to help secure the border and bring desperately needed assistance and equipment to the men and women on the front lines.

Meeting Our Local Border Patrol Agents

Protecting America’s borders isn’t just a problem limited to our states along the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to visiting Eagle Pass, we visited our local Customs and Border Protection office in New Orleans to learn more about their priorities and share how we’re fighting in Congress to supply them with more tools and resources.

District Business: Meeting Our Job Creators

If we're going to build a prosperous future here in our region for the next generation, we must work to attract new industries, help our existing employers expand, and above all, create jobs and opportunities through economic growth.

I visited Coca-Cola's facilities in Monroe, met with their hardworking employees, and learned more about how this company has been an essential part of our community for more than a century.

Premier Steel Doors and Frames is another example of a great company creating jobs in Ouachita Parish while putting more American-made products on the shelves. We had an insightful conversation about the challenges facing our domestic manufacturers.

I also visited Radiance Technologies' headquarters and learned more about their work in our region and how they partner with Louisiana Tech to create a talent pipeline for recent graduates.

Connecting with Our Veterans

Ensuring our veterans can access benefits and care is one of our office’s top priorities. We are meeting groups across the Fifth District, such as the VFW in Oak Grove, to share more about how our office can help. We hired a Veterans Liaison, Dane Guidry, to focus specifically on addressing VA issues. If you are or know a veteran needing assistance, call our Monroe office at (318) 570-6440.

Ruston Peaches on Capitol Hill

Before Congress adjourned for the August Recess, Mayor Ronny Walker and James Davison brought some delicious Ruston peaches to our office. We were glad to share some of the Fifth District’s finest with our colleagues on Capitol Hill.

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