Governor Jeff Landry & Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sign First-of-Its-Kind Make America Healthy Again Legislation

Louisiana Makes Historic Leap Toward Healthier Future  

BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana made history this week with two of the most transformative health bills in the nation. Governor Jeff Landry joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senator Patrick McMath and other health freedom advocates at Pennington Biomedical Research Center for a press conference and official signing of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Bill and the Ivermectin Access Bill. In addition to the bill signings, Governor Landry submitted a formal waiver request to the federal government to reform Louisiana’s SNAP program, prohibiting the use of benefits on sugary sodas, candy, and processed junk food, while rewarding the purchase of fresh, nutritious options.

Watch Full Bill Signing HERE.

“This fight is about our kids, our health, and the future of our state,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “We’re done letting chemicals, corporations, and career bureaucrats decide what’s best for our families. In Louisiana, we’re putting parents back in charge, putting real food back on the table, and giving people the tools to take their health into their own hands. I would like to thank Secretary Kennedy and Senator McMath for their hard work to make our country and Louisiana healthy.”

Senator Patrick McMath, author of the MAHA Bill, echoed the urgency: “Louisiana ranks 43rd in the nation for heart disease and diabetes, and 40% of our adult population struggles with obesity. The people are demanding action, and we’re delivering. This bill gives families the power to make informed decisions and breaks the grip Big Food and Big Pharma have had on our state for too long.”

Background on Legislation:

Louisiana’s MAHA Bill (SB 14) introduces long-overdue reforms to improve the state’s health outcomes, including banning artificial dyes and harmful preservatives in school meals, requiring physicians to complete nutrition education, and mandating food manufacturers and restaurants disclose dangerous ingredients like seed oils. The legislation is backed by overwhelming public support—86% of Louisianans support the bill, and 98% agree consumers deserve transparency about chemicals and additives in their food. The MAHA Bill also passed unanimously in both chambers, a powerful, bipartisan statement that Louisiana is united in putting health and transparency first.

The Ivermectin Access Bill (SB 19) empowers adults across the state to obtain ivermectin directly from pharmacists under a standing order from the Department of Health. The bill includes patient protections, immunity for pharmacists and helps eliminate barriers to low-cost, long-trusted treatments.

ICYMI: Governor Landry Signs Groundbreaking Legislation to Ignite Louisiana’s Energy Industry

BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, Governor Jeff Landry signed into law legislation that will tackle legacy challenges, improve energy affordability, and encourage more oil production.  

Watch the full press conference HERE. 

What Governor Landry Signed: 

SB 244: Sen. Bob Hensgens    

Reorganizes the Department of Energy Natural Resources to make the agency balanced, transparent, and solutions-oriented – including addressing decades of legacy litigation   

Strengthens the rights of Louisiana landowners by limiting expropriation for carbon capture pipelines to companies that operate as common carriers or in situations where it is required solely due to absentee landowners who cannot be located—mirroring the regulatory conditions for petroleum pipelines, ensuring uniformity across Louisiana’s pipeline infrastructure regulations.   

Prevents regulatory overreach at liquid terminals by clarifying the statute regarding pipeline rates and operations at storage or distribution terminals, limiting state oversight scope to ensure predictability and preventing unnecessary litigation.   

Prioritizes water resource management at the state level by transferring oversight of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District to the Department of Conservation and Energy, and directing the department to develop a comprehensive water resources management plan to ensure the availability of ground and surface water resources to the public in the face of economic development activities throughout the state.   

Establishes the Natural Resources Commission to promote collaboration among the states resource managers to ensure the protection and availability of the state’s resources for future generations.   

HB 692 Rep. Jacob Landry   

Fortifies Louisiana’s energy future by ordering regulators to prioritize affordable, dependable, in-state dispatchable sources—chiefly natural gas and nuclear—to support grid resilience and shield producers from the cost volatility tied to renewable mandates   

HB 600 Rep. Brett Geymann    

Reduces the severance tax rate on oil produced from newly completed wells after July 1, 2025, and establishes special tax rates for oil produced from limited-production wells, with various certifications and conditions for different well types.   This was a nearly century-old rate of severance tax on oil produced from newly completed wells   

Royalty Executive Order    

Orders the Mineral Board to establish a plan that reduces royalties – helping unleash Louisiana’s coastal energy production   

Kennedy, Tim Scott, colleagues introduce bill to protect U.S. secrets from foreign adversaries

“The Chinese Communist Party’s land buildup near our most critical military and government facilities poses a grave threat to our national security. The Protect Our Bases Act would help safeguard our nation and fight back against Communist China’s spying on American soil.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and 10 colleagues in introducing the Protect Our Bases Act, which would strengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ (CFIUS) ability to review foreign land purchases near sensitive military, intelligence and national laboratory sites by requiring member agencies to annually update and review their lists of these sites.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s land buildup near our most critical military and government facilities poses a grave threat to our national security. The Protect Our Bases Act would help safeguard our nation and fight back against Communist China’s spying on American soil,” said Kennedy.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the U.S. national security apparatus requires vigilance from our national security agencies. This legislation will enhance the review of foreign real estate transactions near critical national security installations, helping ensure CFIUS has the information it needs to protect our homeland and keep our nation safe,” said Scott.

Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) also cosponsored the bill.

Background:

• In 2022, Fufeng Group, a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, announced it would purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.

• CFIUS determined that it could not evaluate the transaction for national security risks because the Department of Defense had not listed the base as a sensitive area for national security purposes.

• Although the City of Grand Forks ultimately blocked the transaction, this incident demonstrated a serious flaw in the review process of foreign land purchases.

The Protect Our Bases Act would:

• require agencies represented on CFIUS to provide CFIUS with records of the military, intelligence and national laboratory facilities that should be considered sensitive areas for national security purposes annually.

• require CFIUS to submit an annual report to Congress certifying the completion of these reviews and detailing the accuracy of its real estate listings.

Full text of the Protect Our Bases Act is available here.

Louisiana Becomes First State to Authorize Local Law Enforcement to Neutralize Dangerous Drones

Governor Jeff Landry Signs Groundbreaking “We Will Act” Act to Protect Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure

BATON ROUGE, LA - In a national first, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law a sweeping new measure that authorizes state and local law enforcement to actively intercept and disable drones that pose credible threats to public safety. Video from Governor Landry’s bill signing may be found HERE.

The “We Will Act” Act marks the first time a state has granted its law enforcement agencies direct drone mitigation authority - a move typically reserved for federal entities. The law empowers specially trained officers to deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic technologies to neutralize unmanned aerial systems operating unlawfully near high-risk areas such as schools, public events, and critical infrastructure.

“This law puts Louisiana on the front lines of drone defense,” said Governor Landry. “We are taking bold steps now to protect our people and our skies before tragedy strikes.”

The legislation includes strict penalties for violators, including fines of up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, and mandatory forfeiture of the drone used in the offense.

The bill comes amid rising national concern over unauthorized drone activity near sensitive locations - including military facilities and large public gatherings. Governor Landry and President Donald Trump publicly addressed the threat earlier this year during remarks at Mar-a-Lago.

With this new law, Louisiana positions itself at the forefront of state-level drone policy, setting a precedent likely to influence future legislation nationwide.

OPINION: Thank You Sen. Kennedy and Cassidy

I want to thank Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy for standing firm and allowing the GENIUS Act to move forward without the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) attached. This was the right call—and a win for consumers, small banks, and anyone who values a healthy, competitive payments system.

The Durbin-Marshall amendment, which aimed to attach the CCCA to the GENIUS Act, would have forced a controversial swipe-fee overhaul into an unrelated stablecoin and banking modernization bill. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and the Senate advanced the GENIUS Act as a clean package. That’s how good legislation should work: focused and transparent, not crammed with last-minute amendments that haven’t been fully debated.

While the CCCA is pitched as pro-business, the reality is it would hurt consumers by undercutting credit card rewards programs and shifting costs to cardholders. It would also make it harder for smaller banks and credit unions to compete, as they rely on interchange fees to offer fraud protection and other services. The risks far outweigh the potential benefits.

Senators Kennedy and Cassidy deserve credit for not bowing to pressure and for refusing to hijack a bipartisan effort with divisive policy. Their leadership helped preserve a sound legislative process and protect Louisiana consumers from the unintended consequences of rushed financial regulation.

Let’s hope future debates on the CCCA are held in the open, on their own merits—not tucked into unrelated bills.

Don Willard 

Blake Miguez Announces Run for US Senate Against Bill Cassidy

LA Freedom Caucus Celebrates a Victory for Religious Freedom

BATON ROUGE—In a landmark win for religious liberty in Louisiana, the legislature has passed a bill by LA Freedom Caucus Chairwoman Beryl Amedée (R-Gray) that ensures churches face no stricter regulations than the least restrictive rules applied to secular businesses.

HB371 is an effort to safeguard faith communities. The bill was born out of frustration with our previous governor’s pandemic-era policies, which included keeping bars and abortion clinics open while shuttering churches and even arresting a pastor for holding services. More recently, our state fire marshal has demanded churches spend millions on building upgrades to host small homeschool co-ops on weekdays, despite deeming those same buildings safe for hundreds on Sundays. These inconsistencies expose a clear bias against religious institutions.

HB371 protects churches’ rights to host Vacation Bible School, Mom’s Day Out, camps, and homeschool activities without facing discriminatory restrictions. It upholds the principle that the government must have a compelling interest to burden religious exercise and ensures remedies for violations.

“This isn’t just about churches; it’s about ensuring fairness and preserving the fundamental right to worship and gather without undue interference,” said Rep. Amedee. “Religious liberty is a cornerstone of a free society, and this is a critical step toward ensuring it endures. I urge the governor to sign this bill and affirm our state’s commitment to fairness and freedom for all.”

LOGA Releases Statement on 2025 Legislative Session

BATON ROUGE, LA (June 12, 2025) - Upon the conclusion of the 2025 Louisiana Legislative Session, LOGA President Mike Moncla issued the following statement:

This last week of the session proved to be a big one for prospective oil and gas drilling investments in Louisiana. For decades, Louisiana’s upstream oil and gas sector has been at a competitive disadvantage compared to other producing states with regards to our severance tax rates and legacy lawsuits.

HB 600 by Representative Brett Geymann (Lake Charles) lowered the oil severance tax rate from the nation’s highest, at 12.5%, down to 6.5% for all new drilling projects in Louisiana. Each of the last five years that I’ve been at LOGA, we have attempted to lower the severance rate for oil but fell short on each attempt.

Representative Jacob Landry’s (Erath) legacy lawsuit bill, HB 694 was amended into SB 244 by Senator Bob Hensgens (Abbeville) and was passed on Wednesday. We ran a very similar bill last year that was stalled without even getting a vote on the Senate floor, so we are elated that this legislation made it through the process. While the timeline to implement this new legislation won’t begin until September 2027, this is a long-game play. The clock for a new future has officially started with this legacy reform bill.

We want to thank Governor Landry for keeping his promise on addressing both of these important issues. Also, thanks go out to Speaker DeVillier (Eunice), House Natural Resources Chairman Brett Geymann, Representative Jacob Landry, and Senate Natural Resources Chairman Bob Hensgens. With these positive changes, Louisiana is a more attractive place for oil and gas investment today than it was yesterday.

Opinion: American Energy Dominance Starts Here at Home. Louisiana Must Lead, Not Litigate.

President Trump’s recent executive order on “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach” sends a clear message: states must stop weaponizing lawsuits against the very industry that powers our nation. This kind of state-led overreach threatens more than just American energy dominance. It jeopardizes our national security, economic prosperity and the livelihoods of working families across the nation.

In Louisiana, we should understand this better than anyone.

Our energy sector drives 25% of the state’s total economic output, contributing nearly $78 billion in value and supporting more than 300,000 of our neighbors through direct, indirect or induced employment. These are well-paid, stable jobs that fuel communities and help keep Louisiana competitive globally.

But this system—our jobs—are under attack from within.

President Trump’s executive order comes on the heels of the troubling coastal lawsuit verdict from Plaquemines Parish, which sent a stark warning that even lawful, permitted energy investments in Louisiana can lead to billion-dollar consequences decades later. And there are still dozens of coastal lawsuits filed in parishes across South Louisiana that are expected to be heard in court soon.

A 2019 study by the Pelican Institute found that these coastal lawsuits are costing Louisiana’s economy up to $113 million annually. That’s money that could be going toward education, infrastructure and local services. They also create a hostile business climate, delaying permitting, discouraging future investment and signaling to energy producers and beyond that Louisiana is a risky, uncertain place to do business.

And we’re not alone. New York’s so-called “climate change” law seeks to collect billions from energy producers for past greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of when or where they occurred. Vermont is pushing similar legislation. California’s aggressive carbon credit regime forces businesses into an impossible bind with harsh emissions caps and costly compliance requirements. Who would have thought Louisiana would be grouped with states known for being anti-industry?

The longer we delay supporting President Trump’s order and prop up the “weaponized” coastal lawsuits in select parishes, the more we risk undermining Louisiana’s position as an energy leader. Louisianians pay the price as jobs move to states like Texas and investments disappear.

Louisiana energy producers are the number one private investors in our coast. We don’t need to sue them into supporting coastal restoration. Every dollar spent on lawsuits is a dollar not spent on restoration. Louisiana works when we work together.

There is a long way to go before the case in Plaquemines Parish is finished. We cannot let what happened there happen in other parishes across South Louisiana. We urge Louisiana’s leaders: comply with the executive order, drop the lawsuits and focus on working with industry to protect our coast, support our jobs and help power the nation.

Energy dominance starts here at home. Louisiana must lead, not litigate.

By Marc Ehrhardt, Executive Director, Grow Louisiana Coalition

Kennedy in the Ouachita Citizen: It’s time to stop pouring taxpayer money into biased public broadcasting

“These organizations are using taxpayer money to advance their own political agendas.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in the Ouachita Citizen arguing that Congress should defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and, in turn, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

“One would think that receiving billions of dollars from taxpayers would motivate NPR and PBS to publish fair reporting that the American people can use. Instead, these organizations have consistently promoted ideas that reflect their own personal political beliefs, without attempting to provide the other side. These organizations are using taxpayer money to advance their own political agendas.”

. . .

“Even if the content on NPR and PBS was fair, the American people no longer need public broadcasting to access the news of the day. With more than $37 trillion in federal debt, the idea of giving these organizations a single penny is bone-deep, down-to-the-marrow stupid.

“That’s why President Trump has paused federal funding to NPR and PBS through an executive order. He also recently asked Congress to formally rescind its funding of these public broadcasting entities—and the Senate should jump on this opportunity to pass President Trump’s rescission request on all his planned spending cuts as soon as possible. This would allow the Trump administration to cut off any money that the last Democrat-controlled Congress already allocated to the CPB and, in turn, NPR and PBS, in 2025.

“To make sure no new money is allocated to the CPB moving forward, I introduced the No Propaganda Act. This bill would permanently defund the CPB.

“The federal government has no business funding media companies. It’s time to stop picking winners and losers and defund public broadcasting for good.”

Read Kennedy’s op-ed here.  

Kennedy in the LOGA Industry Report: GOP mission to clear Biden admin’s red tape will help Louisiana energy producers thrive

“I’m proud that Louisiana will continue to be a leader in oil and gas production as America enters a new era of prosperity and security.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this column for the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA) Industry Report explaining how Congressional Republicans are working with the Trump administration to clear red tape to help unleash America’s energy dominance.

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

“President Biden let TikTok teens, climate change zealots, and other members of the Democratic Party dictate American energy policy for four years. The results were not good.

“The Biden administration left the American people with 29% higher electricity bills, a depleted strategic national fuel reserve, and a mountain of bureaucratic red tape that made it difficult for energy producers to produce energy and create good-paying jobs. In 2024 alone, Louisiana families had to pay nearly $1,000 more to keep their lights on and gas tanks full.

“Fortunately, the American people voted to restore common sense in Washington. President Trump and my conservative colleagues in Congress are working to restore America’s global energy dominance. To do this, we must first clean up the mess left by the Biden administration — and President Trump and his team are off to a great start.”

. . .

“As common sense makes a comeback in Washington, energy dominance is on the horizon. I’m proud that Louisiana will continue to be a leader in oil and gas production as America enters a new era of prosperity and security.”

Read Kennedy’s column here.  

OPINION: Trump Administration Pushes FDA Reform; Louisiana’s Johnson and Scalise Key to Restoring Accountability and Advancing Harm Reduction

After the repeated failures of the Biden Administration, President Trump has put the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) under the microscope—and rightly so. 

For far too long bureaucratic delays at the CTP in reviewing smoke-free products created confusion in the marketplace and ignored its required responsibility to promote public health through tobacco harm reduction, not prohibition.

With the confirmations of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary, the agency has an opportunity to make the necessary reforms needed. One welcome step towards these changes came in March, when the administration took bold steps at the CTP by changing  ineffective leadership. 

Just days after these changes, the Supreme Court weighed in on the FDA v. Wages and White Lion case, involving the agency’s haphazard and shifting standards for evaluating premarket tobacco applications (PMTAs). 

While the court upheld the FDA’s decision to deny flavored e-cigarette products, it also acknowledged concerns about the agency’s decision to ignore marketing plans “for the sake of efficiency,” and sent the issue back to the 5th Circuit for further review.

This is a pivotal moment for tobacco regulatory reform. CTP should embrace tobacco harm reduction, a principle grounded in science, not politics. That means authorizing smoke-free products that are better alternatives than continued smoking, which is the most harmful way to consume nicotine. These innovative products can help adults who smoke leave cigarettes behind for good which, in turn, can benefit the public health–but only if the CTP moves swiftly to review the massive backlog of pending applications.

While American businesses await regulatory clarity, illicit and unauthorized Chinese vapor products now account for an estimated 60 percent of the American market. This is not just a public health concern, but an economic one. Law-abiding U.S. manufacturers are being undercut by an unregulated illicit market that the FDA has failed to control, endangering American adults and hurting businesses of all sizes. 

Congress gave CTP authority to regulate tobacco products in 2009, but what we’ve seen are delays, and an inconsistent agency that too often stifles innovation. Louisiana’s very own House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise must seize the opportunity and encourage the Trump Administration to enact long overdue reforms. We need action that puts American adults in control of their decisions, especially when it comes to their health.

The path forward is clear: cut the red tape, enforce the law, and empower adult consumers with the best innovative options. It’s time to bring CTP into the 21st century.

Alton Philips

Governor Jeff Landry Signs Largest Tort Reform Effort in State History Into Law

Holds both trial lawyers and insurance companies accountable 

Baton Rouge, LA – Today, Governor Jeff Landry held a press conference at the Governor’s Mansion where he signed the largest tort reform effort in Louisiana history into law. Watch press conference here.

"Today, we’ve taken steps to shield Louisianans from frivolous lawsuits driven by trial lawyers—using a data-driven strategy. And we made it clear to insurance companies that they must answer to their policyholders. Over the past fifty days, I am proud to say that the only side I’ve stood with is the people of Louisiana," said Governor Jeff Landry.

The bills signed include: 

HB 148: Insurance Commissioner Authority:

• Grants the Insurance Commissioner greater authority to hold down rates.

• Texas, Mississippi, South Caroline, Florida, or Alabama—to just name a few states— all grant their insurance commissioner this power. 

HB 450: Housley Presumption:

• Would require someone who sued over injuries in a car accident to show that the injuries actually occurred during the accident.

HB 434: No Pay No Play:

• Would disallow a driver without car insurance from collecting an award for bodily injury medical expenses for any amount below $100,000, up from $15,000 today. 

HB 436: Illegal Aliens:

• Would prohibit undocumented immigrants who are injured in car accidents from collecting general damages

HB 431:  Comparative Fault:

• Would bar drivers responsible for at least 51% of an accident from receiving a damage award to cover their injuries.

• Under current law, a driver responsible for, say, 51% of the accident can collect a payment equal to 49% of the overall damage award.

HB 549: Dash Cam Discount:

• Provides a premium discount for commercial motor vehicles with dashboard cameras and telematics systems. 

OPINION: Democrats Are Wrong on Carried Interest — It's an Investment Tool, Not a Loophole

A group of Senate Democrats recently sent a letter urging President Trump to eliminate the so-called “carried interest loophole.” Their argument is predictable: that private equity managers are avoiding taxes and exploiting the system at the expense of everyday Americans. But like many progressive talking points, the letter is heavy on rhetoric and light on economic understanding.

Carried interest is not a loophole. It’s a long-standing, well-established tax provision that treats investment profits as capital gains — because that’s exactly what they are. Fund managers and investors only earn carried interest when they take real financial risk and generate returns over time. Unlike salaried workers, these individuals often invest personal capital, guarantee debt, and work for years with no income. That’s not tax evasion — it’s how entrepreneurship works.

We’re especially grateful to Speaker Mike Johnson and conservatives in the House for recognizing this. The Big Beautiful Tax Bill passed by the House preserved carried interest treatment, and in doing so, protected critical energy investment in Louisiana and across the country. It’s a victory for jobs, growth, and common sense.

Here in Louisiana, carried interest is essential to the oil and gas sector. Smaller producers depend on private equity partnerships to fund drilling and infrastructure projects that fuel the American economy. Changing the tax treatment would dry up capital, slow innovation, and threaten energy security.

We urge Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy to stand firm. Reject the progressive talking points from your Democratic colleagues and defend the tax provisions that keep Louisiana’s economy strong.

Carried interest is not a giveaway — it’s a cornerstone of growth. Let’s protect it.

Alton Phillips

Governor Jeff Landry Issues Executive Order Following Major Security Breach at Orleans Parish Correctional Facility

Allows the State to take action to implement transparency and accountability in the Orleans Parish criminal justice system and around the State  

Baton Rouge, LA –Today, Governor Landry issued an executive order, mandating an immediate and aggressive response across multiple state agencies to address a major breach at the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility (OPCF). With five dangerous inmates still at large, Governor Landry is making it clear that keeping the public safe is his top priority, and no effort will be spared in bringing those responsible to justice.

Watch Governor Landry sign the Executive Order here: 

“Our criminal justice system is a three-legged bar stool. If one fails, the whole system collapses. This brings us to where we are today—New Orleans willingly handed the jail keys to those leaders who vowed to keep criminals OUT of jail. Sadly, it worked,” said Governor Landry. “However, the State will not sit idly by. We are taking immediate, decisive action to ensure that this never happens again. The people of Louisiana deserve not only transparency and accountability, but also a justice system that is unyielding in its commitment to public safety—and our Executive Order demands it. Enough is enough.”

The Governor's Executive Order:

• The Inspector General will oversee audits of case files

• DOC will review OPCF operations for compliance with jail standards.

• All DOC inmates in OPCF will be relocated to state-run facilities.

• The Louisiana Supreme Court is asked to continue reviewing the Orleans Criminal Court, and the Judiciary Commission is asked to assess judicial performance in high-crime parishes.

• Court clerks are requested to document continuance requests, and judges are urged to address unnecessary delays.

• The Metropolitan Crime Commission is requested to develop a system to track cases from arrest to conviction.

• Lastly, the Attorney General will lead the investigation, with full cooperation from state agencies.

###

Governor Jeff Landry Partners with President Donald Trump to Launch “Operation GEAUX”

Governor Landry joins Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Madison Sheahan to sign Operation GEAUX

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Governor Jeff Landry joined Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Madison Sheahan, ICE Principal Legal Advisor Charlie Wall, and a team of other patriots to announce a HUGE, historic partnership with the federal government to crack down on criminal illegal aliens in the great State of Louisiana. This game changer is called Operation GEAUX. 

Under this powerful new initiative, Louisiana law enforcement agencies will be empowered to enforce federal immigration laws, giving them the tools necessary to take dangerous, illegal criminals off our street. Operation GEAUX includes enhanced screening, aggressive identification, and a massive public awareness campaign that is going to wake people up. This isn’t just talk—it’s action. And it’s happening now.

“If you’re here illegally and you engage in criminal activity, you are going to be deported or sent to jail,” said Governor Landry. “Operation GEAUX is the kind of historic, one-of-a-kind partnership that the Trump Administration is looking for to fulfill the President’s promises of restoring law and order! Making America Safe Again.” 

Background:

Over the past four years, immigration enforcement mechanisms established by Congress and prior administrations were systematically dismantled under the Biden Administration, resulting in the largest wave of illegal immigration in the Nation’s history. The estimated population of illegal aliens in Louisiana was approximately 97,000 as of 2021, with current figures likely significantly higher.

Since President Trump took office in January, border crossings have plunged to the lowest in decades. It is because of the Trump Administration’s strict immigration enforcement and tough on crime approach, that streets across the Nation are safer. 

President Trump has made it clear that illegal immigration has no place in America, and we want to ensure this is a reality in Louisiana. For too long, those on the left and in the media have coddled those who break our laws and given them a platform. We are ushering in a new age in America and Louisiana. One where law and order is the expectation, not the exception. Where our communities and families are protected, and criminals are rejected. The actions taken today are a sign to the world that the days of status quo, lackadaisical immigration enforcement are over.

OPINION: Dick Durbin’s Parting Gift to America? More Big Government Overreach

Senator Dick Durbin may be retiring, but his crusade against consumer freedom and financial innovation continues. Even with the clock running out on his decades-long career in Washington, the Illinois Democrat is still clinging to his misguided push for the so-called Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) — a bill that would do far more harm than good.

Durbin wants to force credit card issuers to allow multiple processing networks on every card — a direct hit on Visa and Mastercard, which currently handle the lion’s share of transactions. He claims this would foster competition and lower fees for merchants. But the truth is that this bill is just another Washington power grab that will put small banks, credit unions, and consumers at risk — all while lining the pockets of big-box retailers.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about competition. It’s about control. The same retailers who already benefited from Durbin’s infamous 2010 amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act — which gutted debit card rewards and did nothing to lower prices for consumers — are now back for another handout. Groups like the National Retail Federation and National Restaurant Association have backed this bill from the beginning, hoping to slash their costs without passing a dime in savings on to everyday Americans.

And just like the last time, it’s hardworking families who will pay the price.

Durbin’s bill would undermine the credit card rewards programs that millions of Americans rely on — the travel points, cashback offers, and other benefits that have become standard in a competitive marketplace. It would also weaken fraud protection by steering transactions away from the most secure, battle-tested networks and toward unproven alternatives.

This isn’t free-market reform — it’s government-mandated interference. And it’s telling that many Republicans, like House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, are refusing to take the bait. As Hill recently said, “This isn’t the way to resolve it.” Congress shouldn’t be in the business of picking winners and losers between retailers and banks. The market works just fine without another top-down mandate from Washington.

In fact, opposition to the CCCA is growing among conservative voices who see it for what it is: a corporate giveaway disguised as reform. Groups like the Electronic Payments Coalition and the Bank Policy Institute have been sounding the alarm — and rightly so. This bill would inject instability into a system that, despite its flaws, provides safe, efficient, and rewarding services to consumers and businesses alike.

Perhaps most ironic is Durbin’s timing. With President Trump back in the White House and a Republican Congress focused on innovation — from cryptocurrency to stablecoins — Durbin’s tired agenda feels like a relic of the past. While the rest of the country looks ahead to financial modernization, Durbin is still trying to micromanage the checkout counter.

As he heads for the exit, Durbin should take his failed ideas with him. The Credit Card Competition Act isn’t about protecting consumers. It’s about expanding government, empowering corporate lobbyists, and once again punishing the very financial institutions that help drive our economy.

Republicans in Congress must stand firm and reject this last-ditch power play. Speaker Mike Johnson and House leadership should refuse to give this bill oxygen — and ensure that Durbin’s legacy doesn’t include another swipe at the American consumer.

It’s time to let the free market, not bureaucrats or lobbyists, shape the future of payments in America.

Alton Phillips - Louisiana

Kennedy on extending tax cuts: “If we don’t, then we are going to have a $4.3 trillion tax increase on the American people.”

“If we raise taxes right now, $4.3 trillion on the American people, this economy will begin a journey to the center of the Earth. We cannot let it happen.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained why extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the most important thing Congress can do in the budget reconciliation process to protect the economy in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

Key excerpts of the speech are below:

“So, the first goal of reconciliation is to try to reduce these prices, to try to kill inflation dead. But there is a second equally—some would say more—important reason, as you well know, Mr. President. In 2017, this Congress, during President Trump’s first term, passed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We cut taxes by $4.3 trillion. And, boy, did it work. The economy took off like a SpaceX rocket ship.”

. . .

“The bad news is that those tax cuts expire at the end of this year. So, we are going to try to extend them and make them permanent in our reconciliation bill. And if we don’t, then we are going to have a $4.3 trillion tax increase on the American people.

“I want you to think about that, Mr. President, when some of our colleagues try to throw up roadblocks to our reconciliation bill. In effect, what they are saying is, they want to raise taxes on the American people by $4.3 trillion.

“That is the most important thing we want to do in our reconciliation bill. It is not the only important thing, as I mentioned, but it is clearly the most important thing. If we raise taxes right now, $4.3 trillion on the American people, this economy will begin a journey to the center of the Earth. We cannot let it happen.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

Kennedy reintroduces CRAWDAD Act to support Louisiana jobs, culture

“Come rain, shine, sleet or snow, Louisiana’s mudbug farmers always work hard to deliver quality food to crawfish lovers. My CRAWDAD Act would make sure crawfish producers have access to the emergency support they need when droughts and other severe weather strike.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today reintroduced the Crawfish Recovery Assistance from Weather Disasters and Droughts (CRAWDAD) Act. The bill would support Louisiana crawfish jobs when severe weather puts strain on the industry.

“Come rain, shine, sleet or snow, Louisiana’s mudbug farmers always work hard to deliver quality food to crawfish lovers. My CRAWDAD Act would make sure crawfish producers have access to the emergency support they need when droughts and other severe weather strike,” said Kennedy.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) cosponsored the CRAWDAD Act.

“When you think Louisiana, you think crawfish. Crawfish farmers work hard to provide Louisiana and the world with the tastiest crawdads possible. Let’s support them as they do so, rain or shine,” said Cassidy.

Background:

• The Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) provides producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish access to federal financial assistance when they face adverse weather, disease or loss conditions.

• In 2021, the Secretary of Agriculture temporarily expanded the ELAP to include crawfish producers when the industry suffered losses.

The CRAWDAD Act would make crawfish producers eligible for ELAP funding on a permanent basis, ensuring that they have access to the emergency support they need without unnecessary bureaucratic delays.

Kennedy’s bill would also classify a drought as a weather event that the Secretary of Agriculture could declare as an emergency.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau supports the CRAWDAD Act.

“Louisiana crawfish farmers hope to never see another drought like they did in 2023. Louisiana Farm Bureau appreciates Senator Kennedy in the reintroduction of the CRAWDAD Act to provide additional support for this vital Louisiana industry,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot.

Full text of the CRAWDAD Act is available here.

Kennedy, Merkley, Marshall, Markey champion bill to end involuntary facial recognition screenings, protect Americans’ privacy at airports

“The TSA subjects countless law-abiding Americans to excessive facial recognition screenings as they travel, invading passengers’ privacy without even making it clear that they can opt out of the screening. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would protect Americans’ ability to say ‘no’ to these facial scans and safeguard the personal data that the TSA collects.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments in the Senate Budget Committee here.

WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced the Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025, which would protect Americans’ ability to opt out of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) facial recognition screenings at airports and prevent abuse of passenger data obtained through these scans.

“The TSA subjects countless law-abiding Americans to excessive facial recognition screenings as they travel, invading passengers’ privacy without even making it clear that they can opt out of the screening. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would protect Americans’ ability to say ‘no’ to these facial scans and safeguard the personal data that the TSA collects,” said Kennedy.

“Folks don’t want a national surveillance state, but that’s exactly what the TSA’s unchecked expansion of facial recognition technology is leading us to. Americans have the right to opt out of using TSA’s facial recognition at the airport, and we need to protect that right. Our Traveler Privacy Protection Act safeguards the freedoms and privacy of all Americans by making sure no one is required to have their face scanned to travel,” said Merkley.

“Privacy is one of America’s most sacred liberties, and we must protect it. In no universe should the federal government collect biometric data from Americans without their full, informed consent. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act strengthens safeguards around this sensitive data and brings transparency for travelers. I’m proud to work with Senators Kennedy, Merkley, and Markey to champion this effort,” said Marshall.

“Passengers should not have to choose between safety and privacy when they travel. Yet, the TSA has consistently ignored our calls to halt the unacceptable use of facial recognition tools and protect passenger privacy. Instead, the agency rapidly expanded the use of the technology nationwide. I am glad to partner with Senators Merkley and Kennedy on the Traveler Privacy Protection Act to ensure travelers are able to exercise their right to privacy and be able to check TSA’s invasive practices at the door,” said Markey.

While the TSA calls its plan to implement facial scans voluntary, passengers are largely unaware of their ability to opt out. Moreover, TSA does not effectively display notices at its check points to inform travelers that they have such an option.

The Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 would:

• Require the TSA to give each passenger the option to have their identity verified without the use of facial recognition and make sure that the TSA notifies passengers about this option.

• Ban the TSA from subjecting travelers who opt out of facial recognition to worse treatment.

• Protect traveler data obtained through facial recognition from being stored indefinitely.

• Stop the TSA from using facial recognition for purposes other than identity verification at security checkpoints.

• Prohibit the TSA from using facial recognition to profile, target or discriminate against individuals solely for exercising their constitutional rights, or to enable wide-scale monitoring, surveillance or tracking.

Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also cosponsored the bill.

Full text of the Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025 is available here.