Time for Career Politician Foster Campbell to Strap On His Tap Dancing Shoes

(Lafayette, LA) – The Boustany for Senate campaign released the following statement after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced it is re-opening the Hillary Clinton email investigation after new emails “pertinent to this investigation” surfaced.

Boustany Communications Director Jack Pandol said: “Hillary Clinton is the most corrupt major-party nominee in modern history. Not even Obama’s FBI can justify ignoring mounting evidence that Clinton risked our national security for her own political expedience by using a private email server. Dr. Boustany encourages the FBI to investigate this matter the fullest extent of the law and hold Secretary Clinton accountable for her actions.”

Democratic candidate for Senate and career politician Foster Campbell frequently says he doesn’t own any “tap dancing shoes” while deriding tap dancing politicians who don’t talk straight with the people. But Campbell has been doing some tap dancing of his own avoiding the question of whether he supports corrupt Hillary Clinton for President.

Tap dancing career politician Foster  Campbell refused to even say Hillary Clinton's name at the Louisiana Public Broadcasting debate in Ruston.

In an article in The Advocate titled “While most U.S. Senate candidates back their party’s presidential nominee, one Louisiana candidate won’t talk about it,” Foster Campbell tap danced around the question of who he’s supporting for President. Campbell said: “Talking about Hillary Clinton distracts people.”

Campbell has been criticized by his Democratic opponent, Caroline Fayard, for continuing to avoid the question. Fayard said: “The facts are the facts. Commissioner Campbell refuses to even say Hillary Clinton’s name publicly, or say whether he voted for President Obama.”

In a letter to the editor written by Terrebonne Parish Councilwoman Arlanda Williams titled “Foster Campbell trying to pull fast one on black voters,” the Councilwoman criticizes Campbell for continuing to tap-dance around the question. Williams writes: “Where were you for Secretary Hillary Clinton? To this day, when you are expecting Democrats to fall in line and vote for you, you’re nowhere to be found when it comes to supporting our party’s nominee for president.”

Boustany Communications Director Jack Pandol said: “Career politician Foster Campbell continues tap dancing around the question of whether he supports Hillary Clinton for President. He says ‘talking about Hillary Clinton distracts people.’ Foster Campbell needs to stop tap dancing like the career politician he is and man up. After today’s revelation that Hillary Clinton is under federal investigation for risking our national security, does he support the most corrupt major-party nominee in modern history, or will he continue to hide from the people of Louisiana?”

Boustany Tours Flood Damage on Congressional Delegation Trip with Garret Graves, Out-of-State Members

(Baton Rouge, LA) – Dr. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette) helped lead a congressional delegation trip with Representative Garret Graves (R-Baton Rouge) to Baton Rouge yesterday. The trip included several of the Louisiana congressmen’s out-of-state colleagues to tour flood-damaged areas in Baton Rouge.

Boustany said: “I’m proud to help lead a congressional delegation trip with Garret Graves to Baton Rouge to show our out-of-state colleagues the devastation in this area as our state begins the grueling task of rebuilding. I am committed to working with local, state, and federal officials to get Louisiana back up and running.”

Boustany Requests Disaster Declaration for Additional Parishes

(Lafayette, LA) – Dr. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette) sent a letter urging the President to issue a Major Disaster Presidential Declaration for Allen, Ascension, Avoyelles, Cameron, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, and West Feliciana parishes. Currently, only East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa parishes have received a federal disaster declaration.

Boustany said: “The flooding has turned our roads into rivers, washed away homes, and forced more than 10,000 individuals to seek temporary shelter. Louisianans are resilient and ready to rebuild, but we need some assistance to get back on our feet. I am thankful that the President quickly granted four parishes with disaster declarations, but the damage extends far beyond those parish lines. I am urging him to quickly provide these additional parishes with a Major Disaster Declaration as we continue to evaluate the damage.”

On Sunday, August 14, in response to historic flooding, both Louisiana Governor Edwards and the Louisiana Congressional delegation sent letters to the President urging him to expedite a federal disaster declaration for Allen, Ascension, Avoyelles, Cameron, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, and West Feliciana parishes. The declaration will provide vital resources to protect our communities and support the recovery effort. Late Sunday night, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent notification that four of the requested 23 parishes were declared a federal disaster.

In light of more than 20,000 individuals rescued, over 10,000 people forced from their homes, and the 15 rivers throughout south and central Louisiana that are in record flood stage, Dr. Boustany sent a letter urging President Obama to the fulfill the State of Louisiana’s full request for a Major Disaster Presidential Declaration and allow Louisiana to continue its rescue missions and begin rebuilding efforts.

The full text of the letter is copied below.

Dear Mr. President,

I write to you in support of the State of Louisiana's full request for a Major Disaster Presidential Declaration as a result of unprecedented rainfall and flooding. On Friday, August 12, Governor Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Louisiana. All of us throughout Louisiana are thankful for the federal government's quick response to our request for an emergency declaration, provided on August 14, 2016 for four specific parishes. The situation remains precarious as rivers, bayous, canals and streams continue to rise throughout the state.

I urge you to grant the State of Louisiana's request for all parishes affected by the rainfall and historic flooding, specifically: Individual Assistance for Allen, Ascension, Avoyelles, Cameron, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington and West Feliciana, to include Categories A and B under the Public Assistance program and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

 According to most recent reports, over 20,000 people have been rescued and five people have died as a result of flooding caused by historic amounts of rain falling on South Louisiana. As of Sunday night, more than 10,000 people have arrived at shelters scattered throughout the state. Rescue workers are currently focusing on search and rescue missions of people who need to be evacuated from residences, nursing homes and vehicles. Complicating matters more, the state Department of Transportation and Development has also reported the closure of about 200 roads, including more than 30 washouts of state highways. Another 1,400 critical bridges need to be inspected before traffic can freely travel over them. Reports indicate that 15 rivers throughout South Louisiana are in record flood stage.

 The National Weather Service is predicting more rain throughout the region. As the waters continue to rise in parts of South Louisiana, creating the need for additional evacuations and rescue operations, a Major Disaster Presidential Declaration for all parishes impacted by the rainfall and flooding would go a great length to help ease the fear and uncertainty for many Louisianans.

Thank you again for your quick response to the Governor's request.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain Endorses Dr. Charles Boustany

(Henderson, LA) – Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., endorsed Dr. Charles Boustany in this fall’s race for the United States Senate in Louisiana.

Strain said: “No one fights harder for Louisiana’s agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry industries than Dr. Boustany. Serving on the House Agriculture Committee, Dr. Boustany wrote common-sense Farm Bills supporting Louisiana agriculture. He has worked to open markets for Louisiana-grown and manufactured products, and written law to stop illegal foreign products from undercutting our domestic producers. Louisiana agriculture needs Dr. Boustany in the U.S. Senate to fight for us. I support him as our next Senator.”

Boustany said: “There is no better friend to Louisiana agriculture than Commissioner Mike Strain. I’m tremendously humbled by his endorsement. Louisiana agriculture remains the backbone of our economy and we cannot afford to send a Senator to Washington who does not understand the importance of this industry to our state’s future. Our next Senator will be in office when the next Farm Bill is written and we need an effective leader at the table. That is why I’m working hard to earn the support of the Louisiana agriculture industry this fall. As our next Senator, I will deliver results.”

Serving on the House Agriculture Committee from 2005-2009, Dr. Boustany played an integral role in authoring the 2008 Farm Bill preserving the no-cost sugar program and supporting Louisiana agriculture. He was a leading voice supporting passage of the 2014 Farm Bill making market-based reforms to national agriculture policy, preserving the no-cost sugar program, and ensuring southern crops like rice and soybeans have workable crop insurance policy in case of disaster.

As a Member of the House Ways & Means Committee, Boustany fought tirelessly to open new markets for Louisiana products, spearheading efforts to increase market access for Louisiana rice to Iraq, Japan, and Cuba.

Boustany authored the PROTECT Act, legislation that was signed into law earlier this year granting greater enforcement mechanisms for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to identify and stop illegally-dumped foreign seafood and other manufactured products at the border.

Boustany Says Democrats’ Misguided Sit-In ‘Misses the Point’

Photo source: Flickr  

(Washington, DC) – Dr. Charles Boustany released the following statement as House Democrats held a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives to protest lack of action on gun control measures after the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month.

Boustany said: “The Democrats gutted the military, tied the hands of the intelligence community, and deny the murderous nature of radical Islam, but they still blame the Constitution for terrorism. This sit-in shows the Democrats haven’t just missed the point on this issue; they’re not even playing in the same ballpark. Louisiana families have lost their jobs, their healthcare, and now their security is at risk because of the policies of this President and congressional Democrats.

“Why won’t they sit-in to lower healthcare costs, reform the tax code, and get our economy moving again? The people of Louisiana are waiting for an answer.”

BOUSTANY: Promoting Employment for Welfare Recipients Is True Compassion

Photo source: Wikipedia  

​Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the great civil libertarian of a generation whose courageous stand changed the course of our country, once said: “Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation.” America is a compassionate nation. We have spent our history liberating, not conquering; providing aid to Africa and Southeast Asia; and protecting our allies from South Korea to Israel.

But we can’t allow ourselves to confuse the true definition of compassion when put in practice. This is evident in today’s welfare programs and the billions of dollars wasted every year on individuals who don’t truly need this assistance. As the former Chairman of the subcommittee tasked with reforming our federal welfare program, I am too familiar with the confused line of thought that argues the more money we put into these programs, the better they will be. That is a falsehood that has kept families trapped in poverty across generations, creating a class dependent on government handouts and without the necessary skills to contribute in the modern workforce.

That’s not compassionate at all. In a way, it is cruel. It denies welfare recipients the dignity of work and transports our nation away from our founding principle of individual liberty.

It may or may not be hard to believe, but today our primary federal welfare program, known as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, is not adequately measuring the success of moving recipients off of welfare rolls and into work. First created twenty years ago, this program has not been reformed since its creation. Every government program should be pressed to prove it is meeting performance goals and providing value to our society.

That’s why I am proud my bill, the Improving Employment Outcomes of TANF Recipients Act, was recently passed by the Ways & Means Committee and sent to the House floor for consideration. This is a common-sense bill requiring states to measure their success in three areas: moving TANF recipients off of welfare into work, keeping former recipients in work, and helping former recipients increase their earnings over time. Additionally, the bill would require states to work with the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to set goals for each of these measures, taking into account each state’s unique demographic and economic conditions.

If we truly want to address poverty in this country, we cannot spend our way out of it. Current welfare programs are structured so poorly, they provide incentives for recipients to avoid work and stay dependent on permanent handouts. This system was never intended to function this way, and it shouldn’t. It’s damaging to the fabric of our society and increasing our debt. Recipients must be empowered to lift themselves out of poverty by giving them the tools to be successful in work and increase their income over time.

I believe that is true compassion - getting government out of the way, ensuring a safety net is there in case of occasional stumbles, and unleashing the true potential of our people.

Congressman Charles Boustany ​

Boustany, Fleming Tout Energy Credentials in Senate Race

Image source: The Hill  

They’re all good guys,” said Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, adding, “excluding Foster Campbell.”

“I don’t have to tell you what our industry is going through,” Briggs said. “If we ever needed support in D.C. and in the state, we need it today.”

Read more: Boustany, Fleming Tout Energy Credentials in Senate Race

Boustany Calls for Action on Tax Reform on “Tax Day Eve”

(Washington, DC) – Dr. Charles Boustany (R-Lafayette), Chairman of the Ways & Means Tax Policy Subcommittee, spoke at a “Tax Day Eve” event in the United States Capitol where he called for urgent action on reforming the tax code.

Boustany said: “Let me start by saying I don’t know of a single American in my travels throughout my state that likes what’s happening with the tax code. In fact, they’re angry and they’re very frustrated.

“If you’re a family or a small business, you’re bewildered by the complexity and the cost of compliance with this tax code. It’s a drain. It’s a drain on our economic growth; it’s a drain on job creation…

“The fact of the matter is this. We’ve been working on [reform] for a very long time in the Ways & Means Committee. We are in the weeds on it. But the time now is to move forward with action, and with deeds, not just simply words.

“We know what needs to be done. We know what steps need to be taken to simplify the tax code, reduce the level of complexity, make it fair. Because nobody thinks it’s fair today.

“The bottom line now is to act, and that’s what we’re working to do now.”

Boustany Applauds U.S. Army’s First Female Infantry Recruit

APRIL 12, 2016

Photo source: Daily Mail

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tammy Grace Barnett of Robeline, Louisiana, for being the first female recruit to enlist with the United States Army infantry.

I am tremendously proud of Tammy, a Louisianian who has stepped forward and answered the call to serve our nation.  Prior to enlisting with the Army, Tammy has been serving her community in Louisiana as a law enforcement officer. On April 7, she gave up her Louisiana law enforcement badge and courageously took the Oath of Enlistment to become the first female recruit to enlist in the United States Army infantry division.  Ms. Barnett truly reflects the spirit of Louisiana by living a life of service.  We are forever indebted to these brave men and women.  To commemorate this fact, I include an article, written by Troy Washington of KSLA News, into the Congressional Record in its entirety here:

 ROBELINE, LA - A Robeline native is making armed forces history as the first woman to enlist in the infantry in the United States Army.

Women in combat has been a topic of controversy for years, but now progress is being made.

Tammy Barnett was a police officer but traded in her badge to make history.

She's looking forward to seeing action on the front lines and making gains for women in the military.

Thursday, Barnett proudly raised her hand to take the Oath of Enlistment.

Dressed in tennis shoes, jeans and a t-shirt, 25-year-old Tammy Barnett stepped into the history books.

Barnett has been meeting with a recruiter since November and this week, at the military processing unit in Shreveport, she took a leap that's never been made before, she joined the infantry in the U.S. Army.

"They told me that I would be the first female in history to go infantry in the military," said Barnett.

Recently, the defense department lifted gender-based restrictions on military service. The historic change cleared the way for women like Barnett who want to serve on the front lines.

On April 4, the processing center received word that women would be allowed to sign up for combat jobs. Now, Barnett is hoping that others will follow her lead.

"I hope that I give them the courage, because I'm a small female, if I can do it, they can do it too, this could give them the courage to step out of their comfort zone," explained Barnett.

Barnett isn't fond of the limelight, but she has no problem stepping forward when it comes to service.

"I was going to go military police, but infantry is similar, and they are more on the front lines, like law enforcement here and I said that's what I want to do," said Barnett.

With her mind made up, Barnett isn't looking back, only forward to a future full of possibilities and breaking barriers for women in the military.

Barnett will head to Fort Benning, Georgia to start training. In the meantime, she says she's going to celebrate her history-making moment by going fishing this weekend.ve the front lines for my country.”

Boustany Can Lead on Corporate Tax Reform

Photo source: US House

Oil & gas and manufacturing jobs could be the first to leave Louisiana and the U.S. altogether if we don’t reform our corporate tax rates. We already have a 35 percent corporate tax rate in the U.S. – the highest in the developed world – and in order to keep companies here, we need to implement common sense corporate tax reform.

Andy Puzder writes a good column about the problems and why we need to reform corporate tax.

Louisiana’s own Congressman Charles Boustany is well positioned to take the lead on this issue as a senior member of the U.S. House tax writing committee.