Kennedy on U.S. Senate Floor: ‘The federal government has your money, and we want to get it back to you.’

“Right now, over in the United States Department of Treasury, there are 100 million unredeemed savings bonds—money that belongs to the American people—and it’s no longer earning interest.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor about his efforts to help Americans claim the money that the federal government may owe them through mature, unclaimed savings bonds. Kennedy also outlined the steps that state treasurers should take to reunite Americans with their money.

Key speech excerpts are below.

“Mr. President, I've learned a few things in life. I want to mention two: number one, money does not buy happiness; number two, poverty does not buy a damn thing. And that's the theme of my few minutes as I talk today. This is about people's money, and it has to do with unredeemed, uncashed savings bonds.”

. . .

“Here’s what I’m driving at: Right now, over in the United States Department of Treasury, there are 100 million unredeemed savings bonds—money that belongs to the American people—and it’s no longer earning interest . . . [T]he money’s just sitting there, and the federal government’s using it, and they’re not paying people interest.”

“The total amount of these unredeemed savings bonds: $36.27 billion. And that $36 billion has been there a long, long time, because people have either died or they’ve forgotten that they have these unredeemed savings bonds.”

. . .

“[B]ack in 2023, I introduced a bill which actually passed . . . that said to the federal government, specifically the United States Department of Treasury, ‘You’ve got to give this money back.’ . . . Why are you just sitting on this $36 billion?”

. . .

“And they said, ‘Kennedy, you don’t understand. First of all, . . . the records are not digitized . . . and it’s just a lot of trouble.’ And I said, ‘Well, I feel your pain, but you still ought to return the money to people. So, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to introduce a bill’—and I did, and I passed it—‘[that provides] money for the U.S. Department of Treasury to digitize those records . . . and put them in a database so they can be easily searched.’ And the U.S. Department of Treasury has done that, and I want to thank them.”

. . .

“We are ready to turn the names and addresses and serial numbers over to the treasurer of every state—in Louisiana, in West Virginia, in every other state . . . so they can contact people in their state and say, ‘The federal government has your money, and we want to get it back to you.’”

. . .

“[W]e’re almost home. What now we have to do is get the state treasurers to sign an agreement with the U.S. Department of Treasury to cooperate, and Treasury will send them the names, and we can start returning this money to people.

“And I’m going to be sending another letter out, in short order, to all the state treasurers asking them to go ahead and sign that user agreement with the Treasury Department so we can start getting this money back to people.

“It’s free money . . . If I can just get our state treasurers to turn in these user agreements . . . you may not get a check for Christmas, but if you hurry up, you can get a check in January or February, so you can pay some bills.”

Background:

• Kennedy authored the Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of 2021, which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

• Kennedy’s law requires the U.S. Treasury to share information about the original owners of unclaimed savings bonds with officials in every state. This allows state treasurers to add information about mature, unredeemed savings bonds to their state’s unclaimed property program, enabling more Americans to locate and claim their missing investments.

• In November 2025, Kennedy sent this letter to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and the National Association of State Treasurers, emphasizing, “It is imperative that all states enter into this User Agreement so Americans throughout the United States are efficiently reunited with their matured unredeemed debt to which they are entitled.”

• Kennedy managed Louisiana’s unclaimed property program for 17 years while serving as state treasurer. During this time, Kennedy reunited Louisianians with roughly $400 million in their unclaimed property.

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.

Kennedy meets Louisiana National Guard members harassed in Washington, D.C.

“These brave Louisiana National Guard members deserve our thanks and support—not abuse from whack jobs.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today met and voiced his support for members of the Louisiana National Guard who were verbally abused by a protester as they patrolled Washington, D.C. “These brave Louisiana National Guard members deserve our thanks and support—not abuse from whack jobs. I was honored to speak to them at my office today. They make Louisiana proud,” said Kennedy. On December 10, video surfaced of an activist hurling insults toward five members of the Louisiana National Guard and a bystander near Union Station in Washington, D.C. The disturbed individual followed and repeatedly berated the men and women in uniform, calling one Guardsman “a piece of f***ing sh*t” and falsely claiming he “never did a damn thing for the country.” The Louisiana National Guard members maintained their composure and stood tall in the face of the man’s harassment.

 On December 11, Kennedy responded to the video, writing on X, “In real America, we don’t tolerate crazed nutjobs who treat our men and women in uniform like garbage . . . They’re always welcome to warm up and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet in my office.”

These Louisiana National Guard members today joined Kennedy at his office, who thanked them for their service and hard work to keep Washington, D.C., safe.

Kennedy in the New York Post: Let’s pass more big, beautiful bills before it’s too late

“To my Senate colleagues: Please, with sugar on top, do not waste this opportunity.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, penned this op-ed in the New York Post urging congressional Republicans to use their two remaining reconciliation bills to address cost-of-living issues in America.

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

“The One Big Beautiful Bill stands alone as the 119th Congress’ most extraordinary piece of legislation — but it doesn’t have to.

“Under the Senate’s rules, congressional Republicans can use the reconciliation process to pass two more big, beautiful bills with a simple majority vote. And we would be fools to let this opportunity pass us by.

“Here’s the reality: Most of my Democratic colleagues would rather bathe with their toasters than support any part of President Donald Trump’s agenda. If Trump endorsed breathing to live, they’d hold their breath.

“They can’t stand the president, and that’s their right — but this hyper-partisanship makes it nearly impossible to gather the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass most legislation. With the 1974 Budget Control Act’s reconciliation process, however, the Senate under certain circumstances can pass major legislation with just 51 votes.”

. . .

“It would be legislative malpractice to squander these two remaining reconciliation bills.

“The midterm clock is ticking, and the Republican majority in the House has never been more fragile. To my Senate colleagues: Please, with

Read Kennedy’s op-ed here.  

Kennedy locks in major Louisiana wins, restores military strength in FY26 defense authorization bill

“With war continuing to rage in Ukraine, chaos in the Middle East, and Communist China gearing up for the long haul, the United States cannot afford weakness, distraction, or social experiments in our military. America needs a military that’s lethal, focused, and respected – not woke and watered down. The FY26 NDAA gets us back on track by strengthening our warfighting edge, gutting the woke nonsense infecting our ranks, and delivering real, concrete wins for Louisiana that help keep our country strong and safe.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, a critical bill that rebuilds America’s military might, backs our men and women in uniform, and delivers major wins for Louisiana’s military community. The bill also includes Kennedy’s Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act, which shuts down loopholes that let foreign executives game U.S. markets while American investors pay a heavy price. The U.S. Senate passed the annual defense authorization bill by 77-20.

“With war continuing to rage in Ukraine, chaos in the Middle East, and Communist China gearing up for the long haul, the United States cannot afford weakness, distraction, or social experiments in our military. America needs a military that’s lethal, focused, and respected – not woke and watered down. The FY26 NDAA gets us back on track by strengthening our warfighting edge, gutting the woke nonsense infecting our ranks, and delivering real, concrete wins for Louisiana that help keep our country strong and safe.

“I’m proud that my Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act is becoming law. For years, foreign executives exploited loopholes to rip off American investors and walk away clean. Those days are over. The FY26 NDAA puts American security, our nation’s heroes, and American taxpayers first. President Trump should sign it without hesitation,” said Kennedy.

Key Louisiana wins in the FY26 NDAA:

Barksdale Air Force Base

• Weapons Generation Facility Dormitory ($18 million)

  • Funds a new dormitory to support the $275 million Weapons Generation Facility currently under construction – critical infrastructure for mission readiness.

• Child Development Center in Bossier Parish ($2.2 million)

  • Starts the replacement of a deteriorating, outdated facility with a modern 13-room expansion that supports our military families.

U.S. Air Force B-52 Program Modernization ($931 million)

• Ensures the B-52 continues to serve as the backbone of the U.S. Air Force’s bomber force and nuclear deterrent well into the future.

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command

• Codifying Air Force Global Strike Command

  • Establishes the U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Command, located at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, as a Major Air Force Command, cementing Louisiana’s central role in America’s nuclear deterrence mission.

Joint Reserve Base (JRB) New Orleans (Belle Chasse)

• F/A-18 Super Hornet Fighter Jets

  • The FY26 NDAA requires at least eight F/A-18 Super Hornet tactical fighter aircraft to be assigned to the U.S. Navy Reserve at JRB New Orleans.

Military Medical Readiness

• Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program

  • The FY26 NDAA would make permanent the National Disaster Medical System pilot program, which is a military-civilian medical surge program. This program will leverage the new campus of LSU-Health Shreveport (LSUHS) to support military medical facilities and surge capacity in times of need.

Kennedy’s Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act

• Once Kennedy’s Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act becomes law, foreign executives will be held to the same insider-trading reporting requirements as American executives. A gap in current law has allowed for insider trading abroad at the expense of everyday American investors.

• Kennedy’s bill provides regulatory parity by requiring executives of public companies based outside the United States to make electronic disclosures of trades in their company’s stocks to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within two business days.

• The SEC would then make that information public, as it currently does with U.S.-based firms.

In addition to these major Louisiana wins and Kennedy’s Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act, the FY26 NDAA rebuilds America’s warfighting edge, ends wokeness in the military, secures the border, and improves quality of life for our servicemembers.

FY26 NDAA Highlights:

• Delivers a 3.8% pay raise for servicemembers and improves benefits for military families.

• Authorizes $1 billion to fight drug trafficking, including Department of War support for counternarcotics operations, and $216 million for the National Guard Counter Drug programs.

• Eliminates and bans DEI offices, trainings, activities, and woke mandates in our military and restores a warrior ethos.

• Fully supports President Trump’s top defense priorities, including Golden Dome missile defense, F-47 fighter aircraft, new submarines, warships, and autonomous systems.

• Rebuilds the defense industrial base and strengthens America’s shipbuilding capacity.

• Fully funds border security support from the Department of War and the National Guard.

• Authorizes $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and expands its uses to deter Communist China.

• Strengthens America’s counter-terrorism tools to deter China in the Indo-Pacific and demands greater burden sharing from our allies for collective defense.

Bottom Line:

The FY26 NDAA restores American strength, backs our men and women in uniform, and delivers serious results for Louisiana.

Kennedy urges Senate to withhold members’ pay during the shutdown: “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”

“Tomorrow, I will be bringing two bills before the Senate.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:

“Tomorrow, I will be bringing two bills before the Senate. They both have to do with the shutdown and congressional pay.

“The first bill is the No Shutdown Paychecks [to Politicians] Act. The second bill is the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act.

“The first bill would provide that, as long as we’re shut down—and I’ll explain why in a moment—as long as we’re shut down, no member of Congress can be paid. And the money will not be reimbursed at a later date or repaid at a later date.

“The second bill, to address any 27th Amendment concerns, will say, ‘During a shutdown, members of Congress will not receive their pay, but their pay will be escrowed, and they will receive it after the government is opened back up.’

“Look, we’re on day 36. Like you, Mr. President, I’ve heard a lot of rumors about, ‘We’re that close to reaching an agreement.’ We’ve been that close for a week. Frankly, I hope I’m wrong in saying this, but I don’t think we’re really that close. I wish we were, and I hope we are, but I think we’re going to be in the shutdown for a while longer. It doesn’t give me any joy to say that.

“In the meantime, none of our staff are being paid. No federal employees are being paid. I got some numbers in this morning that federal workers have had to borrow $365 million so far during this 36-day shutdown in order to just pay their rent. Our military is only being paid partially. Our air traffic controllers are not being paid. People who receive SNAP payments are only being partially paid. I don’t think anybody wants to see anybody go hungry in America. And that’s not a partisan statement; I think that’s a bipartisan statement.

“There’s precedent for this, Mr. President. Some may say, ‘Well, this violates the 27th Amendment.’ I don’t think it does. That’s why I’m offering two different flavors of bills. But in 2013, President Obama did the same thing that I’m doing now. They were in a shutdown, and President Obama supported legislation that said, ‘If you don’t open the government by this certain date, then you’re going to lose your paychecks.’

“And guess what? Members of Congress had an epiphany, and they found religion. They had a Damascene moment, and they opened up the government. And that’s all this bill will do.

“I’m not trying to grandstand. I wasn’t going to bring this bill. When I got back here Monday, I heard all the rumors, like everybody else, that we were close. And I hope we are close, but we’re not close enough. So, I’ll offer these bills tomorrow, and people can vote yea, or they can vote nay, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

Full text of the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act is available here.

Full text of the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is available here.

Read more about the bills in Fox News Digital here.

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

Kennedy introduces critical bills prohibiting lawmakers from receiving a paycheck during government shutdowns

“I don’t see missing paychecks or empty dinner plates as leverage or bargaining chips. My bills ensure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay – our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers. If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck – plain and simple.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, last week introduced two critical pieces of legislation that ensure Members of Congress do not receive a paycheck until the federal government reopens following a shutdown or lapse in appropriations.

The No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act ensures that Members of Congress do not receive a paycheck during a government shutdown. Members will also not receive back pay.

The Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act (S.3057) mandates that payroll administrators for each House of Congress keep Members of Congress' paychecks in escrow accounts during a government shutdown. The funds are only disbursed at the start of the next Congress.

“I don’t see missing paychecks or empty dinner plates as leverage or bargaining chips. My bills ensure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay – our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers. If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck – plain and simple,” said Kennedy.

Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI-1), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on House Administration, introduced the companion bill of the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“There is no reason our government should be shut down. Senate Democrats must do the right thing and vote to reopen the government. If service members, men and women of federal law enforcement, and other essential employees are working without pay during the Schumer shutdown, members of Congress should not be paid either,” said Steil.

Full text of the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act is available here.

Full text of the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is available here.

Read more about the bills in Fox News Digital here.

Kennedy, Louisiana Republicans seek answers on alleged October 7 terrorist living in Lafayette, La.

“We appreciate the job you are doing to keep Americans safe here at home and write you as members of the Louisiana congressional delegation to request a briefing regarding how Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi came to reside in Lafayette, Louisiana, after entering the United States in 2024 during the Biden Administration’s dangerous open borders policy.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined a letter led by U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem seeking a briefing on the presence of Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi in Lafayette, La. Al-Muhtadi is a Gazan native who allegedly participated in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.

Al-Muhtadi entered the United States under false pretenses on September 12, 2024, according to the Department of Justice.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Reps. Julia Letlow (R-La.) and Clay Higgins (R-La.) also joined the letter.

“We appreciate the job you are doing to keep Americans safe here at home and write you as members of the Louisiana congressional delegation to request a briefing regarding how Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi came to reside in Lafayette, Louisiana, after entering the United States in 2024 during the Biden Administration’s dangerous open borders policy,” the lawmakers began.

“According to public reporting and Department of Justice filings, Al-Muhtadi is alleged to have participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attacks against Israel and to have entered the United States the following year after falsely concealing his affiliations on his visa application. He was later located living and working in Lafayette, Louisiana, before being taken into custody by federal authorities,” they continued.

“We would also like to be informed about any additional terrorist threats in our state due to President Biden’s dangerous and deadly immigration policies,” the members of the Louisiana delegation added.

“We appreciate your leadership at the Department and your continued commitment to keeping our communities and our nation safe. We look forward to a briefing from your team to help us understand the circumstances surrounding this individual’s entry and residence in Louisiana,” they concluded.

Read the lawmakers’ letter here.

Read more about the letter in Fox News.

U.S. Senate passes Kennedy, Peters, Wyden bill to end government payments to deceased Americans

“It is unconscionable that hardworking Americans are forced to foot the bill for the government’s wasteful payments to dead people. I applaud the U.S. Senate for taking bold action by passing my crucial bill to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from our federal budget. Now, the U.S. House of Representatives ought to step up and pass this vital reform without delay.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Ron Wyden’s (D-Ore.)’s Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which would save hard-earned taxpayer money by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away.

Kennedy’s original bipartisan law established key provisions to curb erroneous government payments to deceased individuals for a three-year period, a reform expected to save at least $330 million from 2024 to 2026. The new Kennedy-Peters-Wyden bill would make this temporary halt on such payments permanent.

“It is unconscionable that hardworking Americans are forced to foot the bill for the government’s wasteful payments to dead people. I applaud the U.S. Senate for taking bold action by passing my crucial bill to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from our federal budget. Now, the U.S. House of Representatives ought to step up and pass this vital reform without delay,” said Kennedy.

“This bill will help save millions of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that the Social Security Administration can permanently share important data with the Treasury’s Do Not Pay system, preventing wrongful payments to deceased individuals. I have long supported this legislation because I believe it is a vital step in safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of our payment systems,” said Peters.

“This bipartisan bill fixes our federal government’s payment systems so that millions of taxpayer dollars are saved every year. As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am committed to ensuring that Americans’ hard earned benefits are protected. That’s why I’m supporting this bill to ensure Americans’ personal data and earned benefits from Social Security are protected,” said Wyden.

In January 2025, the Treasury Department announced that it recovered $31 million in fraud and improper payments during the first five months of the implementation of Kennedy’s Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, in which the U.S. Social Security Administration shared its Death Master File with the Treasury Department to temporarily avoid erroneous payments.

The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act would permanently amend the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File—a record of deceased individuals—with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system. This change would rein in the government’s ability to make improper payments to deceased people in the future.

This bill would also allow the Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other federal entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency that is authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.

Sens. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) also cosponsored the bill.

“Government by and for the people should run as efficiently as possible, and we owe it to the people to cut waste. I’m proud to cosponsor the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which has now passed out of the Senate, that permanently codifies coordination between the Department of Treasury and Social Security Administration to eliminate payments to dead people,” said Moody.

“I’m glad to see this important legislation to save taxpayer money pass through the Senate. This is the kind of strategic approach we should be taking to improve government efficiency — a measured and bipartisan legislative fix to ensure federal funds are being appropriately spent. I hope this targeted fix is soon signed into law,” said Warner.

Background:

Kennedy has long championed the cause of saving billions of dollars in taxpayer money by ending improper payments to deceased Americans:

• In July 2025, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously advanced Kennedy’s Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, sending it to the Senate floor.

• In December 2024, Kennedy urged his colleagues to save hardworking taxpayer dollars by supporting the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased Americans Act on the U.S. Senate floor.

• In May 2024, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously passed Kennedy’s Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People’s Act.

• Kennedy’s Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act became law in December 2020. This bill mandated the sharing of the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File with the Department of the Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system within three years after enactment. The three-year exchange period runs from December 27, 2023, to December 27, 2025.

• In 2021, Kennedy wrote this op-ed sounding the alarm on the government’s sending more than $1 billion to deceased Americans.

• In 2019, Kennedy questioned U.S. Government Accountability Office Comptroller General Hon. Gene L. Dodaro about improper payments sent to deceased Americans.

Full bill text is available here.

Kennedy statement marking 24 years since September 11 attacks

“To the thousands of families who are marking their 24th year without the loved ones they lost on September 11th, America has not forgotten your pain. I have not forgotten your pain. Becky has not forgotten your pain.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today released the following statement marking the 24th year since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks:

“The anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks—those attacks, that day, it will live in infamy, and the anniversary of it is a somber day. But it’s also a time to reflect on the amazing courage of the American people, our first responders, the brave souls on Flight 93 and the thousands of young Americans who responded to the attacks by enlisting to serve their country.

“Even on the darkest day—and September 11th was a dark day—Americans demonstrated unimaginable bravery. We will never forget them.

“To the thousands of families who are marking their 24th year without the loved ones they lost on September 11th, America has not forgotten your pain. I have not forgotten your pain. Becky has not forgotten your pain.

“We continue to pray for your families and all the courageous first responders who saved lives that day.”

View Kennedy’s full statement here.

Kennedy statement marking 20 years since Hurricane Katrina’s landfall

“To the families who are facing their 20th year of missing a loved one that they lost in the storm, Becky and I are praying for you. All of Louisiana is sending its love.”

MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today released the following statement marking the 20th year since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana and honoring the Louisiana families impacted by the disaster:

“It seems like yesterday. It’s very hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. I do, I remember like it was yesterday.

“For many Louisiana families, today marks 20 years since their worlds were turned upside down. More than 1,800 lives lost, 200,000 homes destroyed and $108 [billion] in damage. It was devastating.

“I was serving as Treasurer of Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina. I remember fielding calls from credit-rating agencies and other financial institutions. They wanted to write Louisiana off. They thought we were finished, done. They didn’t know Louisianians. They doubted our ability to come back from Katrina’s destruction.

“But they didn’t know Louisiana like I do, and they didn’t know the people of Louisiana like I do. They didn’t understand the grit and the resilience of Louisiana’s families.

“They didn’t realize that hard times only make us stronger. They didn’t believe we could come back swinging and rebuild from this storm—and it was a mighty storm—and the major storms that have followed in the 20 years since that fateful day.

“It wasn’t easy. It was far from easy, but Louisianians pulled through the destruction. We didn’t let it break us. We might have been bowed a few times, but we never broke.

“On this 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I am proud to be a Louisianian.

“To the families who are facing their 20th year of missing a loved one that they lost in the storm, Becky and I are praying for you. All of Louisiana is sending its love.”

View Kennedy’s full statement here.

Kennedy, Schmitt introduce resolution to mark one-year anniversary of assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania

“It was a dark day for our country when a deranged lunatic attempted to assassinate President Trump and stole the life of a beloved fireman, husband and father in Butler, Pennsylvania. One year later, I am grateful to God that President Trump survived this disgusting crime and offer my deepest condolences to Corey Comperatore’s family, along with all others injured or affected by this disturbing act of political violence.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and 24 bipartisan colleagues in introducing a resolution to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt against President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“It was a dark day for our country when a deranged lunatic attempted to assassinate President Trump and stole the life of a beloved fireman, husband and father in Butler, Pennsylvania. One year later, I am grateful to God that President Trump survived this disgusting crime and offer my deepest condolences to Corey Comperatore’s family, along with all others injured or affected by this disturbing act of political violence,” said Kennedy.

“On July 13, 2024, our nation witnessed the horrifying assassination attempt against President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. As we remember the tragedy that unfolded, we must stand together to unequivocally oppose political violence against elected officials and condemn the divisive rhetoric that has fueled the rise of such hatred. My resolution makes clear that political violence has no place in our democracy and reaffirms the need for civility, respect, and the peaceful exchange of ideas. The United States is stronger when we stand together—even when we don’t agree politically,” said Schmitt.

The resolution:

• Honors Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who lost his life protecting his family from gunfire in Butler, and David Dutch and James Copenhaver, both of whom were critically injured at the rally.

• Expresses gratitude to the law enforcement officers, first responders and medical personnel who responded to the attacks, conducted investigations and provided aid to victims.

• Condemns other violent acts carried out against elected officials, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman.

Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), David McCormick (R-Pa.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) also cosponsored the resolution.

The full resolution is available here.

Kennedy on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: “Everybody who voted against our bill voted to raise taxes on the American people”

“We avoided $4.3 trillion worth of taxes.”

 WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:

“I've already heard, a lot, that the reconciliation bill that Congress passed is going to kill people. ‘People are going to die. It's only going to help rich people.’ None of that's true.

“The bill that we just passed is primarily a tax cut, and taxes are not terribly complicated. When you tax something, you get less of it, right? You want to stop people wearing wristwatches—I love wristwatches, I’ve had this one for like 30 years—but if you want to stop people from wearing wrist watches, just pass a bill where every time you buy a wristwatch, you have to pay a $200 tax. Boy, that’s going to be the end of wristwatches.

“Business is the same way. If you want businesses not to expand, tax the hell out of them so they don’t have any money to reinvest in their businesses. If you want people to work less, tax them. Take all their money. People are rational. They’ll go, ‘Why would I want to work an extra 10 hours this week? They’re taxing me. They’re going to take all my money.’

“So, our bill is a tax cut bill. That's all it was.

“We passed the tax cut back in 2017, as you know, Mr. President. Those tax cuts would have expired at the end of this year. If we hadn't passed this bill, taxes on the American people would have gone up $4.3 trillion. Not billion. $4.3 trillion. It would have tanked our economy. Our economy would have gone down like a fat guy on a seesaw.

“And some of my friends say, ‘You only cut taxes on the rich.’ That's not true. That's just a lie. I mean, well over half of the tax cuts that we extended go to ordinary Americans, working people, working moms, working dads. So, the first thing we did was extend the tax cuts. We avoided $4.3 trillion worth of taxes. And, frankly, everybody who voted against our bill voted to raise taxes on the American people in the amount of $4.3 trillion. That's just a fact.

“Our bill did some other things, though. We added some new tax cuts. We cut taxes on tips. Now, not everybody who works for tips is going to get a tax cut, but most people are. We cut taxes on overtime. Most ordinary Americans work overtime. We cut the taxes on overtime. We cut taxes on Social Security income. We cut taxes on some car loans. We extended the child tax credit—$2,200 for every child. That's important for most Americans. We increased the standard deduction.

“We strengthened Medicaid. One of the things—it’s really a lie, but I’ll call it rhetoric—going around is: ‘Well, they destroyed Medicaid.’

“Medicaid's going to grow under our bill. It's just not going to grow as fast as it was. But 10 years from now, we'll be spending a minimum a 20% more on Medicaid—not less, more. You know the biggest change we made to Medicaid: work requirements.

“Now, the American people are the most compassionate people in the world. If you're hungry, we'll feed you. If you're homeless, we'll house you. If you're too poor to be sick, we'll pay for your doctor. We're a generous people.

“But those who can work should work. And we've got some people on Medicaid who are perfectly healthy. They're not disabled. They don't have young kids at home. I'm not talking about a mom with a sick child in her arms. They don't have minor children at home. They just don't want to work. They want to get Medicaid, but they don't want to work.

“Those who can work should work, and all our bill does is say, ‘Look, you can still keep your Medicaid, but if you can work—not if you're disabled, not if you’re elderly, not if you’re in a nursing home—but if you're a healthy adult at home playing video games, you've got to go look for a job. And you've got to work at least 20 hours a week—not 40 hours a week—20 hours a week. What's unreasonable about that?

“The other change made to Medicaid was that some people—not most people, but some people—when they sign up for Medicaid, they lie. They say, ‘I’m only making $25,000 a year.’ In fact, they might be making $75,000 or $100,000 a year. I'm not exaggerating. I've seen that happen.

“What we've told the states is, ‘Twice a year for our folks on Medicaid, you have to check their eligibility. Make sure they're not making more than they're supposed to because Medicaid is not for everybody.’

“What's wrong with that? What's wrong with saying to people, ‘You're not entitled to Medicaid if you're not eligible?’ What's unreasonable about that? We're not killing people. We're trying to save Medicaid so that we can afford it for people who really need it.

“The other two things this bill did . . . it provided more money for border enforcement. Now, I know there are many people in America and many people in the Senate who believe in open borders. I respect that. They may not say it, but they do. They just think the border ought to be wide open, and they think that if you believe in secure borders, you're a racist. I don't agree with them, but this is America. They're entitled to their opinion.

“Most Americans don't think that. Most Americans want the border to be secure. They want to know who is coming in and out of their country, and this bill is going to provide the money to do that.

“The other part of our bill as you know, Mr. President, provides much needed money for our military because we live in a dangerous world, and I wish we didn’t, but we do. And weakness invites the wolves.”

Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

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.

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 

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.  

Kennedy reacts to joint address to Congress: “President Trump has given us a blueprint”

“President Trump has given us a blueprint. Now, it's going to be up to Congress to ensure that these changes last. I'm going to do everything within my power to help permanently get rid of this wasteful spending, renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, rebuild our military and secure our border for generations to come.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today made the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.

“President Trump has given us a blueprint. Now, it's going to be up to Congress to ensure that these changes last. I'm going to do everything within my power to help permanently get rid of this wasteful spending, renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, rebuild our military and secure our border for generations to come.

“It’s only been six weeks, but the changes in Washington and throughout the country have been breathtaking. For example, arrests at the border have plummeted to the lowest levels in more than five years.

“President Trump and his team have also uncovered billions of dollars in wasteful spending—I call it spending porn—including the government’s erroneous payments to deceased people.

“In addition to cutting spending and securing the border, President Trump has also replaced hundreds of harmful executive orders from President Biden and issued new ones that will unleash American energy production and support economic growth.

“I think most Louisianians are thrilled to see some common sense return to Washington, D.C. I've said it many times: Common sense is illegal in Washington, D.C., so it's nice to have some of it for a change.”

Kennedy receives “A+” rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America for standing for life

“Life is God’s greatest gift, and I’m proud to help protect it from extreme, left-wing attacks. I’m grateful for this ‘A+’ rating, and I’ll keep fighting hard for Louisiana’s pro-life values in the Senate.”

Watch Kennedy’s comments here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has earned an “A+” rating for his commitment to protecting the lives of the unborn through his pro-life legislative record during the 118th Congress.

The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s national scorecard recognizes lawmakers who have consistently championed life through their voting records and legislative leadership.

“Life is God’s greatest gift, and I’m proud to help protect it from extreme, left-wing attacks. I’m grateful for this ‘A+’ rating, and I’ll keep fighting hard for Louisiana’s pro-life values in the Senate,” said Kennedy.

During the 118th Congress, Kennedy co-sponsored bills to protect babies born alive after surviving an abortion, stop funding abortions overseas and block the government from using aborted babies’ tissue for research. In his roles on the Judiciary and Budget Committees, Kennedy defended pro-life states and highlighted the horrors of abortion.

Also in 2024, Kennedy joined amici briefs in support of an Idaho pro-life law under attack from the Biden administration and opposing the FDA’s efforts to make unsafe abortion pills available by mail.

Kennedy’s Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s scorecard is available here.

Kennedy on Bourbon Street attack: It’s “objective evil”

 “I did talk to the Secretary of Homeland Security a little while ago, and I told him that . . . we expect to put the full force and resources of the federal government behind this investigation.”

NEW ORLEANS – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) made the following statements surrounding the attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans today:

“For those people who don't believe in objective evil, all you have to do is look at what happened in our city early this morning.”

“I'm here because these are my people. I'm here because these are my people's friends. I'm here because there are a lot of Louisianians that are scared tonight. I don't want them to be. There's a lot of information going around. Some of it is actually true. Some of it isn't. 

“The federal government is now in charge of this investigation. By that, I mean the White House, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. . . . I did talk to the Secretary of Homeland Security a little while ago, and I told him that—with all the respect I could muster—that we expect to put the full force and resources of the federal government behind this investigation.”

“Here's what I want to ask from the federal government: Catch these people. Catch these people, and then tell the American people the truth. . . . After we get to the bottom of this, they need to tell the American people the truth, and the people of New Orleans the truth, and the people of America the truth.”

View Kennedy’s full remarks here.

Kennedy highlights simple way to save taxpayer dollars: “Stop sending the money to dead people”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained how much money the federal government has wasted in payments to dead Americans in a speech on the Senate floor. Kennedy called on his colleagues to support his bill, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased Americans Act, to help the federal government prevent improper payments to dead Americans.  

Key excerpts from the speech are below:

“I want to talk about dead people and the fact that they're getting money from the federal government. In fiscal year 2023 alone—this is just one year—our government sent $1.3 billion—not $1.3 million—we sent $1.3 billion in checks to dead people.”

. . .

“We need to go pass this bill. I mean, this makes no sense whatsoever. . . . You don't have to be Euclid to figure out that this is just fraud. It's abuse. It's low-hanging fruit, and it's so easily solved.

“All we have to do is direct the Social Security Administration on a permanent basis—not a three-year trial basis, on a permanent basis—to start sharing the list of dead people with the Department of Treasury and everybody else in the federal government who wants it. And then everybody's on the same page, and we know who's deceased, and we can stop sending the money to dead people who cash the checks.”  

Background: 

• Kennedy and Carper's Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act became law in December 2020. The bill mandates the sharing of the Social Security Administration's Death Master File with the Department of the Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system for three years. The three-year exchange runs from December 27, 2023 to December 27, 2026.

• The federal government sent $1.3 billion to dead people in fiscal year 2023 alone, according to the Office of Management and Budget. From 2004 to 2022, the federal government spent roughly $2.9 trillion on improper payments, including payments to deceased Americans. 

• In 2021, Kennedy wrote this op-ed for CNBC sounding the alarm on billions of dollars in erroneous payments made by the government to deceased Americans. 

• In 2019, Kennedy questioned U.S. Government Accountability Office Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro about improper payments to deceased people. 

Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.

Full text of the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act is available here.