Kennedy encourages Louisianians to claim tax refunds in wake of historic inflation

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today argued that the lasting inflation driven by President Biden’s “Bidenomics” is a “cancer” on the people of Louisiana during a speech on the Senate floor. Kennedy noted that the average Louisiana family pays an additional $757 each month—$9,084 per year—because of inflation. 

“Bidenomics, to most fair-minded Americans, is bigger government. Bidenomics is higher taxes. Bidenomics is more regulation. Bidenomics is more spending. Bidenomics is more debt,” Kennedy said. 

“Bidenomics is also inflation. Let me say that again: First and foremost, Bidenomics is inflation. President Biden's inflation—history, I believe, will demonstrate this—is a cancer on the American dream,” he continued.

To offer some relief, Kennedy urged people in Louisiana to check on whether they have unclaimed tax refunds due to them.  Kennedy noted that the Louisiana Department of Revenue is sitting on $11,574,249 in unclaimed tax refunds. The department recently sent letters to more than 15,000 Louisianians who are owed refunds. He urged those who received a letter to visit the Department of Revenue’s website to get the money they are owed.

Kennedy also encouraged Louisianians to confirm that they received their federal tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service, too, by visiting IRS.gov/refunds.

“A lot of people—not just Louisianians, all across America—forget to claim their state income tax refund and/or their federal income tax refund,” Kennedy said.

“So, I hope you'll take advantage of this information—not just in Louisiana, but all across America—and go claim your tax refunds if you’re owed them,” Kennedy concluded.

Kennedy’s full remarks are available here:

Kennedy: GOMESA cap unfairly targets Louisiana

“We've proven we can use the money well, and we put our own money up, and it is patently unfair that other states get a larger share—much larger share—than Louisiana.”

Watch Kennedy’s full exchange:

 WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, today raised questions about the fairness of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act’s (GOMESA) limits on revenue that Louisiana can receive.

 Kennedy and Louisiana’s Gov. John Bel Edwards, a witness at the hearing, agreed on the necessity of passing the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems (RISEE) Act, which would reform GOMESA to lift the current revenue cap that unfairly penalizes Louisiana.

 “Do you think it's fair [that] we get 37.5 percent of offshore oil royalties under GOMESA? New Mexico gets 50 percent share from the federal government . . . Wyoming gets 50 percent, North Dakota gets 50 percent. We get 37.5 percent, and we’ve got to share it with four other states,” said Kennedy.

 “And it's capped at $375 million . . . ” replied Edwards.

 “All we're asking is to be treated like everybody else, aren't we . . . and we have a solution, don't we?” Kennedy continued.

 “We do,” Edwards confirmed, commending the RISEE Act, the “wonderful piece of legislation” that Kennedy helped introduce and has long advocated for.

 “I appreciate your work on that,” Edwards added.

 “Well, to be blunt: We've proven we can use the money well, and we put our own money up, and it is patently unfair that other states get a larger share—much larger share—than Louisiana, and I think the RISEE Act—which will also help our wind industry, as Sen. Whitehouse knows, we're working together on it—is long overdue, and I appreciate you coming up here to talk about that bill,” said Kennedy.

 Background:

 Under GOMESA, federal revenues from the offshore energy production of Gulf states are divided into three portions. The federal government returns 37.5 percent of this revenue to Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The Land and Water Conservation Fund receives 12.5 percent of offshore revenue and directs most of that money to landlocked states. The final 50 percent of Gulf oil and gas revenue goes to the U.S. Treasury.

 The GOMESA cap limits the dollar value of Gulf states’ 37.5 percent revenue share to $375 million each year, meaning the states receive no benefit when the energy sector peaks and revenues surpass the cap. Conversely, the Mineral Leasing Act ensures that states with onshore drilling operations receive 50 percent of their revenues, while there is no cap on how much money that share includes.

 States with onshore energy production typically aren’t required to spend that money on environmental priorities. Louisiana constitutionally dedicates revenues from offshore energy production to pay for its coastal conservation and restoration projects.

Kennedy in the Washington Examiner: Insulin price caps will save taxpayer dollars

MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) wrote this op-ed in the Washington Examiner urging his colleagues in Washington to join his effort to reduce federal spending on health care by capping the price of insulin. Kennedy explains how making insulin affordable will improve the overall health of Americans with diabetes. This care helps them avoid the costly hospital visits and health complications that often fall to the taxpayer to cover.

Earlier this year, Sen. Kennedy joined Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in introducing the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023, a bill which would ensure that all Americans, including those without insurance, have access to insulin that costs $35 per month or less.

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

“More than one in 10 Americans live with diabetes, and many of them cannot afford the insulin they need to stay out of the emergency room.

“For years now, Congress has nibbled around the edges of insulin affordability rather than addressing the issue directly. This failure to act results in needless suffering and financial stress for families living with diabetes, and it saddles the American taxpayer with billions of dollars in related healthcare spending.”

. . .

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Americans spend $327 billion annually to cover healthcare expenses and lost wages related to diabetic care. Louisiana alone spends an estimated $5.7 billion on care related to diabetes each year.”

. . .

“This bill would ensure that all Americans, including those without insurance, have access to a 30-day supply of insulin that costs no more than $35.

“This plan isn’t one of Washington’s out-of-control spending policies. Any costs associated with capping insulin prices will be fully offset by cutting spending elsewhere in our $6 trillion annual federal budget. More importantly, improving access to affordable insulin can lower federal healthcare spending overall. That means we’re taking a big burden off both diabetics and taxpayers.”

. . .

“We cap the price of insulin at $35 per month today, and we can save thousands of dollars—if not tens of thousands of dollars—per patient in avoided hospital expenses. You don’t need to work on Wall Street to appreciate this return on investment.

“Without adding a penny to the federal budget, Congress can make it affordable for every American to get the insulin they need to stay healthy, go to work, care for their children, contribute to the economy and their community, and avoid costly emergency room visits that end up costing American taxpayers.”

Read the full op-ed here.

Kennedy amendment condemning racists attacks against Justice Clarence Thomas passes Judiciary Committee unanimously

 ­“If you think the things that have been said about Clarence Thomas are racist to the marrow and you condemn them, then vote for this amendment.”

Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.

 WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced an amendment to the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023 to condemn the recent racist attacks made against Justice Clarence Thomas. After a long discussion, the committee adopted the amendment by a vote of 21-0.

 “I don’t understand the reluctance to accept the fact that Justice Clarence Thomas, who happens to be a black man, has been the butt of a lot of racist statements. And I don't understand the reluctance to condemn those,” Kennedy said after Democratic members of the committee proposed amendments to his proposal. “I don’t want to water it down. I don't want to bubble-wrap it. I don't want to sugarcoat it. I want it to say, as big as Dallas, the United States Senate condemns all these racist things that have been said about Justice Clarence Thomas.”

 Kennedy noted that Justice Thomas had recently been compared to a house slave in a racist statement made by Minnesota Attorney General and former U.S. Representative Keith Ellison.

“You don’t have to be a senior at Cal Tech to figure it out. [The amendment] says [that] all of this stuff about Clarence Thomas, calling him a house slave and other racist, disgusting statements, we condemn. Now, you either condemn it or you don't, and that's all this amendment does,” Kennedy said.

 “If you support the racist things that have been said about Clarence Thomas, then vote against this amendment,” Kennedy later added. “If you think the things that have been said about Clarence Thomas are racist to the marrow and you condemn them, then vote for this amendment.”

 Kennedy’s full remarks are available here.

Senate Small Business Committee passes Kennedy bill to help homeowners, small business owners rebuild after disaster strikes

“The Small Business Committee understands the significant need to help small business and home owners access loans when they need them the most—after a disaster strikes. Now, the Senate must pass this bill so that Louisianians and all Americans can actually recover and rebuild in the wake of tragedy.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2023 today passed the Senate Small Business Committee, and now moves to the Senate floor for consideration.

 “The Small Business Committee understands the significant need to help small business and home owners access loans when they need them the most—after a disaster strikes. Now, the Senate must pass this bill so that Louisianians and all Americans can actually recover and rebuild in the wake of tragedy,” said Kennedy.

 Kennedy’s legislation would indefinitely extend an increase to the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act’s initial loan limit of $14,000 to $25,000. The increase would not require borrowers to pledge collateral.  

 Physical disaster loans help businesses, homeowners and others rebuild damaged property in declared disaster areas.

 Background:

• In March, Kennedy introduced the Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act of 2023.

• In August 2019, Kennedy introduced the Rebuilding Small Businesses After Disasters Act to extend the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015, which became law but expired in November of 2022. 

• A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study showed that Kennedy’s 2019 bill reduced government spending and saved taxpayer dollars. According to the study, the GAO “reviewed more than 20 years of loan data and found that the loans approved before the change in collateral requirements had higher default rates than the loans approved after the change.”

Kennedy introduces bill to extend National Flood Insurance Program through 2024

“No one knows the feeling of having their home or business destroyed by bad weather like Louisianians. I am introducing this bill to make sure every homeowner in my state can sleep peacefully knowing that the NFIP won’t end in the middle of hurricane season.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Extension Act of 2023 to prevent the NFIP from expiring on September 30, 2023. 

 The legislation would extend the NFIP for one year, until September 30, 2024.

“No one knows the feeling of having their home or business destroyed by bad weather like Louisianians. I am introducing this bill to make sure every homeowner in my state can sleep peacefully knowing that the NFIP won’t end in the middle of hurricane season,” said Kennedy.

Of the 5 million Americans nationwide who rely on the NFIP, roughly 500,000 are Louisianians who need the program to protect their businesses and homes.  

Text of the NFIP Extension Act of 2023 is available here.

Kennedy: We can lower cost of insulin without adding to federal budget

“We need to be smart enough to figure this out. And the cost? I think it can be done for $250 million a year, and I'm not talking about taking out a reverse mortgage on Alaska and borrowing more money. I'm talking about finding it in our budget.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today questioned witnesses in the Senate Appropriations Committee on the bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023, which he and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced this March. Their bill would cap the price of insulin for all patients, including those who are uninsured, at $35 for a 30-day supply.

Key moments from the committee exchange include:

“We need to stop nibbling around the edges. We need to be smart enough to figure this out. And the cost? I think it can be done for $250 million a year, and I'm not talking about taking out a reverse mortgage on Alaska and borrowing more money. I'm talking about finding it in our budget,” said Kennedy.

 “The federal budget is 6,000 billion dollars every year—and we can’t find $250 million to cap the price of insulin? Let's do it right,” Kennedy concluded.

 Background on the Affordable Insulin Now Act:

 More than 14 percent of Louisiana’s adult population has been diagnosed with diabetes, and more than 30 percent of adult Louisianians are pre-diabetic.

 Louisiana alone spends an estimated $5.7 billion a year on direct medical expenses for those who are diagnosed with diabetes. By ensuring that insulin is affordable, the long-term cost of care for patients will decrease over time as more Americans are able to prevent complications including heart disease, kidney disease, strokes and other diagnoses.

 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes total $327 billion yearly, and the American Diabetes Association has asserted that diabetics account for $1 of every $4 spent on health care in the U.S.

 A national study projected that improving access to insulin for uninsured patients could help avoid complications of diabetes and deaths related to the disease. As a result, the health care system could save substantial amounts of money on providing care to uninsured diabetes patients.

 The Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023 would:

•  Require private group or individual plans to cover one of each insulin dosage form (i.e., vial, pen) and insulin type (i.e., rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting) for no more than $35 per month.

•  Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to reimburse qualifying entities for covering any costs that exceed $35 for providing a 30-day supply of insulin to uninsured patients.

• Be fully paid for by an offset and not add to the federal deficit.

Kennedy’s efforts to save taxpayer money by defraying insulin costs include:

• In August 2022, Kennedy introduced an amendment to President Biden’s inflation reduction Act to cap insulin costs.

• In June 2022, Kennedy penned an op-ed outlining the benefits of making insulin affordable for diabetic Louisianians.

• In September 2021, Kennedy introduced the Seniors Saving on Insulin Act and the Vital Medication Affordability Act in an effort to make insulin and epinephrine more affordable.

• In August 2021, Kennedy introduced the Ending Pricey Insulin Act to address skyrocketing insulin prices.   

Kennedy announces $10 million to Ascension, St. Charles Parishes for flood protection

“I am thankful for this $10 million, which will help protect Louisianians’ properties in St. Charles and Ascension Parishes from flood damage.”

MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $10,032,981 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana flood mitigation efforts.

“I am thankful for this $10 million, which will help protect Louisianians’ properties in St. Charles and Ascension Parishes from flood damage,” said Kennedy.

The FEMA aid will fund the following:

• $7,046,627 to Ascension Parish to elevate 37 structures.

• $2,986,354 to St. Charles Parish to elevate 16

Kennedy, colleagues urge Biden to ensure NATO countries follow through on defense spending pledges

“The lack of sufficient progress is politically and economically unsustainable. American citizens rightly question why our government disproportionately bears the burden—decade after decade—for Europe's defense.”

MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and a bipartisan group of 33 other senators in urging Pres. Joe Biden to ensure that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members follow through on their past commitments of defense spending ahead of the organization’s summit.

Throughout last year, only seven NATO members met the defense goal, including the U.S. Excluding the U.K., none of the other members who met the requirement are major economies.

“Failure of many of our allies—including some of NATO's largest members—to meet commitments of 2% of GDP on defense has the potential to undermine American support for the alliance, severely limits Europe's ability to contribute to our shared interest in defending against Russia, and is a source of long-term instability in Europe, not to mention frustration for American taxpayers. We are not asking our NATO allies to do anything they have not already pledged to do,” the senators wrote.

The U.S., which accounts for roughly half of the combined alliance’s GDP, pays 70 percent of NATO's combined defense expenses.

“The lack of sufficient progress is politically and economically unsustainable. American citizens rightly question why our government disproportionately bears the burden—decade after decade—for Europe's defense,” they continued.

“That disparities in NATO member defense spending have persisted for so long is incompatible with genuine partnership,” the lawmakers concluded. 

Last August, the Senate unanimously adopted an amendment to require NATO members to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense.

In 2014, during the Obama-Biden Administration, all NATO members pledged to maintain or meet the two percent defense spending guideline within 10 years.

Kennedy penned this op-ed urging Germany to pull its weight against Russia by contributing what it promised to NATO and also spoke on the Senate floor about the need for Germany to follow through on its defense spending pledge.

 The full letter is available here. 

Kennedy, Graham, Durbin question Zuckerberg about child sexual abuse material on Instagram

“This Committee has united across the political aisle to combat the evil of online child sexual exploitation. Tech companies cannot assist malevolent actors who seek to take advantage of children.”

 MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and others on the committee in writing to Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg regarding recent reporting that Instagram’s algorithm promotes and facilitates sexual interest in and activity with children, including the production and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

 “We are gravely concerned that Instagram’s failure to prevent this perverse use of its algorithms is not due to a lack of ability, but instead a lack of initiative and motivation. In other contexts, Meta has taken steps to map out user networks facilitated by its algorithm, and has even been able to suppress unlawful user content within those networks,” the senators wrote.

 “Nevertheless, the Stanford experts determined that Instagram has been ‘ineffective’ in preventing the growth of Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (SG-CSAM) networks on its platform, largely because of a ‘general lack of resources devoted to detecting SG-CSAM and associated commercial activity.’ It is alarming that online child sexual exploitation and the proliferation of CSAM, including SGCSAM, is not among Meta’s highest priorities—especially when its platform directly facilitates and bolsters the black market for child sexual abuse material,” they continued.

 “This Committee has united across the political aisle to combat the evil of online child sexual exploitation. Tech companies cannot assist malevolent actors who seek to take advantage of children. As the experts at Stanford so succinctly articulated, ‘minors do not have the ability to meaningfully consent to the implications of having widely distributed explicit material and the other harms for which it puts them at risk.’  We refuse to let those who traffic in CSAM subject children to these harms and alter the course of their lives. And we refuse to accept Meta’s facilitation of these crimes. We therefore urge Meta to join us in combatting this threat,” the senators concluded. 

 Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.

 The letter is available here.

Americans can tell something is very wrong: Sen. Kennedy

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy weighs in after President Biden again denied having ever discussed Hunter's business dealings.

Senate passes Kennedy, Braun resolution to honor Pledge of Allegiance, celebrate 246th anniversary of U.S. flag

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) in introducing a resolution expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance and congressional approval of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777.  The Senate passed their resolution.

“Only one flag represents the U.S.—the stars and stripes that Congress approved to represent our country 246 years ago. Brave Americans have given their lives to defend its promises, and I’m proud to pledge allegiance to our American flag on this Flag Day and every day,” said Kennedy.

Read more: Senate passes Kennedy, Braun resolution to honor Pledge of Allegiance, celebrate 246th anniversary of U.S. flag

Only one flag represents the U.S.—the stars and stripes that Congress approved to represent our country 246 years ago.

Brave Americans have given their lives to defend its promises, and I’m proud to pledge allegiance to our American flag every day. https://t.co/BruN2LfTRn

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) June 15, 2023

WATCH: Sen. Kennedy Exposes Dems in Brilliant Grilling of Abortion Witness

This exchange is UNBELIEVABLE.

KENNEDY: "If there were a bill that said that a woman has an unfettered right to abort an unborn baby for any reason up to the moment of birth, would you vote yes or would you vote no?"

DEM WITNESS: "I refuse to be shackled by your question!" pic.twitter.com/NAKH8rRbob

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 26, 2023

Sen. John Kennedy on Replacing Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Sen. John Kennedy explains replacing Sen. Dianne Feinstein as only he can.

Sen. Feinstein’s absence is not preventing the Judiciary Committee from moving nominees.

Yesterday, we heard the nomination of Mr. Darrel Papillion of Louisiana, who will receive Republican support on the committee. He would pass tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/FdUIWVTbG5

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) April 19, 2023

Sen. John Kennedy: Alvin Bragg is scared to come before Congress

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., says Manhattan DA is worried he can't handle himself in front of tough congressional questions on 'The Story.'

WATCH: Sen. Kennedy Wrecks Janet Yellen, WH During Grilling on US Economy

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) asked Yellen whether it was true that Joe Biden’s budget proposes $4.7 trillion in new taxes.

Q: Isn’t it a fact that the president’s proposed budget proposes $4.7 trillion in new taxes?

Sec. Yellen: It does propose significant additional taxes, yes.

Q: $4.7 TRILLION?

Sec. Yellen: Something like that, yes. pic.twitter.com/ncL1CAImlD

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) March 23, 2023

Yellen looked embarrassed — as she should be — and Kennedy had to push her a little to answer, but she acknowledges yes, it was something like that number. Anyone who thinks they intend to get this amount in taxes just by going after the folks over $400,000 hasn’t been paying attention.

Read more: WATCH: Sen. Kennedy Wrecks Janet Yellen, WH During Grilling on US Economy

Sen. John Kennedy Says the Only Way to Improve Biden’s Budget ‘Is With a Shredder’

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget warns the budget would result in the country’s debt rising from 98% of GDP at the end of 2023 to 106% by 2027 and then 110% by 2033.

According to their analysis, despite some attempts at deficit reduction, nominal debt would nearly double, growing from $24.6 trillion to $43.6 trillion over the next decade.

"The only way I know how to improve the president's budget is with a shredder," Kennedy said Sunday.

🔥🔥🔥 Sen. @JohnKennedyLA: “The only way I know how to improve [Biden’s] budget is with a shredder.” pic.twitter.com/RgEhftVH9R

— GOP (@GOP) March 12, 2023

Read more: Sen. John Kennedy says the only way to improve Biden’s budget ‘is with a shredder’

Sen. John Kennedy: America is Star Spangled Awesome!

"Today I want to talk to you about truth the honored unvarnished truth the truth is important without the truth we cannot order Society without the truth we cannot survive as human beings and without the truth we certainly cannot Thrive as human beings can you handle the truth I think you can the truth is that it is important to speak your mind so I do now that makes some people mad but I try not to worry too much about what anyone thinks of me except dogs I really like dogs and sometimes my friends will ask me they say Kennedy how do you sleep at night how do you sleep at night knowing that some people don't like you and I tell them with the fan on because I think I make the right people mad. What else is the truth the truth is that God is great beer is good and and the United States of America is Star Spangled awesome!"

Sen. Kennedy on Briefing of Those "Objects"

NEW: Sen. John Kennedy says the U.S. government "can't find the remnants" of the objects that were recently shot down.

"They're lost. They can't find them. The remnants are in very difficult terrain. ... They're looking, but they haven't been able to find them." pic.twitter.com/Bamj5YMEPL

— Kyle Morris (@RealKyleMorris) February 14, 2023

💥 Sen. John Kennedy on the Senate’s briefing

“This has been going on for a long time… & we don’t know what most of them are”

“The President & the DNI… need to explain… what these things are, who put them up there & do they pose a threat”

h/t @HighPeaks77#ufotwitter #ufo pic.twitter.com/cGXLy4CPMC

— UAP James (@UAPJames) February 14, 2023

KENNEDY: Biden's Record is "Spectacularly Awful"

Tonight, Pres. Biden is going to tell Americans about his record—which is spectacularly awful. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/kU5JcYixSA

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) February 8, 2023