Sierra Club Quietly Teams With ‘Conservative’ Groups to Block Louisiana Energy Projects

President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have made increased energy production a top priority, arguing it lowers prices for consumers and creates jobs for skilled workers.

Environmental activists like the Sierra Club disagree. They oppose new oil and gas production, LNG export terminals, pipelines, and virtually any other form of fossil fuel energy infrastructure.

In the lead-up to Louisiana’s 2026 state legislative session, which kicks off next month, the Sierra Club is leading a highly coordinated legal and advocacy campaign targeting LNG terminal development, pipelines and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects, which have expanded in recent years to support the state’s growing manufacturing sector.

Read more: Sierra Club Quietly Teams With ‘Conservative’ Groups to Block Louisiana Energy Projects

Governor Landry Announces Julie Emerson as New Chief of Staff

Baton Rouge, LA — Today, Governor Jeff Landry announced that Julie Emerson will serve as his new Chief of Staff, replacing Kyle Ruckert. She will start next week. Headshot attached.

“Julie Emerson is a proven leader with a deep understanding of Louisiana’s people, our State legislature, and the work that needs to be done to move Louisiana forward,” said Governor Landry. “Her experience and commitment to conservative reform makes her the perfect person to help lead this administration as we continue fighting for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Louisiana.”

“The last two years have produced some of the boldest reforms Louisiana has ever seen—reforms that have led us to climb in education rankings, business friendliness, and economic growth. I’m honored to have been a part of many of these reforms as a legislator, and I look forward to continuing to grow Louisiana as Governor Landry’s Chief of Staff,” said Julie Emerson.

Julie Emerson is a native of Homer, Louisiana and was raised in Carencro. First elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2015, Emerson served three terms and made history as the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Legislature. She most recently served as Chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means, becoming the first woman to chair a finance committee in Louisiana history. A proven conservative leader, Emerson is widely respected for her commitment to fiscally responsible budgeting, lower taxes, protecting innocent life, and defending Second Amendment rights. She now brings that experience to her new role as Chief of Staff for Governor Jeff Landry.

Economic Benefits of Tort Reform - LLAW Response Statement

Statement on 2025-26 Economic Impact of Lawsuit Abuse report

BATON ROUGE, LA – The national Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) released its annual Economic Benefits of Tort Reform report and the news is only getting worse for Louisiana.

Once again, Louisiana is losing to our culture of lawsuit abuse while the trial bar continues to win big. The report reveals excessive tort litigation in Louisiana in 2024 resulting in:

• More than 45,000 jobs lost (up from nearly 40,000 last year)

• A hidden “tort tax” of more than $1,100 paid by every citizen

• More than $3.4 billion in personal income losses for residents

• Gross product (GDP) losses of $5.4 billion

• Direct costs of more than $3.7 billion

• Tax losses:

  • More than $235,000 at the local level

  • More than $281,000 at the state level

These numbers demonstrate the real losses to Louisiana’s families and businesses as unfounded lawsuits continue to proliferate across the state. These impacts are felt in everything from the rising cost of insurance to higher prices for groceries and gasoline. Louisiana’s coastal lawsuits’ recent no. 4 ranking as a Judicial Hellhole® is a glaring example of “costly costal litigation that continues to burden the state’s economy and workforce and has openly embraced the plaintiffs’ lawyers leading the charge.”

Louisiana has made some positive steps in addressing legal reform, but this momentum must continue for real, long-lasting impacts that our residents and businesses can feel in their pocketbooks. Other states like Georgia and Florida have passed sweeping reforms that work in concert to address lawsuit abuse. Louisiana must do the same or we will continue to miss economic opportunities and fall behind other, more forward-thinking states.

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About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana’s broken legal system through transparency, accountability, and lawsuit reform. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter and www.llaw.org.

Louisiana Signs Its Largest Set of BEAD Agreements by Coverage to Date, Moving 75K+ Locations Closer to Construction

Louisiana has signed its next round of grant agreements with providers through BEAD’s Benefit of the Bargain initiative, marking the state’s largest set to date by number of locations covered.

The new agreements build on last month’s announcement that Louisiana was the first state in the country to sign BEAD grant agreements with internet service providers. This latest round covers 76,045 locations statewide and will be delivered by a mix of local and national providers: Cajun Broadband, Conexon, REV and Swyft Fiber.

These agreements build on Louisiana’s ongoing progress expanding broadband access across the state. Currently, 93% of Louisiana households and businesses are served, and the state remains on pace to achieve statewide high-speed internet access by 2028, two years ahead of the federal 2030 goal.

In November, Louisiana became the first state in the nation to receive federal approval of its final Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) proposal, clearing the way to deploy $1.36 billion in federal broadband funding. That approval positioned Louisiana to move quickly from planning to execution and begin delivering BEAD-funded projects on the ground.

These projects are expected to break ground in the coming weeks as Louisiana continues working to close the digital divide and expand high-speed internet access statewide.

Learn more about the GUMBO 2.0 program

The Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) leads the state’s efforts to expand high-speed internet access and close the digital divide. Housed within the Louisiana Division of Administration, ConnectLA works across federal, state and local partners to identify and implement strategies that ensure every resident can benefit from reliable broadband connectivity.

The Shadow War on Blake Miguez: Fake Grassroots Group Turns on Its Own

Blake Miguez is publicly praised as a conservative standard-bearer by the same group now funding attacks against him.

For years, we have watched a strange and increasingly destructive phenomenon take hold inside Louisiana’s political landscape: a small but noisy faction that claims to be “more Republican than the Republican Party” consistently spends all of its time and energy attacking Conservative Republicans. During the Jesse Regan vs. Brach Myers special election, this behavior became impossible to ignore. By all accounts, Regan had already secured the bulk of the district’s conservative support, yet his campaign failed when he succumbed to the temptation to resort to deception.

Citizens for a New Louisiana was pressed into the uncomfortable role of umpire because the truth mattered more than anyone’s feelings. That’s what our readers and supporters have come to expect from us. It was unpleasant, but it gave the public a clearer view of the methods involved.

The same tactics and methods were also spotted in the Julie Quinn vs. Jean-Paul Coussan race for the Public Service Commission. Although we didn’t identify anything that rose to the level of knowingly false, outrage over Carbon Capture was the primary driving force. I actually had a short conversation with Quinn at the time about her proximity to actors who use manufactured outrage as their primary campaign tactic. The idea that someone can win an election based on smashing their same-party opponent has rarely ended well in Louisiana politics. Well, Quinn didn’t listen, and the rest is history.

Read more: The Shadow War on Blake Miguez: Fake Grassroots Group Turns on Its Own

Governor Jeff Landry's Board of Regents Chair, Trump Delegate, & Conservative Leader Misti Cordell Announces for Congress

With Congresswoman Julia Letlow's Senate candidacy, conservative leader, Governor Landry Board of Regents Chair, and two-time Trump Delegate, Misti Cordell is running for Congress.

She will represent Louisiana's 5th district - from the neighborhoods of Baton Rouge to the farms and small towns of Northeast Louisiana.

"It is a critical time for our country. President Trump is under constant attack by the extreme left," said Cordell.

Radical voices in Washington are pushing policies that undermine our values, our economy, and our families. We need strong Republicans who will stand up for common sense, defend America-First principles, and fight back. We need leaders from the real world, not more career politicians," said Cordell.

"As a Republican Leader and small business owner, I believe now is the time to step forward," Cordell added. 

Cordell currently serves as Chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents, appointed by Governor Jeff Landry at the beginning of his administration to reform Louisiana's higher education system.

Under her leadership, the Board has focused on fiscal responsibility, strengthening job and career training, prioritizing core academic disciplines, and pushing back against woke extremism that has infiltrated America's campuses.

A Trump Delegate to the 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions, Cordell has spent years as a conservative leader.

She serves on the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee and has held executive roles in multiple parish and local conservative and Republican organizations.

Unlike the career politicians considering this race, Cordell  spent her adulthood raising a family, growing a business, and serving her community - giving her real-world experience, not empty rhetoric. As a mother and businesswoman, she understands firsthand the pressures families face from rising healthcare costs, failing schools, inflation, and over-taxation.

Cordell is the owner and operator of COR Consulting, a healthcare consulting firm that is a voice for independent physicians and an advocate for rural healthcare. Her work in healthcare administration and community-based solutions gives her deep insight into expanding access and lowering costs, especially for rural families losing critical medical services.

During Governor Jeff Landry's tenure as Attorney General, Cordell served as an official representative of his administration, ensuring senior citizens and families across Louisiana could access assistance. She also served on Governor Landry's Health and Hospitals Transition Team.

A proud wife and mother of two sons, Cordell has devoted years to education initiatives and community service. She has volunteered and led charitable efforts supporting veterans, senior citizens, small business job creators, students, and
pro-life causes.

She is the granddaughter of a World War II veteran who stormed the beaches of Normandy and the daughter of an Army Veteran, a legacy of service that continues to guide her commitment to faith, family, and freedom.

In addition to her professional experience, Cordell's understanding of Louisiana's economy is further bolstered by her husband's leadership in a longtime family business servicing the state's agricultural and energy sectors.

As Louisiana's next Member of Congress, Cordell will focus on defending President Trump from partisan impeachment attacks, cutting taxes, eliminating wasteful spending, securing the border, protecting the right to life, defending the Second Amendment, restoring parental rights in education, protecting women's sports and Title IX, rebuilding infrastructure, expanding broadband access, and fighting for farmers and small businesses across both urban and rural Louisiana.

"Our district feeds America and fuels Louisiana's economy," Cordell said. "Our farms, our infrastructure, and our working families - whether in Baton Rouge neighborhoods or rural Northeast Louisiana - need a strong voice. We need roads and bridges rebuilt, broadband expanded, doctors kept in our communities, and jobs brought home," said Cordell.

"We need to fight back against the woke extremism of the far left. That's what I will do in Congress," said Louisiana leader Misti Cordell. 

Kennedy, Cassidy, Higgins to Secretary of War Hegseth: Invest in Louisiana shipyards

“South Louisiana’s shipbuilding workforce is deep, experienced, and generational—comprised of welders, fitters, naval architects, engineers, electricians, machinists, and other skilled tradesmen.”

WASHINGTON – Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) urged U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to give serious consideration to Louisiana’s shipyards, among the best in the country, as the Department of War seeks to bolster our nation’s shipbuilding capacity.

“We write to encourage the Department of War to give deliberate and sustained consideration to small and mid-sized domestic shipyards, including those in South Louisiana, when awarding shipbuilding, repair, modernization, and sustainment contracts, as the Department works to restore America’s shipbuilding capacity and strengthen the nation’s defense industrial base,” the lawmakers began their letter to Hegseth.

“Louisiana’s small and mid-sized shipyards already operate in a manner consistent with the Department’s stated aim to prioritize speed, innovation, and a ‘commercial-first’ mindset in defense acquisition. . . . That operating model enables them to adapt quickly to evolving requirements, integrate new technologies, and deliver complex vessels at pace—capabilities that directly support the Department’s effort to modernize procurement and strengthen the defense industrial base,” they continued.

“Equally important, these yards anchor a strong and sustained maritime workforce. South Louisiana’s shipbuilding workforce is deep, experienced, and generational—comprised of welders, fitters, naval architects, engineers, electricians, machinists, and other skilled tradesmen. Investing in stable, long-term contract opportunities helps grow this workforce, preserves productive careers, and ensures capacity to deliver for warfighters today and in the decades to come,” the legislators added.

“We appreciate the Department’s leadership on these issues and welcome continued engagement on how best to ensure the full American shipbuilding industrial base is positioned to support national defense,” the Louisiana Republicans concluded.

Background:

• In June 2025, Kennedy questioned then-Acting Chief of Naval Operations James W. Kilby on China’s rapid shipbuilding pace and the United States’ failure to keep up, observing that “we’ve retired more [ships] than we’ve built” in 20 years.

• Kennedy also highlighted the critical role that private American shipyards, including those in Louisiana, should play as the U.S. military works to catch up and surpass China.

View Kennedy, Cassidy and Higgins’ full letter here.

Gov. Landry Visits with Leaders on Severe Winter Weather

Yesterday, Governor Landry visited with local leaders in Ouachita Parish about the severe winter weather. He then flew over East and West Carroll Parish and ended with a stop in Richland Parish to speak with local leaders, again, on the winter weather. 

ICYMI: Kennedy in The Advocate: Cost of living is coming down, but Congress can do more

“We’re off to a great start, but Congress still has a lot of work to do to keep wages growing and return a sense of normalcy to the pocketbooks of Louisianians.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in The Advocate explaining how Congress is working to bring down the cost of living for American families. 

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

“It’s a new year, but many Louisianians are still missing the old prices that they were paying before President Joe Biden took office.

“The Biden administration’s bad policies drove up prices by 21% in just four years. In turn, the average Louisiana household had to spend an additional $28,426 to cover the cost of inflation over the course of Biden’s four years in office.

“It’s a mess, but Republicans in Washington have already begun to clean it up.”

. . .

“We’re off to a great start, but Congress still has a lot of work to do to keep wages growing and return a sense of normalcy to the pocketbooks of Louisianians. We need to address our broken health care system, bolster our immigration policies, reform our burdensome regulatory state and address the soaring price of housing.

“To do any of this, though, we need 60 votes in the Senate. You don’t have to be a senior at Caltech to know that most of my Democratic colleagues hate President Trump. They’ll never cast a vote to help the Republican agenda, and that’s their right.

“The only way around the 60-vote requirement is to use the 1974 Congressional Budget Act’s reconciliation process. This procedure allows us to pass legislation with 51 votes — just like we did with the One Big Beautiful Bill.”

. . .

“Prices may not soon return to where they were before President Biden destroyed the cost of living in America, but the right policies can ensure that Louisianians have the income they need to breathe easy in this new year.”

Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.  

Gov. Landry Announces Nearly $1 Billion In Savings

Governor Landry: Eliminate the Income Tax

Baton Rouge, LA – Today, in a press conference announcing historic savings from his government efficiency efforts, Governor Jeff Landry again stated his commitment to eliminating the State’s income tax.
 
Governor Landry and the Legislature already put in place the largest income tax in state history, paid for in part by the elimination of waste in government. Today, after announcing that over the last year his fiscal responsibility program has identified nearly $1 Billion in savings and efficiencies, he again called for the eventual elimination of Louisiana’s income tax.
 
“Today, I am announcing to the people of Louisiana that we have found hundreds of millions of dollars in savings within the Louisiana state government,” Landry said.  These savings and efficiencies have allowed Landry to keep state spending nearly flat, after his first budget cut billions, despite still dealing with the same Biden inflation families face everyday.
 
The announcement is the result of meticulous work by LA DOGE, spearheaded by Fiscal Responsibility Czar Steve Orlando. For the first time in recent memory, Louisiana’s government is no longer supplementing recurring expenses with one-time income. Landry committed to ongoing reforms and continued historic private sector investment leading to tens of thousands of new jobs in the state. He stated these efforts will help continue lowering the tax burden on Louisiana citizens toward the ultimate goal of a zero percent income tax. 

“Governor Landry is once again proving what true conservative leadership can accomplish,” said Republican Party Chairman Derek Babcock. “These reforms have led to millions in savings for the State, and he’s just getting started. With this type of dedication and leadership, I’m confident we will eliminate the income tax sooner than expected.”

Kennedy, Cassidy, Gulf colleagues to NOAA: Help block cartels from profiting off red snapper illegally caught in Gulf of America

“We would appreciate NOAA Fisheries’ action in more aggressively applying its existing authorities to ensure that illegally harvested red snapper is not sold in the United States.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and eight colleagues from states bordering the Gulf of America in urging Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Neil Jacobs to ensure that illegally-harvested red snapper from Mexican fishing operations are not sold in American markets.

Red snapper form a crucial part of Louisiana’s nearly $2 billion seafood economy, as well as the economies of other Gulf states. Unauthorized Mexican fishing operations, often linked to cartels, have increasingly profited from the sale of red snapper illegally caught in the Gulf of America, hurting Louisiana’s fishermen and wildlife.

“We write to express concern regarding the continued illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for red snapper by Mexican vessels operating in U.S. waters in the Gulf of America,” the senators began their letter to Jacobs.

“The Coast Guard has demonstrated sustained and effective operational enforcement through repeated interdictions and seizures; however, the continued presence of Mexican lanchas in U.S. waters suggests that enforcement at sea alone is insufficient . . . We urge [NOAA] to use its import-restriction authorities, and other applicable authorities, to address this problem in a targeted and proportionate manner that supports law-abiding U.S. fisheries,” they continued.

“Despite fewer vessel interdictions in 2025 than the previous year, the volume of illegally harvested red snapper seized by the Coast Guard rose 28 percent, reaching 15,859 pounds . . . Furthermore, a recent DHS Office of Inspector General report found that the Coast Guard interdicts only one in every five detected foreign fishing vessels, leaving nearly 80 percent of illegal incursions unchallenged and free to enter domestic commerce through opaque supply chains,” the lawmakers explained.

“The Gulf of America red snapper fishery is a highly regulated domestic fishery that is shared between recreational and commercial harvesters. Allocation of the fishery between domestic stakeholders is a topic of intense policy discussion and high-level decision making, reflecting the immense value of the fishery to our nation. Mexican IUU-caught fish steals that value from both sets of American stakeholders,” the members wrote.

“Reports from the Department of the Treasury indicate that these lanchas are not operating as isolated or subsistence fishing ventures, but as organized operations increasingly linked to the Gulf Cartel, one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminal organizations. The continued ability to sell illegally harvested red snapper into the U.S. market is a powerful financing source for the Cartel and undermines both U.S. fisheries management and national security,” they added.

“We would appreciate NOAA Fisheries’ action in more aggressively applying its existing authorities to ensure that illegally harvested red snapper is not sold in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response,” the senators concluded.

Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) joined Kennedy and Cassidy in authoring the letter.

View the full letter here.

Senator Blake Miguez Falsely Accused on Carbon Capture

Contrary to Opponent’s Lies, Miguez Held the Line Against Carbon Capture and Defended Louisianians Against Eminent Domain

In the race to replace U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, opponents of State Senator Blake Miguez have manufactured a boogieman designed to stop him from being Louisiana’s next U.S. Senator.

Organized and directed by State Treasurer John Fleming and his campaign, opponents of Miguez have openly circulated a falseallegation that he supports Carbon Capture Sequestration (CCS) and the use of eminent domain in CCS projects.

The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Senator Miguez has religiously opposed the expansion of CCS and eminent domain, and his voting record confirms it.

In fact, Miguez even attempted to full ban eminent domain from being used for any CCS projects in 2023 through Amendment #2624 to HB 571 (2023).

While that amendment failed, Miguez has passed countless additional pieces of legislation that have tightened restrictions on CCS projects, restricted eminent domain, and protected Louisianians.

Miguez helped pass SB73 (2025), which raised the threshold for landowner consent for eminent domain utilization from 75% to 85%, even higher than the threshold for a traditional oil and gas pipeline.

Miguez voted for HB169 (2024), which expanded the cap on damages for property owners, holding CCS operators accountable and protecting the rights of landowners.

Miguez backed SB36 (2025), which restricted CCS operators’ ability to utilize eminent domain and forced local government and local opinion to be involved in any CCS project.  

Miguez helped pass HB304 (2025) which required that eminent domain disputes be heard in the parish where the land is located, rather than by a court in Baton Rouge.

Miguez even led the charge to pass HB244 (2025) through the Senate, which recategorized CCS operators and got rid of a loophole allowing them to operate as industrial waste pipelines. Now, CCS operators are forced to attain common carrier status, a significantly higher bar.

So why do Miguez opponents persist in accusing the Senator of supporting Carbon Capture Sequestration?

The simple answer is that it serves their political convenience. The longer answer is that they’ve twisted and misrepresented a plethora of legislation into a false narrative that serves their purposes. Let’s take a look at those accusations:

In 2020, Senator Miguez voted in favor of SB353, which opened up eligibility to federal subsidies tied to CCS for Louisiana’s Oil and Gas industry, which was struggling during COVID-19 at the time. Opponents claim this was a vote in favor of carbon capture and eminent domain. In reality, this was a vote in favor of Louisiana’s Oil & Gas industry that provided support during a difficult period. When SB353 was passed, the only vocal opposition to the legislation came from the left-wing environmental nuts at the Sierra Club.

Every single Republican in Baton Rouge, in both the House and Senate, voted for this bill to support hard-working Louisianiansin the Oil & Gas industry. The bill did not introduce CCS to Louisiana, that was done a decade prior by the Louisiana Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide Act of 2009.

In 2021, Senator Miguez voted for HB572, which added to the list of substances that can legally be stored underground and simultaneously strengthened the CCS trust fund, a fund overseen by Treasurer John Fleming and tasked with funding safety measures, inspections, and environmental cleanup. Opponents claim that this included Carbon Capture Sequestration and funded the trust fund with taxpayer dollars, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Carbon dioxide wasn’t even added by the bill, it was already present thanks to 2009’s legislation. Funding to the trust fund came from fees and taxes on operators. It did not take tax dollars from uninvolved Louisianians, only those companies directly responsible for implementing storage projects.

In 2023, Senator Miguez voted against several locality specific bills that put moratoriums on CCS projects in a specific locality, like HB267 dealing with Lake Maurepas and HB120 dealing with Lake Ponchatrain. These moratorium proposals would have been unconstitutional had they passed, because Louisiana did not have the authority at the time to regulate Class IV wells used for CCS – the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did. Senator Miguez is seemingly guilty of not attempting to pass unconstitutional legislation.

In 2024, Senator Miguez voted for HB492 and HB 966. Opponents claim that HB492 gave CCS operators the ability to seize private property through eminent domain, when the legislation actually significantly restricted eminent domain and protected landowners. The bill prohibited CCS projects with very limited exceptions, required local public hearings for CCS permits, required a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for any eminent domain, and clarified that CCS operators are NOT public utilities or common carriers. All ofthese provisions were huge blows to the CCS industry. HB966 established the concept of unitization in eminent domain proceedings. Opponents claim that it compelled landowners to join the unitization, which is false. In reality the concept of unitization laid the groundwork for Miguez and his allies to pass SB73 in 2025, raising the threshold of agreement within the unit from 75% to 85% and making it more difficult for CCS operators to utilize eminent domain – another significant win for private property rights.

John Fleming and his supporters either grossly misunderstand or deliberately misrepresent each piece of legislation they attempt to use against Senator Miguez.

What’s even more hypocritical in this context is that John Fleming himself took a vote that supported Carbon Capture Sequestration while he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015. Fleming voted for the North American Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015, which enabled the Obama Administration’s Secretary of Energy to review and recommend funding increases for Carbon Capture Sequestration Projects. The bill reads:

“The Secretary shall … assess the funding of the [CCS] project and make a recommendation as to whether increased funding is necessary to advance the project” – Sec. 1109(c)(2)(A

While this language was certainly lumped in alongside other subject matter, for John Fleming to represent himself as a purist on CCS while twisting Senator Miguez’s strong defense of private property rights against him is disingenuous at best, and blatant political deception at worst.

No elected legislator in our state has stood for Louisianians, their safety, and their private property rights as strongly as Senator Miguez. His opponent’s twisted narrative is nothing more than a disingenuous attempt to misrepresent a strong legislative record as a weak one, for the political advantage of another candidate.

Gov. Landry Declares January Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, LA – Governor Landry has signed a proclamation officially declaring January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Louisiana, joining the national observance to bring awareness to the fight against human trafficking. This declaration underscores the state’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, supporting survivors, and preventing human trafficking in all forms.

View proclamation here. 

In recognition of National Wear Blue Day, also known as Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Sunday, January 11, all Louisianans are encouraged to wear blue to raise awareness about human trafficking prevention. Additionally, the staff of the Governor’s Office will wear blue on Monday, January 12, as part of the ongoing effort to highlight this important issue. On the same day, the Louisiana State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion will shine in blue as a sign of the state’s dedication to this cause.

Human trafficking impacts thousands of people across the United States each year, and Louisiana remains steadfast in its mission to combat this crisis through education, outreach, and support for survivors. For more information on human trafficking, resources, and ways to get involved, visit https://humantrafficking.la.gov.

HIGGINS: 2025 Legislative Rundown

Rep. Clay Higgins recently sent out an annual update on the work that he is doing for South Louisiana in the US House of Representatives. The below is what was included in that update:

In 2025, I worked to deliver for Louisiana, correct the trajectory of spending, and codify the America First policy agenda. I've compiled a by-the-issue summary of many legislative actions taken by my office this year. 

SECURING AMERICA

• Passed into law H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, providing historic resources for border security and immigration enforcement. 

• Passed H.R. 2056, the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act, to end DC's sanctuary city status. 

• Voted YES on H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, mandating proof of citizenship for voters nationwide. 

• Sponsored H.R. 1569, the CATCH Fentanyl Act, establishing new inspection technologies and enforcement tools to combat drug trafficking. 

FIGHTING FOR LOUISIANA'S ENERGY SECTOR

• Introduced H.R. 513, the Offshore Lands Authorities Act, to restore hundreds of millions of acres for offshore oil and gas development.

• Cosponsored and passed H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, which passed the House, expediting approvals for LNG export terminals.

• Worked with the Trump Administration to secure permits for multiple LNG projects in Louisiana.

• Passed into law H.R. 1, which ensures oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of America over the next 15 years.

IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS

• Worked with the Trump Administration to secure expedited payments in accordance with the Social Security Fairness Act.

PROMOTING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Passed H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, to save $9.4 billion in taxpayer dollars. 

• Introduced H.R. 2716, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, to save $1.3 billion and combat government waste, fraud, and abuse. 

• Voted for conservative appropriations bills that correct the trajectory of spending. 

ADVOCATING FOR OUR SEAFOOD INDUSTRY

• Introduced H.R. 4800, the Fisheries Modernization Act, which expands fishery disaster relief programs to Louisiana's wild-caught crawfish industry. 

• Petitioned President Trump to levy tariffs on foreign shrimp and crawfish imports. 

• Sponsored H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which mandates the FDA to destroy contaminated products. 

• Authored H.R. 2071, the Save our Shrimpers Act, to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding foreign shrimpers. 

PROTECTING LOUISIANA FARMERS

• Expanded agriculture support programs for rice and sugarcane farmers in H.R. 1. 

• Helped complete a trade agreement for Iraq to purchase hundreds of thousands of metric tons of Louisiana rice. 

• Petitioned the USDA to include Louisiana in its slate of new regional hubs. 

• Worked closely with President Trump to increase rice tariffs on countries undercutting American industry. 

STANDING FOR PRO-LIFE PRINCIPLES

• Voted YES and cosponsored H.R. 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, requiring medical care for abortion survivors. 

• Maintained a 100% pro-life voting record as a member of Congress. 

SUPPORTING VETERANS & THE MILITARY

• Patrolled with Louisiana National Guardsmen stationed in our nation's capital. 

• Secured wins for Louisiana's military bases, service members, and shipyards in the National Defense Authorization Act. 

• Cosponsored H.R. 2102, the Major Richard Star Act, to restore earned benefits for disabled combat-injured Veterans.

DELIVERING TAX RELIEF FOR WORKING AMERICANS 

• Voted to pass H.R. 1, which lowered taxes for working families. 

• Delivered on President Trump's priorities of no tax on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security. 

• Passed an enhanced Child Tax Credit to provide additional relief for American families. 

ADDRESSING DISASTER RESILIENCY & INFRASTRUCTURE

• Secured $131.5 million for the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project in the House Energy & Water appropriations bill. 

• Co-led the National Flood Insurance Program Automatic Extension Act, providing lasting and affordable coverage for Americans in disaster-prone areas. 

• Secured permits and held the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers accountable for delays on multiple flood mitigation projects. 

• Introduced H.R. 1070, the Restoring Competitive Property Insurance Availability Act, to encourage market competition and help lower rates for home and business owners. 

• Worked with Governor Jeff Landry to advance key infrastructure projects like the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge and the I-49 Connector. 

• Expanded revenue-sharing caps for the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) as part of H.R. 1, which will increase Louisiana's share of annual funding for coastal restoration efforts.

HIGGINS: A Christmas Message

I regularly visit Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. We deliver Congressional representation to the children of God who are incarcerated there. 

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us not forget that Redemption is a journey. What we give to our fellow Man, we can expect from our Lord God. It is an honor to serve as your Congressman. Becca and I wish you a blessed Christmas.

Clay Higgins - LA (03)

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.

Louisiana set to achieve statewide high-speed internet access by 2028, outpacing the federal 2030 goal

Roughly 450,000 Louisianans, enough to fill Tiger Stadium more than four times, have received access in just two years.

Gov. Jeff Landry announced today that Louisiana is significantly ahead of schedule in its effort to provide high-speed internet access to every Louisiana resident.

Since the beginning of the Landry Administration, more than 150,000 additional households, small businesses, and community organizations have received access. This growth has been achieved through private investment and federal funds put to work by Louisiana’s internet service providers, with most new service delivered through fiber.

“When I took office, about 83% of our state had access to high-speed internet. Today we’re approaching 93%. That’s nearly 450,000 people, more than four Tiger Stadiums full, who now have the tools they need to work, learn, and compete. We got here by listening to residents, focusing on results, and keeping the work moving, and we’re going to keep pushing until every family in this state has the same kind of reliable access.”

Gov. Jeff Landry

Louisiana’s broadband progress has earned significant national attention. The state became the first in the country to receive full federal approval of its BEAD plan and now ranks among the top 10 states for the percentage of households receiving fiber connectivity through BEAD, as well as the cost efficiencies achieved under the GUMBO 2.0 program. In total, Louisiana identified more than $800 million in savings, with federal guidance on their use expected by March 2026.

“This work is delivering real value to taxpayers. We are stretching every dollar and moving faster than Washington ever expected.”

Gov. Jeff Landry

Over the past several weeks, representatives from the governor’s office and ConnectLA have joined local leaders and internet providers to celebrate completed broadband projects in Vernon, Vermilion, and Acadia parishes, where Gumbo 1.0 investments have provided access to thousands of homes and hundreds of small businesses. More ribbon cuttings are planned for completed projects in Allen, Grant, LaSalle, Avoyelles, and other parishes, along with groundbreaking ceremonies for new construction made possible through federal BEAD funding.

Early 2026 is expected to bring the most significant broadband construction activity Louisiana has ever undertaken. Projects entering the ground phase will connect more than 127,000 new households and bring service to another 30,000 households through the completion of GUMBO 1.0 work already underway.

“These wins show up in real places, not spreadsheets. They’re the farms, the classrooms, and the small businesses that finally have the infrastructure they’ve waited on for years. With this momentum, Louisiana is on pace to reach full high-speed internet access in 2028, if not sooner. That’s two years at minimum before the federal goal. And we’re not slowing down.”

Veneeth Iyengar
Executive Director of ConnectLA

Visit the ConnectLA website to learn more

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.