{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"LA\" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-latest-obamacare-delay", "Scalise statement on the latest Obamacare delay", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after yet another Obamacare delay.\n\u00a0\u201cBy delaying yet another component of his signature law for a select few, President Obama has yet again confirmed what we\u2019ve long said \u2013 his health care law is unworkable and harming American families,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cAttempting to bail out some people while abandoning the majority of Americans will not hide the failure of Obamacare from the public. Laws are not made to be selectively enforced whenever the Obama Administration wants to try to salvage low poll numbers. It is time for President Obama to admit his broken health care law has failed, and join with House Republicans to suspend the penalties and stop this train wreck before more hard-working families are harmed.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-shredding-constitution-%E2%80%93-new-obama-white-house", "Scalise: Shredding the Constitution \u2013 the new Obama White House?", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scalise: Shredding the Constitution \u2013 the new Obama White House?                                           \n              Dec 18, 2013      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    Washington, D.C. \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today released the following statement after the new Counselor to the President\u2019s comments that the Administration \u201c\u2026need(s) to focus on executive action given that they are facing a second term against a cult worthy of Jonestown in charge of one of the houses of Congress.\u201d\n\"It's disgraceful and telling that President Obama's new Counselor is not only comparing the Republican Party to a cult that murdered those who disagreed with them, but is also using that comparison as an argument in support of shredding the Constitution and governing like a third-world dictator,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cThe American people will not stand by and allow the Obama White House to destroy the checks-and-balances defined in the Constitution that are critical to a working democracy, and neither will Congress! The American people elected a divided government in Washington, and the Obama Administration would do well to respect that fact instead of undermining the will of the American people at every turn.\u00a0 President Obama ran to change the tone in Washington, and it\u2019s time for him to live up to that promise by relieving Mr. Podesta of his official duties immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-his-vote-against-budget-plan", "Scalise statement on his vote against the budget plan", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after voting against the budget plan.\n\u201cIn order to rein in Washington\u2019s out of control spending problem, we have to make stronger structural reforms to the mandatory spending programs that drive our debt,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0\u201cThere are many reforms we need to make in order to balance our budget and create a healthy economy, but until President Obama is willing to come to the table and work with us to solve the bigger problems, we won\u2019t be able to achieve those important reforms for American families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012317/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/gen-clark-refuses-to-respond-to-vitter-on-free-cell-phones", "Gen. Clark Refuses to Respond to Vitter on Free Cell Phones", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Gen. Clark Refuses to Respond to Vitter on Free Cell Phones\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tIn a third letter, Vitter urges Gen. Clark to agree to free cell phone debate, disclose campaign\u2019s financial supporters\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 13, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today followed up to previous requests to Gen. Wesley Clark regarding Vitter\u2019s invitation to publicly debate Clark\u2019s campaign for free government cell phones. Vitter has also asked Clark to disclose the financial contributors to his advocacy campaign promoting free cell phones. In Clark\u2019s first response, he did not disclose his campaign\u2019s financial supporters nor did he commit to any of the dates Vitter proposed for a debate. Vitter asked Clark at a Senate committee hearing this week too. Click here to read Vitter\u2019s Dec. 10 letter.\n\u201cGeneral Clark has still refused to come clean about where his campaign funding is coming from,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to debate the fraud-ridden Lifeline phone program publically as soon as he is, but he hasn\u2019t officially agreed to a debate yet. Clark was never a coward in the Army, and shouldn't be a political coward now.\u201d\nVitter first challenged Clark to a debate after Clark criticized Vitter\u2019s efforts to end the free government cellphone program known as Lifeline during a visit to Louisiana. Vitter has authored legislation to end the free cell phone portion of Lifeline and cites massive fraud surrounding the program. Clark agreed to a debate in a phone conversation with Vitter. Click here to read more.\nClick here for the news report about Clark\u2019s first visit to Louisiana and Vitter\u2019s response.\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s third letter back to Clark.\n  December 13, 2013\nGeneral Wesley K. Clark   Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC  P.O. Box 3276  Little Rock, Arkansas 72203\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL\nDear General Clark:\nI'm sorry that you have not responded to my letter from this past Tuesday regarding any financial ties you may have to companies that make money on the free government cell phone program. You specifically committed to answering this important question in writing in our October 8 telephone conversation.\nOf course, as you and I both know, your one sentence statement at the unrelated hearing on Wednesday did not answer the question in any adequate or precise way. Therefore, I re-ask the question (for the fourth time?):\nThe press report of your last Louisiana visit quotes your spokesperson as saying vaguely that a \u201cpublic affairs company that represents veterans advocacy groups\u201d sponsored your trip. Who are this company and its financial backers? In particular, do any companies who receive funds from the fraud-ridden Lifeline program financially support this public affairs company, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest?\nDuring our October 8 phone conversation, you also committed to meet me for one or more fair, public debates on the issue in Louisiana. I have provided six dates so far on which I'm available, but you refuse to respond. Here are three more: January 6 in Lafayette, January 10 in Baton Rouge, and January 13 in Shreveport.\nYou were never a coward in the Army. Don't be a political coward now. Please do what you promised on the two above points.\nSincerely,\n  David Vitter  U.S. Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-reintroduces-legislation-modernize-television-laws", "Scalise Reintroduces Legislation to Modernize Television Laws", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today reintroduced the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act, a comprehensive video reform bill that repeals outdated laws including compulsory copyright licenses, eliminates various mandates on private sector companies and consumers, and removes certain FCC broadcast and media ownership rules.\u00a0 Congressman Cory Gardner joined as an original cosponsor of the legislation.\n\u201cWhile the compulsory licenses of \u201976 and \u201988, and the \u201992 Cable Act may have made sense years ago, competition from new players in the video marketplace have rendered these laws obsolete,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cDecades-old broadcast, cable, and satellite laws dramatically restrict access and limit consumer choice.\u00a0 Broadcast television is a unique and important platform. Valuable local affiliate programming, strongly demanded by consumers including myself, is proof that archaic government regulations are unnecessary today.\u00a0 Instead, traditional copyright law should facilitate the distribution of this programming so that broadcasters are rightfully paid for their content, rather than for the use of a signal.\u00a0\n\u201cConsumers increasingly demand a customized viewing experience, in a world in which laws and regulations don't restrict their ability to watch what they want, where they want, and at a price that best fits their budgets,\u201d Scalise continued.\u00a0\u201cThese common-sense, private sector decisions should be left to the creators of content and those that distribute it, not the whims of the moment from Congress or the FCC. I stand ready to continue working with Chairmen Upton and Walden, and other colleagues from both sides of the aisle, particularly Ranking Member Eshoo who today also introduced her vision of reform called the Video CHOICE Act. While there are significant differences in our approaches, Ranking Member Eshoo and I are committed to working in the best interest of consumers, innovation, and our nation\u2019s economic growth.\u201d\n\u201cA 21st video market deserves a 21st century law, and laws that are over 20 years old simply fail to address the reality of the video services market as it exists today,\u201d said Rep. Cory Gardner. \u00a0\u201cA free-market approach is the way we move forward. Businesses will be given the freedom to work and grow in the video market today, and be ready as it continues to evolve in the future. My sincere thanks and gratitude who have taken time out of their busy lives to make sure their voices have been heard.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/letter-sent-president-barack-obama-today-three-members-republican-study-committee-who", "RSC Members request meeting with President Obama to discuss health care alternative", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RSC Members request meeting with President Obama to discuss health care alternative\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 In a letter sent to President Barack Obama today, three Members of the Republican Study Committee who helped craft the RSC\u2019s American Health Care Reform Act requested a meeting to discuss a better way to health care reform. The letter was signed by RSC Chairman Steve Scalise, Congressman Phil Roe and Congressman Marsha Blackburn.\nThe letter comes in response to President Obama\u2019s statement earlier this month that \u201cthe only alternative that Obamacare\u2019s critics have is, well, let\u2019s just go back to the status quo \u2013 because they sure haven\u2019t presented an alternative.\u201d\n\u00a0\u201cThe American Health Care Reform Act currently has 117 cosponsors \u2013 a number that grows every day,\u201d the Members write in the letter.\u00a0 \u201cOur legislation is anything but the status quo \u2013 it is a pragmatic, practical, and portable free-market alternative to the current health care system.\u00a0 In addition to the American Health Care Reform Act, Members of the RSC have introduced more than 200 health care related bills this Congress.\u00a0 As a caucus, we are dedicated to improving access to health care for all Americans.\u00a0 We welcome the opportunity to share these ideas with you.\u201d\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-morganza-decision", "Scalise statement on Morganza Decision", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Jo-Ellen Darcy, issued a Record of Decision for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project.\u00a0 This decision will enable Congress to authorize the project for funding and construction.\u00a0\n\u201cMoving forward on Morganza to the Gulf is vital to families and businesses in Southeast Louisiana as well as the rest of the nation, and today\u2019s announcement by Assistant Secretary Darcy is another important step in the right direction,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cAfter 22 years of dealing with government bureaucrats, numerous authorizations and Chiefs Reports, and more than $70 million in studies, the people of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes have waited long enough.\u00a0 I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Ranking Member Vitter in the Senate to ensure this project is included in the final Conference Report of the WRDA Bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003657/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-reid-show-your-obamacare-exemptions", "Vitter to Reid: Show Your Obamacare Exemptions", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Reid: Show Your Obamacare Exemptions\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter will read a letter to Reid on Senate Floor at approximately 4:15 pm ET, and has personally invited Reid to join him on the floor\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today regarding reports that he exempted some of his staff from Obamacare. Members of Congress were required to designate whether their staffs are \u201cofficial\u201d under the health care law. Staffs that are not designated as \u201cofficial\u201d are not required to enter the health care exchanges.  \u201cMillions of Americans are losing the health care plans and doctors they wanted to keep and are facing dramatic premium increases, all as Washington enjoys a special exemption,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019m asking Sen. Reid to publicly and in writing answer four important questions about his choice to exempt some of his staff from Obamacare. To make it easy, I\u2019ve offered to have him join me on the Senate floor this afternoon.\u201d\nIn September, Reid said: \u201cwe are going to be part of exchanges \u2013 that\u2019s what the law says, and we\u2019ll be part of it.\u201d\nVitter designated all of his staff, including his staff on the Environment and Public Works Committee, as \u201cofficial\u201d meaning they will all join him in the Obamacare exchanges.\nThe text of Vitter\u2019s letter is below.\n  December 10, 2013\nThe Honorable Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)  Office of the Senate Majority Leader  S-221 the Capitol  Washington, D.C. 20510\nDear Majority Leader Reid,\nIt has been reported that you are the only Member of top Congressional leadership--House and Senate, Democrat and Republican-- who has exempted some of your staff from having to procure their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange as clearly required by the Obamacare statute.\nMillions of Americans are losing the health care plans and doctors they wanted to keep and are facing dramatic premium increases, all as Washington enjoys a special exemption. Given this, I ask you to publicly and in writing answer the four important questions below regarding your office's exemption. I will also be on the Senate floor to discuss this at approximately 4:15 pm today and invite you to join me there.\nFirst, how did you designate each member of your staff, including your leadership staff, regarding their status as \u201cofficial\u201d (going to the Exchange) or \"not official\" (exempted from Exchange)? Did you delegate that designation to the Senate Disbursing Office, which would have the effect of exempting all of your leadership staff from going to the Exchange?\nSecond, if any of your staff is designated as \"not official\" (exempted from Exchange), are any of those staff members receiving official taxpayer-funded salaries, benefits, office space, office equipment, or any other taxpayer support?\nThird, if any of your staff is designated as \"not official\" (exempted from Exchange), did any of these staff members assist you in drafting or passing Obamacare into law? If so, which staff members exactly?\nFourth, how are the above designations of yours consistent with the clear, unequivocal statement you made on September 12: \"Let's stop these really juvenile political games -- the one dealing with health care for senators and House members and our staff. We are going to be part of exchanges, that's what the law says and we'll be part of that.\"[1]\nI look forward to your clear, written responses to these important questions. I also look forward to having fair, up-or-down votes on the Senate floor on my \"Show Your Exemptions\" and \"No Washington Exemptions\" proposals in the new year.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter    U.S. Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221005225/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-morganza-chiefs-report-gets-nod-to-move-forward", "Vitter: Morganza Chief\u2019s Report Gets Nod to Move Forward", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Morganza Chief\u2019s Report Gets Nod to Move Forward\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter, top Republican on the Senate committee that oversees the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, today announced that the Morganza to the Gulf Chief\u2019s Report has received concurrence to move forward with Congressional authorization by the Administration after nearly two decades of delays. The Corps completed the report in July, and it has been waiting for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB did not object to the report, therefore allowing it to move forward.\n\u201cWe\u2019re keeping Morganza moving forward on the right track, and the timing of this is great to help us with producing a final version of WRDA,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cMany Louisianians are under threat of flooding every hurricane season, and this project would give them much needed relief. I\u2019ll continue working on the conference committee get a final WRDA bill done.\u201d\nVitter ensured that the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) included the ability for Morganza to get authorization under this bill when he passed the bill through the Senate. The Chief\u2019s Report is a major step in achieving authorization. The last hurdle was for this 120 day review to be approved by the Assistant Sec. of the Army for Civil Works and OMB.\nOn May 15, Vitter was able to get WRDA, S. 601, agreed to in the U.S. Senate with a vote of 83 to 14. Currently, WRDA is being worked out in a conference committee to produce a final version between the Senate and the House of Representatives. Vitter is the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee which has jurisdiction over WRDA and the lead sponsor along with Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif).\nWRDA provides critical flood protection for communities across the country and particularly in Louisiana. Projects like the Morganza to the Gulf and Louisiana Coastal System Ecosystem Restoration Projects will all be able to get authorization under this bill.\nMorganza is a system of levees, floodgates and a lock on the Houma Navigation Canal aimed at protecting residents of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from storm flooding. The Corps has been working on the federal project since 1992.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221005806/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-house-to-vote-on-authorizing-va-clinics-today-", "Vitter: House to Vote on Authorizing VA Clinics Today", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: House to Vote on Authorizing VA Clinics Today \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLegislation authorizing VA clinics is poised to pass the House of Representatives today. Vitter committed to pushing it through Senate.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter announced today that legislation authorizing 27 VA clinics across the country, including the clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles, is likely to pass through the U.S. House of Representatives today. Vitter says he will be immediately pushing for a unanimous consent agreement in the Senate to pass the House bill, which was authored by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.).\n\u201cBureaucratic errors at the VA threw these clinics into jeopardy in the first place,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely crucial for Louisiana veterans to have both of these clinics. I\u2019ll be offering the House legislation up for unanimous consent in the Senate as soon as possible to expedite the process and not have to mess with a new Senate bill which could potentially slow down the process.\u201d\nVitter met with the nominee to be the Undersecretary of the Veterans Administration, Sloan Gibson, and conveyed that he expects this legislation to be passed by the House and the Senate by the end of the year. Vitter said that if it is, he\u2019ll support Gibson\u2019s nomination. Click here to read more.\nA recent ruling by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reversed authorization for twelve Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) clinics from last year\u2019s VA funding bill, including clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles. Vitter urged the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee to include both clinics in the committee\u2019s funding authorization bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012322/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/reid-falsely-attacks-vitter-vitter-responds", "Reid Falsely Attacks Vitter, Vitter Responds", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Reid Falsely Attacks Vitter, Vitter Responds\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today falsely attacked Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) while defending his decision to exempt his staff from Obamacare.\n\u201cWe hope that Senator Vitter enjoys the government-sponsored health care contribution he reportedly continues to receive even as he launches these pointless political attacks,\u201d said Reid\u2019s spokesman.\n\u201cIn fact, I enrolled in a health insurance plan on the Louisiana exchange and receive no subsidy of any kind for it,\u201d Vitter responded.\nVitter spoke on the Senate floor today calling on Reid to explain his decision to exempt some of his staff from Obamacare. Vitter invited Reid to the floor, but Reid did not show up.\nClick here to watch a video of Vitter\u2019s floor speech.\nClick here to read Vitter\u2019s letter to Reid today.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221012335/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-gen-clark-to-agree-to-free-cell-phone-debate-disclose-campaigns-financial-supporters", "Vitter Urges Gen. Clark to Agree to Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Campaign\u2019s Financial Supporters", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Urges Gen. Clark to Agree to Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Campaign\u2019s Financial Supporters\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tGen. Clark to testify before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 10, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today followed up to his November 18 letter to Gen. Wesley Clark regarding Vitter\u2019s invitation to publicly debate Clark\u2019s campaign for free government cell phones. Vitter had also previously asked Clark to disclose the financial contributors to his advocacy campaign promoting free cell phones. In Clark\u2019s initial response, he did not disclose who was financially responsible nor did he commit to any of the dates Vitter proposed for a debate. Click here to read Vitter\u2019s Nov. 18 letter.\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely disappointed that General Clark has still refused to come clean about where his campaign funding is coming from,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to debate the fraud-ridden Lifeline phone program publically as soon as he is, but he hasn\u2019t officially agreed to a debate yet. Coincidentally, Clark is also appearing at an EPW committee this week, so I\u2019ll have another opportunity to ask him in person.\u201d\nClark is scheduled to testify before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee this Wednesday, December 11. Vitter is the top Republican on the committee.\nVitter first challenged Clark to a debate after Clark criticized Vitter\u2019s efforts to end the free government cellphone program known as Lifeline during a visit to Louisiana. Vitter has authored legislation to end the free cell phone portion of Lifeline and cites massive fraud surrounding the program. Clark agreed to a debate in a phone conversation with Vitter. Click here to read more.\nClick here for the news report about Clark\u2019s first visit to Louisiana and Vitter\u2019s response.\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s second letter back to Clark today.\n  December 10, 2013\nGeneral Wesley K. Clark   Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC  P.O. Box 3276  Little Rock, Arkansas 72203\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL\nDear General Clark:\nI look forward to seeing you before the EPW Committee on Wednesday and hearing your testimony in support of the corn ethanol mandate.\nI write to again ask a specific question that you can answer at your appearance or in advance in writing, if you prefer.\nAt Wednesday's hearing, you are appearing on behalf of Growth Energy. This organization is the advocacy arm of the ethanol industry, thus representing big businesses that benefit financially from the government-mandated ethanol program.\nThis situation seems reminiscent of your advocacy for the free government cell phone program. So I again ask: Have you or any businesses or political PACs with which you are associated, including the veterans organization that sponsored your Lifeline visit to Louisiana, been paid or hired by entities that benefit financially from the Lifeline program? If so, by whom and how much?\nAs you know, I have asked this latter question of you repeatedly in writing. (See attached letters of October 2 and November 18.) You committed to answer this in writing in our phone conversation of October 8 but to date have reneged on that commitment.\nThank you in advance for finally answering this question. If you want to keep this separate from your testimony at the hearing, thank you for answering it in writing prior to the hearing.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter  U.S. Senator\nAttachments", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-mourns-loss-nelson-mandela", "Rep. Richmond Mourns the Loss of Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- Today, Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following statement after learning of the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela:\n\"During my time as a state Representative in Louisiana, Southern University renamed their school of policy the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. At an affiliated dinner hosted by the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, I was given the distinct honor of presenting a resolution to this noble, yet humble leader. It is an experience I have and forever will cherish. Nelson Mandela\u2019s life and legacy are etched in the halls of history because he fearlessly proved to the people of South Africa and to the entire world that we can never bend to racial inequality, poverty or injustice. To the world he is an activist, Nobel Peace prize winner and leader, but I will always regard him as my hero.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004115/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-says-senate-appropriators-misstep-may-benefit-middle-east-airlines-at-us-airlines-expense-wants-correction", "Vitter Says Senate Appropriators\u2019 Misstep May Benefit Middle East Airlines at U.S. Airlines Expense, Wants Correction", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Says Senate Appropriators\u2019 Misstep May Benefit Middle East Airlines at U.S. Airlines Expense, Wants Correction\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter urges Appropriations Committee to reconsider their legislation that allows foreign entities to be involved in U.S. safety and security\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 9, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) along with two Senators and 13 Representatives sent a bipartisan letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee leadership asking them to halt the use of U.S. funds to support an Abu Dhabi International Airport. The Members of Congress say there are no U.S. airlines servicing that airport and sending money to Abu Dhabi to allow for a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility will only benefit Middle Eastern airlines, at the expense of domestic airlines.\n\u201cThis deal concocted by the Senate appropriators could negatively impact American jobs and our economy while allowing a foreign country to finance a core national security function with U.S. taxpayer dollars,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019ll be the first to say I don\u2019t think we should ever outsource America\u2019s safety and security. Furthermore, this just puts our domestic airlines at a competitive disadvantage against Middle Eastern airlines.\u201d\nIn 2012, ten leading U.S. airline business entities wrote to the U.S. Subcommittee on Homeland Security, chaired by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), expressing their concern on behalf of their employees asking to stop this action from moving forward. Click here to read their letter. Despite the pleas, the Homeland Security Subcommittee approved the action.\nIn April, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to permit the establishment of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The Senate Appropriations Committee and the Homeland Security Subcommittee approved this action as part of the FY13 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The legislation permitted the (CBP) Commissioner to enter into agreements for reimbursements for any CBP service with any entity, including foreign governments that requested such a service.\nVitter is calling on Appropriations committee leadership, including Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Daniel Coats (R-Ind.), to reverse this position.\nAlong with Vitter, U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (K-Kan.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) signed the letter as well as U.S. Reps. Bill Cassidy (R- La.), Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), Tom Graves (R-Ga.), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), David Joyce (R-Ohio), Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), John Fleming (R-La.), Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Andre Carson (D-Ind.).\nBelow is the text of Vitter\u2019s letter.\n  December 9, 2013\n  The Honorable Barbara Mikulski The Honorable Richard Shelby   Chairwoman Ranking Member  U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations  503 Hart Senate Office Building 304 Russell Senate Office Building   Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510\nThe Honorable Mary Landrieu The Honorable Dan Coats  Chairwoman Ranking Member  Sub-Committee on Homeland Security Sub-Committee on Homeland Security   703 Hart Senate Office Building 439 Russell Senate Office Building  Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510\nDear Chairwoman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby, Chairwoman Landrieu and Ranking Member Coats:\nIn April, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to permit the establishment of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. As the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee, we strongly urge you to concur with the position taken by the U.S. House of Representatives in its FY 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations and prevent this agreement \u2013 which will negatively impact American jobs and our economy while allowing a foreign country to finance a core national security function \u2013 from being implemented, particularly with U.S. taxpayer dollars.\nDespite bipartisan Congressional opposition and industry-wide concerns about the impact this facility would have on American jobs and global competitiveness, its implementation is moving forward. The agreement authorizing the facility is modeled on authority from Section 555 of the FY13 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill \u2013 approved by the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee, but never enacted into law \u2013 which would have authorized CBP to enter into agreements for reimbursements for any CBP service with any entity, including foreign governments that requested such a service.\nCurrently, the U.S. maintains 15 CBP preclearance facilities in countries such as Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean. These facilities allow passengers to clear U.S. customs at their place of departure, allowing travelers to bypass these security measures once they cross the U.S. border. Doing so boosts tourism, travel and commerce from these locations. In contrast to the soon to be opened Abu Dhabi preclearance facility, the 15 existing preclearance facilities are served by U.S. passenger airlines and meet CBP\u2019s throughput threshold of 400,000 passengers a year.\nSince no U.S. airline currently serves Abu Dhabi, the planned preclearance facility will solely benefit a foreign airline competitor \u2013 specifically the state-owned and -supported Etihad Airways. Etihad competes with U.S. airlines not just for travel between the United States and the Middle East, but also for transit from important emerging markets, including India and Asia. It is unclear to us why the U.S. would volunteer to further tilt the playing field to the benefit of these state-owned enterprises, which use revenue earned from international flights to enhance domestic connectivity \u2013 especially to smaller airports.\nOn behalf of their American employees, ten major U.S. organizations representing the commercial aviation industry have already written to Senator Landrieu, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee\u2019s Homeland Security Subcommittee, regarding the negative impact of this proposal and asking for its termination. In June 2012, several business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), Airlines for America, and other U.S. aviation advocates publicly requested that this bad policy, undermining U.S. businesses, be addressed. Unfortunately, the Senate\u2019s proposal as currently written does not protect U.S. businesses.\nWe are also concerned that the financing arrangement negotiated with the UAE has the potential to threaten our national security. By allowing the UAE to reimburse CBP for most of the costs associated with this facility, this agreement appears to set the dangerous precedent of auctioning off the provision of core national security functions to the highest bidder. We cannot support outsourcing America\u2019s safety and security.\nThe U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations should match the U.S. House\u2019s efforts to stop what will ultimately cost U.S. businesses jobs and tilt the competitive balance in favor of foreign state-owned carriers. During this time of budget austerity, the U.S. taxpayer-funded assets assigned to Abu Dhabi would be much better directed to reducing wait times at the busiest and most understaffed U.S. airports.\nWe respectfully request that as Chairwoman and Ranking members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and Chairwoman and Ranking members of the Sub-Committee on Homeland Security, you address this issue immediately and before any further U.S. Senate floor action allows these funds to go forward.\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\nSincerely,\n  _____________________________ ______________________________  David Vitter Saxby Chambliss  United States Senator United States Senator\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  Jerry Moran Bill Cassidy  United States Senator Member of Congress\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  Patrick Meehan Frank LoBiondo  Member of Congress Member of Congress\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  Tom Graves Rick Larsen  Member of Congress Member of Congress\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  Howard Coble Larry Bucshon  Member of Congress Member of Congress\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  David Joyce John Fleming  Member of Congress Member of Congress\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  Ander Crenshaw Steve Scalise  Member of Congress Member of Congress\n  _____________________________ _____________________________  Charles Boustany, M.D. Andr\u00e9 Carson  Member of Congress Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/majority-house-majority-supports-rsc-american-health-care-reform-act", "Majority of House Majority supports RSC American Health Care Reform Act", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The RSC\u2019s American Health Care Reform Act today reached another milestone by gaining its 117th cosponsor, a majority of House GOP members.\u00a0\n\u201cAmerican families and small businesses deserve and demand real solutions to the serious problems that exist in our health care system,\u201d RSC Chairman Steve Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is encouraging to see so much momentum building behind the American Health Care Reform Act, which is focused on putting patients back in charge of their health care decisions and lowering costs so hard-working taxpayers have more options for their families.\u00a0 I look forward to this bill continuing to gain momentum as it moves through the legislative process and ultimately comes up for a vote on the House Floor.\u201d\n\u201cI am proud to see support growing for the American Health Care Reform Act, a commonsense conservative plan to make health care less expensive and more accessible,\u201d said Dr. Phil Roe, Chairman of the RSC\u2019s Health Care Working Group. \u201cWith a majority of House Republicans supporting this bill, it\u2019s time that President Obama stop claiming Republicans don\u2019t have solutions. The health care system in this country was broken before Obamacare, and his law has only made things worse. There is an answer to our country\u2019s health care problems, but President Obama\u2019s health care law is not it. This bill has real solutions and I am glad to see so many conservatives, under the leadership of Chairman Scalise, rally around it.\u201d\nH.R. 3121 was drafted by RSC Chairman Steve Scalise, RSC Health Care Working Group Chairman Dr. Phil Roe, and working group members Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Renee Ellmers, Dr. John Fleming, Dr. Paul Gosar, Dr. Tom Price, and Rep. Todd Rokita.\u00a0 Specifically, H.R. 3121, the RSC's American Health Care Reform Act:\n Fully repeals President Obama's health care law.\u00a0\nProvides tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard tax deduction for health insurance.\nSpurs competition by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.\nReforms medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.\nExpands access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses.\nSafeguards individuals with pre-existing conditions by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.\nProtects the unborn by ensuring no federal funding of abortions.\n More information on H.R. 3121 can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-introduces-legislation-urging-senate-increase-iran-sanctions", "Scalise introduces legislation urging the Senate to increase Iran sanctions", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today introduced H.Res. 431, a resolution urging the Senate to consider a House-passed bill to increase sanctions on Iran.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\n\u201cA nuclear-armed Iran is not only a dangerous threat to America\u2019s national security, but it would also pose a serious threat to our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cIn July, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation to increase sanctions on Iran.\u00a0 Considering President Obama\u2019s naive and dangerous decision to ease sanctions on Iran, it is imperative that the Senate quickly bring the House\u2019s bipartisan sanctions bill to the floor for consideration.\u00a0 The time to act is now.\u00a0 Israel is a vital ally and our most trusted friend in the region, and President Obama would do well to consult with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has called the P5+1 interim agreement with Iran \u2018an historic mistake.\u2019\u00a0 We call on the Senate to follow the House\u2019s lead in taking decisive action to mitigate the threat that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose to the United States and the rest of the world.\u201d\nOn July 31, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013, H.R. 850, by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 400-20-1.\nH.Res. 431 was introduced with 31 original cosponsors.\u00a0 The text of the resolution can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221002842/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/brown-vitter-disagree-with-treasury-secretary-lew-on-too-big-to-fail-assessment", "Brown, Vitter Disagree with Treasury Secretary Lew on \u201cToo Big to Fail\u201d Assessment", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Brown, Vitter Disagree with Treasury Secretary Lew on \u201cToo Big to Fail\u201d Assessment\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 5, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) today both disagreed with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, who claimed that the Administration has overcome \u201ctoo big to fail.\u201d\nLew said, \u201c\u2026If we could not with a straight face say we ended \u2018too big to fail\u2019, we would have to look at other options. Based on the totality of reforms we are putting in place, I believe we will meet that test.\u201d\n\u201cIf Lew thinks he can claim victory over \u2018too big to fail\u2019 today, I\u2019d tell him he\u2019s living on another planet. Independent study after independent study shows that too big to fail is alive and well with the Wall Street megabanks and they still enjoy a cost of funding advantage over their smaller competitors,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cEliminating the megabanks federal handouts \u2013 and addressing the problem of \u2018too big to fail\u2019 financial institutions \u2013 is a simple matter of common sense, and it absolutely still needs to be addressed. The megabanks have been growing at a rapid pace since the financial meltdown \u2013 largely on the backs of U.S. taxpayers. I\u2019ll continue fighting to protect the taxpayers from financial risks by implementing a systemic solution, increasing the minimum amount of capital the megabanks are required to have.\u201d\n\u201cIt is premature for anyone to take a victory lap when \u2018too big to fail\u2019 policies are still alive and well,\u201d Brown said. \u201cDespite what some on Wall Street and in Washington may say, our work is not finished. Regulators have failed to finalize key rules to address the issue \u2013 including orderly liquidation rules, enhanced capital and leverage rules for systemically important institutions, limits on the Fed\u2019s emergency lending power, and pushing risky derivatives out of federally insured banks. As long as the market believes that certain institutions have the implicit support of taxpayers, and provides a funding advantage based upon that support, Sen. Vitter and I will continue fighting to hold megabanks accountable for their risky investments.\u201d\nIn November, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the first of two reports on the federal government\u2019s bailout of large financial institutions during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The GAO report found that Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo & Co were able to borrow below-market interests rates, demonstrating an economic benefit of being \u201ctoo big to fail.\u201d Brown and Vitter, who requested that GAO conduct the investigations, are also authors of the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act, legislation that would require the largest and most interconnected financial institutions to maintain a 15 percent capital ratio to ensure taxpayers will not serve as the backstop for risky investments. Click here to read more and access the GAO report.\nVitter along with Brown and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) have urged federal regulators to strengthen their proposed supplementary leverage ratio in order to reduce future government support, eliminating the possibility of \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d policies in the future. Click here to read the letter.\nIn March, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved an amendment to end federal subsidies for \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d mega-banks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-congratulates-mcallister-committee-assignments", "Scalise congratulates McAllister on committee assignments", "2013-12-04", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scalise congratulates McAllister on committee assignments                                           \n              Dec 4, 2013      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after Vance McAllister (LA-5) was named to the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Natural Resources Committee. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\n\u201cVance's new committee assignments will allow him to be even more effective for both the 5th District and the entire state of Louisiana,\u201d Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise said. \u00a0\u201cVance shares my commitment to American energy security, and his background will be a strong asset to the natural resources committee as we work to expedite revenue sharing and expand oil production to restore our coast and grow Louisiana's economy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-energy-and-commerce-committee-plan-update-communications-act", "Scalise Statement on the House Energy and Commerce Committee Plan to Update the Communications Act", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) today announced plans for the committee to examine and update the Communications Act.\n\t\u201cI strongly support a broad review and update of our communications laws, and applaud today\u2019s announcement by Chairmen Upton and Walden,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cThis future review should not distract us, however, from acting on the foundation already laid during our subcommittee\u2019s multi-year examination of video policies. It is abundantly clear from the Members and witnesses at committee hearings that the 1992 Cable Act was written for a different era, and technological advancements in this competitive marketplace have rendered the law obsolete. I look forward to working with Chairmen Upton and Walden, and Ranking Member Eshoo to promote consumer choice and economic growth at every available opportunity in this new age.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003505/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-report-says-louisiana-paying-39-million-to-subsidize-wind-energy", "Vitter: Report Says Louisiana Paying $39 Million to Subsidize Wind Energy", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Report Says Louisiana Paying $39 Million to Subsidize Wind Energy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 2, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, commented on a report released by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) today on the impact of the federal wind energy tax credits for each state. According to the report, Louisiana taxpayers pay more than $39 million per year to subsidize wind energy production. Click here to see the IER report.\nOn November 18, Vitter sent a letter to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), requesting an update on the economic data for domestic energy development, including oil and gas, coal, wind, and solar.\n\u201cI\u2019ve always supported an all-of-the-above energy strategy; however, there are naturally some sources of energy that have proven to have a more positive impact on our economy and produce more revenue for the federal Treasury. As we work on creating a better energy policy, it's important to look toward the success stories that will bring stability and create jobs, especially from domestic energy production,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cThe Administration needs to do a much better job of producing economic data, so we can better understand which energy sources are self-sustainable and bring in revenue, and which ones are costing the government and taxpayers.\u201d\nVitter\u2019s request to OMB asks them to break down the economic data behind renewable energy projects and traditional energy sources, including information about net and projected revenues, lease sales, and taxpayer-funded subsidies.\nIn 2011, Vitter requested comprehensive responses on domestic energy development from then-OMB Director Jacob Lew. Today\u2019s letter follows up on that request, asking for more recent numbers and data.\nVitter, along with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), have also asked the U.S. Department of Interior to explain the Administration\u2019s economic reasoning in allowing offshore lease sales for wind energy in the Atlantic Ocean. The senators have noted that that the agency will not allow offshore oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and have requested data on the economics of the wind lease sale, to compare with the value of a similar lease for oil and gas on equivalent acreage.\nVitter\u2019s January 14, 2011 letter to OMB.\nOMB\u2019s September 15, 2011 response.\nVitter\u2019s November 18, 2013 letter to OMB.\nVitter and Alexander\u2019s November 9, 2012 letter to Interior.  *note: the Interior Department has yet to respond.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-obama-administrations-deal-iran", "Scalise Statement on the Obama Administration's Deal with Iran", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement about the Obama Administration\u2019s deal with Iran.\n\"There's an old saying that nothing good happens after\u00a02 am, and this naive and dangerous deal with Iran struck in the middle of the night clearly fits that description,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cSecretary of State Kerry appeared to be more eager to get a deal than he was to stand up to the Iranian government's plan to develop nuclear weapons.\u00a0 It is telling that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, our closest ally in the region, called this deal \u2018an historic mistake.\u2019\n\u201cTime and time again, Iran has proven it cannot be trusted, and this deal gives Iran access to billions of dollars in exchange for very little with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities. In order to continue holding Iran accountable, it is vital that President Obama quickly reverse course and support the strong, bipartisan bill passed by the House that imposes even tougher sanctions against Iran until they verifiably dismantle their nuclear weapons program.\"\nTen days ago, Scalise met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel to discuss the deal with Iran, and share his strong objections.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221004121/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-statement-on-obamas-deal-with-iran-to-weaken-sanctions-", "Vitter Statement on Obama\u2019s Deal with Iran to Weaken Sanctions", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Statement on Obama\u2019s Deal with Iran to Weaken Sanctions \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 25, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter made the following statement today regarding the agreement President Obama and the United Nations made with Iran about weakening economic sanctions for Iran.\n\u201cThe definition of a deal usually means both parties get something, but all this deal amounts to is increased time and money for Iran to develop and acquire more deadly weapons,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cWe all want a peaceful solution, but Iran has not demonstrated any tangible guarantees of halting their nuclear weapons program. President Obama is just allowing them to push the \u2018pause\u2019 button while we weaken our economic sanctions.\u201d\nPresident Obama put pressure on Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid to block votes on increased sanction in Iran until after he had made this deal, which has delayed the passage of the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\u201cThere are Democrats in Congress who won\u2019t go along with the President\u2019s deal, mainly because it could reduce our standing with much needed allies in the hostile region \u2013 particularly Israel,\u201d Vitter added. \u201cMany of us in Congress will be working to correct this disproportionate deal \u2013 assuming Reid allows us to actually bring up amendments and vote.\u201d\nVitter is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221002845/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/brown-vitter-and-levin-urge-regulators-to-increase-capital-requirements", "Brown, Vitter and Levin Urge Regulators to Increase Capital Requirements", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Brown, Vitter and Levin Urge Regulators to Increase Capital Requirements\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, November 22, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington D.C.) Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), David Vitter (R-LA), and Carl Levin (D-MI) sent a letter urging the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to strengthen their proposed supplementary leverage ratio in order to reduce future government support, eliminating the possibility of \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d policies in the future.\n\u201cWe write to your agencies today to urge you to help prevent the next financial crisis, and ensuing bailouts, by strengthening your proposed enhanced supplementary leverage ratio for the largest financial institutions,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cYour proposals make very positive steps in the right direction, but without further strengthening they will not provide adequate protection for taxpayers. We urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to consider a higher final leverage ratio. We feel this proposal along with your proposal on a capital surcharge for the largest banks must move forward thoughtfully and aggressively.\u201d\nDespite receiving assistance from taxpayers in 2008, today, the nation\u2019s four largest banks\u2014JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo\u2014are nearly $2 trillion larger today than they were before the crisis. Their growth has been aided by an implicit guarantee\u2014funded by taxpayers and awarded by virtue of their size\u2014as the market knows that these institutions have been deemed \u201ctoo big to fail.\u201d\nBrown and Vitter recently released the findings of the first of two reports by the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) on the federal government\u2019s bailout of large financial institutions during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Senators Brown and Vitter have introduced the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act; legislation that would require the largest and most interconnected financial institutions to maintain a 15 percent capital ratio to ensure taxpayers will not serve as the backstop for risky investments.\nFull text of the senators\u2019 letter follows:\n  The Honorable Ben S. Bernanke  Chairman  Board of Governors of the   Federal Reserve System  Washington, D.C. 20551\nThe Honorable Martin J. Gruenberg  Chairman  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  550 17th Street, N.W.  Washington, D.C. 20429\nThe Honorable Thomas J. Curry  Comptroller of the Currency  Administrator of National Banks  Washington, D.C. 20219\nDear Chairman Bernanke, Chairman Gruenberg, and Comptroller Curry:\nLarge, over-leveraged financial institutions were central to the 2008 financial crisis that nearly collapsed our nation\u2019s economy. When the assets of these largest banks declined in value, they did not have enough of their own capital to cover their losses, and instead relied upon unprecedented efforts by your agencies and taxpayer bailouts to stay afloat. Simpler, more robust capital rules will properly align incentives for large financial institutions by lessening government support for the financial sector and reassure financial markets that the U.S. financial system is healthy.\nWe write to your agencies today to urge you to help prevent the next financial crisis, and ensuing bailouts, by strengthening your proposed enhanced supplementary leverage ratio for the largest financial institutions. Your proposals make very positive steps in the right direction, but without further strengthening they will not provide adequate protection for taxpayers. We urge you, in the strongest terms possible, to consider a higher final leverage ratio. We feel this proposal along with your proposal on a capital surcharge for the largest banks must move forward thoughtfully and aggressively.\nBecause of the central role that leverage played in the financial crisis, we have been disappointed that the recent international capital accords adopted inadequate leverage requirements for the largest banks. In 2007, the investment banks Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers would have been compliant with proposed international leverage rules, and yet each would have become insolvent, or nearly insolvent, if the value of their assets declined by as little as three percent. We are encouraged by your agencies\u2019 proposal because we believe that the Basel III framework should serve as a floor, not a ceiling. While we believe that the proposed levels are still inadequate and that you must require a more robust level in order to successfully address the \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d problem, as some have advocated, this move is a step in the right direction. We offer the following comments in response to your proposal.\nFirst, using simple measures of assets and equity is the most effective form of capital regulation. The Bank of England\u2019s Andy Haldane has found the predictive value of simple measures of equity and leverage to be ten times greater than that of complex risk-weighted asset measurements. As you implement your proposal, we urge you to focus on real, loss-absorbing equity. During the crisis, markets ignored certain instruments that qualified as Tier 1 capital but were not reliable buffers against loss and focused upon whether institutions had sufficient levels of common equity.\nWe also believe that institutions\u2019 assets should be measured in the most comprehensive and straightforward manner possible. Risk weights should not be \u201cmanaged\u201d or \u201coptimized\u201d to gain more favorable capital treatment. The Basel Committee recently suggested that making risk-weighted assets calculations less complex would improve capital regulation by making capital ratios more comparable and easier to understand. The Committee has also found that using internal models to calculate risk-weighted assets can incentivize financial institutions to underestimate their capital requirements. Cash and excess reserves must also be included in asset calculations, and derivatives must be accounted for in a realistic manner. The \u201cLondon Whale\u201d episode provided a specific example of a bank altering its internal models to produce lower risk weights and capital; it also showed how many derivative exposures \u2013 especially so-called \u201cportfolio hedges\u201d \u2013 do not function as hedges and can amplify, rather than decrease, risk.\nCapital rules should be designed to take into account the fact that institutions\u2019 crisis planning will never be perfect and that banks are likely to downplay possible problems. The Board of Governors of Federal Reserve System\u2019s recent report on stress testing found that some of the largest institutions remain focused upon meeting regulatory minimum capital ratios; continue to overlook uncertain sources of financial losses; lack appropriate plans to raise capital when faced with financial distress; and design stress scenarios containing overly optimistic assumptions of their perceived strength during a financial crisis. Given this reality, we agree with the view of experts that regulators should focus on financial institutions\u2019 levels of pure tangible common equity to total, non-risk-weighted assets.\nWe agree with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Vice Chairman Thomas Hoenig that the argument that stronger leverage rules will hurt U.S. competitiveness is \u201cnonsense.\u201d Rather than put our financial sector at a disadvantage, strong leverage rules will serve as a source of strength during turbulent times. Most banks are meeting new, heightened capital requirements by retaining earnings and not cutting their lending, and institutions with higher starting capital ratios have seen their assets grow more quickly over the past four years. Right now, U.S. institutions have a competitive advantage over their international counterparts, both because their competitors are undercapitalized and because the U.S. economy is growing faster than those of other countries. The proposed rule will provide clear benefits to U.S. financial stability and competitiveness, while imposing minimal costs to society.\nIt is also important to remember that community banks did not threaten the economy with their collapse or cause the financial crisis: the big banks did. And it is with that lesson in mind that we appreciate your agencies\u2019 decision to ensure that efforts to protect our economy and taxpayers from being threatened again by the collapse of a too-big-to-fail firm will not unnecessarily impact the smaller banks who don\u2019t engage in non-traditional, riskier capital markets activities.\nJust a few years ago, your agencies, two Presidents, Congress, and the American people were all pressed into the terrible choice of bailing out the largest financial firms or risking the collapse of the economy. We urge you to use your authorities to enhance capital and reduce leverage at the largest financial firms, so that none of us is again faced with such a choice. We commend you on your approach and urge you to strengthen your proposal and begin implementing it as soon as is practicable.\nThank you for considering our views.\n  Sincerely,\n  SHERROD BROWN DAVID VITTER\n  CARL LEVIN", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/richmond-votes-favor-innovation-act", "Richmond Votes in Favor of the Innovation Act", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) a member of House Committee on the Judiciary, today released the following statement after voting in support of the Innovation Act this evening:\n\u201cI voted in support of the Innovation Act this evening because it is a good first step in what I hope will be a more inclusive, deliberative direction that will enable the House to build on what the Judiciary Committee has reported. \u00a0I am hopeful that the Chairman will work in a bipartisan way to address remaining concerns with the Innovation Act as it goes to the House Floor. We must ensure that it reflects a balanced approach that protects the rights of patent owners while also reducing abusive patent litigation so that all stakeholders involved can focus on promoting economic growth. \u00a0Without this balance, my continued support is not guaranteed.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021008/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-senate-democrats-rule-change-is-scary-and-dictatorial-", "Vitter: Senate Democrats\u2019 Rule Change is Scary and Dictatorial", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Senate Democrats\u2019 Rule Change is Scary and Dictatorial \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 21, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today offered the following reaction to the U.S. Senate vote on changing Senate filibuster rules.\n\u201cRather than fix the Obamacare disaster, today Harry Reid and Mary Landrieu doubled down on the brass knuckles partisan power politics that produced it--jam it through, no compromise, unilaterally make up new rules whenever needed,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThis isn't just a shame for the Senate; it's scary and dictatorial for our country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021012/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-rep-cotton-introduces-show-your-exemption-act-in-us-house", "Vitter: Rep. Cotton Introduces \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d in U.S. House", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Rep. Cotton Introduces \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d in U.S. House\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 21, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) today applauded Congressman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) for introducing the \u201cShow Your Exemption\u201d Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d would require each Congressional office to make public which staff they designate \u201cofficial\u201d and therefore must enter the Obamacare exchange. Some members have exempted much of their staff.\n\u201cFor members to use this illegal loophole so that some staff can stay off the Obamacare exchanges altogether is flat-out ridiculous. It flies in the face of the exact language of the law,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cOur legislation should be a pro-disclosure no-brainer. Making this information public is also a crucial step in ending Washington\u2019s exemption from Obamacare. I thank Congressman Cotton for joining this fight and introducing companion legislation in the House.\u201d\nMembers of Congress were tasked with designating whether their staffs are \u201cofficial\u201d. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ruling, \u201cofficial\u201d staff must enter the Obamacare exchange. Staff who are not designated \u201cofficial\u201d keep their current plan on the Federal Employee Benefit Program. The Obamacare statue clearly states that all Members of Congress and their staffs are to procure their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange. However, the OPM ruling created a loophole that allows Members to designate some staff as not \u201cofficial\u201d in order to exempt them from the exchange.\nVitter has designated all of his staff, including his staff on the Environment and Public Works Committee, as \u201cofficial.\u201d\nClick here to read Vitter\u2019s op-ed \u201cShow Your Exemption, Washington!\u201d in National Review Online.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131128215622/http://www.vitter.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/vitter-has-bipartisan-bill-to-reform-compensation-method-for-investment-fraud-like-stanford-ponzi-scheme-victims", "Vitter has Bipartisan Bill to Reform Compensation Method For Investment Fraud like Stanford Ponzi Scheme Victims", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter has Bipartisan Bill to Reform Compensation Method For Investment Fraud like Stanford Ponzi Scheme Victims\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tBill will reform broken investor protection system that harmed almost 2000 families in Louisiana \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 20, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today introduced legislation that could provide relief to the victims of the Stanford Ponzi scheme. The \u201cRestoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act of 2013\u201d would reform how the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) go about compensation recommendations for investment fraud victims. The legislation would give more authority and flexibility to the regulators who are tasked with protecting victims of investment fraud and more authority to retrieve appropriate compensation.\n\u201cThe Stanford Ponzi scheme devastated many Louisiana families who invested their hard-earned savings in good faith that it would be there for them when they retire,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cPeople who invest their money with a protected investment firm need to have the confidence that our financial system won\u2019t allow for this type of fraud. Our bill will fix a key problem we\u2019ve seen with the system which currently allows SIPC\u2019s Wall Street members to benefit economically from the SIPC guarantee while denying the claims of legitimate victims by ensuring SIPC is accountable to the SEC rather than its members.\u201d\nFor years, the SEC has concluded that victims of the alleged Stanford Group Co. Ponzi scheme are entitled to receive SIPC coverage for their losses. The SEC ruling was appealed and the SIPC board refused to compensate. In 2011, Vitter had placed a hold on the nominations of two Securities and Exchange Commissioners until the SEC made a decision, and released the hold once the SEC ruled in favor of the victims receiving SIPC coverage.\nThe Vitter bill would give the SEC more authority and greater flexibility to refer cases to SIPC, meaning neither a court nor any other arbiter could intervene in the referral. The bill will clarify the definition of \u201ccustomer\u201d under the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) of 1970 to ensure that investors are not denied protection due to loopholes about where they initially deposited their money. SIPC has used these loopholes to prevent victims in the Stanford case from receiving protection. The definition will be expanded to include protections for investors who deposited cash with a broker-dealer for the purpose of purchasing securities, even if the investor initially deposited those funds with an entity other than the broker-dealer.\nSen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is the lead cosponsor of Vitter\u2019s legislation. The House of Representatives have a similar bill introduced by Reps. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221005332/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-optimistic-about-wrda-conference_", "Vitter Optimistic about WRDA Conference", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Optimistic about WRDA Conference  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 20, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee and a member of the Conference Committee to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), made the following statement today as the conference committee convened. \u201cChairman Boxer and I made the WRDA bill a top priority this year and put it on the fast track because it\u2019s one of the single most significant pieces of legislation for Louisiana that we\u2019ll vote on this year,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cWe have the opportunity to reform the Corps of Engineers, streamline flood protection projects, finally get Morganza moving, and improve our waterways and infrastructure all in one bill. This is a huge benefit to the entire nation that is estimated to create up to 500,000 new jobs.\u201d WRDA passed the Senate 83 to14 in March. It passed the House 417 to 3 in September. The Senate version includes project acceleration provisions that ensure important water infrastructure projects are processed in an efficient manner and also makes reforms to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Projects like the studies for the West Shore Hurricane Protection and Southwest Louisiana Coastal Hurricane Protection will be accelerated by WRDA 2013. Below are some of the specific provisions in the Senate version of WRDA that will benefit Louisiana: \u2022 Provides for increased expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to dredge all Mississippi River and Calcasieu River ports and waterways to their constructed width and depth.  \u2022 Provides authority for the Corps to perform future levee lifts on hurricane protection systems that experience increasing subsidence and sea-level rise.  \u2022 Provides a new innovative water resources financing mechanism for communities to receive federal loans to construct critical water and wastewater facilities. This is important to all Louisiana parishes.  \u2022 Provides authority for the Corps to use the State Master Plan in-lieu of the Comprehensive Plan authorized under WRDA 07, as well as directing mitigation for Corps projects to high-priority ecosystem projects identified in the Master Plan.  \u2022 Makes it easier for non-Federal levees to be eligible for repair and rehabilitation.  \u2022 Requires the Corps to review levee vegetation policy and provide for regional and watershed variances.  \u2022 Creates a pilot program aimed at eliminating red tape and expediting backlogged Corps projects by delegating more project management responsibility to state and local governments.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221005909/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-comments-on-breakthrough-for-va-clinics-in-lafayette-lake-charles", "Vitter Comments on Breakthrough for VA Clinics in Lafayette, Lake Charles", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Comments on Breakthrough for VA Clinics in Lafayette, Lake Charles\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLegislation authorizing VA clinics is poised to pass the House of Representatives today. Vitter committed to pushing it through Senate.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 20, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today commented on legislation that passed in the House of Representatives Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee authorizing 27 VA clinics across the country, including the clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles, La. Vitter says he\u2019ll be pushing for a consent agreement in the Senate to pass the House bill. Yesterday, Vitter met with the nominee to be the Undersecretary of the Veterans Administration, Sloan Gibson, and conveyed that he expects this legislation to be passed by the House and the Senate by the end of the year. Vitter said that if it is, he\u2019ll support Gibson\u2019s nomination.\n\u201cBureaucratic errors at the VA are what threw these clinics into jeopardy in the first place, but I\u2019ll continue fighting to see their completion,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely crucial for Louisiana veterans to have both of these clinics. Both would actually be nearing completion already, but because of mistakes committed by the VA, they were delayed significantly and pushed onto last year\u2019s VA funding bill, which then ran into the complication with brand new budget rules. This legislation fixes that, and I\u2019ll be offering it up for unanimous consent in the Senate as soon as possible.\u201d\nA recent ruling by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reversed authorization for twelve Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) clinics from last year\u2019s VA funding bill, including clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles. Vitter urged the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee to include both clinics in the committee\u2019s funding authorization bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021031/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-calls-dropping-part-of-louisiana-school-voucher-lawsuit-a-temporary-victory", "Vitter Calls Dropping Part of Louisiana School Voucher Lawsuit a Temporary Victory", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Calls Dropping Part of Louisiana School Voucher Lawsuit a Temporary Victory\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 19, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today made the following statement regarding the U.S. Justice Department\u2019s decision to drop part of its lawsuit against Louisiana\u2019s statewide voucher program. DOJ dropped the request for injunction that would have blocked 570 children from going to the school chosen by their family.\n\u201cEducation needs to be about giving all of our students the best possible opportunity, not about reaching federal quotas determined by bureaucrats in Washington,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019m relieved that the Justice Department has decided against this particular attack on Louisiana parents and students, but this is a temporary victory. We still need to ensure that families are the ones to ultimately decide where their children will go to school, not some Washington bureaucrat or some executive order. That\u2019s the end goal we need to continue working toward.\u201d  On October 24, Vitter and 29 other U.S. Senators sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to justify the U.S. Justice Department\u2019s lawsuit against Louisiana\u2019s statewide voucher program.\nThe Louisiana Scholarship Program grants low-income children the opportunity to escape failing public schools and attend a different school chosen by their parents. Last year, the program helped over 5,700 children and raised test scores -- all while saving taxpayers $18 million dollars. More than 90 percent of the students who have benefited from the program are minorities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003724/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-millions-more-have-lost-health-insurance-than-have-enrolled-in-exchange", "Vitter: Millions More Have Lost Health Insurance than Have Enrolled in Exchange", "2013-11-18", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Millions More Have Lost Health Insurance than Have Enrolled in Exchange\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDemands HHS Secretary Sebelius to provide report on enrollee statistics\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 18, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is asking U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to provide a report to Congress on the Obamacare exchange enrollment numbers. Vitter wants to know if those who enrolled were previously uninsured, or if they are people who had their current health care policy cancelled.\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear that millions more Americans have lost their health care policy than have enrolled in the Obamacare exchange,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe law\u2019s incredibly low success rate for Louisiana means that for every one person enrolled in the federally facilitated exchange, 240 Louisianians had their health care policy cancelled and their access to their doctor diminished.\u201d\nVitter is asking HHS to produce a public report with five clear items each month of Obamacare\u2019s Open Enrollment Period, along with numbers by no later than April 15, 2014 for a final report.\n1. Report how many of the Exchange enrollees were uninsured prior to Obamacare\u2019s Open Enrollment Period starting October 1st.   2. Report how many of the Exchange enrollees are among the 5 million Americans who had their health policies cancelled this fall.  3. Report if any of the new Medicaid enrollees had private health insurance prior to Open Enrollment.  4. Report whether there was a net increase or net decrease in the number of Americans with private health insurance.  5. Report these important statistics on a State-by-State basis.\nVitter\u2019s letter copied Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, and Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton. Vitter will be working with House Chairmen to ensure the American public receives accurate information in a timely manner.\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s letter to Sebelius.\n  November 18, 2013\nThe Honorable Kathleen Sebelius  Secretary  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  200 Independence Ave, S.W.  Washington, DC 20201\nDear Madam Secretary:\nIt\u2019s clear that millions more Americans have lost their health care policy than have enrolled in the Obamacare exchange. I write today with major concerns with the Administration\u2019s response to the high volume of cancelled health care policies as a result of the requirements for \u201cgrandfathered health plans\u201d under Obamacare.\nMore than 5 million plans across the country have been cancelled, including nearly 93,000 policies in my home State of Louisiana. Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released enrollment numbers for the Exchange, reporting that out of 7,702 Louisianans who attempted to enroll in Obamacare a dismal 387 people were able to complete the application and enrollment process. The law\u2019s 0.05 percent success rate for my State means that for every one person enrolled in the federally facilitated exchange, 240 hardworking Americans in the State of Louisiana had their health care policy cancelled and their access to their doctor diminished. This is completely contrary to the promise of increased access to quality, affordable health care, not to mention the mantra, \u201cif you like your health plan you can keep it, period\u201d that the President infamously touted 36 times during his campaign to pass this legislation.\nThe goal of the health care law was originally to expand access to care. While we clearly have differing opinions on the substance of the law, it is imperative that the Administration have a transparent process tracking the progress the Federal Government has made on making good on their promises to expand access to care and protect those who enjoy their current health care coverage. In order to carry out the promises you have made to millions of Americans, I ask that you produce a public report with five clear items each month of Obamacare\u2019s Open Enrollment Period, along with numbers by no later than April 15, 2014 for a final report.\n1. Report how many of the Exchange enrollees were uninsured prior to Obamacare\u2019s Open Enrollment Period starting October 1st.   2. Report how many of the Exchange enrollees are among the 5 million Americans who had their health policies cancelled this fall.  3. Report if any of the new Medicaid enrollees had private health insurance prior to Open Enrollment.  4. Report whether or not there was a net increase or net decrease in the number of Americans with private health insurance.  5. Report these important statistics on a State-by-State basis.\nIf Americans are expected to foot the $2 trillion bill for this law, there should be a fair, open, and honest process by which the Federal Government delivers on the promises it has made to those with health insurance and those who were promised they would be able to purchase health insurance under Obamacare.\nI look forward to your seeing the results of your monthly reports.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter   U.S. Senator\nCc:   Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa  Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp  Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221020956/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-asks-gen-clark-to-accept-a-date-for-free-cell-phone-debate-disclose-whos-paying-for-his-campaign", "Vitter Asks Gen. Clark to Accept a Date for Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Who\u2019s Paying for his Campaign", "2013-11-18", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Asks Gen. Clark to Accept a Date for Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Who\u2019s Paying for his Campaign\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 18, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter received a response from Gen. Wesley Clark last week regarding Vitter\u2019s invitation to publicly debate Clark\u2019s campaign for free government cell phones. Vitter had also previously asked Clark to disclose who was paying for his advocacy campaign to promote free cell phones. In Clark\u2019s response he did not disclose who was financially responsible nor did he commit to any of the dates Vitter proposed for a debate. Vitter followed up with him today.\n\u201cI\u2019m very disappointed that he\u2019s still refusing to fulfill the two clear commitments he made to me in our telephone conversation,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cClark\u2019s spokesperson said that a \u2018public affairs company that represents veterans advocacy groups\u2019 sponsored his trip to Louisiana. I want to know if any companies who receive funds from the fraud-ridden Lifeline program financially support this public affairs company, Clark, or his liberal political PAC. Furthermore, he won\u2019t commit to a date for a debate he agreed to.\u201d\nVitter first challenged Clark to a debate after Clark was in Louisiana on September 30 criticizing Vitter\u2019s efforts to end the free government cellphone program known as Lifeline. Vitter has legislation to end the free cell phone portion of Lifeline and cites massive fraud surrounding the program. Clark agreed to a debate in a phone conversation with Vitter. Click here to read more.\nIn October, the Federal Communications Commission, who administers Lifeline, announced major penalties against Lifeline companies totaling $14.4 million for the violation of companies' signing up the same persons multiple times.\nClick here for the news report about Clark\u2019s first visit to Louisiana and Vitter\u2019s response.\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s letter back to Clark today.\n  November 18, 2013\nGeneral Wesley K. Clark   Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC  P.O. Box 3276  Little Rock, Arkansas 72203\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL\nDear General Clark:\nThank you for your November 15 letter. I am very disappointed that you are still refusing to fulfill the two clear commitments you made to me in our October 8 telephone conversation: 1) to answer in writing my basic questions about your financial ties to companies making millions off the free government cell phone program; and 2) to quickly choose one or more dates for a public debate with me on the issue in Louisiana.\nPlease keep these clear commitments that you made.\nOn the first point, let me restate my question so that you can answer it directly in writing:\nThe press report of your last Louisiana visit quotes your spokesperson as saying vaguely that a \u201cpublic affairs company that represents veterans advocacy groups\u201d sponsored your trip. Who are this company and its financial backers? In particular, do any companies who receive funds from the fraud-ridden Lifeline program financially support this public affairs company, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest?\nOn the second point, I have given you numerous dates on which I'm available through several letters and emails. I do so again: Friday, November 22 in Shreveport; Monday, November 25 at 9:30 am in Baton Rouge; Friday, December 6, at 3:00 pm in Baton Rouge; and Friday, December 13 in Lafayette.\nOf course, veterans with free government cell phones are most welcome to participate fully in our debate. There would be no screening of attendees or questions/comments from the audience. In addition, I would be eager to talk to those veterans after the debate, as I will with any other attendees who would like that opportunity.\nYou signed your recent letter \u201cVeterans Advocate.\u201d I question that self-bestowed title when you won't disclose who's paying for that advocacy or set dates for a public debate.\nSincerely,\n  David Vitter  U.S. Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-continues-push-full-repeal-renewable-fuel-standard", "Scalise continues push for full repeal of the renewable fuel standard", "2013-11-17", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after the EPA proposed 2014 renewable fuel volume requirements.\n\u201cThe EPA's announcement is a welcome acknowledgement that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is fatally flawed and unworkable,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cWhile this proposed one-year fix is a step in the right direction, short-term patches don\u2019t provide the long-term certainty that families and businesses need to create jobs and lower energy costs. I will continue fighting for full repeal of the RFS so that we finally get the government out of the detrimental business of picking winners and losers in the energy marketplace.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/rsc-presses-obama-administration-increase-iran-sanctions", "RSC presses Obama Administration to increase Iran sanctions", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The Republican Study Committee today pressed the Obama Administration to increase sanctions on Iran.\n\t\u201cA nuclear armed Iran is not only dangerous to America\u2019s national security, but it would also pose a serious threat to the future of our strong ally Israel,\u201d RSC Chairman Steve Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cTime and time again, Iran has proven it cannot be trusted, yet the Obama Administration stands poised to roll back existing sanctions that by all reports are working.\u00a0 That\u2019s not only naive and dangerous, it also seriously jeopardizes the US-Israel relationship.\u00a0 In order to continue holding Iran accountable, it\u2019s vital that we take steps to impose tougher sanctions on Iran until they verifiably dismantle their nuclear enrichment facilities.\n\t\u201cIsrael is our strongest ally and most trusted friend in the region, and before taking any action, President Obama would do well to consult with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has called any waiving of sanctions 'very, very bad' and 'the deal of the century\u2019 for Iran.\u00a0 It is time for the Senate to join with us in standing strong against a nuclear armed Iran by taking up the bill passed by the House to increase sanctions.\u201d\n\tThe House passed H.R. 850, a bill to increase sanctions on Iran, at the end of July by an overwhelming vote of 400 \u2013 20.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-obama-press-conference-%E2%80%9C-person-who-burned-down-your-house-later-showing-empty", "Scalise on Obama press conference: \u201cLike a person who burned down your house later showing up with an empty bucket\u201d", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after President Barack Obama\u2019s health care press conference.\n\t\u201cPresident Obama has offered no solutions to help the millions of American families who are losing the good health care plans that they liked,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cThis hollow press conference was like a person who burned down your house, later showing up with an empty bucket and talking about how inadequate your house was before the fire.\u00a0 President Obama blatantly misled the American people when he kept promising they could keep plans they liked even though he and his Administration knew three years ago that millions would lose their health care under this law.\u00a0 It is time for President Obama to admit his broken health care law has failed, and join with House Republicans to suspend the penalties and stop this train wreck before it's too late.\u201d\n\tThe RSC\u2019s alternative health care bill gained its 105th cosponsor earlier today. More information on this practical and pragmatic approach to reforming American health care can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-october-enrollment-numbers-%E2%80%9Chighlight-failures-and-all-wrong-government", "Scalise: October enrollment numbers \u201chighlight the failures and all that is wrong with government-controlled health care\u201d", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that only 106,185 people had applied for Obamacare during the month of October.\n\t\u201cAfter more than three years to prepare and billions of taxpayer dollars wasted, these embarrassingly-low enrollment numbers highlight the failures and all that is wrong with government-controlled health care,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cNearly five million Americans have already lost the good health plans they had and liked because of President Obama's health care law, which is 45 times more Americans than were able to sign up for new health plans during the entire month of October. That's not a glitch, it's a national embarrassment.\n\t\u201cAmerican families deserve better than President Obama's broken promises and hollow apologies. It's time for action. It's time for President Obama to admit his broken health care law has failed, and join with House Republicans to stop this train wreck before it's too late.\u201d\n\tEarlier today, the RSC\u2019s alternative health care bill gained its 102nd cosponsor. More information on this practical and pragmatic approach to reforming the American health care can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131119230808/http://www.vitter.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/vitter-gives-reid-3-options-for-vote-on-show-your-exemption-act", "Vitter Gives Reid 3 Options for Vote on \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Gives Reid 3 Options for Vote on \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tReid, Democrats block each option, remain persistent to keep their Obamacare exemption and keep exemptions hidden from public\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 14, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) asked for unanimous consent agreements to have a vote on his legislation called the \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d which would require each Congressional office to publically disclose who they are exempting from entering the Obamacare exchange. He offered to have a vote on the legislation as an amendment to the Compounding Pharmacies bill, the National Defense Authorization Act or as standalone legislation.\n\u201cThe fact that Harry Reid is going to such lengths to block even this disclosure vote says it all: As Americans face mass cancellations and huge premium increases, his top priority is to protect the Washington exemption from Obamacare,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI'll continue to demand votes on this issue as opportunities arise \u2013 and they will \u2013 including as next year's election approaches.\u201d\nVitter has been working on legislation dubbed the \u201cVitter Amendment\u201d, which would eliminate the Obamacare exemption for Washington altogether by clarifying that all Members of Congress, congressional staff, the President, Vice President and political appointees must purchase their health plans on the exchange. It would also require that they receive the same amount of financial support from tax credits or subsidies as any American outside of Washington. Reid has blocked every attempt for a vote on this.\nRelated to that, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were both recently tasked with designating their staff \u201cofficial\u201d or not. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ruling, staff in an \u201cofficial office\u201d must enter the Obamacare exchange. Staff who are not designated \u201cofficial\u201d keep their current plan on the Federal Employee Benefit Program. The Obamacare statue clearly states that all Members of Congress and their staffs are to procure their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange. However, the OPM ruling created a loophole that allows Members to designate some staff as not \u201cofficial\u201d in order to exempt them from the exchange.\nThe amendment Vitter asked for unanimous consent on today would simply require information on those designations to be made public.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011920/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/brown-vitter-new-gao-report-underscores-importance-of-ending-taxpayer-funded-advantages-for-wall-street-too-big-to-fail-megabanks", "Brown, Vitter: New GAO Report Underscores Importance of Ending Taxpayer-Funded Advantages for Wall Street \u201cToo Big to Fail\u201d Megabanks", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Brown, Vitter: New GAO Report Underscores Importance of Ending Taxpayer-Funded Advantages for Wall Street \u201cToo Big to Fail\u201d Megabanks\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSens. Brown and Vitter Introduced Legislation that Would Eliminate Government Subsidies for Wall Street Megabanks\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 14, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Following the release of the first of two reports by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the federal government\u2019s bailout of large financial institutions during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and David Vitter (R-LA) today reaffirmed their call for imposing capital requirements for Wall Street megabanks. Brown and Vitter, who requested that GAO conduct the investigations, are authors of the Terminating Bailout for Taxpayer Fairness Act, legislation that would require the largest and most interconnected financial institutions to maintain a 15 percent capital ratio to ensure taxpayers will not serve as the backstop for risky investments. The GAO report found that Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo & Co were able to borrow below-market interests rates, demonstrating yet another economic benefit of being \u201cToo Big to Fail.\u201d\n\u201cEliminating the megabanks federal handouts \u2013 and addressing the problem of \u2018too big to fail\u2019 financial institutions \u2013 is a simple matter of common sense,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThis report highlights that the megabanks have been growing at an unacceptable $2 trillion pace since the financial meltdown \u2013 largely on the backs of U.S. taxpayers. We\u2019ll continue fighting to protect the taxpayers from financial risks by implementing a systemic solution, increasing the minimum amount of capital the megabanks are required to have.\u201d\n\u201cHardworking Ohioans should not be on the hook for the risky behavior by Wall Street banks,\u201d Brown said. \u201cToday, the nation\u2019s four largest banks are nearly $2 trillion larger than they were in 2007 \u2013 aided by an implicit government guarantee awarded by virtue of their \u2018too big to fail\u2019 status. If big banks want to continue risky practices, they should do so with their own equity on the line. Today\u2019s report underscores the need to pass our legislation to ensure that these types of bailouts will not happen in the future by imposing sensible capital requirements.\u201d\nBrown and Vitter requested the GAO report to study the actual or perceived economic benefits the \u201ctoo-big-to-fail\u201d megabanks received. The report confirms that banks and bank holding companies with assets over $50 billion were the predominate beneficiaries of taxpayer funded bailouts and relied more heavily on short-term funding markets compared to small or community based banks.\nDespite receiving assistance from taxpayers in 2008, today, the nation\u2019s four largest banks\u2014JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo\u2014are nearly $2 trillion larger today than they were before the crisis. Their growth has been aided by an implicit guarantee\u2014funded by taxpayers and awarded by virtue of their size\u2014as the market knows that these institutions have been deemed \u201ctoo big to fail.\u201d Brown and Vitter have asked the GAO to investigate whether this allows the nation\u2019s largest megabanks to borrow at a lower rate than regional banks, community banks, and credit unions.\nBrown and Vitter\u2019s Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act (TBTF Act) would eliminate government subsidies to megabanks, ensuring financial institutions have adequate capital to protect against losses. The TBTF Act would additionally set reasonable capital standards that reflect the size and complexity of the institution and provide regulatory relief for community banks.\nThe second part of the study will be released in 2014 and will focus on the funding advantages enjoyed by the largest banks, by virtue of their \u201cToo Big to Fail\u201d status.\nA link to the GAO report is: HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021044/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-oppose-yellens-nomination-to-be-federal-reserve-chair", "Vitter to Oppose Yellen\u2019s Nomination to be Federal Reserve Chair", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Oppose Yellen\u2019s Nomination to be Federal Reserve Chair\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 14, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 After the U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing with Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Janet Yellen, Vitter said he\u2019ll oppose her nomination to be Chairman.\n\u201cI'll be voting no on the Yellen nomination. She made it crystal clear today that she would continue the Fed's current policies of continuing \u201cToo Big To Fail\u201d and free money, quantitative easing, with no wind down in sight,\u201d Vitter said.\nClick here for a video of Vitter questioning Yellen at the hearing.\nVitter along with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have legislation, Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act (TBTF Act), which would eliminate government subsidies to megabanks, ensuring financial institutions have adequate capital to protect against losses. The TBTF Act would additionally set reasonable capital standards that reflect the size and complexity of the institution and provide regulatory relief for community banks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/rsc-alternative-health-care-bill-gains-more-100-cosponsors", "RSC alternative health care bill gains more than 100 cosponsors", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Two months after being introduced, the RSC\u2019s American Health Care Reform Act today gained its 102nd cosponsor.\n\t\u201cHouse Republicans continue proposing real solutions to address the serious problems that exist in our current health care system,\u201d RSC Chairman Steve Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m proud of the momentum we continue to build for our common-sense alternative to President Obama's health care law as we work to reform our broken health care system. American families and small businesses deserve and demand real solutions to the serious problems that exist in our health care system. While we watch the train wreck that is the rollout of President Obama's health care law, it is encouraging to see my colleagues rally around the patient-centered solutions we have outlined to lower health care costs and increase access so families can once again make their own health care choices free from the interference of Washington politicians and federal agencies like the IRS.\u201d\n\t\u201cI am proud to see that our bill is gaining traction in the House,\u201d said Dr. Phil Roe, Chairman of the RSC\u2019s Health Care Working Group. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing more reasons every day why President Obama\u2019s health care law is the wrong answer to our nation\u2019s health care problems. The support behind the RSC proposal is proof that Republicans do have a plan for patient-centered, commonsense health care reform that lowers health care costs, improves insurance choices and creates true portability with your plan.\u00a0 I look forward to continue working to build support for this legislation.\u201d\n\tH.R. 3121 was drafted by RSC Chairman Steve Scalise, RSC Health Care Working Group Chairman Dr. Phil Roe, and working group members Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Renee Ellmers, Dr. John Fleming, Dr. Paul Gosar, Dr. Tom Price, and Rep. Todd Rokita.\u00a0 Specifically, H.R. 3121, the RSC's American Health Care Reform Act:\n Provides tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard deduction for health insurance.\nFully repeals President Obama's health care law, eliminating billions in taxes and thousands of pages of unworkable regulations and mandates that are driving up health care costs.\nSpurs competition to lower health care costs by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.\nReforms medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.\nExpands access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses.\nSafeguards individuals with pre-existing conditions by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.\nProtects the unborn by ensuring no federal funding of abortions.\n \n\tMore information on H.R. 3121 can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-announces-rsc-military-readiness-task-force-chaired-rep-rob-wittman", "Scalise announces RSC Military Readiness Task Force chaired by Rep. Rob Wittman", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scalise announces RSC Military Readiness Task Force chaired by Rep. Rob Wittman\n\tWashington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today announced that Rep. Rob Wittman will chair the newly created RSC Military Readiness Task Force for the 113th Congress.\n\t\u201cThe RSC has always stood up for a strong national defense, and we are focused on the threats posed by President Obama's refusal to address the long-term spending crisis that is jeopardizing the readiness of America's Armed Forces and the security of our nation,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cAs fiscal conservatives, we have worked to prioritize a strong national defense by shifting sequestration cuts to other parts of the discretionary budget in order to maintain a high level of military readiness. We will continue fighting for a balanced federal budget in order to achieve a healthy economy and a strong national defense.\u00a0 As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Readiness Subcommittee, Rob Wittman has the expertise, the respect, and the first-hand knowledge necessary to spearhead the RSC Military Readiness Task Force. I appreciate his passion and leadership at this critical time in America's history.\u201d\n\t\u201cI\u2019m pleased the RSC has honed its focus on this critical issue as we enter the final phase of discussions on the fiscal footprint for 2014,\u201d Wittman said. \u201cMembers of the RSC have an important role in these discussions and I\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to help educate my colleagues and the nation on the impacts on our national security as our military is continually squeezed during these tight budget times. Our debt and deficit present a national security threat, but how we trim those back is an important conversation. Our military readiness is suffering under the indiscriminate cuts of the sequester. Congress must do everything in its power to mitigate those effects and ensure our men and women of the military are trained and equipped with the tools they need to keep themselves and our country safe.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-calls-administration-maintain-tough-iranian-sanctions", "Scalise calls on the Administration to maintain tough Iranian sanctions", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today called on the Obama Administration to maintain tough sanctions on Iran and to walk away from any deal that would provide relief from these sanctions to the Iranian government.\n\t\u201cTime and time again, Iran has proven itself to be a country that cannot be trusted, and it would be naive and dangerous for President Obama to roll back any sanctions before we have hard proof that Iran has rolled back its nuclear program in a significant way,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cA nuclear Iran is not only dangerous to the future of our strong ally Israel, but it would also pose a serious threat to America's national security. The Administration must maintain the rigid sanctions currently placed on Iran that are finally starting to work.\u00a0 In order to continue holding Iran accountable, it\u2019s vital that President Obama walk away from any bad deal that would provide cover to the Iranian government while they continue pursuing their nuclear program at nearly the same pace they are currently moving toward. Israel is our strongest ally and most trusted friend in the region, and before taking any action, the President would do well to consult with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has called any waiver of sanctions 'very, very bad' and 'the deal of the century\u2019 for Iran.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-president-obama%E2%80%99s-nola-visit-one-obamas-biggest-exports-has-been-us-jobs", "Scalise on President Obama\u2019s NOLA visit: One of Obama's biggest exports has been U.S. jobs", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement regarding President Obama\u2019s speech on the economy at the Port of New Orleans.\n\t\u201cOne of the biggest exports we've seen under President Obama has been American jobs as his extreme regulations at the EPA, destructive laws like Dodd-Frank, and punishing taxes in his health care law, including the medical device tax, take a devastating toll on economic growth and middle-class job creation here at home,\u201d Scalise said.\n\t\u201cSpeeches don\u2019t create jobs, and broken promises won\u2019t rejuvenate our stagnant economy.\u00a0 President Obama set a goal in 2010 to double exports by 2015, and other than enacting trade agreements negotiated under the previous Administration, he has failed to show leadership and strike any new agreements that would boost our economy.\u00a0 The best way to increase exports is to access new markets abroad while promoting a business friendly environment here at home, and encouraging American manufacturing.\u00a0 President Obama has failed to achieve those objectives, choosing instead to ship American jobs overseas because of extremist regulations and destructive red tape.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s time for the President to finally start working with Republicans in a bipartisan way to build a healthy middle class and get Washington politicians out of our health care decisions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221013432/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-sends-stinging-letter-to-va-after-news-they-prioritized-lavish-trips-over-louisiana-clinics", "Vitter Sends Stinging Letter to VA After News they Prioritized Lavish Trips over Louisiana Clinics", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Sends Stinging Letter to VA After News they Prioritized Lavish Trips over Louisiana Clinics\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, November 8, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today sent a letter to Eric Shinseki, Secretary of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to express frustration over a pair of extravagant training conferences in Orlando in 2011 that cost taxpayers $6.1 million. The conferences were uncovered at a Congressional hearing last week as part of an investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Click here to read more about the VA conferences which have been described as a \u201cspending binge.\u201d  \u201cBuilding and maintaining the clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles that were promised to Louisianians would have cost less than the $6.1 million used to throw these lavish parties for bureaucrats,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe VA\u2019s complete disregard for taxpayer money is a slap in the face of Louisiana veterans who desperately need those clinics to be built.\u201d In his letter, Vitter asks the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a proposal for where the money necessary to complete the Lafayette and Lake Charles clinics should come from.  A recent ruling by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reversed authorization for twelve Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) clinics from last year\u2019s VA funding bill, including clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles. Vitter urged the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee to include both clinics in the committee\u2019s funding authorization bill. Vitter also worked to include a provision into the National Defense Authorization Act during the Senate Armed Services Committee markup that would have addressed seven national VA clinics including the clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles, but his efforts were blocked by bureaucracy in the committees. A copy of Vitter\u2019s letter today is below. November 8, 2013   Secretary Eric K. Shinseki  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs   \u00a0810 Vermont Avenue, NW   Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Shinseki:  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0  It has come to my attention that the House Committee on Oversight and Government reform held a hearing yesterday to investigate the planning and execution of a pair of extravagant training conferences in 2011 located in Orlando. As construction of Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Lafayette, Louisiana and Lake Charles, Louisiana would already be nearing completion if not for your agency\u2019s ineptitude, to say I was dismayed would be a gross understatement. It has been reported that the conferences held in July and August 2011 in Orlando cost the taxpayers $6.1 million.  The cost to build and maintain the two clinics in Louisiana previously mentioned would have cost less than $6.1 million, leading me to believe that the Department of Veterans Affairs seems more interested in throwing bureaucratic parties than caring for Louisiana veterans. Last week, John Sepulveda, the top Department of Veterans Affairs official implicated in planning these training conferences, pled the fifth at the hearing. The VA\u2019s disregard to discuss their use of taxpayer money is a complete slap to the face of Louisiana veterans who desperately need these clinics to be built. As you are aware, due to an unexpected change by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in how it estimates the cost of VA clinics, fifteen clinics around the country that were ready to be built were stripped out of a VA authorization bill last year. I have been working for over a year since this occurred on finding a solution to get these clinics built.\u00a0 This includes a call I had with you in January in which I implored you to help find the money to build these clinics. You essentially told me that is not your job.  In light of this shocking investigation, I demand the VA find and allocate the $5,351,424 million needed to build and maintain these two clinics in Southwest-Louisiana.\u00a0 If the money is there to throw $6.1 million events in Orlando, then surely the money to build greatly needed clinics can be found. Please develop a proposal on where the money necessary to complete these two clinics should come from, and please respond to me by no later than December 13, 2013. \u00a0 Our veterans have served our nation proudly and bravely, and were promised that their healthcare needs would be met. We owe them that. As Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, it is your duty to see that this promise is adequately and promptly fulfilled.  Sincerely, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 David Vitter  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 United States Senate", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-meets-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu", "Scalise meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, members of the Israeli Knesset, and the newly elected Mayor of Ariel in Samaria, during a trip to reinforce the inseparable US-Israeli relationship.\n\t\u201cIt was an honor to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cDuring our meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, we discussed the importance of the strong bond between the United States and Israel, the status of the peace process, and the need for outside nations, including the United States, to refrain from setting unrealistic expectations or placing pre-conditions on these talks.\n\t\u201cWe also emphasized our support for maintaining tough sanctions against Iran in its race to develop nuclear weapons. The sanctions we passed in Congress against Iran are working, and it would be a horrible mistake to back down now that Iran is finally feeling the pressure to abandon its weapons program. Prime Minister Netanyahu has proven his commitment to the peace process, and I\u2019m proud to stand by Israel as they manage the delicate balance between protecting their homeland and working toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians.\"\n\tScalise is part of a bipartisan six member delegation participating in meetings with officials in Israel.\u00a0 The delegation also met with the Minister of Economy and Commerce Naftali Bennett, the Minister of Energy Silvan Shalom, and the Minister of Home Front Defense Gilad Erdan, as well as the newly elected Mayor of Ariel in Samaria, Eli Shaviro.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003513/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-bennet-introduce-legislation-to-protect-funds-for-states-including-restore-act-funds", "Vitter, Bennet Introduce Legislation to Protect Funds for States, Including RESTORE Act Funds", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter, Bennet Introduce Legislation to Protect Funds for States, Including RESTORE Act Funds\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLegislation will clear red tape for States unnecessarily waiting on program funds, due to sequestration delays\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 7, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) introduced the Return Our State Shares (ROSS) Act, which would exempt certain programs, including the RESTORE Act, from unnecessary sequestration delays that do not reduce the deficit. Unlike most accounts impacted by sequestration, where the funds are simply cancelled, the funds exempted in the ROSS Act are withheld at the beginning of each fiscal year and then returned at the beginning of the following fiscal year and do not go towards reducing the deficit. Other cosponsors include U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).\n\u201cThe Gulf Coast economy got pummeled from the BP oil spill in 2010, and the RESTORE Act made long-overdue coastal restoration work in Louisiana and our neighboring states possible,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt is absolutely ridiculous for States to wait an arbitrary amount of time to receive funds that are theirs, regardless of sequestration. Our legislation will cut the red tape and allow States to bypass the unnecessary one-year delays on program funds that are not affected by sequestration and do not reduce the deficit.\u201d\nThe ROSS Act will exempt several accounts from the one-year delay during sequestration, including the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, which was established through the RESTORE Act, Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program funds, and payments to States under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA).\nIn 2012, Sen. Vitter was instrumental in passing the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act, which would ensure that at least 80 percent of the fines BP must pay under the Clean Water Act (CWA) would be set aside for coastal restoration work along the Gulf Coast states, rather than going into a general fund. Due to sequestration, RESTORE Act funds have been withheld for one fiscal year before eventually given to States. Click here to read more.\nClick here to read the text of the Return Our State Shares Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021104/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-continues-efforts-to-eliminate-obamacare-exemption-for-washington", "Vitter Continues Efforts to Eliminate Obamacare Exemption for Washington", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Continues Efforts to Eliminate Obamacare Exemption for Washington\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPushes to pass his legislation to show which Members of Congress are exempting their staff\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 7, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today continued his efforts to eliminate the Obamacare exemption for Washington. He spoke on the Senate floor about his efforts, including his work to ensure that Congress has to publically disclose anyone they are exempting from entering Obamacare. Vitter\u2019s \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d, is a step in the process to getting a vote on \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare.\u201d\n\u201cThis information should absolutely be public, and making it public is a crucial step in ending the ridiculous exemption from Obamacare,\u201d Vitter said.   \nWatch Sen. Vitter\u2019s floor speech here.\nLast week Vitter introduced legislation called the \u201cShow Your Exemption\u201d Act which would require each Congressional office to make public which staff they deem \u201cofficial\u201d. All Members of Congress were tasked with designating their staff \u201cofficial\u201d or not. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ruling, \u201cofficial\u201d staff must enter the Obamacare exchange. Staff who are not designated \u201cofficial\u201d keep their current plan on the Federal Employee Benefit Program. The Obamacare statue clearly states that all Members of Congress and their staffs are to procure their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange. However, the OPM ruling created a loophole that allows Members to designate some staff as not \u201cofficial\u201d in order to exempt them from the exchange.\nVitter will continue working towards getting a vote on his \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare\u201d amendment, also known as the \u201cVitter Amendment,\u201d and he will also push for a vote on the \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d as part of the either the Drug Quality and Security Act or if necessary, the National Defense Authorization Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-obama%E2%80%99s-revisionist-history-slap-face-millions-losing-health-care-coverage", "Scalise: Obama\u2019s revisionist history a slap in the face to millions losing health care coverage", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after President Obama attempted to walk back his infamous statement that Americans would be able to keep the health care plans they had and liked.\n\t\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s attempt at revisionist history is a slap in the face to millions of Americans, including at least 80,000 Louisianans, who are losing the health care plan they had and liked because of his failed health care law,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cWhat the President should have said is 'if Barack Obama likes the health care plan you have, you can keep it.\u2019 American families deserve better than the President's growing list of broken promises; there\u2019s only one way to rescue himself from this serious credibility crisis, and that\u2019s to abandon the penalties set to be imposed on American families and support the legislation we filed to allow Americans to keep the health care plans they have.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221005351/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-named-to-wrda-conference-committee-to-work-on-final-bill", "Vitter Named to WRDA Conference Committee to Work on Final Bill", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Named to WRDA Conference Committee to Work on Final Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLandmark legislation has strong bipartisan support, will bring huge benefits for Louisiana\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 5, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today announced that he has officially been selected to be on the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) conference committee. In March, the Senate passed its version 83 to 14. Last week the House passed its version 417 to 3. Vitter is the lead sponsor of the Senate bill and the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which has jurisdiction over the bill.\n\u201cWRDA is one of the single most significant pieces of legislation for Louisiana we\u2019ve voted on this year, and I look forward to working to get a final bill that includes our Senate provisions,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cWe have the opportunity to reform the Corps of Engineers, streamline flood protection projects, finally get Morganza moving, and improve our waterways and infrastructure all in one bill. This is a huge benefit to our state.\u201d\nThe Conference Committee is tasked with working out any differences between the House and Senate bills. Other Senate conferees include Democrat Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.); and Republican Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).\nWRDA provides critical flood protection for communities across the country and particularly in Louisiana. Projects like the Morganza to the Gulf and Louisiana Coastal System Ecosystem Restoration Projects will all be able to get authorization under this bill.\nThe Senate version includes project acceleration provisions that ensure important water infrastructure projects are processed in an efficient manner and also makes reforms to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Projects like the studies for the West Shore Hurricane Protection and Southwest Louisiana Coastal Hurricane Protection will be accelerated by WRDA 2013. The legislation is estimated to create up to 500,000 new jobs nationwide.\nBelow are some of the specific provisions in the Senate version of WRDA that will benefit Louisiana:\n\u2022 Provides for increased expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to dredge all Mississippi River and Calcasieu River ports and waterways to their constructed width and depth.  \u2022 Provides authority for the Corps to perform future levee lifts on hurricane protection systems that experience increasing subsidence and sea-level rise.  \u2022 Provides a new innovative water resources financing mechanism for communities to receive federal loans to construct critical water and wastewater facilities. This is important to all Louisiana parishes.  \u2022 Provides authority for the Corps to use the State Master Plan in-lieu of the Comprehensive Plan authorized under WRDA 07, as well as directing mitigation for Corps projects to high-priority ecosystem projects identified in the Master Plan.  \u2022 Makes it easier for non-Federal levees to be eligible for repair and rehabilitation.  \u2022 Requires the Corps to review levee vegetation policy and provide for regional and watershed variances.  \u2022 Creates a pilot program aimed at eliminating red tape and expediting backlogged Corps projects by delegating more project management responsibility to state and local governments.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021107/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-louisiana-officials-to-take-action-on-ebt-card-fraud", "Vitter Urges Louisiana Officials to Take Action on EBT Card Fraud", "2013-11-04", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Urges Louisiana Officials to Take Action on EBT Card Fraud\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAttorney General and DCFS currently deferring to USDA and Louisiana retailers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 4, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today responded to letters from Louisiana\u2019s Attorney General Buddy Caldwell and Secretary of Department of Children and Family Services Suzy Sonnier regarding his recommendations for aggressive action in response to fraud that occurred during an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system outage in north Louisiana. Vitter sent his recommendations in a letter on October 30.\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely disappointed in the response I\u2019ve gotten from state officials,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThere should be serious consequences for the outrageous theft and fraud at these Louisiana retailers, and the state has authority in disqualifying and prosecuting any guilty EBT recipient.\u201d\nCaldwell and Sonnier committed to Vitter\u2019s request that no reimbursements be made to retailers who did not follow proper protocol. However, they have refused to prosecute any beneficiaries guilty of theft or fraud and deferred to USDA on disqualifying or suspending any beneficiaries. Vitter has asked Caldwell and Sonnier for a follow up meeting in Baton Rouge.\nThe text of Vitter\u2019s letter to Caldwell and Sonnier is below.\n  November 4, 2013\nBuddy Caldwell  Office of the Attorney General  State of Louisiana  P.O. Box 94005  Baton Rouge, LA 70821\nSuzy Sonnier  Office of the Secretary  Department of Children and Family Services  P.O. Box 3776  Baton Rouge, LA 70821\n  Dear Attorney General Caldwell and Secretary Sonnier:\nThank you for your quick responses to my letter of October 30 regarding the outrageous incidents of food stamp theft and fraud in Louisiana on October 14.\nThank you also for clearly committing to not reimburse any vendor above any beneficiaries' benefit limits, my first request. Unfortunately, in contrast to this, I found your responses to my second and third requests really disappointing and inadequate.\nMy second request urged you to disqualify or suspend from the program beneficiaries guilty of this theft and fraud. In response to this, you basically stated that you are asking permission to pursue suspensions from the program from the Obama administration, namely USDA. Why? All relevant law clearly gives the state authority to administer the program, including authority to disqualify or suspend those guilty of theft or fraud (7 USC 2015(b)). You clearly do not have to get federal permission to do this with regard to every individual enforcement action.\nSo I again urge you to take such action in these cases without first asking permission unnecessarily from the Obama administration. Given the administration's support for the almost limitless expansion of the food stamp program, I think their granting this unnecessary permission unlikely.\nMy third request urged you to prosecute these same beneficiaries. In response to this, you stated that this decision is up to the retailers involved. No, it isn't. Such a prosecuting decision is always up to the public prosecutor with appropriate jurisdiction. Walmart and other retailers no doubt want to pass on urging prosecution because they screwed up and, quite frankly, because they benefit from most food stamp fraud in their stores.\nSo again, I urge you to form a task force with the prosecutors in the local jurisdictions involved to aggressively prosecute these crimes. As I stated in my October 30 letter, these prosecutions will be fully supported by ample computer/EBT account evidence and do not depend on the active cooperation of the retailers involved.\nI would like to personally meet with both of you in Baton Rouge to discuss this further in the very near future. Thank you again for your service to Louisiana.\n  Sincerely,\nDavid Vitter   U.S. Senator\nCc: The Honorable Bobby Jindal", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221021119/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-epa-cant-fix-gulf-dead-zone-with-heavy-handed-approach", "Vitter to EPA: Can\u2019t Fix Gulf \u201cDead Zone\u201d With Heavy-Handed Approach", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to EPA: Can\u2019t Fix Gulf \u201cDead Zone\u201d With Heavy-Handed Approach\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, November 1, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, sent a letter to Nancy Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regarding the Agency\u2019s insufficient response to State concerns over the Agency\u2019s solutions to the \u201cdead zone\u201d in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Agency\u2019s neglecting to work with state officials in Louisiana and throughout the Mississippi River system. Vitter is specifically asking EPA to better support its listing decision of Louisiana coastal waters and work more closely with the states in their efforts to address the \u201cdead zone\u201d issue.\n\u201cThis is a perennial issue we deal with along the Gulf, and the EPA ought to listen to Louisiana officials who know what\u2019s going on,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe longer the EPA neglects working with Louisiana and other Mississippi River States, the longer it will take to solve this serious \u2018dead zone\u2019 issue.\u201d\nFor years, Louisiana and other Mississippi River States have been working together to solve oxygen deficiency issues in the Gulf of Mexico. The lack of oxygen in the water creates a \u201cdead zone\u201d that hurts marine life, especially shellfish near the bottom. EPA\u2019s recent decision to force Louisiana to develop a heavy-handed regulatory control measure, known as a Total Maximum Daily Load, inhibits collaborative efforts by Louisiana and other states to achieve meaningful progress on the \u201cdead zone.\u201d\nText of today\u2019s letter is below.\u00a0\n  November 1, 2013\nMs. Nancy Stoner  Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW  Washington, D.C. 20460\nDear Acting Assistant Administrator Stoner,\nI am writing to you regarding the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) July 18, 2013 listing of three coastal water segments on Louisiana\u2019s Clean Water Act 2012 \u00a7 303(d) List, and the corresponding Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirement imposed on Louisiana.[1] I am concerned that EPA insufficiently addressed issues the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) raised over this listing decision. Additionally, I fear that a TMDL is an unwise approach to the important Gulf hypoxia issue and that EPA has neglected to consider the consequences that a TMDL approach would impose on the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin\u2019s collaborative efforts to solve this complex and far-reaching issue. Therefore, I ask that EPA better support its listing decision and to refrain from mandating a counterproductive TMDL development.\nAs you are aware, EPA has included the three coastal segments 021102, 070601, and 120806 on the \u00a7 303(d) List (Integrated Report Category 5) for the 2008, 2010, and 2012 Integrated Reports. By listing these segments as Category 5, the EPA claimed that there is sufficient data to designate the waters as impaired and that a TMDL plan is needed as a regulatory control measure.\nHowever, LDEQ has consistently objected to EPA\u2019s listing claims and the TMDL approach. For example, LDEQ argued that EPA failed to comply with the relevant data quality objectives approved by the agency, and that the data sets used by EPA were therefore limited temporally and geographically. Yet, in response to LDEQ, EPA neglected to demonstrate how its methodology complied with the data quality objectives contained in the ambient monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan, suggesting that the EPA agrees its methodology lacked scientific rigor. If this is indeed the case, it would be an unacceptable flaw for such an important regulatory decision.\nFurthermore, by requiring a TMDL, EPA is undermining the State\u2019s ability to implement workable frameworks for addressing nutrient issues and is inhibiting the development of other, more effective approaches. The hypoxia issue encompasses the entire Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) and so any solution must be done in complete consultation and cooperation with MARB States. Currently, the Hypoxia Task Force is working with the States, aligning their independent efforts to make significant progress. By requiring Louisiana to develop a TMDL, EPA is undermining the inter-agency and State efforts of all of the MARB Sates to come together and create an effective approach on this issue. In particular, a TMDL requirement undermines Louisiana\u2019s efforts to be a key participant.\nIn a March 26, 2012 letter, EPA emphasized its commitment to \u201cworking as partners with the states and key stakeholders\u201d while continuing to \u201csupport innovative and flexible state-led approaches to addressing nutrient pollution.\u201d[2] I am thankful for EPA\u2019s commitment to the States and the recognition of the States\u2019 efforts and successes. I ask that EPA work with LDEQ and other Louisiana officials as well as the other MARB States in their efforts to achieve prudent nutrient reduction strategies.\nIf you have questions regarding this request, please contact the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at (202) 224-6176.\n  Sincerely,\nDavid Vitter  Ranking Member  Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works\n  cc: Mr. Ron Curry  Region 6 Regional Administrator  Environmental Protection Agency  1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200  Dallas, Texas 75202", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131115021749/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-introduces-show-your-exemption-act-as-some-members-exempting-certain-staff-from-obamacare-exchange", "Vitter Introduces \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d as Some Members Exempting Certain Staff from Obamacare Exchange", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Introduces \u201cShow Your Exemption Act\u201d as Some Members Exempting Certain Staff from Obamacare Exchange\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSays there\u2019s a loophole in the Obamacare OPM ruling that some Congressional staff would stay off exchanges\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 31, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) today introduced legislation called the \u201cShow Your Exemption\u201d Act which would require each Congressional office to make public which staff they deem \u201cofficial\u201d. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were both tasked with designating their staff \u201cofficial\u201d or not. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ruling, \u201cofficial\u201d staff must enter the Obamacare exchange. Staff who are not designated \u201cofficial\u201d keep their current plan on the Federal Employee Benefit Program. The Obamacare statue clearly states that all Members of Congress and their staffs are to procure their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange. However, the OPM ruling created a loophole that allows Members to designate some staff as not \u201cofficial\u201d in order to exempt them from the exchange.\n\u201cFor members to use this illegal loophole so that some staff stay off the exchanges altogether is outrageous. It flies in the face of the exact language of Obamacare,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIf these staffers aren't 'official', then the taxpayer shouldn't pay for their salaries or office support or anything else.\u201d\nVitter has designated all of his staff, including his staff on the Environment and Public Works Committee, as \u201cofficial.\u201d\nThe \u201cVitter Amendment\u201d, which would eliminate the Obamacare exemption for Washington altogether, would clarify that all Members of Congress, congressional staff, the President, Vice President and political appointees must purchase their health plans on the exchange. It would also require that they receive the same amount of financial support from tax credits or subsidies as any American outside of Washington.\nThe legislation prohibits the same group from receiving tax-payer funded contributions in the form of subsidies, tax credits, or employer contribution to purchase insurance on the exchange- as in most of these cases they earn above the maximum income ($46,000 individual/$92,000 family) and would otherwise be ineligible for subsidies or tax credits as defined in the statute.\nToday is the deadline for the House of Representatives to make their designations. The Senate deadline was October 25.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024415/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-oppose-fhfa-nominee-mel-watt", "Vitter to Oppose FHFA Nominee Mel Watt", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Oppose FHFA Nominee Mel Watt\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 31, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today announced that he will oppose President Obama\u2019s nomination of Congressman Mel Watt to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The Senate is scheduled to vote on the nomination today.\n\u201cMel Watt has a clear record of wanting to restore Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to their failed stature, which would only restore a linchpin of the financial collapse,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cOn behalf of the taxpayers who think a private mortgage industry is healthier than a government run one, I\u2019m an emphatic \u2018no\u2019 on this nomination.\u201d\nVitter has been a vocal opponent of any bailout from the FHFA for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and worked to end the supplemental \u201cMaking Home Affordable Program\u201d that was derived from leftover Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) monies totaling $41 billion. Vitter has fought to return the unused money to the Treasury. Last year former FHFA Director Ed DeMarco announced he would not permit Fannie and Freddie to use the leftover TARP funds to bailout their failed housing program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-demands-answers-hhs-secretary-sebelius", "Scalise demands answers from HHS Secretary Sebelius", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - During a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing today, Congressman Steve Scalise pressed HHS Secretary Sebelius for answers.\n\tScalise to Sebelius: \u201cPeople are sharing stories with me \u2026 Shawn from Covington said \u2013 \u2018my current plan through United Health is no longer being offered in 2014 due to Obamacare. I received a letter stating that the new health care law was indeed the reason for the removal of my current health care plan.\u2019 Madam Secretary, what would you tell Shawn who liked his plan and now has lost it? He was promised by you and the president he would be able to keep that plan. What would you tell Shawn now that he's lost his plan?\n\tScalise continued: \u201cYou and I may disagree who you work for. I work for Shawn. You work for Shawn, Madam Secretary. Shawn lost his plan that he liked. There are thousands and millions of Shawns throughout this country that lost the plan they liked because some bureaucrat in Washington said we think your plan's not good enough. Even though you like it. Even though you were promised you could keep it. You are now not able to keep that plan. You deserve to give Shawn a better answer than \u2018you have to shop for something else.\u2019\u201d\nClick here to watch Scalise\u2019s questioning.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/richmond-and-house-members-introduce-bipartisan-bill-address-spike-national-flood", "Richmond and House Members Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Spike in National Flood Insurance Costs", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 The House of Representatives led by Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) today introduced a legislative solution to fix the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which seeks to address affordably and concerns stemming from the implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.\u00a0\nThe legislation calls for a four-year delay to the program and requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete an affordability study and propose a framework that addresses affordability issues. A companion measure was also introduced today in the U.S. Senate by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA).\n\u201cToday, I join my House and Senate colleagues to continue the fight to make flood insurance affordable. We cannot allow Louisiana\u2019s homeowners to face these massive, unaffordable increases alone,\u201d said Congressman Richmond. \u201cFlood insurance increases have sent shockwaves up and down the coastal regions and through the heartland of our country. I\u2019m happy to join my colleagues in drafting this legislation that will provide a sustainable, long-term solution that will allow people to buy and sell homes without penalty. This effort transcends party affiliation and reaches down to the core of our purpose in Congress, which is to draft legislation that protects our constituents. For Louisiana\u2019s communities bearing the brunt of these insurance hikes, today is a big step toward a solution.\u201d\nThe legislation will accomplish the following:\n\u2022Imposes a delay likely to total four years for the most vulnerable properties, by delaying implementation of rate increases until two years after FEMA completes an affordability study, which was mandated in Biggert-Waters but not undertaken. FEMA has estimated it will take 2 years to complete the affordability study. It would then take up to an additional 2 years for FEMA to submit an affordability framework to Congress and for Congress to review the framework. This means rate increases would be delayed for 4 years in total. The delay applies to: primary, non-repetitive loss residences that are currently grandfathered; all properties sold after July 6, 2012; and all properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012.\n\u2022Requires FEMA to propose an affordability framework that addresses the identified affordability issues within 18 months after the completion of the study and provides 6 months for Congressional review.\n\u2022Allows FEMA to utilize National Flood Insurance Funds to reimburse policyholders who successfully appeal a map determination.\n\u2022Eliminates the 50 percent cap on state and local contributions to levee construction and reconstruction.\n\u2022Protects the so-called \u201cbasement exception,\u201d which allows the lowest proofed opening in a home to be used for determining flood insurance rates.\n\u2022Establishes a Flood Insurance Rate Map Advocate within FEMA to answer current and prospective policyholder questions about the flood mapping process.\n\u2022Requires FEMA to certify that the agency has fully adopted a modernized risk-based approach to analyzing flood risk.\nOriginal Cosponsors of the legislation include: Representatives Michael Grimm (R-NY); Maxine Waters (D-CA); Cedric Richmond (D-LA); Pete Olson (R-TX); Steven Palazzo (R-MS); Patrick Murphy (D-FL); Bill Cassidy (R-LA); Doris Matsui (D-CA); Kevin Cramer (R-ND); William Keating (D-MA); Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL);Corrine Brown (D-FL); Rub\u00e9n Hinojosa (D-TX); Gregory Meeks (D-NY); Mike McIntyre (D-NC);\u00a0 Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Richard Nugent (R-FL); Bobby Scott (D-VA); Jim Langevin (D-RI); Joseph Crowley (D-NY); Gwen Moore (D-WI); Glenn Thompson (R-PA); Walter Jones (R- NC); Peter Welch (D- VT); William Enyart (D- IL); Frank LoBiondo (R- NJ); Stephen Lynch (D-MA); John Carney (D-DE); John Culberson (R-TX); Kathy Castor (D-FL); Joe Garcia (D-FL); Lois Frankel (D-FL); Nydia Velazquez (D-NY); Jan Schakowsky (D-IL); Peter King (R-NY); Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ); Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); Frederica Wilson (D-FL); Filemon Vela; (D- TX); Rodney Davis (R-IL); John Tierney (D-MA); Ed Perlmutter (D \u2013 CO); Keith Ellison (D-MN); Ted Deutch (D-FL); Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); Mario\u00a0 Diaz-Balart (R-FL); Jerry McNerney (D-CA); Charles Boustany (R-LA); William Lacy Clay (D-MO); Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO); Steve Scalise (R \u2013LA); Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY); John Garamendi (D-CA); Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX); Vern Buchannan (R-FL) and Robert Andrews (D-NJ).\n\u201cHomeowners across the nation have been hit with skyrocketing flood insurance rates, which they simply cannot afford,\u201d said. Rep. Michael Grimm. \u201cOn Staten Island, this is an unbearable blow that further victimizes those who are still struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0 I am proud to be part of bipartisan, bicameral solution to delay the rate hikes, while improving the Biggert-Waters Act in ways that protect homeowners from financial burdens and maintain the solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program.\u201d\n\u201cThe Biggert-Waters legislation was designed to address a $24 billion deficit and ensure millions of American homeowners could continue to purchase flood insurance. But FEMA\u2019s poor implementation, inaccurate mapping and incomplete data has led to unreasonable and unimaginable increases in premiums. From the moment I learned of the unintended consequences of the Biggert-Waters legislation, I have made clear that I would lead the effort to resolve the problems that have resulted,\u201d said Rep. Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee. \u201cToday we have reached bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the best way to repair the National Flood Insurance Program. This legislation would ensure FEMA undertakes program changes in a way that will not cause harm, by delaying implementation until it provides Congress the facts on how rate increases will affect homeowners. It will also give us the information we need to go through the program piece-by-piece and fix any outstanding affordability issues.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-helps-spur-bipartisan-effort-delay-and-reform-biggert-waters", "Scalise helps spur bipartisan effort to delay and reform Biggert-Waters", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today helped spur a bipartisan, bicameral effort to reform Biggert-Waters and save Louisianans from devastating NFIP rate increases.\n\t\u201cLouisiana families, homeowners, and businesses deserve relief from the unworkable Biggert-Waters flood insurance premium increases, and our bill takes major steps to ensure that the National Flood Insurance Program is affordable and sustainable for the future,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cOur bill represents the hard work of a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers from around the nation who put politics aside and are working tirelessly to fix the major flaws of Biggert-Waters.\u00a0 By delaying the exorbitant Biggert-Waters rate hikes, this bill forces FEMA to hit the pause button on skyrocketing rate hikes while working to implement real solutions that fix the problems within NFIP without hurting homeowners who just want to protect their families from flooding.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-experiences-obamacare-failures-during-sign-attempts", "Scalise experiences Obamacare failures during sign-on attempts", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 After attempting to sign up for Obamacare for over two hours, Congressman Steve Scalise released the following video and statement:\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve heard numerous stories from constituents about the failed attempts to sign up for Obamacare, so I tried to sign up myself,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cAfter spending two hours trying to navigate through the error-ridden Obamacare website, I was kicked out of the system four times, got numerous blank screens, and never once was able to compare prices for health coverage.\u201d\n\u201cThis failed website is a symptom of the larger failure of President Obama's government takeover of our health care system.\u00a0 This is not a \u2018glitch,\u2019 it\u2019s a national embarrassment. The Obama Administration spent more than $500 million of taxpayer money building the failed web site that is clearly not ready to allow families to purchase health plans. How can President Obama force American families to purchase health care from a website that does not work at a price they can't afford? President Obama has delayed this law for corporations and insurance companies; it is time that he finally delays the law's penalties for American families as well.\u201d\nWatch Scalise attempt to sign up for Obamacare here.\u00a0 Louisianans can share their Obamacare stories with Scalise here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003355/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-senators-louisiana-voucher-program-about-students-not-quotas-", "Vitter, Senators: Louisiana Voucher Program About Students not Quotas", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter, Senators: Louisiana Voucher Program About Students not Quotas \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tIn a letter, 30 U.S. Senators push for answers from Attorney General Holder on DOJ\u2019s voucher lawsuit\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 24, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.), along with 29 Senators, is calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to justify the U.S. Justice Department\u2019s lawsuit against Louisiana\u2019s statewide voucher program. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is the lead author on the letter.\n\u201cThe Justice Department\u2019s lawsuit is an outrageous attack on Louisiana parents and students,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cInstead of allowing parents to make one of their most important choices \u2013 where to send their kids to school \u2013 the federal government is stepping in, and trapping students in failing schools to meet quotas. Education needs to be about giving all of our students the best possible opportunity, not about reaching federal quotas determined by some bureaucrat in Washington.\u201d  The Louisiana Scholarship Program grants low-income children the opportunity to escape failing public schools and attend a different school chosen by their parents. Last year, the program helped over 5,700 children and raised test scores -- all while saving taxpayers $18 million dollars. More than 90 percent of the students who have benefited from the program are minorities.\nThe Justice Department led by Attorney General Holder is suing Louisiana to return 570 of these children to failing schools, on the grounds that it is more important to preserve a school\u2019s racial make-up. For example, the Justice Department argues that six African-American children should be returned to a failing elementary school, to change the school from 29.2 percent to 30.1 percent African-American.\nThe text of the Senators\u2019 letter is included below.\n  October 24, 2013\nThe Honorable Eric Holder  Attorney General  Department of Justice  950 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW  Washington, DC 20530-0001\nDear Attorney General Holder:\nOn August 22, 2013, the Department of Justice filed a petition with the federal district court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in the case of United States v. William J. Dodd, Civ. A. No. 71-1316 (E.D. La.). The petition asks the court to block 570 needy children from escaping failing public schools, solely on the basis of the children\u2019s skin color. We are deeply concerned by the Justice Department\u2019s petition. Specifically, we are concerned that the Department of Justice\u2019s decision to prevent these needy children from obtaining a valuable education is not consistent with the pursuit of justice, but instead may be the result of improper, partisan motives.\nIn 2008, three years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, New Orleans launched the Louisiana Scholarship Program. The program allowed poor students in failing schools to obtain a scholarship to attend a private school preapproved by the State. In 2012, Louisiana expanded the program statewide. 91 percent of scholarship children were minorities\u201486 percent African-American and 5 percent from other minority groups. Because the average scholarship equaled $4,500, some $3,000 less than the amount Louisiana\u2019s public schools spend per child, the program saved Louisiana taxpayers $18 million in 2012 alone.\nThe program has been a remarkable success. Test scores have risen among scholarship students. More importantly, the program is lauded by those in the best position to determine what is best for Louisiana\u2019s children: their parents. One mother wrote that at her son\u2019s public school, the teacher \u201ctold me that she could not give him the attention and time he needed\u201d; \u201cmy son could not hold a pencil or crayon and was treated by teachers and students alike as an outcast,\u201d and \u201cwas labeled as disabled.\u201d At his new scholarship school, \u201che has made tremendous progress and can now write his own name,\u201d is \u201cthriving,\u201d and is \u201cexcited to work on [his] homework at night.\u201d Another mother attested that she sought a scholarship for her six year-old son for one simple reason: \u201cSo he won\u2019t be a statistic.\u201d She explained that just a few months earlier, she laid her nephew to rest, and at the funeral could not help but ask, \u201cIf he would\u2019ve had the same opportunity like my son has, who knows what he would have become?\u201d\nIt seems to us that a program that rescues needy children from failing schools, gives families a chance to break the cycle of poverty and violence, and saves taxpayers millions of dollars each year is one that should be lauded by the federal government. Instead, the Justice Department is working to sabotage it. Shockingly, the Justice Department is doing so by targeting a small group of children based solely on the color of their skin.\nDuring the days of Jim Crow, some Louisiana school districts were placed under desegregation orders. The Justice Department argues that allowing a few students to escape their failing schools will change the racial composition in these covered school districts. For example, the Justice Department asks the court to block six needy African-American students from escaping their failing school, because their departure would change the school\u2019s racial make-up from 30.1 percent to 29.2 percent African-American. Similarly, the Justice Department argues that the desegregation orders may be violated if five poor white students obtain a better education, because the school would go from 29.6\u2009percent to 28.9\u2009percent white. In each case, the Justice Department is targeting the children solely on the basis of their skin color: If the six African-American children were white, and the five white children were African-American, the Justice Department would not be trying to prevent them from receiving a good education. These   children are not statistics. They are young kids, and every one of them deserves a safe, high-quality school and a chance at a bright future.\nLouisiana\u2019s Superintendent of Education has called it \u201cironic\u201d that the Justice Department is taking the desegregation orders that were designed to provide African-American children with access to the best schools and using them to trap African-American children in failing schools based solely on their skin color. We agree with the Washington Post\u2019s editorial board: \u201cwe think it is appalling.\u201d\nCongress is vested with oversight of the Justice Department in order to ensure political considerations do not trump the pursuit of justice and to verify that the Justice Department is making wise use of scarce taxpayer dollars. In our oversight capacity, we are requesting that you submit answers to the below questions as soon as possible, but no later than November 6, 2013. We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.  1. In 2012, 5,766 needy children won the opportunity to escape a failing school through Louisiana\u2019s Scholarship Program. The Justice Department\u2019s petition seeks to block 570 of those children from obtaining a meaningful education, based solely on the color of their skin. Some children, the petition argued, should be trapped in failing schools because they are African-American; others because they are white. How is this consistent with the Constitution\u2019s guarantee of equal protection regardless of race?  2. Justice Department officials have, on more than one occasion, appeared before Congress and testified that the Department\u2019s resources are stretched thin, and prosecutors sometimes have to make decisions on how best to deploy those resources. Why is this litigation a wise use of scarce taxpayer dollars?  3. The Justice Department argues in its petition that the loss of six black children from Cecilia primary school\u2014which amounts to less than one percent of the student body\u2014should be blocked. Imagine those six black children left Cecilia primary school for a reason other than the Louisiana Scholarship Program. Imagine that their parents\u2019 found more lucrative jobs and were able to afford private school out of their own pockets.   a. Would the Justice Department have the legal authority to block these children from leaving Cecilia school in order to preserve the \u201cracial balance\u201d between the school and parish?  b. Would the Justice Department have the legal authority to ask the court to bus in six other African-American children into the failing school to restore its \u201cracial balance\u201d?  4. The two examples the Justice Department cites in its petition, Cecilia primary school and Independence primary school, involve miniscule changes to the student population, 6 students (less than one percent of the student body) and 5 students (just over one percent of the student body). Is any change too small? What if only one black student received a scholarship from Cecilia? Would the Justice Department have the authority to block that student from a better school?  5. Did anyone in the Justice Department take any account of politics or have any conversations concerning politics, including the positions of teachers unions, in deciding to file its petition?\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/richmond-flood-protection-amendment-passes-house", "Richmond Flood Protection Amendment Passes in the House", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02), lauded the passage of H.R. 3080 \u2013 the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013\u00a0which includes a flood protection amendment he authored. The amendment is based on H.R. 1769, the Recognizing the National Benefits of Flood Protection Act of 2013, a bill Rep. Richmond introduced to require the Corps to calculate the national benefits of proposed flood protection projects such as the West Shore Hurricane Protection Project.\n\u201cSince coming to Congress, I have made flood protection one of my top priorities. The West Shore Levee Project has been at the forefront of my efforts and I am pleased that the passage of my amendment to H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013,\u00a0brings us closer to making this project a reality,\u201d Rep Richmond said. \u201cThis bill ensures that Congress and the Corps understand that flood protection projects in Louisiana will protect the country from economic shocks like sudden increases in the price of gasoline caused by a hurricane. In order to secure funding in this tight fiscal climate, the federal government must grasp how important areas like the River Parishes are to the U.S. economy. This is a big step in getting the alignment that the residents of the River Parishes desire.\u201d\nRep. Richmond\u2019s amendment directs the Corps to include the following in its economic analysis of a proposed flood protection project:\n The benefits from a reduction in national and regional economic losses, such as a spike in gasoline prices caused by a hurricane\n\tThe benefits from a reduction in flood damage to public and private property and infrastructure\n\tThe benefits to public safety from the protection of important evacuation routes\n Richmond Flood Protection Timeline:\n\u2022\u00a0Rep. Richmond held a conference call in April with the Corps\u2019 highest ranking civilian leader to urge her to allocate the full amount necessary to complete the West Shore Levee study.\n\u2022\u00a0On April 26, 2013, Rep. Richmond introduced the Recognizing the National Benefits of Flood Protection Act of 2013, HR-1769. The bill would require the Army Corps of Engineers to calculate the national benefits of proposed flood protection projects.\n\u2022\u00a0In May, Rep. Richmond held a town hall in St. John the Baptist Parish where the local Corps officials announced that the Corps had requested the money necessary to complete this study.\n\u2022\u00a0In June, Rep. Richmond sent a letter with Senator Mary Landrieu to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget urging it to approve the Corps request for funding for West Shore.\n\u2022\u00a0In October, Rep Richmond introduced an amendment to H.R. 3080 which reiterated the flood protection provisions in the Recognizing the National Benefits of Flood Protection Act of 2013. The amendment was adopted.\n\u2022\u00a0On October 23, 2013, H.R. 3080-Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 passed in the House of Representatives with the Richmond amendment.\nFootage of Rep. Richmond urging his colleagues to vote for his amendment can be viewed here .\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-launches-%E2%80%9Cshare-scalise%E2%80%9D-invites-families-share-their-obamacare-story", "Scalise launches \u201cShare with Scalise,\u201d invites families to share their Obamacare story", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today announced a new feature on his Congressional website allowing constituents to share their experiences regarding President Obama\u2019s health care law.\n\t\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s health care law is already being criticized as the biggest reason companies are not hiring and families are seeing health costs skyrocket, not to mention the complete failure of the $500+ million health care web site,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cLouisiana families deserve to have their health care stories heard, and I encourage everyone to share their experiences with me so I can hold the Obama administration accountable for the law's failures.\u201d\n\tLouisianans can share their stories with Scalise by filling out the form found here.\nHere are some stories Louisianans have already shared:\n \n\u201cIt cost my husband and I money already and it hasn\u2019t been fully implemented yet\u2026 It has hurt us by raising our premiums $200 a month.\u201d -Geneva from Montegut, LA\n\u201cMy health insurance will go up $40 a week. I can\u2019t afford that.\u201d-Dennis from Slidell, LA\n\u201cTo keep the same level of coverage, my premium has increased about 10% and my deductible has nearly doubled.\u201d-Luke from Covington, LA", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-richmond-amendment-included-house-passed-wrrda-bill", "Scalise, Richmond amendment included in House-passed WRRDA bill", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after winning several victories for families in southeast Louisiana. The House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act with an amendment by Scalise and Rep. Cedric Richmond to ensure that the Corps of Engineers account for the regional benefits of each proposed flood protection project. The bill also includes a Manager\u2019s Amendment authored by the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee allowing construction to begin on Morganza to the Gulf.\n\t\u201cWhile we're still working to strengthen the language for Morganza to the Gulf in the final bill, I\u2019m glad the House moved today to pass this crucial bill to compliment the Senate\u2019s water resources bill spearheaded by Senator Vitter earlier this year,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cAmong the many key reforms included in this bill is an amendment that Cedric Richmond and I offered to ensure that the Corps starts including the economic importance of flood protection projects in its cost-benefit analysis.\n\u201cAdditionally, the Manager\u2019s Amendment included in this bill finally allows construction on Morganza to move forward and be credited after more than two decades of delays and over $70 million in studies. Families in south Louisiana have long-demanded the ability to begin construction on this project, and I\u2019m glad Congress has finally granted them the flexibility they deserve.\n\t\u201cThe importance of the Morganza to the Gulf hurricane protection system cannot be overstated, as more than 200,000 Louisiana families remain vulnerable to flooding after decades of broken promises from the federal government and bureaucratic red-tape.\u00a0 I will continue working to ensure that critical projects like Morganza to the Gulf are included in the final bill.\u201d\n\tThe House bill will now head to a conference committee to be coupled with the water resources bill passed by the Senate.\nThe Scalise-Richmond Amendment directs the Corps to include the following in its economic analysis of a proposed flood protection project:\n\u00b7The benefits from a reduction in national and regional economic losses, such as a spike in gasoline prices caused by a hurricane.  \n\t\u00b7The benefits from a reduction in flood damage to public and private property and infrastructure.  \n\t\u00b7The benefits to public safety from the protection of important evacuation routes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024432/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/louisiana-delegation-pushes-for-transparency-in-healthcaregov", "Louisiana Delegation Pushes For Transparency in HealthCare.gov", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Louisiana Delegation Pushes For Transparency in HealthCare.gov\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 23, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Senator David Vitter (R-La.) sent a letter with Reps. Bill Cassidy, Steve Scalise, John Fleming and Charles Boustany to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The letter insists that Secretary Sebelius answer whether HealthCare.gov was tested before its launch and how many Louisianans and Americans have enrolled into Obamacare.\n\u201cThe Administration needs to quit hiding behind obtuse excuses about the Obamacare roll out and own what they're forcing Louisianians to use. Folks are forced to accept skyrocketing insurance costs, loss of employer coverage, and could get fined for not purchasing Obamacare because the Administration can't get the enrollment website working,\" Vitter said.\n\u201cLouisiana families would like to know why this site, costing millions upon millions of tax dollars, doesn\u2019t work. This is the minimum level of transparency that should be given. It\u2019s not too much to ask for,\u201d said Cassidy.\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s health care website is not a glitch, it is a $500+ million national embarrassment and top agency officials should be held accountable for this failure that they had three years to prepare for. Louisiana families deserve and demand transparency from the President into the cause of the Obamacare train wreck, and I look forward to the Administration\u2019s swift response to these critical questions,\u201d said Scalise.\n\u201cIf the CEO of a major company had three-and-a-half years to prepare for the launch of the company's signature product, and it launched with a resounding thud, that CEO would surely be fired. Secretary Sebelius must explain how hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars could be spent on a website that is an utter failure, and possibly even a security risk. She had to know that benchmarks were not met and that the launch would not go well. Before the administration pours millions more into the bottomless pit of its so-called tech surge, the Secretary needs to face the American people and explain how and why this mess happened,\u201d said Fleming.\nA copy of the letter sent to Secretary Sebelius is attached.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-obama-refuses-accountability-health-web-site-failur", "Obama refuses accountability for health web site failure", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after President Obama\u2019s speech on the Affordable Care Act.\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s health care website is not a glitch.\u00a0 It is a $500+ million national embarrassment, and top agency officials should be held accountable for this failure that has been three years in the making,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cThe only thing missing from President Obama\u2019s Rose Garden sales pitch was an offer for free t-shirts to the first 100 callers.\u00a0 President Obama\u2019s signature health care law is clearly not ready for prime time, and it\u2019s time for him to stop re-packaging this failed product and start working with us to end this train wreck before even more taxpayer money is wasted.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003532/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-block-energy-dept-nominee-wants-answers-about-work-at-nasa", "Vitter to Block Energy Dept. Nominee, Wants Answers about Work at NASA", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Block Energy Dept. Nominee, Wants Answers about Work at NASA\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tConcerns about stalled job creation project for Michoud facility in New Orleans under Elizabeth Robinson\u2019s leadership as CFO at NASA\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, October 21, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today put a hold on President Obama\u2019s nomination of Elizabeth Robinson to be Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Energy. Robinson is currently the Chief Financial Officer at NASA, and has been directly involved with the lack of approval for a contract to build vehicles at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. In his letter to Robinson, Vitter asks questions about the use of private emails at NASA too.\n\u201cUnder the Obama administration, NASA has been stalling on a job creating project at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans for no apparent reason,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cMs. Robinson needs to answer questions about why they\u2019ve delayed the project, and other questions about NASA\u2019s operations before she leaves her job overseeing their finances.\u201d\nThe Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) and Space Launch System (SLS) have both been delayed because NASA has failed to approve contracts for the projects, which would be built at the Michoud Assembly Facility. Approval of the delayed projects could mean putting approximately 300 to 600 Louisianans back to work. These are programs that are also important to the economies of more than 30 states and jobs across our nation.\nAs the ranking member of the NASA space subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Vitter secured key provisions in the bipartisan 2010 NASA Reauthorization that ensured Michoud Assembly Facility\u2019s continued viability and to help keep Louisiana as an integral part of human space flight for years to come.\nIn September 2011, Vitter announced that NASA was choosing Michoud to construct components of its new heavy-lift rocket. The MPCV and SLS were both included.\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s letter to Robinson.\n  October 21, 2013\nMs. Elizabeth Robinson  Chief Financial Officer  National Aeronautics and Space Administration   300 E Street, SW, Room 8L11  Washington, DC 20546\nDear Ms. Robinson:\nAs the Senate considers your nomination to be the Undersecretary of the Department of Energy, I think it is important to conduct a thorough review of your job performance in your current position as NASA\u2019s Chief Financial Officer to assess what qualities and traits you will bring to your new position. With Louisiana\u2019s economy being largely dependent on the energy sector, the undersecretary\u2019s role will also have a significant impact on my state. I am concerned with some of your actions, or lack of actions, in performing your current duties at NASA. Delays and mismanagement of funds while you have been CFO will have a severe impact on thousands of jobs across the country. NASA\u2019s Inspector General recently reported that the agency has struggled to achieve austerity during your tenure and that cost overruns have grown from $50 million in 2009 to $315 million last year.\nBefore the senate moves forward with a your nomination, it is appropriate that you provide us with answers to the following questions on matters that you are responsible for at NASA.\nOrion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) and Space Launch System Contract (SLS) Delays\nAs you know, the SLS is vital in returning the United States back to the forefront of deep space exploration. Unfortunately, I have concerns with some of your actions and policies that are directly affecting my state. Louisiana is home to Michoud Assembly Facility, which supports the Orion MPCV and SLS. Approval of the delayed contracts means could mean putting between 300 and 600 more Louisianans back to work. These are programs that are also important to the economies of more than 30 states and many jobs across our nation.\nAlthough Congress, the White House, and NASA agreed that Orion and SLS are top priorities, and with the NASA Authorization Act signed into law in the fall of 2010 that reflected that agreement, NASA has continued to delay the identification of the MPCV and SLS architectures and has been underfunding them. The SLS configuration was not announced until late August 2011, the SLS contract still has not been definitized, and your office is prejudicially withholding $125 million of SLS funding through termination liability. Further, I understand that there is discussion to hit Orion and SLS harshly with sequestration, a move many fear would be made to make a case for cancellation.\nWhile you have publicly stated your support for SLS, NASA\u2019s budget request for the program, the delayed SLS contract definitization, and a myriad of other obstacles reflect a different indication of where the program may be heading.\n1. The schedule for approval of the SLS that was laid out at the beginning of this process required you to approve the contract this past June 2013. However, it has yet to be approved and has sat on your desk for almost two years. As I understand the situation, the contract applicants have had hundreds of meetings in the past year with NASA to answer endless questions about the rocket. What is the current expected timeline for approval of the SLS contract, and can you please explain what appears to be intentional obstruction of the space flight program?\n2. Your office is currently withholding $125 million of funding through contract termination liability. Those funds could be used towards space explorations programs instead of as a tool to harm contractors. How do you explain that withholding these funds appears to be using of termination liability as a tool to slow progress of SLS?\n3. As I understand it, NASA is currently addressing sequestration disproportionately on Space Exploration programs. Numerous operations plans for fiscal year 2013 were submitted to the Appropriations Committees and rejected. In each one, Commercial Crew funding was fully restored post sequestration, but SLS and Orion were not. Are you enacting sequestration cuts evenly across all accounts at NASA? Are you intentionally trying to kill SLS and Orion? Why are you implementing sequestration in this biased manner? Please provide a chart that shows all operating plan submitted funding levels, listed by date, versus FY2013 appropriated levels.\n4. A few months ago (article attached), former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver told the Orlando Sentinel that Orion would fail and that SLS was a year behind schedule, although in reality SLS is five months ahead of schedule and under cost according to recent numbers. Do you share Lori Garver\u2019s view that SLS is doomed to fail?\nUsing personal email for government business\nThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been heavily criticized for the secretive practices of the former Administrator and other EPA employees who were caught using personal email accounts to conduct government business. As I brought this issue to light, employees at NASA have expressed concern to me that some of its senior leadership have also carried multiple communications devices and used personal emails to conduct government business. In 2011, the Senate Commerce Committee considered subpoenaing NASA employee personal emails, perhaps an action they should have taken given the situation at the EPA and reports of activity at NASA. In light of these concerns, it is important that you answer the following questions:\n1. Are you aware of anyone at NASA headquarters or NASA leadership using personal email to conduct government business? If so, who, when and what was discussed?\n2. Have you ever used multiple government email accounts simultaneously? If so, please detail the time period these accounts were used and list all email accounts you use for official business, including public and or alias accounts.\n3. Have you ever used any personal or non-government email account to conduct official NASA or government business or to discuss work-related issues? If so, please indicate who you spoke with, when the conversation occurred, and what was discussed.\n4. Have you ever communicated with anyone at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) using a personal or non-government email account to conduct government business? If so, please indicate with whom you communicated, when the conversation occurred, and what was discussed.\n5. Have you ever conducted or discussed official NASA or government business with anyone at the Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP) using a personal or non-government email account? If so, please indicate who you spoke with, when the conversation occurred, and what was discussed.\n6. Have you ever conducted or discussed official NASA or government business with Deputy Administrator Lori Garver using a personal or non-government email account? If so, please indicate when the conversation occurred and what was discussed\n7. To your knowledge, did former Chief of Staff George Whitesides ever use a personal email account to conduct agency business?\n8. If any of these officials or others not listed used personal email accounts for official NASA business, what was the purpose of all of these secret communications?\n9. Is the use of personal email accounts considered an acceptable practice in this administration?\nI would appreciate your prompt answers to these questions as the Senate considers your promotion to the Department of Energy.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter   U.S. Senator\nAttachment", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-statement-ending-government-shutdown-and-avoidance-financial-crisis", "Rep. Richmond Statement on Ending of Government Shutdown and Avoidance of Financial Crisis", "2013-10-17", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 2775, a bill which authorizes the U.S. Treasury to continue borrowing through Feb. 7, and funds the government through Jan. 15:\n\u201cAs we\u00a0 breathe a temporary sigh of relief after 16 days of a government shutdown, Congress needs to take heed because America has made it crystal clear that they will not tolerate this dysfunctional governing approach. We have a responsibility to our constituents and the American people to represent them with fairness and integrity and above all else, to do our jobs and actually govern.\n\u201cFunding the government and paying our bills are priorities we cannot avoid, neglect or retreat to partisan debate over. Regardless of which party is in the majority, we all must take responsibility to work together instead of holding the country and our functionality hostage out of spite. This shutdown should never have been regarded as a means to an end, because in the end, our constituents lose. Similarly, refusal to raise the debt ceiling would have had repercussions that would impact this country for generations to come. Our financial viability as a nation is simply never worth risking.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131021044749/http://www.vitter.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/vitter-to-oppose-senate-deal-on-cr-debt-ceiling", "Vitter to Oppose Senate Deal on CR, Debt Ceiling", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Oppose Senate Deal on CR, Debt Ceiling\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter cites Senate Democrats blocking the No Obamacare Exemption for Washington amendment, also lack of budget reforms for reasons he\u2019s a \u2018no\u2019 \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 16, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t  (Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) will oppose the deal on the continuing budget resolution and debt limit increase being voted on in the U.S. Senate this evening. Vitter made the following comment.\n\u201cMy No Obamacare Exemption for Washington language has been blocked out by Harry Reid, Barrack Obama and others who want to keep their special subsidy.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not going away and neither am I,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThis is all about fairness \u2013 forcing Washington to live under Obamacare the same way as the rest of America. Once Washington insiders are forced to walk in the same shoes as other Americans, we may start cleaning up this train wreck.\u201d\nThe legislation being voted on today makes no budget reforms and does nothing to address long-term debt issues. It extends spending levels, and allows for more borrowing by increasing the nation\u2019s credit limit.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131204052802/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-applauds-house-for-including-no-obamacare-exemption-in-proposal", "Vitter Applauds House for Including No Obamacare Exemption in Proposal", "2013-10-15", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Applauds House for Including No Obamacare Exemption in Proposal\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSays it\u2019s important to include this provision to make it fair for Congress to live through Obamacare like rest of America\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 15, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) made the following statement after news reports indicate that House Republicans will include Vitter\u2019s \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare\u201d language in their bill to pass a continuing budget resolution and increase the debt limit. \u201cThis is really about fairness, making sure that Washington is forced to live under the same train wreck of Obamacare that is forced on the rest of America,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt will take the policy makers in Washington walking in the same shoes as the millions of Americans to actually make real policy changes, and clean up the train wreck.\u201d Vitter's amendment would reverse and clarify the decision by the Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) on Obamacare. His legislation will require that all Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and all political appointees in the Administration must purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange without the help of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Congressional staff would be prohibited from receiving any contribution greater than what they would receive if they were not employed by a congressional office. Reports indicate that the Vitter Amendment will be in the House bill. Cosponsors of the Vitter Amendment include Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/rsc-chairman-scalise-attend-white-house-meeting", "RSC Chairman Scalise to attend White House meeting", "2013-10-10", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "RSC Chairman Scalise to attend White House meeting                                           \n              Oct 10, 2013      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    Washington, DC \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise issued the following statement in advance of today\u2019s scheduled meeting with President Obama at the White House:\n\t\"For weeks, House Republicans have passed bipartisan bills to fund the government and put real solutions on the table to get our economy back on track. While we have real disagreements on solving our nation's problems, I am glad President Obama has finally agreed to meet with us to start negotiating our differences so we can find real solutions. President Obama is the only person in Washington who can cause our nation to default, which would be irresponsible and dangerous. I hope the President takes this opportunity to abandon his divisive rhetoric and finally engage in a dialogue as we work to implement real reforms to finally control Washington's spending problem and get our economy back on track.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-vote-ensure-benefits-families-fallen-soldiers", "Scalise statement on House vote to ensure benefits for families of fallen soldiers", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after the House voted to ensure benefits for families of fallen soldiers.\n\u201cIt was important that the House moved quickly today to put aside partisan differences and swiftly pass this bill to ensure benefits for families of fallen soldiers will be paid on time,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cLast week, Congress passed a bill to fully fund our troops and ensure that all military pay and allowances would continue to be dispersed. While the Obama Administration chose not to apply that bill to families of fallen soldiers, our men and women in uniform should never be used as political pawns. It\u2019s time for President Obama to abandon the divisive rhetoric, stop playing political games with military families, and finally start negotiating with the House over our differences so we can properly fund the government and get our economy back on track.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221013436/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-opm-turn-over-correspondence-on-obamacare-exemption", "Vitter to OPM: Turn Over Correspondence on Obamacare Exemption", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to OPM: Turn Over Correspondence on Obamacare Exemption\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRequests OPM disclose all correspondence they had with Congress and the White House related to their final rule allowing Congress to keep their taxpayer subsidy for health care\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 9, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requesting them to release all correspondence they had with the Administration, Members of Congress and their staffs related to their final rule to \u201cfix\u201d Obamacare for Congress. It has been widely reported that OPM was in deliberations with Congress and officials in the White House, including the President, over the specifics of this rule. \u00a0 \u201cThis \u2018fix\u2019 was one of many delayed regulations, which leads me to believe that there was much debate between the White House and Congress over OPM\u2019s authority to bend the rules and help Members and congressional staff to ultimately retain their very generous taxpayer funded subsidies,\u201d Vitter wrote. \u201cSelf-dealing special treatment to avoid the consequences of a law that Congress itself passed is precisely why the American people do not trust Washington.\u201d Vitter has been pushing legislation, which has been dubbed the \u201cVitter Amendment\u201d that would reverse and clarify the decision by OPM on Obamacare. The legislation will require that all Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and all political appointees in the Administration must purchase their health insurance through the Obamacare Exchange without the help of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Congressional staff would be prohibited from receiving any contribution greater than what they would receive if they were not employed by a congressional office.  The text of Vitter\u2019s letter requesting OPM to turn over all correspondence with the Administration, Members of Congress and their staff is below.   October 9, 2013 The Honorable Elaine Kaplan  Acting Director  Office of Personnel Management  1900 E St NW  Washington, DC 20415 Dear Acting Director Kaplan: I write seeking more information regarding the Office of Personnel Management\u2019s (OPM\u2019s) final rule to \u201cfix\u201d Obamacare for Members of Congress and their staffs but not for the American people.\u00a0 While I continue to argue that this \u201cfix\u201d is both unfair and illegal, I ask that you release all correspondence OPM officials had within the Administration and with Members of Congress and their staff regarding how the agency arrived at its position in the final rule, issued on September 30, 2013. It has been widely reported that OPM was in deliberations with Congress and officials in the White House, including the President, over the specifics of this rule.\u00a0 This \u201cfix\u201d was one of many delayed regulations, which leads me to believe that there was much debate between the White House and Congress over OPM\u2019s authority to bend the rules and help Members and congressional staff to ultimately retain their very generous taxpayer funded subsidies.\u00a0 Objective legal experts who have looked at this regulation contend that OPM is not authorized to subsidize plans on the Exchange for which it is has not contracted or approved, and is only allowed to approve and contract with group plans that meet the rate and benefit requirements of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).\u00a0 Accordingly, should OPM subsidize plans selected from the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchange, those plans will either violate the requirements of FEHBP\u00a0 or will violate the requirements under Obamacare.\u00a0 \u00a0 Given that Open Enrollment started October 1st, and the deadline to choose a health plan by December 31st, beyond the initial request for correspondence I ask that you respond to the following questions and make available all information requested below by no later than October 18, 2013. 1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Prior to issuing the rule did anyone within OPM, advising on this particular matter, at any point argue that OPM did not have authority to determine that the FEHB contribution could be used towards purchasing a plan on an exchange or with a private insurance plan outside FEHB?  2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Please disclose all email correspondence including meetings OPM officials had with Members of Congress and/or any of their staff prior to issuing the proposed rule on August 2, 2013, and prior to issuing the final rule issued on September 30, 2013?  3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Please disclose all email correspondence including meetings that OPM officials have had with the White House, including the President, with regards to this ruling that allows Members and congressional staff to keep their generous taxpayer funded subsidy for health insurance?  4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Was there at any point disagreement between OPM, Members of Congress, White House, their respective staff with regards to OPM\u2019s authority to authorize FEHB subsidies for health plans on an Exchange? OPM has a Constitutional responsibility to interpret the legislative language within the scope of the Obamacare statute.\u00a0\u00a0 Self-dealing special treatment to avoid the consequences of law that Congress itself passed, is precisely why the American people do not trust Washington.\u00a0 The public has a right to know the answers to the questions listed above, and I look forward to your timely response.  Sincerely,  David Vitter  U.S. Senator -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003002/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/gen-clark-agrees-to-debate-vitter-about-free-government-cell-phone-program-", "Gen. Clark Agrees to Debate Vitter About Free Government Cell Phone Program", "2013-10-08", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Gen. Clark Agrees to Debate Vitter About Free Government Cell Phone Program \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDuring a phone conversation today, Clark agreed to publically debate Vitter and provide a full written response to his questions\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 8, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today had a phone conversation with Gen. Wesley Clark to follow up on a letter he sent him last week. Vitter again requested a debate with Clark over the merits of the free government cell phone program called Lifeline, and Clark agreed. Clark was in Louisiana last week promoting his support for the Lifeline program, and criticized Sen. Vitter for his efforts to end the fraud-ridden free cell phone part of Lifeline. Click here for the news report about Clark\u2019s visit, and Vitter\u2019s response.\n\u201cI look forward to a public discussion with Gen. Clark about Lifeline and my efforts to end the waste, fraud, and abuse surrounding the cell phone program,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThis public debate will be a real opportunity to find out Clark\u2019s motives for promoting the fraud-ridden free cellphone welfare program.\u201d\nThe Federal Communications Commission, who administers Lifeline, recently announced major penalties against Lifeline companies totaling $14.4 million for the violation of companies' signing up the same persons multiple times.\nIn his October 2 letter, Vitter asked Clark, \u201cDo any companies who receive funds from the Lifeline program (classic corporate welfare kings) financially support the public affairs company who paid for your trip, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest?\u201d\nDuring their phone conversation, Clark agreed to answer Vitter\u2019s questions and have a public debate. Details of the public debate will be released a later date.\nOn May 7, 2013, Vitter introduced legislation to end the welfare subsidy for mobile phone service in the Lifeline Program. Vitter also introduced this legislation as an amendment to the Senate budget resolution in March. The amendment failed 46-to-53. Click here to see the vote results.\nClick here to read Vitter\u2019s October 2 letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-vote-fund-fda", "Scalise statement on House vote to fund the FDA", "2013-10-07", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to fund the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\n\t\u201cI\u2019m proud to support this bipartisan bill to fund the FDA and ensure that food and drug safety remains a top priority despite President Obama\u2019s government shutdown,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cClearly there are some differences between the House, the President, and the Senate, but we should at least fund those parts of the government where we can agree while we negotiate our differences on the remaining items.\u00a0 This weekend, Democrats in the House joined with us by voting unanimously to pay furloughed federal workers.\u00a0 It\u2019s disappointing they\u2019re not as concerned with funding our veterans, the FDA, the NIH, and other essential programs.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/house-gop-votes-fund-veterans-national-guard-military-reservists", "House GOP votes to fund Veterans, National Guard, Military Reservists", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to fund veterans, the National Guard, and our military reservists.\n\t\u201cI\u2019m proud to support the bipartisan bills that the House passed to fund our National Guard troops, military reservists, and veterans,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cUnfortunately President Obama threatened the veto these bills unless he gets everything he wants on other, unrelated bills.\u00a0 If hurting the GOP is more important to President Obama than helping our veterans and our troops, he\u2019s lost sight of his responsibilities as Commander in Chief.\u00a0 After Tuesday\u2019s shameless decision by Democrats to vote against American veterans, House Republicans stood together today to ensure that key functions of our government are funded while we work out the rest of our differences.\u00a0 While Democrats have finally agreed that our troops should be paid despite the shutdown, it\u2019s very unfortunate they refuse to also ensure that our National Guard, veterans, and military reservists are funded as well.\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s time for the Senate Leader Harry Reid and President Obama to stop refusing to negotiate, stop stalling and come to the table to talk.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-calls-obama-reverse-veto-threat-house-passed-bill-fund-fema", "Scalise calls on Obama to reverse veto threat on House passed bill to fund FEMA", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after the House passed a bill to fund emergency management and disaster response.\n\t\u201cAs Tropical Storm Karen threatens the Gulf Coast, the House today passed a bipartisan bill to fully fund disaster response and emergency operations,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cWhile we have areas of disagreement with President Obama, we should at least be able to pass bills to fund the things we all agree upon as we negotiate our differences on the remaining items.\u00a0 At a time when a storm is bearing down on us in the Gulf, I am calling on President Obama to put his partisanship to the side and withdraw his veto threat on the bill we passed to fund FEMA.\u00a0 I am also calling on Senator Reid to join the bipartisan coalition in the House and pass this bill quickly.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024452/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-army-corps-ready-to-protect-gulf-coast-from-tropical-storm-karen", "Vitter: Army Corps Ready To Protect Gulf Coast From Tropical Storm Karen", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Army Corps Ready To Protect Gulf Coast From Tropical Storm Karen\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 4, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(New Orleans, La.) \u2013 Earlier today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter met with Colonel Richard Hansen, Commander and New Orleans District Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), regarding the Corps\u2019 preparation and projections for Tropical Storm Karen, which is expected to approach the Gulf Coast late on Saturday.\n\u201cI can absolutely confirm that every person and all resources that the Corps will need to protect the Gulf from this storm are ready and available. There is no negative impact trickling down from the government shutdown, and the Corps\u2019 preparation for Tropical Storm Karen will not be compromised in any way,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cAdditionally, I am monitoring any projections and potential closures so that Gulf Coast residents are informed and safe in the coming days.\u201d\nVitter is the top ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Corps.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-calls-obama-grant-personnel-essential-wake-storm", "Rep. Richmond Calls on Obama to Grant Personnel Essential in Wake of Storm", "2013-10-03", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following letter today requesting that President Obama intervene in the midst of the government shutdown to give federal agencies responsible for hurricane response and preparedness the authority to deemed their personnel essential:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 October 3, 2013\nPresident Barack Obama  \n\tThe White House  \n\t1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20500\n\u00a0\nDear President Obama,\nTropical Storm Karen is forecast to make landfall along the Northern Gulf Coast Friday evening as a possible hurricane. With the current government shutdown unlikely to end soon, I respectfully request that you grant all relevant federal agencies the immediate authority to deem all personnel essential so that hurricane preparations and response activities are not interrupted.\nAs you know, the federal government plays a critical role in protecting life and property during and after natural disasters. From the pre-stationing of food and water by FEMA, to SBA loans for disaster survivors, a swift recovery from any hurricane is dependent on a functioning federal government.\u00a0 While I am extremely disappointed that some in Congress are intent on keeping government shuttered, I urge you to take all measures necessary to help residents in this region prepare for and recovery from this storm.\nWe thank you in advance for your efforts in ensuring that the vital services that protect our nation remain operating during this trying time.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sincerely,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cedric L. Richmond\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-capitol-hill-lockdown", "Scalise statement on the Capitol Hill lockdown", "2013-10-03", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement regarding the Capitol Hill lockdown.\n\t\u201cMy thoughts and prayers are with the officer injured in the line of duty,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cWhile in the Capitol, I saw officers taking positions on the West steps of the Capitol with rifles drawn.\u00a0 I was then ushered into the House Chamber by Capitol Police officers.\u00a0 I commend the Capitol Police for their swift and professional response to this crisis and thank them for their vigilance.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-funding-nih", "Scalise statement on House funding of NIH", "2013-10-03", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to fund life saving cancer research and the National Institutes of Health.\n\t\u201cToday, I joined my House Republican colleagues in supporting funding for cutting-edge medical research and life-saving cancer treatment by voting to fully fund the National Institutes of Health,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cThe United States is a world leader in biomedical research, and the NIH plays a vital role in allowing scientists and researchers to continue working to improve and save lives.\u00a0 Unfortunately, 170 House Democrats are so entrenched with Harry Reid and President Obama\u2019s political games that they don\u2019t understand why we would fund these initiatives, like cancer research for kids.\n\t\u201cThe House continues passing bills to fund the essential parts of our government while also working towards a permanent solution to end Harry Reid's government shutdown.\u00a0 It\u2019s time for the Senate Democrats and President Obama to stop playing games, stop holding cancer patients and others hostage, and finally come to the table to negotiate a solution.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-statement-status-continuing-resolution", "Rep. Richmond Statement on Status of Continuing Resolution", "2013-10-02", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following statement after none of the House majority\u2019s latest three bills, which broke up the Continuing Resolution, passed in the House of Representatives:\n\u201cWe have an obligation in Congress to get the entire government up and running again! Today\u2019s effort by the GOP confirms that they are out of touch with the American people and don\u2019t understand the gravity of a shutdown. I will not support wasting more time with mini bills that only offer empty rhetoric instead of a real solution. How can we pick and choose what stays open and what remains closed when people\u2019s livelihoods are on the line? I won\u2019t do it. There are 800,000 furloughed federal employees who lie in the balance of this ruthless standoff.\n\u201cThis is a piecemeal approach that selectively addresses some areas and not others \u2013 that\u2019s not how you run a government. These bills don\u2019t even scratch the surface to delivering a solution that ends this shutdown and gets federal employees back to work.\u00a0 We are wasting precious time that we don\u2019t have and literally can\u2019t afford to waste. Republicans need to get serious because we are in serious times.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-house-democrats-abandon-veterans", "Scalise: House Democrats Abandon Veterans", "2013-10-02", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise issued the following statement tonight after a majority of House Democrats abandoned American veterans.\n\t\u201cIn what can only be described as a disgraceful partisan maneuver, just after most of them voted for a government shutdown, House Democrats have now chosen to turn their backs on America's veterans,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOur military veterans should not be used as political pawns by Washington liberals who refuse to negotiate on the responsible funding of government.\u00a0\u00a0Americans who\u2019ve served our nation in years past and defended the freedoms we enjoy deserve the same respect as those who proudly serve today. House Republicans will continue working towards a solution to fully fund the government, while also working to end this government shutdown.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011935/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-challenges-gen-wesley-clark-to-free-government-cell-phone-debate", "Vitter Challenges Gen. Wesley Clark to Free Government Cell Phone Debate", "2013-10-02", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Challenges Gen. Wesley Clark to Free Government Cell Phone Debate\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAsks whether Lifeline companies benefiting are paying him\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 2, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is challenging Gen. Wesley Clark to debate the merits of the free government cell phone program called Lifeline. Clark was in Louisiana this week promoting his support for the Lifeline program, and criticized Sen. Vitter for his efforts to end the fraud-ridden free cell phone part of Lifeline. Click here for the news report. Vitter questioned who was paying for Clark\u2019s trip and campaign.\n\u201cThank you very much for coming to Louisiana and calling increased attention to Lifeline, the fraud-ridden free government cell phone program for welfare recipients,\u201d Vitter wrote to Clark today. \u201cI look forward to a public discussion with you about Lifeline and my efforts to end the waste, fraud, and abuse surrounding it.\u201d\nAlso this week, the Federal Communications Commission who administers Lifeline, announced major penalties against Lifeline companies totaling $14.4 million for the violation of companies' signing up the same persons multiple times. Click here to read more.\nVitter also asked Clark, \u201cDo any companies who receive funds from the Lifeline program (classic corporate welfare kings) financially support the public affairs company who paid for your trip, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest?\u201d\nOn May 7, 2013, Vitter introduced legislation to end the welfare subsidy for mobile phone service in the Lifeline Program. Vitter also introduced this legislation as an amendment to the Senate budget resolution in March. The amendment failed 46-to-53. Click here to see the vote results.\nThe text of Vitter\u2019s letter is below.\nOctober 2, 2013\n  General Wesley K. Clark   Wesley K. Clark & Associates, LLC  P.O. Box 3276  Little Rock, Arkansas 72203\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL\nDear General Clark:\nThank you very much for coming to Louisiana and calling increased attention to Lifeline, the fraud-ridden free government cell phone program for welfare recipients. I\u2019m sorry that I was in Washington and missed seeing you in person, but the more attention we can bring to this out-of-control entitlement program and all of the documented problems with it the better.\nYour visit was particularly timely.\u00a0 As I'm sure you know, on the exact same day as your Louisiana visit, the FCC announced major penalties against Lifeline companies totaling $14.4 million for the gross violation of companies' signing up the same persons multiple times. (See attached FCC press release.)\u00a0\u00a0 And this FCC action doesn\u2019t cover ineligible subscribers or those who get cell phones from multiple companies fraudulently, so it surely only scratches the surface of the fraud problem.   \u00a0  As I'm sure you also know, this follows the program mushrooming from $143 million per year in 2008 to nearly $2 billion per year now.\u00a0 During that exponential growth, the FCC itself concluded that the top five companies benefiting from the program could not even verify the eligibility of 41% of the people they give free government cell phones to.\u00a0 Nevertheless, every time these companies hand one out, they receive on average $9.25 per phone per month.\nI write with two specific questions.\nFirst, the attached press report of your Louisiana visit quotes your spokesperson as saying vaguely that a \u201cpublic affairs company that represents veterans advocacy groups\u201d sponsored your trip.\u00a0 Who are this company and its financial backers?\u00a0 In particular, do any companies who receive funds from the fraud-ridden Lifeline program (classic corporate welfare kings) financially support this public affairs company, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest?\nSecond and following up on your request through the media that I contact you to discuss the free government cell phone program, can you join me in Louisiana to debate this issue publicly?\u00a0 I would be available October 25 in Lafayette and/or Shreveport and November 1 in Baton Rouge. If these dates don't work, please let me know on what other dates when Congress is not in session you can expand your Louisiana public relations tour, and I will join you there in an effort to bring increased attention to this out-of-control entitlement program.\nThank you again for helping me highlight the free government cell phone program for welfare recipients and my efforts to end the waste, fraud, and abuse surrounding it. I look forward to a public discussion with you on this important topic soon.\nSincerely,\n  David Vitter  U.S. Senate", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-statement-continuing-resolution", "Rep. Richmond Statement on Continuing Resolution", "2013-09-30", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following statement regarding the House majority\u2019s Continuing Resolution and pending government shutdown:\n\u201cToday, House Republicans united together in true contempt against the American people. Instead of working constructively to help pass a Continuing Resolution that keeps the government open for business, they have chosen to unite in an all-out war against the middle class, the poor, our service men and women and federal employees. It is unacceptable that we stand on the brink of a government shutdown all because of some of my colleagues\u2019 disdain for a policy the Supreme Court\u00a0 has already declared the law of the land. This year alone, 60,000 Louisiana seniors have saved $89 million on medication. Without this law 795,000 Louisianans would lose access to quality, dependable healthcare. A repeal of Obamacare is to ignore the needs of our most vulnerable.\n\u201cIt is sad and disheartening to work with people who refuse to compromise or work together for the common good of our economy and all of our constituents. We were elected to the House of Representatives to legislate, but instead, House leadership has demonstrated they are incapable of doing that. I hope that these obstructionists change their ways or change their career path, because they have contaminated what it means to be a public servant. Time and time again, I have tried to be hopeful and optimistic that my Republican colleagues would find a way to be reasonable and fair, today confirms that\u2019s just not possible.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/rsc-endorses-house%E2%80%99s-latest-government-funding-proposal", "RSC Endorses the House\u2019s Latest Government Funding Proposal", "2013-09-30", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The RSC Steering Committee today unanimously voted to support the latest House proposal to fund the government while protecting American families from the devastating consequences of the President\u2019s health care law.\n\t\u201cThis bill ensures that all Members of Congress and the White House will finally have to live by the same laws that have been passed, just like all Americans,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cEither Obamacare is good enough that it should apply to all or it is so bad that it should apply to none.\u00a0 It is time for the sweetheart deals and backroom exemptions to end.\n\t\u201cThe devastating effects of the President\u2019s health care law are not a partisan issue. Businesses see it.\u00a0 American families see it.\u00a0 Even union leaders like James Hoffa see this train wreck coming.\u00a0 It is time for Senate Democrats and the President to get off the sidelines and work in a bipartisan way to fund the government while eliminating special political exemptions.\u201d\n\tWith 175 members, the Republican Study Committee is the largest multi-issue caucus in Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-passage-government-funding-bill-obamacare-delay-funding-troops", "Scalise statement on House passage of government funding bill, Obamacare delay, funding for troops", "2013-09-29", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after the House passed a bill to fund the government, delay President Obama\u2019s health care law, and ensure that our troops get paid.\u00a0\n\u201cThe House has once again acted to ensure that we properly fund government while delaying President Obama\u2019s unworkable health care law, and ensuring that our troops are not used as political pawns by their Commander in Chief,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cOur bill also protects religious freedom by ensuring that no employer has to pay for procedures like abortion that violate their faith as protected in the Bill of Rights.\u00a0 We have acted swiftly after the Senate debated this bill for days, and it is time again for the Senate to move quickly to avert a government shutdown while protecting American families from the devastating effects of the President\u2019s health care law.\u201d\n\u201cHealth insurance premiums are soaring, taxes are rising, and employers are being forced to drop good health plans and reduce their workforce.\u00a0 President Obama has already agreed that his signature law is unworkable and not ready for prime time by delaying it for big businesses and insurance companies.\u00a0 Either Obamacare is good enough that it should apply to all, or it is so bad that it should apply to none.\u00a0 American families deserve relief as they continue suffering under the weight of several broken Obamacare promises.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-lauds-avondale-union-agreement", "Rep. Richmond Lauds Avondale Union Agreement", "2013-09-27", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) issued the following statement in response to the ratification of a five-year collective bargaining agreement between Huntington Ingalls, operator of the Avondale shipyard, the New Orleans Metal Trades Council (NOMTC) and the Metal Trades Department (MTD):\n\u201cI am extremely pleased that the New Orleans Metal Trades Council and the Metal Trades Department approved a new collective bargaining agreement with Huntington Ingalls.\u00a0 This is another important step in our collective efforts to keep Avondale open for business. This agreement means stable, good paying jobs for employees and an Avondale that is able to compete worldwide for new commercial work. It includes competitive wages and benefits to ensure Avondale continues to employ the industry\u2019s best and brightest. Avondale has a long legacy of excellence that I will do everything in my power to preserve.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-another-obamacare-delay", "Scalise statement on another Obamacare delay", "2013-09-27", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after reports that the Obama Administration is delaying the online enrollment portion of the small business exchanges.\n\t\u201cToday\u2019s announced delay of the online enrollment portion of small business exchanges is yet another setback for Obamacare and demonstrates how unworkable the President\u2019s health care law is,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cIt proves that this law is not ready for prime time even after having three years to get it done.\u00a0 This latest delay is now added to a long list of delays, waivers, and exceptions already issued by the Administration to their political friends.\u00a0 The law is either so good that it should apply to all Americans, or it is so broken that it should be delayed for all Americans.\n\t\u201cThe devastating effects of the President\u2019s signature law are not a partisan issue. Union leaders like James Hoffa see the train wreck coming.\u00a0 Businesses see it.\u00a0 American families see it.\u00a0 On the heels of the numerous other delays, today\u2019s action further demonstrates that Obamacare is not ready for prime time.\u00a0 President Obama needs to finally start working and negotiating with Republicans to delay this train wreck of a health care law for everyone before more harm is done to families and our economy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131001074753/http://www.vitter.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/vitter-introduces-no-washington-exemption-from-obamacare-to-cr", "Vitter Introduces \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare\u201d to CR", "2013-09-26", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Introduces \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare\u201d to CR\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 26, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) filed his No Washington Exemption from Obamacare to the Continuing Resolution today. He also called up the amendment to be approved by unanimous consent, which was objected to by the Senate Democrats.\n\u201cUnless we make a change, Washington insiders will get a special exemption from Obamacare when it goes into effect on October 1,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIf Democrats in Washington are going to force Obamacare on the rest of America, they need to live by its provisions, too. Maybe then they\u2019d see what a train wreck the law really is \u2014 and exempt all of America from it.\u201d\nClick here for the video of Vitter\u2019s floor speech.\nThe Vitter legislation will require that all Members of Congress, staff, the President, Vice President, and all political appointees in the Administration must purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange without the help of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Vitter was blocked out of offering that amendment to the Energy Efficiency bill for two weeks and is again being blocked out of offering it to the CR this week.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024456/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-oppose-ron-binz-nomination-to-chair-ferc-", "Vitter to Oppose Ron Binz Nomination to Chair FERC", "2013-09-25", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Oppose Ron Binz Nomination to Chair FERC \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 25, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today issued the following statement opposing President Obama\u2019s nomination of Ron Binz to be Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC). The nominee would go before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\n\u201cThe Obama administration has been on a witch hunt to shut down hydraulic fracturing, and unfortunately this nominee fits in with that crowd,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThere has been such positive progress with natural gas \u2013 clearly the brightest spot in our otherwise slumping economy \u2013 so as long as Ron Binz remains opposed to developing our nation\u2019s natural gas and fossil fuels, I\u2019ll be opposing his nomination. I would encourage Sen. Landrieu, a member of the Energy committee, to stand for Louisiana jobs and oppose the nomination, and not let Washington insiders convince her otherwise.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024514/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-says-taxpayers-should-not-bail-out-broke-fha", "Vitter Says Taxpayers Should Not Bail Out Broke FHA", "2013-09-25", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Says Taxpayers Should Not Bail Out Broke FHA\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 25, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today made the following statement after news reports that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will be asking for a taxpayer funded bailout.\n\u201cI\u2019m not one to say \u2018I told you so,\u2019 but geez. The FHA has been going down an irresponsible path for years, from their drastic lack of required capital to secret stress tests,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cInstead of managing their funds responsibly, and making appropriate reforms, FHA prefers to lean on taxpayers to bail them out, and enough is enough. They should not get a bailout now or any in the future and I\u2019ll continue fighting for serious reforms to the FHA to ensure we protect the taxpayers against their mismanagement.\"\nVitter has warned of a potential FHA bailout since 2009, and he has previously introduced legislation to prevent one. Last Congress, Vitter introduced legislation to reform the FHA and ensure it can remain solvent without a federal bailout.\nAt a July 31, 2013 Senate Banking Committee markup of S.1376, The FHA Solvency Act of 2013, Vitter introduced amendments to include requirements for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Treasury to notify Congress and the public if Treasury makes a transfer to HUD for FHA, and for HUD to repay Treasury for any bailout transfer.\nVitter added, \"The Senate must take up the FHA Solvency Act as soon as possible and include additional reforms in light of this news. It is clear neither the FHA or the taxpayers can wait any longer for Congress to act to protect the taxpayers because FHA sure won\u2019t.\u201d\nAt a Banking Committee hearing in December 2012, Senator Vitter pressed Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan to the Senate Banking Committee and Congress fully informed if FHA planned to ask for a bailout. They committed to keeping Congress informed of their best projections on an on-going basis on the need for a bailout.\nVitter has also pushed for an early term delinquency review, a lifetime ban on additional FHA-backed loans for borrowers with two foreclosures, and a capital reserve requirement for the new multi-family program.\nVitter also wants to establish an annual \u201cFed stress test\u201d of the FHA. Recently FHA Commissioner Carol Galante committed to submitting all material the FHA has in regard to a secret stress test that projected massive losses for FHA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024538/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-fights-to-save-the-pickets-from-destruction-for-louisiana-anglers-and-marine-life", "Vitter Fights to Save \u201cThe Pickets\u201d from Destruction for Louisiana Anglers & Marine Life", "2013-09-25", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Fights to Save \u201cThe Pickets\u201d from Destruction for Louisiana Anglers & Marine Life\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter has championed the Rigs to Reefs program in the U.S. Senate that has created treasured fishing habitats\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 25, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, today sent a letter to the Honorable Sally Jewell, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), regarding their planned removal of platform Ship Shoal 26, commonly known in Louisiana as \u201cthe Pickets,\u201d which is a popular site for local anglers.\n\u201cWe in the Gulf Coast are familiar with how idle rigs can develop into fertile marine habitats, home to some of the best fishing in the world. These artificial reefs are incredibly important to the growth and sustainability of the economy and environment in the Gulf,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cWith Secretary Sally Jewell\u2019s help, my hope is to preserve \u2018the Pickets\u2019 site for current and future generations of Louisiana anglers to enjoy.\u201d\nEarlier this year, Vitter introduced S. 1079, the Artificial Reef Promotion Act, which would increase the utilization of decommissioned Gulf platforms as artificial reefs, as part of the Rigs to Reefs program. Click here to read more.\nText of today\u2019s letter is below.\n  September 25, 2013\nSecretary Sally Jewell  U.S. Department of Interior  Washington, D.C.   1849 C Street, NW  Washington, D.C. 20240\n  Dear Secretary Jewell, I am writing to you today with concern regarding the removal of platform Ship Shoal 26, which is in the process of being purchased by Fieldwood Energy, as part of a larger sale, from Apache Corporation. As you may know this site, more commonly referred to in Louisiana as \u201cthe Pickets\u201d, has become a treasured site for Louisiana anglers since completion of its installation off the coast of Terrebonne Parish in the early 1970\u2019s.\nAn unintended benefit of many of the idle rigs in the Gulf of Mexico has been the positive impact they have had on Louisiana fisheries. Many have developed into habitats that are capable of sustaining an abundance of marine life. This is why I commend your decision to delay implementation of the Idle Iron policy to allow the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and Fieldwood Energy additional time to come up with a strategy to allow as much of this platform to remain in place as safely possible.\nI urge you to continue working with LDWF and Fieldwood Energy, and give every consideration to determine the most appropriate course of action to preserve this site. Allowing \u201cthe Pickets\u201d to remain as a resource for Louisiana anglers will further highlight the important role existing platforms play in supporting marine habitats.\n   Sincerely,\n   _________________   David Vitter   United States Senate", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-calls-attention-unethical-practices-eastern-district-us-attorney%E2%80%99s-office", "Rep. Richmond Calls Attention to Unethical Practices in Eastern District U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office", "2013-09-24", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA), sent the following letter to Attorney General Eric Holder calling on the Department of Justice to continue their investigation into the unethical behavior of senior attorneys in the United States Attorney\u2019s Office for the\u00a0Eastern District of Louisiana. In this letter, Rep. Richmond emphasizes that Kenneth Polite, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the District, should not begin his role burdened by investigating his staff. Rep. Richmond sent letters on March 21, 2012 requesting a thorough investigation as well as on November 15, 2012.\nSeptember 24, 2013\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.  \n\tAttorney General of the United States  \n\tU.S. Department of Justice  \n\t950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20530  \n\t\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDear Attorney General Holder,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I write you once again about what has been discovered to be pervasive, unethical behavior by senior attorneys in the United States Attorney\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (the Office).\u00a0 In a letter my colleagues and I sent to you on March 21, 2012, we requested a thorough investigation of misconduct after it was revealed that a senior litigation attorney had been commenting online about ongoing investigations.\u00a0 We explained to you that the misconduct could have a severe and lasting impact on the administration of justice, and that absent a full investigation, the public\u2019s trust would be eroded.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On November 15, 2012, given the disturbing news that the Office\u2019s First Assistant had also commented online about ongoing cases, I again wrote to you with significant concerns about the slow pace of the Office of Professional Responsibility\u2019s investigation.\u00a0 I was pleased when in the following month you appointed John A. Horn to lead an investigation into the matter.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, the ten month investigation by Mr. Horn has culminated in a scathing order by District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt that grants a new trial for police officers accused of killing unarmed civilians after Hurricane Katarina.\u00a0 The Engelhardt order also calls into question the thoroughness of investigations of grand jury leaks and online commenting within the Office and raises serious questions about the veracity with which the former leadership of the Office was communicating with courts and the public.\u00a0 Nevertheless, there are considerable improprieties that remain unexamined.\u00a0 I am distressed by Judge Engelhardt\u2019s statement that \u201cmuch is still not known about the nature and extent of government activities similar to those reflected herein.\u201d\u00a0 Going further, the Court discloses that it has \u201cseen the government omit pertinent facts, [and] conceal material information\u2026\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As you know, Kenneth Polite was recently confirmed by the Senate to serve as our new United States Attorney for the New Orleans region. The shadow of impropriety that continues to cloak this office will make it very difficult to administer the Office with the highest level of public support and credibility. Further, as his first order of business, Mr. Polite should not be tasked with investigating his staff and predecessors for these misdeeds.\u00a0 That is why it is imperative that you expand the ongoing investigation and empower it with independent prosecutorial power to make all relevant facts public and bring any breach of law to light.\u00a0 The first step in the process should be for DOJ to make public Mr. Horn\u2019s reports filed in U.S. v. Kenneth Bowen, et al.\u00a0 In addition, I urge you give Mr. Polite the flexibility to quickly staff his office with seasoned prosecutors free from the taint of this ongoing investigation.\u00a0\u00a0 \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I do not hold you or the Obama Administration responsible for the actions of rogue attorneys, but I do demand accountability and transparency in DOJ\u2019s response and investigation. What I have seen thus far is woefully inadequate and it is time for there to be a public accounting.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Respectfully,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cedric L. Richmond  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Member of Congress\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\ncc:\u00a0 Kenneth Polite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/house-passes-cr-scalise-amendment-defund-delay-obamacare", "House Passes CR with Scalise Amendment to Defund, Delay Obamacare", "2013-09-20", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The House today passed the Continuing Resolution (CR) with a provision authored by Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise to defund and delay President Obama\u2019s health care law and protect the nation\u2019s credit rating.\n\t\u201cToday\u2019s vote is another step towards ensuring we properly fund government while defunding and delaying the President\u2019s health care law and preventing a default on our nation\u2019s debts,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cTaking swift action towards these goals is vital to the economic future of our nation.\u00a0 It\u2019s now time for Senate conservatives to stand tall and unite their conference in this fight to protect American families from the devastating train wreck that is President Obama\u2019s health care law.\u201d\n\tThe Scalise Amendment fully delays and defunds President Obama\u2019s health care law and protects the nation\u2019s credit rating by incorporating an amended version of the House-passed Full Faith and Credit Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20130926213415/http://www.vitter.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-air-force-secretary-nominee-to-address-religious-freedom", "Vitter Urges Air Force Secretary Nominee to Address Religious Freedom", "2013-09-20", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Urges Air Force Secretary Nominee to Address Religious Freedom\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, September 20, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) is urging the nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Deborah Lee James, to address religious freedom concerns before she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. At the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, Vitter directly questioned James about how she would handle the military\u2019s restrictions on religious expressions.\n\u201cReligious freedom is one of the core principles that make our nation great,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cUnfortunately there are far too many cases of the military restricting the men and women who serve our country from expressing their faith. That\u2019s just not right, and I want to make sure the Air Force Secretary nominee does everything she can to fix it.\u201d\nVitter, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, was able to include language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 that enhances the protection of service members\u2019 expression of religious beliefs and protects troops who express their religious faith appropriately so that they are not discriminated against or subject to retaliation. The Amendment passed 19-7 in the Committee, and was supported by all 12 Republicans on the committee, along with 7 Democrats, including Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.\nEarlier this year the Family Research Council (FRC) released their \u201cClear and Present Danger\u201d report which highlights a pattern and environment that many service members, particularly Airmen, experience. Vitter specifically asked James to look into the most striking examples in the past four years. Vitter cited more than 40 examples of threats to religious liberty. The examples are highlighted in the FRC report.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://richmond.house.gov/press-release/rep-richmond-introduces-legislation-derail-youth-incarceration", "Rep. Richmond Introduces Legislation to Derail Youth Incarceration", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "LA", "Cedric Richmond", "R000588", "richmond.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA), today introduced the Student Disciplinary Fairness Act of 2013, in an effort to curb the saddening trend of youth incarceration due to schools\u2019 over reliance on law enforcement to address misbehavior in the classroom.\n\u201cThere are jurisdictions and schools all across the country that actually criminalize minor behavioral infractions. It is absolutely troubling to learn that violating a school\u2019s dress code or talking back to a teacher are included among the instances that have resulted in a student being arrested,\u201d said Congressman Richmond.\u00a0 \u201cInstead of serving in-school detention or doing extra homework, teachers and schools are hastily referring kids to the criminal justice system, kids who have not actually committed any kind of crime. This is an obscene disciplinary approach and actually turns a student with minor behavior problems into a juvenile offender, a stigma that is extremely difficult to erase. The Student Disciplinary Fairness Act of 2013 aims to create practical tools that states, local governments and law enforcement officials can use to reform and reverse this devastating trend.\u201d\nThe Student Disciplinary Fairness Act of 2013:\n Establishes an office at the Department of Justice to monitor developments related to egregious school disciplinary practices to reduce the number of juveniles that end up in jail for activity that takes place in a school setting and promote alternatives to detention for students by working with local and federal stakeholders.\n\tAuthorizes the Attorney General to access relevant juvenile justice records in the course of investigations into constitutional violations in how juvenile justice is administered and enforced.\n\tAuthorizes a grant program for states and subdivisions to invest in reforming their policies and procedures. Applicants to this grant program will be given credit for taking initial steps to reform their juvenile justice measures.\n\tAuthorizes the Department of Justice to conduct data collection and encourages the agency to work more closely with the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education to ensure that up-to-date data on this issue is compiled and made available to the public.\n\tChanges current laws to ensure that applicants for Community Oriented Policing Services Grants (COPS) grant funding take the necessary steps to reform their juvenile justice systems if they are not compliant with the 4th, 5th and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, including assurances that probable cause is determined before student arrests, that procedural due process protections are upheld and that any existing probation contracts do not contain clauses that result in incarceration due to probation violations resulting from minor school based rules violations.\n\tProvides a funding stream for schools to help build the capacity of teachers and other personnel to implement prevention and mitigation strategies to ensure that minor disciplinary issues do not devolve into criminal justice issues. Only jurisdictions that are compliant with data requests from the DOE Office of Civil Rights will be eligible to apply for funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/rsc-unveils-american-health-care-reform-act", "RSC unveils the American Health Care Reform Act", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise, RSC Health Care Working Group Chairman Dr. Phil Roe, and others today unveiled the American Health Care Reform Act, a bill to repeal and replace President Obama\u2019s health care law.\n\u201cWhile we continue fighting to repeal the president\u2019s health care law, it is also important to lay out the reforms we stand behind and support,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cAmerican families and businesses deserve and demand real solutions to the serious problems that exist in our health care system. The RSC\u2019s American Health Care Reform Act is a common-sense bill that will lower costs using conservative, free-market solutions which give American families more choices without the unworkable mandates and billions in taxes included in President Obama\u2019s health care law.\u00a0 By allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines and pool together so small businesses and families can get the same buying power as large corporations, we can lower costs and increase choices while removing Washington bureaucrats from your health care decisions.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to lead this effort with my conservative colleagues in the RSC and look forward to debating these reforms on the House floor.\u201d\n\u201cI came to Congress because, as a physician, I wanted to help shape policy to reform our nation\u2019s health care system,\u201d said Roe. \u201cUnfortunately, during the ObamaCare debate, no one asked me or any of the other Republican doctors what we thought, despite requesting several meetings with the president because I saw this train wreck coming. We know the president\u2019s health care law is unworkable and that is exactly why Chairman Scalise asked me to help draft a replacement bill. Our bill will not increase taxes, does not rely on mandates, expands coverage and lowers costs. The president and his allies claim that Republicans have no ideas for health care reform and that couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. The RSC bill is a market-based, commonsense alternative to ObamaCare and I am proud to have worked with the Chairman and drafting committee on this important legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-amendment-defund-delay-obamacare-passes-house", "Scalise amendment to defund, delay Obamacare passes House", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Amendment also protects nation\u2019s credit rating, is now attached to government funding bill\n\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 The House today accepted an amendment authored by Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise to defund and delay President Obama\u2019s health care law and protect the nation\u2019s credit rating.\n\t\u201cHouse adoption of this amendment is a victory for many of us in the Republican Study Committee who have been working to keep the doors of government open while delaying and defunding Obamacare and protecting the full faith and credit of the United States,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re now one step closer to passage of the CR and a victory for American families.\u201d\n\tThe Scalise Amendment fully delays and defunds President Obama\u2019s health care law and protects the nation\u2019s credit rating by incorporating an amended version of the House-passed Full Faith and Credit Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-fights-morganza", "Scalise fights for Morganza", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement regarding Morganza to the Gulf and the recently released Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA).\n\u201cMorganza to the Gulf is vital to the flood protection for our families and businesses in Southeast Louisiana, and I will continue fighting to ensure that this project is included in the final version of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA),\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cFor years I have worked with the Morganza Action Coalition and other local officials to push the Corps of Engineers to move forward with Morganza to the Gulf after the Corps re-evaluated the project in 2005.\u00a0 I joined with Senator Vitter and others pressing the Corps to issue a final Chief\u2019s Report, which they did in July.\n\u201cEarlier this year, I was glad to bring House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster to Southeast Louisiana to meet with local officials and gain a better understanding of the importance of this project.\u00a0 While I don\u2019t serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which just issued a first draft of the bill this week, I continue working closely with Senator Vitter and Chairman Shuster to ensure that Morganza to the Gulf is included in the final bill.\u00a0 After 22 years of dealing with government bureaucrats, several authorizations and Chiefs Reports, as well as more than $70 million in studies, the people of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes have waited long enough.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad Senator Landrieu, after nearly 20 years in Congress, agrees with Senator Vitter and me that this project is critical to providing strengthened flood protection to the people of Southeast Louisiana.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-joins-bipartisan-coalition-introducing-marriage-and-religious-freedom-act", "Scalise Joins Bipartisan coalition in Introducing Marriage and Religious Freedom Act", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Ra\u00fal Labrador (R-ID), Rep. Steve Scalise, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduced a landmark bipartisan bill today to protect freedom of conscience on the issue of marriage.\u00a0 Their bill \u2013 the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act \u2013 would prohibit discrimination through the federal tax code against individuals or institutions that exercise religious conscience regarding marriage as the union of one man and one woman.\u00a0\n\t\u201cRegardless of your ideology, we can all agree about the importance of religious liberty in America,\u201d said Rep. Labrador.\u00a0 \u201cOur bill will protect freedom of conscience for those who believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman.\u00a0 This is not a Republican or Democrat issue.\u00a0 As President Obama said, \u2018Americans hold a wide range of views\u2019 on marriage and \u2018maintaining our nation\u2019s commitment to religious freedom\u2019 is \u2018vital.\u2019 We agree.\n\t\u201cOur bill will ensure tolerance for individuals and organizations that affirm traditional marriage, protecting them from adverse federal action.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to be joined by my colleagues in introducing this bill, and will strongly advocate for its passage.\u201d\n\tMost religious institutions fall within the 501(c) portion of the U.S. tax code, which allows for tax exemption.\u00a0 Under the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act, no individual or institution which celebrates and defines marriage as between one man and one woman would be denied or lose exemption from taxation provided for under federal law.\n\t\u201cI commend Congressman Raul Labrador for bringing forth this bill and leading on this important issue.\u00a0 As we\u2019ve seen with the IRS scandals, nonprofit organizations and those who support them may be targeted and punished for their beliefs and principles,\u201d said Chairman Scalise.\u00a0 \u201cFurthermore, the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling on marriage may embolden those in government who want to impose their views of marriage on faith-based organizations.\u00a0 We need this strong legislation to protect freedom of conscience for those who believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Raul\u2019s bill does exactly that, ensuring respect and tolerance for those who affirm traditional marriage.\u201d\n\t\u201cIt is critical that institutions which hold the fundamental belief that marriage is between one man and one woman be protected in their convictions,\u201d said Rep. McIntyre.\u00a0 \u201cThe Marriage and Religious Freedom Act will ensure that this right is protected, and they are not penalized for their beliefs and values.\u201d\n\t\"The Marriage and Religious Freedom Act would help preserve the most basic rights of all Americans: the right to religious liberty and the rights of conscience,\" Rep. Lipinski said. \"The idea that individuals, churches and institutions could be penalized for not endorsing a practice in opposition to their core beliefs goes against the fundamental principles espoused by our founding fathers.\u00a0 I ask my colleagues in the House to act on this legislation swiftly to discourage the potential discrimination against those who simply choose to exercise their rights as Americans.\"\n\tThe Marriage and Religious Freedom Act has over 60 original cosponsors.\u00a0 They include Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO).\u00a0 A full list of cosponsors is attached.\n\tThe bill has been endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Organization for Marriage, Heritage Action, Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Concerned Women for America.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-presents-rsc-amendment-cr", "Scalise presents RSC amendment to the CR", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement regarding his amendment to the CR.\n\u201cThis amendment reflects the hard work of many of us in the RSC who have fought to delay and defund Obamacare while ensuring that other government operations are funded and protecting the full faith and credit of the United States.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to continue that fight in the Rules Committee tonight,\u201d Scalise said.\u00a0 \u201cFor weeks, productive conversations have been underway as we work to use every legislative tool available to free hard-working Americans from President Obama\u2019s train-wreck of a health care law.\u00a0 Our objective has always been to achieve victory without a government shutdown, and House Republicans will continue fighting for the American people as we work to delay and defund Obamacare.\u00a0\n\u201cPresident Obama has already agreed that his health care law is unworkable when he said he wants to delay it for big businesses and insurance companies, and it\u2019s only fair that we extend that same relief to all American families.\u00a0 Defund and delay of Obamacare should not be limited to the select few who have access to the White House, and that\u2019s why we are fighting to extend that relief to all American families.\u201d\nThe Scalise Amendment fully delays and defunds President Obama\u2019s health care law and protects the nation\u2019s credit rating by incorporating an amended version of the House-passed Full Faith and Credit Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221030734/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/reid-democrats-scared-to-vote-on-obamacare-exemption-amendment", "Reid, Democrats Scared to Vote on Obamacare Exemption Amendment", "2013-09-19", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Reid, Democrats Scared to Vote on Obamacare Exemption Amendment\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 19, 2013\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senator Vitter (R-La.) made the following statement on the U.S. Senate floor after the Senate Democrats blocked Vitter\u2019s amendment to eliminate the Obamacare exemption for Congress. Earlier in the week, U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated they would vote on the Vitter amendment.\n\u201cAfter freaking out last Thursday with threats and bribery, this week Harry Reid said he's fine with an up-or-down vote on my No Washington Exemption from Obamacare Amendment. I guess that was just a weak attempt at disguising his fear about losing his special exemption,\u201d Vitter said.\nClick here to watch the video from Sen. Vitter on the floor.\nVitter's amendment would reverse and clarify the decision by the Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) on Obamacare. The legislation will require that all Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and all political appointees in the Administration must purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange without the help of taxpayer-funded subsidies. Congressional staff would be prohibited from receiving any contribution greater than what they would receive if they were not employed by a congressional office. Cosponsors include Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 249, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "LA", "p2": "2013"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 207, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 42, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 249, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=LA&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "LA", "label": "LA", "count": 249, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "2013", "label": "2013", "count": 249, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2013-09-19,https~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20140221030734~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evitter~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress~2Freid-democrats-scared-to-vote-on-obamacare-exemption-amendment", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=LA&year=2013&_next=2013-09-19%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20140221030734~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evitter~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress~2Freid-democrats-scared-to-vote-on-obamacare-exemption-amendment&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 155.64148593693972, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}