{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"LA\" and year = 2014 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-importance-louisiana-ports-and-rivers", "Scalise Statement on the Importance of Louisiana Ports and Rivers", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA. \u2013 Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement after the World Trade Center of New Orleans and the Big River Coalition published a report, titled the \u201cEmerging South American Competitiveness to U.S. Soybean Exports.\u201d\n\"The Mississippi River and Louisiana\u2019s ports have a strong and positive impact on our national economy, our global competitiveness, and American job creation,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cAccording to this newly released report, the Mississippi River Basin produces 92 percent of our nation\u2019s agricultural exports and just five Louisiana ports facilitate nearly three-quarters of our nation\u2019s grain exports. This new study reinforces the importance of the Mississippi River to America's economic success, and highlights the importance of modernizing our waterborne infrastructure and the critical nature of deepening the Mississippi River to 50 feet in order to keep Louisiana competitive and dominant in domestic and international commerce.\n\u201cEarlier this year, I proudly fought to ensure passage of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA), a bipartisan bill that\u00a0strengthens our nation\u2019s water transportation infrastructure, and modernizes our ports. WRDA makes a long-overdue reinvestment in our ports by authorizing important reforms to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to deepen our waterways and allow America to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Passage of this significant piece of legislation could not have been possible without the efforts of Ranking Member David Vitter and House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster.\u00a0I am thankful for the work of Sean M. Duffy, Sr., Executive Director of the Big River Coalition; Robert Evans, Chairman of International Business Committee of the World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTCNO); Dominick Knoll, Chief Executive Officer of WTCNO; and Dr. John T. Lambert, Associate Professor of International Business at the University of Southern Mississippi,\u00a0for working together to develop this important study.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-shift-us-policy-toward-cuba", "Scalise Statement on Shift in U.S. Policy Toward Cuba", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding President Obama\u2019s announcement of changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba.\n\u201cObama\u2019s announcement today declaring a historic shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba is the embodiment of this White House\u2019s reckless and na\u00efve foreign policy,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cWhile I welcome Alan Gross home to his family and country after five years of false imprisonment, I\u2019m disheartened by the Administration\u2019s decision to trade an unjustly imprisoned American aid worker for convicted Cuban spies. This sets a dangerous precedent that emboldens bad actors and threatens the lives of Americans around the globe. Loosening travel and economic restrictions on the Castro regime will only aid and abet the Cuban government in the continuation of its sordid history of repression and abuse. Today\u2019s actions confirm my grave concerns regarding the foreign policy decision-making of this Administration and let down the Cuban people who long for freedom and liberty.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/spending-bill-sets-stage-battle-president", "Spending Bill Sets Stage for Battle with President", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement after the House passed the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis critical legislation not only brings discretionary spending to its lowest level in nearly a decade, but also sets the stage for a battle with President Obama over his illegal actions on immigration, and that battle begins in just four weeks when we get the reinforcements of a Republican Senate in January,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cThe new American Congress will hold the president accountable for his lawless, unconstitutional executive action on immigration. We adopted a conservative strategy that avoids a government shutdown and paves the way for the Republican Congress to focus on bold solutions that will put hardworking Americans back to work and get our country back on track. I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues in January to pass a spending bill that defunds the president\u2019s lawless actions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-terrorism-insurance-reauthorization", "Scalise Statement on Terrorism Insurance Reauthorization", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement following House passage of S. 2244, legislation to reauthorize and reform the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). S. 2244 passed the House 416-7.\n\u00a0\n\u201cToday\u2019s Terrorism Risk Insurance Act reauthorization brings much-needed reforms to reduce taxpayer liability and provides American businesses with the long-term certainty they need to expand and create new jobs,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cI urge my colleagues in the Senate to immediately take up and pass this important legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-applauds-delay-modified-charleston-method-2015-appropriations-bill", "Scalise Applauds Delay of the Modified Charleston Method in 2015 Appropriations Bill", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today applauded the inclusion of a provision in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations for 2015 Act that delays a wetland mitigation standard known as the \"Modified Charleston Method\" (MCM). The legislation will delay the MCM until Sept. 30, 2015.\n\u201cThe Modified Charleston Method is a radical environmental regulation that stunts economic development in Louisiana,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cI am pleased the 2015 Appropriations Bill includes my amendment to delay this crippling, unrealistic regulation. MCM increases the cost of private development and public works programs, which include critical hurricane protection projects in Louisiana.\u00a0Wetland mitigation is crucial to the survival of Southeast Louisiana communities, but wetland mitigation, economic development, and improving quality of life should never be mutually exclusive. I am committed to working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to create a wetland mitigation assessment that is both reasonable and achievable for Louisiana residents.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nSince implementation of MCM, Rep. Scalise has twice introduced amendments banning the Corps from enforcing MCM, both of which have passed the House unanimously. To read the most recent amendment, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-respect-rule-law", "Scalise: Respect the Rule of Law", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the following statement regarding House passage of H.R. 5759, the Preventing Overreach on Immigration Act.\n\u201cAs the great-grandson of an Italian immigrant, I\u2019m proud that America is a nation of immigrants. However, we are also a nation of laws,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cPresident Obama has repeatedly shown his disregard for the Constitution and this nation\u2019s rule of law by attempting to legislate from the Oval Office. Today\u2019s vote re-establishes the rule of law and stops the president\u2019s lawless, unconstitutional executive action from going into effect. The American people spoke loud and clear in the November elections. They want a Washington that works together on their behalf, not a go-it-alone president governing by executive fiat. I urge the president to focus on\u00a0securing the border, enforcing the laws on the books, and working with us in Congress to fix our broken immigration system. I would like to thank Rep. Yoho for introducing this critical legislation and for his leadership in Congress on this issue.\n\u201cI also want to commend Louisiana and the 16 other states that filed suit against the Obama Administration yesterday for the president\u2019s most recent lawless actions on immigration. The states, especially those in the South, are on the front lines of our broken immigration system, and the president\u2019s continued refusal to enforce the law will only exacerbate our border security crisis. Today, the House joined the states\u2019 efforts in opposition to this executive overreach by passing legislation to reinforce the fact that the president does not have the authority to take these actions. I urge the Senate to immediately follow the House\u2019s lead and send this legislation to the president\u2019s desk.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-passage-able-act", "Scalise Statement on House Passage of ABLE Act", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) tonight released the following video statement regarding the passage of H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, for which he was a co-sponsor. The legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 404-17.\n\u201cToday the House passed critical legislation that will improve the lives of millions of families who have children with disabilities. The Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act allows families with disabilities to create a tax-free savings account to help pay for medical visits, job training and educational opportunities.\n\u201cJust like parents can save for their child\u2019s education, an ABLE Act account allows children with disabilities to pay for their medical care and achieve their full potential. Individuals with disabilities face unimaginable challenges every day, and the ABLE Act makes it easier for them to reach their full potential and realize their hopes and dreams without being discriminated against by senseless federal laws.\n\u201cThe ABLE Act is a conservative solution that helps individuals become more independent and less dependent on government by empowering them with opportunity. It is also a conservative solution that enjoys more bicameral, bipartisan support than any other piece of legislation in Congress.\n\u201cThis is just one of the many solutions House Republicans are working on to help improve the lives of hard-working taxpayers and help get our country back on the right track.\u201d\nBACKGROUND:\nUnder current law, individuals with disabilities face significant barriers to finding and holding employment and living independently because their access to certain safety-net programs can be lost once they establish a minimum level of savings and income, creating a disincentive to work.\u00a0\nThe ABLE Act would help more individuals with disabilities work, save and live independently without losing access to Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).\u00a0 States would have the option to establish an ABLE program, under which eligible individuals with disabilities could start an ABLE account, modeled after current Section 529 savings accounts.\u00a0 Eligible individuals must be severely disabled before turning age 26.\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Contributions would not be tax deductible;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Income earned by the accounts would not be taxed;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Account withdrawals, including portions attributable to investment earnings generated by the account, for qualified expenses would not be taxable;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aggregate contributions to an ABLE account would be subject to an overall limit matching the State limit for Section 529 accounts.\u00a0\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Individuals with ABLE accounts could maintain eligibility for means-tested benefits.\u00a0 ABLE account balances and withdrawals are completely excluded for the purpose of Medicaid and other benefit programs. In SSI, the first $100,000 in account balances are excluded from counting as resources, as are most account withdrawals.\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The legislation includes a series of offsets that ensure the legislation does not increase the deficit (while also ensuring the bill does not raise taxes overall).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-lauds-house-passage-stela-reauthorization", "Scalise Lauds House Passage of STELA Reauthorization", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement regarding House passage of H.R. 4572, the Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act.\n\u201cI commend my colleagues in the House for passing this much-needed bipartisan legislation that provides certainty to 1.5 million satellite consumers nationwide at risk of losing their broadcast TV programming and modernizes some of the outdated laws governing today\u2019s video marketplace,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cOver the last several decades, communications and entertainment technology has evolved at a rapid pace, while the laws and regulations governing those technologies have remained relatively unchanged. This legislation is an important first step toward creating a truly competitive 21st century video marketplace for American consumers and all stakeholders.\n\u201cI enjoyed working with Chairmen Upton and Walden, and ranking members Waxman and Eshoo on a number of targeted reforms in this bill and I thank them and the leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee for including them in this bipartisan agreement. I urge the Senate to pass this legislation without delay.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-manufacturing-bill-passes-house", "Scalise Manufacturing Bill Passes House", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013 The House of Representatives recently voted to approve the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, legislation introduced by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) to increase investment in American manufacturing, create new jobs and reduce costly permitting delays. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support, 238-172.\n\u201cThis bipartisan jobs bill serves as a check and balance against job-killing radical EPA regulations by increasing transparency, cutting through unnecessary red tape, and forcing unelected bureaucrats to use real science to prove that their regulatory proposals can actually be achieved in the real world,\u201d Rep. Scalise said.\u00a0\"By bringing transparency to the convoluted permitting process and cutting red tape at the EPA, we can jumpstart our nation\u2019s economy and get our country back on track. I would like to thank my colleagues in the House for passing this much-needed legislation that will help revive our country\u2019s manufacturing base and create thousands of high-paying jobs for hard-working Americans.\u201d\nThe Promoting New Manufacturing Act:\n\u00b7Reduces costly construction permitting delays that impede the construction of new facilities by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide guidance on how to comply with new or revised air quality standards.\u00a0\n\u00b7Increases transparency by making public the number of Clean Air Act New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction permits issued annually and the timelines for the full permitting process.\u00a0\n\u00b7Promotes the efficient processing of permits by requiring the EPA to provide Congress with an annual report on the actions being taken by the agency to expedite the permitting process.\nAll across the United States there are hundreds of proposed manufacturing facilities not being constructed because they are held up in burdensome permitting processes and bureaucratic red tape. According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), there are currently 180 announced manufacturing projects that will contribute an estimated $115 billion to the U.S. economy. By 2023, the ACC estimates, these new investments could generate tens of billions in chemical industry exports and hundreds of thousands of permanent jobs. In Louisiana alone, there are 39 proposed projects worth $28.6 billion, that will create 46,000 new jobs and support an additional 22,000 jobs.\nIn June of this year, H.R. 4795 passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee with bipartisan support.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206043652/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/-vitter-statement-on-secretary-of-defense-chuck-hagel-resignation", "Vitter Statement on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Resignation", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Statement on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Resignation\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 24, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today made the following statement regarding Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel\u2019s resignation. Vitter opposed Hagel\u2019s nomination in the Senate in 2013.\n\u201cThe rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq is a huge national security threat right now, and the Obama Administration including Secretary Hagel has not shown the leadership to adequately deal with them. The larger problem is that they\u2019re not new threats, and the Administration has ignored them for too long,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI opposed Chuck Hagel\u2019s nomination in 2013 because of concerns like this \u2013 and hope that Obama will nominate someone who can effectively combat terror, and deal with turmoil in Israel and Iran.\u201d\nIn February 2013, Vitter opposed Hagel\u2019s nomination and raised concerns that he was rushed through the Senate confirmation process. Vitter also raised concerns about statements and actions on a nuclear Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, suggesting that Hagel\u2019s nomination would send the wrong message to our allies and enemies alike.\nClick here\u00a0to watch the video of Vitter\u2019s statement and interaction with Chairman Levin about the lack of disclosure of Hagel\u2019s speeches.\nIn a February 5, 2013 letter from Sen. Hagel to the Armed Services Committee, Hagel stated he \u201cconducted an exhaustive search for all of my speaking engagements over the past five years. All available prepared texts and transcripts have been provided to the Committee.\u201d\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206043656/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-leads-21-senators-urging-harbor-maintenance-funding-be-set-at-wrrda-levels", "Vitter Leads 21 Senators Urging Harbor Maintenance Funding be Set at WRRDA levels", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Leads 21 Senators Urging Harbor Maintenance Funding be Set at WRRDA levels\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 24, 2014\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 U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee is pushing the Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to set the funding levels for harbor maintenance at the levels authorized in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which Vitter passed and had signed into law this year. Vitter led 19 Senators in a bipartisan letter urging to get this right.\n\u201cOne out of every six American jobs depends on trade and maritime commerce, and $180 billion of goods per year travel on American waterways, to and from American ports,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt\u2019s vital to our economy to keep our ports and waterways properly dredged and maintained. We worked hard to get the correct funding levels authorized in WRRDA, and we need to see to it that we honor the commitment of that law.\u201d\nBelow is a copy of Vitter\u2019s letter. Also signing his letter were Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Nelson (R-Fla.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).   November 20, 2014 The Honorable Barbara A. Mikulski Chairwoman  Senate Committee on Appropriations  S-128, U.S. Capitol  Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Richard C. Shelby   Ranking Member  Senate Committee on Appropriations  S-128, U.S. Capitol  Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Dianne Feinstein   Chairwoman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development  186 Dirksen Senate Office Building  Washington, D.C. 20510   The Honorable Lamar Alexander  Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development  186 Dirksen Senate Office Building  Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairwoman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby, Chairwoman Feinstein, and Ranking Member Alexander: Thank you for your efforts to increase U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works program harbor maintenance funding in your annual Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies (E&W) Appropriations Acts. We write to request that when you enter into negotiations with your House counterparts to complete Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) annual appropriations legislation you support a final FY15 harbor maintenance funding level that was authorized under Section 2101(b) of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA 2014). That section established a 10-year path to fully use Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) collections for their intended purpose, with FY15 being the first year. It would be unfortunate if Congress failed to hit the HMT target just seven months after passing this legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. We also ask that the funding be provided only for authorized harbor maintenance. More than $1.8 billion in annual HMT revenue is being collected specifically to meet the nation\u2019s annual authorized harbor maintenance needs for harbors of all sizes. Unfortunately, annual appropriations have been significantly less than annual collections, resulting in harbors and navigation channels getting narrower and shallower due to accumulating sediment, declining dredged material disposal area capacity and deteriorating harbor structures such as breakwaters and jetties due to inadequate funding. Harbors and navigation channels are a vital part of our nation\u2019s transportation infrastructure, and the elimination or reduction in their capacity can have significant impacts on local communities and economies as well as the national economy. WRRDA 2014 recognizes the national need to increase use of HMT collections to benefit all navigation projects, high and moderate use, emerging, underserved and Great Lakes ports, along with expanded uses at donor ports. The Army Corps of Engineers has reported that nationwide authorized channel depths are available about half of the time, and then only over half of the channel\u2019s width. This drives up the cost of U.S. exports and imports, which threatens U.S. economic growth, and increases the risk of vessel groundings and associated oil spills. Many U.S. exports compete in a very price-sensitive global market where transportation inefficiencies mean losing business to other countries. It is vitally important that the WRRDA HMT commitment be met.  While addressing increased funding is difficult, in part because of inadequate Administration funding requests, the United States should not miss opportunities to spur economic growth, improve our global competitiveness and create jobs. We urge you to work with the House to craft a final FY15 E&W Appropriations bill (or title within an omnibus appropriations bill) that meets the FY15 harbor maintenance spending target and allocation provisions under Sections 2101(b) and 2102, respectively, of WRRDA 2014 to maintain the nation\u2019s shipping channels, our nation\u2019s gateways to the global marketplace. Thank you for your consideration of this request. -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206034234/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-obamas-unconstitutional-executive-amnesty-is-horrible-policy", "Vitter: Obamas Unconstitutional Executive Amnesty is Horrible Policy", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Obama\u2019s Unconstitutional Executive Amnesty is Horrible Policy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 20, 2014\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.), Chair of the Senate Border Security Caucus, made the following statement regarding President Obama\u2019s plan to grant executive amnesty by providing legal status and work permits to five million illegal immigrants.\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s executive amnesty is illegitimate, unconstitutional, and flat out horrible policy. This will only encourage more immigrants to come here illegally, completely undercutting the many immigrants who do follow our law. In fact, it will probably make it harder to legally become a citizen than just come here illegally. We must start with effective enforcement, both at the border and the workplace. I'm absolutely going to do everything I can to push back on Obama\u2019s illegal actions \u2013 starting with working to take away any funding for amnesty,\u201d Vitter said.\nVitter has long been an advocate for targeted reforms to fix the immigration crisis, starting with border security and enforcing the immigration laws that already exist.\nEnforcement Bills introduced by Vitter:\nDeportation of UACs \u2013 implements mandatory detention and expedited removal of the unaccompanied alien children (UAC).\nStop DACA \u2013 prevents the federal government from spending money to process new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA would allow the Administration from protecting people from being deported. This bill was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Vitter is an original co-sponsor.\nUS-VISIT \u2013 prevents any adjustment in legal status for those in the country illegally until the Department of Homeland Security entry-exit biometric visa system (US-VISIT) is fully implemented at every land, sea, and airport. The system was required by Congress in 1996 to be implemented in 2005 but has yet to be implemented.\nChild Tax Credit \u2013 prevents illegal aliens from receiving the Child Tax Credit intended for American citizens and legal residents by closing a loophole with Internal Revenue System. This would save $4.2 billion each year.\nWIRE Act \u2013 requires a fee on remittances for customers who wire money to another country but cannot prove that they are in the United States legally. The fee would be used to enhance border security.\nCensus \u2013 requires questions in the census regarding citizenship and immigration status. This would also prevent states from counting illegal aliens for the purposes of determining population levels and other data associated with the census.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206042008/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-and-boustany-request-hearings-to-protect-veterans-appeals-rights", "Vitter and Boustany Request Hearings to Protect Veterans Appeals Rights", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter and Boustany Request Hearings to Protect Veterans\u2019 Appeals Rights\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 20, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, DC) \u2013 Senator David Vitter (R-Louisiana) and Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., (R-South Louisiana) sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committees requesting that the committees hold oversight hearings on the transfer of authority over payments for veterans\u2019 emergency medical services from the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) to the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) Chief Business Office under the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014.\nIn July, VISN 16, the VA network that covers healthcare for veterans in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and some veterans in Texas, Missouri, Alabama, and Florida, admitted to years of inappropriate payment denials and delays for veterans\u2019 emergency medical care. This harmed the financial credit ratings of hundreds of Louisiana veterans. In response, Louisiana\u2019s entire delegation followed up with a letter to the VA Secretary that remains unanswered. In meetings between the VA\u2019s Chief Business Office and Louisiana providers last week, the VA admitted that VISN 16 effectively deprived veterans of their appeals rights by refusing to mail more than 650,000 letters in its system and keeping other appeal documents untouched in cabinets.\nEarlier this year, Boustany introduced the Veterans\u2019 Credit Protection Act to improve Congressional oversight and protect veterans from unfair medical debts. Boustany introduced the bill after he helped a South Louisiana veteran clear an unpaid bill exceeding $1000 for a hospital emergency room visit. VISN 16 had ignored its obligation to pay the bill for over two years, damaging the veteran\u2019s credit rating.\nVitter said: \u201cAfter the VA scandals that have come to light, we need to earn back the trust of our veterans. We can start by making improvements like this. Our veterans need to know that when they have medical emergencies, they can count on their bills being paid.\u201d\nBoustany said: \u201cCongress took claims processing authorities away from VISN 16 to stop it from harming veterans\u2019 credit ratings. The Secretary has a duty to improve performance in Louisiana, and we expect to see results. Our veterans fought and sacrificed of themselves for the greater good. The least we can do is treat them with the dignity and respect they\u2019ve earned when they return home. I won\u2019t accept anything less than world-class service for our veterans, and I will continue to expose VA failures until we reach that standard.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206043700/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-sell-excess-property-to-bring-investment-for-new-orleans-public-housing", "Vitter: Sell Excess Property to Bring Investment for New Orleans Public Housing", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Sell Excess Property to Bring Investment for New Orleans Public Housing\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 20, 2014\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 sent a letter to Tamara Gray, the Director of the Special Applications Center for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), urging HUD to deny a request from the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) to keep and redevelop excess property in New Orleans.\n\u201cThe common sense thing to do would be for HANO to sell its excess properties. The idle and dilapidated properties are a waste of resources and harm their communities. Selling them could revitalize these neighborhoods and could bring millions of dollars in investment for the housing that already exists,\u201d Vitter said.\nHANO submitted an application to HUD in September of 2013 asking to sell its excess properties, which are valued at over $6 million. In July, Vitter pushed HUD to approve this request and speed up the divestment process for all of HANO\u2019s excess property sites. However, HANO\u2019s leadership has changed and they are now requesting to keep the properties and redevelop them into mixed-income communities.\nNew Orleans City Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head has also raised concerns. She has been critical that HANO has not provided a clear plan for implementation and asked for a comprehensive study to be completed on the benefits of both options.\nThe text of the letter is below.\n  November 20, 2014\nTamara Gray  Director, Special Applications Center  US Department of Housing and Urban Development  77 West Jackson Boulevard, Room 2401  Chicago, IL 60604\nDear Ms. Gray:\nIt has come to my attention that the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), in a radical shift in strategy, has decided not to sell the majority of its \u201cscattered site\u201d properties to private developers and instead will keep properties and issue qualifications to find local developers to build mixed-income communities on the properties. It is my understanding that the Special Applications Center at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must approve this plan to go forward. I am concerned HANO does not have sufficient resources to maintain these properties, so I urge your department to not grant HANO approval for their new strategy and instead encourage them to sell these properties as soon as possible without any use conditions attached.\nFor seven years these properties have sat fallow, depriving the citizens of New Orleans quality affordable housing and property tax revenue. At a time when the City Council is considering proposed property tax increases for the citizens of New Orleans, these properties sit untouched and unused bringing no tax revenue to the city, while they enjoy police and fire protection on the taxpayer dime. Furthermore, selling these properties could net HANO well over $6.8 million, which HANO could then use to fund other developments or to reinvest in its current housing and address the Section 8 housing waiting list. I am also concerned that this reversal will end up costing the taxpayer a much greater cost then selling the properties now. Will this be the case? Will HUD take into account the cost to the taxpayer in making your decision? Finally, I am also extremely concerned with the manner in which HANO came to this reversal of their decision. Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head, of the New Orleans City Council, has been the leading voice on this issue for eight years. She requested to address HANO\u2019s board at their September 4, 2014 meeting regarding these properties, and she was told by the board that, \u201c[t]he evaluation of the scattered site portfolio is ongoing, and until such time as it is completed and vetted by our staff, this will not be a Board agenda item for discussion. We anticipate the vetting process will be completed within the next 3 months and then we will move forward with a recommendation to our Board.\u201d Despite this assurance, no notice was given to Councilmember Head that HANO had completed their analysis and their plan would be announced at HANO\u2019s October 28, 2014 meeting. In fact, by blindsiding Councilmember Head and other interested parties, no one on the Council or any members of the public were able to engage with HANO on this issue, despite the fact that these properties were purchased with Federal tax dollars from HUD.  It is clear to me that HANO\u2019s decision to reverse their strategy in regards to the over 200 surplus site properties has not been completely thought out. HANO has no concrete plan on how to proceed, no financing in place, and worst of all, these units in question are already in a state of disrepair. The community deserves the opportunity to develop these properties and restore parts of their neighborhood that have fallen into disrepair. HANO\u2019s reconsideration of the original plan is haphazard and unfair to the citizens of New Orleans. I urge you to not approve any changes to the current plan to sell the properties without any conditions, and I look forward to your prompt response to my request.\nSincerely\nDavid Vitter   United States Senate", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206043703/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-announces-small-business-disaster-assistance-available-for-ouachita", "Vitter Announces Small Business Disaster Assistance Available for Ouachita", "2014-11-19", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Announces Small Business Disaster Assistance Available for Ouachita\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 19, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Monroe, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) made a declaration of disaster for Ouachita Parish, and Vitter is encouraging affected homeowners, businesses and non-profit organizations to apply for disaster loans. Vitter will become the Chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee at the beginning of next year and is working with the SBA to make the declaration.\n\u201cI toured the storm sites the day after these tornadoes hit, and the damages were clearly severe,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cLouisianians know better than anyone the challenges of rebuilding after a storm \u2013 resiliency is in our bones. I\u2019m pleased we were able to get this disaster assistance made available.\u201d\nLast month, two tornadoes damaged over 600 homes and 100 businesses throughout Ouachita Parish, and nearly 69,000 lost power. They destroyed 46 homes and affected hundreds others.\nThe contiguous parishes eligible to apply are Caldwell, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Richland and Union Parishes.\nThe Senate Small Business Committee, of which Vitter will become Chair in January, has jurisdiction over the SBA and its Disaster Loan Programs. Applicants may apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Additional information about eligibility and loan terms may be found at www.sba.gov/disaster or by phone at 1-800-659-2955. Applications can also be made in person at the Ouachita Parish Public Library\u2019s Main Branch, 1800 Stubbs Avenue Monroe, LA 71201 on the second floor.\nPhysical Disaster Loans (PDLs) of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners for repair or replacement of their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition, and up to $40,000 may be borrowed to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances damaged or destroyed in the disaster. PDLs for businesses of up to $2 million are available to repair or replace damaged real estate, equipment, inventory and fixtures. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million are available to eligible businesses and non-profit organizations to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses as they overcome the temporary loss of revenue experienced as a result of the storms. PDL applications are due by January 20, 2015. EIDL applications are due by August 18, 2015.\nIf you need assistance applying for a disaster assistance loan, please contact Senator Vitter\u2019s office in Monroe.\nSen. David Vitter\u2019s Northeast Louisiana Office  1651 Louisville Avenue Suite 148  Monroe, LA 71201  tel (318) 325-8120  fax (318) 325-9165", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206041231/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-authorizing-keystone-should-be-a-no-brainer", "Vitter: Authorizing Keystone Should Be a No-Brainer", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Authorizing Keystone Should Be a No-Brainer\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 18, 2014\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, made the following statement regarding today\u2019s vote in the U.S. Senate to authorize building the Keystone XL pipeline. S. 2280 failed to reach 60 votes in the Senate and was therefore not agreed to.\n\u201cWe have been working to pass the Keystone XL pipeline for four years now, and it looks like Senate Democrats are not interested in creating good-paying jobs and increasing our energy independence,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cPassing Keystone XL should be a no-brainer, yet President Obama and Democrats in Congress keep kicking the can down the road. After all the talk from Sen. Landrieu who claimed they had enough Democrat votes, this must be a let-down for her.\u201d\nThe House of Representatives passed the companion legislation H.R. 5682, introduced by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) last week.\nLast week, Vitter, along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), wrote to President Obama requesting his opinion on legislation that would authorize and build the Keystone XL Pipeline. Click here to read more.\nVitter was the first member of the Senate to introduce legislation to expedite the Keystone pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline will carry 830,000 barrels of oil a day to U.S. refineries. According to the U.S. State Department, its construction will create 42,000 jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206041318/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitters-child-care-for-children-with-disabilities-legislation-passes-senate", "Vitters Child Care for Children with Disabilities Legislation Passes Senate", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter\u2019s Child Care for Children with Disabilities Legislation Passes Senate\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLegislation to Prioritize Child Care Grants for Low Income Children with Disabilities Passes House and Senate this week\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 18, 2014\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.) announced that the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act passed with his legislation to ensure that the grants are prioritized for low income families with special needs children. Vitter\u2019s amendment creates key enforcement mechanisms to ensure these children receive necessary care.\n\u201cChildren with disabilities face tremendous challenges, and low-income families often don\u2019t have the resources needed to provide them with specialized support or even basic child care,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThis legislation is a very positive victory, because it ensures that these families are the first to receive the support they need.\u201d\nClick here to watch Vitter\u2019s comments on the Senate floor before passing his amendment in March, 2014.\nVitter\u2019s legislation was originally introduced on March 12, 2014 and was included in the CCDBG Reauthorization which passed the Senate on March 13, 2014. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week with the Vitter amendment still included. The Senate passed the final version late last night by unanimous consent. The legislation now awaits a signature from the President.  Vitter\u2019s amendment requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Inspector General to submit an annual report to the Secretary to ensure all states receiving CCDBG funding prioritize funds for low income families with special needs children. If states fail to prioritize funding for these families, their CCDBG payments will be reduced by five percent until they have systems in place to meet this requirement.\nCurrent law requires states to prioritize CCDBG funds to families with very low family incomes and to children with special needs, but the statute has never been enforced. Currently 23 states are violating the law and 22 others are not guaranteeing the funds go to these families. Louisiana is one of five states in full compliance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206041516/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-defense-dept-reaffirms-nuclear-commitment-great-signal-for-elevating-global-strike-command-general-to-four-star-", "Vitter: Defense Dept. Reaffirms Nuclear Commitment, Great Signal for Elevating Global Strike Command General to Four-Star", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Defense Dept. Reaffirms Nuclear Commitment, Great Signal for Elevating Global Strike Command General to Four-Star \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter says outlook is positive for Global Strike Command General elevation\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 18, 2014\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.), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), said that he is confident that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will elevate the Global Strike Command leadership to a four-star general position \u2013 the highest rank possible. Vitter noted the confidence was based on a statement the DoD issued this weekend declaring the U.S. Nuclear Triad as the highest priority mission. Vitter was also contacted about the Air Force\u2019s plans to realign forces to accommodate the elevation. The Global Strike Command is located at Barksdale Air Force Base and is responsible for the majority of the U.S. Nuclear Triad. Vitter has been pushing for these recognitions despite the Obama administration\u2019s attempts to reduce the priority of nuclear missions.\n\u201cThis designation is incredibly important both for Barksdale and our national defense. As home of the Global Strike Command, it shows our Defense Department\u2019s long-term commitment to Barksdale and the U.S. Nuclear Triad. The elevation will give Barksdale a seat at the table during key decisions,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cGetting this designation has taken years of work, and I\u2019ll keep working on it until Global Strike Command finally receives this recognition.\u201d\nEarlier this year Vitter was able to secure a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 that recognizes the U.S. Nuclear Triad, of which two thirds is managed by Global Strike Command, as the highest mission in our nation\u2019s defense. Congress\u2019 support for this shows its long term commitment to Barksdale Air Force Base, which is home to U.S. Global Strike Command and is responsible for the majority of that Triad. The DoD\u2019s joint statement on the Nuclear Triad mimics Vitter\u2019s legislative language.\nIn April, Vitter met with General Welsh, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, to push for the elevation to a four star position. Over the past two years, Vitter has been pushing legislation and efforts to raise the profile of the command. Vitter has pushed for this designation with Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, and Frank G. Klotz, then Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, during multiple SASC hearings.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141127214929/http://www.vitter.senate.gov:80/newsroom/press/-gen-wesley-clark-to-promote-free-government-cell-phones-at-baton-rouge-press-club", "Gen. Wesley Clark to Promote Free Government Cell Phones at Baton Rouge Press Club", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Gen. Wesley Clark to Promote Free Government Cell Phones at Baton Rouge Press Club\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 17, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Gen. Wesley Clark is scheduled to appear at the Baton Rouge Press Club today at 12:00 pm CT to promote the free government cell phone program known as Lifeline. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has repeatedly asked Gen. Clark to answer questions about who is funding his campaign supporting Lifeline and has challenged him to a debate on the issue. Vitter has legislation to end the free government cell phone program and restore the Lifeline program to its original intent of landlines.\n\u201cGeneral Clark has refused to come clean about where the funding for his campaign to support the fraud-ridden Lifeline program is coming from, so I hope he\u2019ll answer that today while he\u2019s in Louisiana,\u201d Vitter said.\nVitter has challenged Gen. Clark to debate the merits of Lifeline, but Clark has yet to accept the invitation. Vitter has also asked Clark a number of questions regarding his support of the program that he has never answered. \n\u2022 Gen. Clark Refuses to Respond to Vitter on Free Cell Phones  \u2022 Vitter Urges Gen. Clark to Agree to Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Campaign\u2019s Financial Supporters  \u2022 Vitter Asks Gen. Clark to Accept a Date for Free Cell Phone Debate, Disclose Who\u2019s Paying for his Campaign  \u2022 Gen. Clark Agrees to Debate Vitter About Free Government Cell Phone Program  \u2022 Vitter Challenges Gen. Wesley Clark to Free Government Cell Phone Debate\n  Vitter has provided a list of seven suggested questions for the media to ask Gen. Clark today:\n1) Press reports of your previous visits to Louisiana included quotes from 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?\n2) In particular, do any companies who receive funds from the fraud-ridden Lifeline program, like TracFone or others, financially support this public affairs company, you, your liberal political PAC, or any company in which you have a significant interest? If so, by whom and how much?\n3) Are you aware that one of the top Lifeline companies, TracFone, alone profited $460 million from Lifeline in 2012 by collecting money from customers who pay a cell phone bill?\n4) The Lifeline program in Maryland grew 10,000 percent from 2009 to 2012 to 645,000 recipients, a number that is double the number of people who should be eligible. Do you know the number of people in Louisiana that are eligible?\n5) Do you know the number of fraudulent phones that have been given to Louisianians?\n6) You often talk about how the Lifeline program is in the middle of partisan politics. With the ongoing and repeated reports of major fraud and abuse in the Lifeline cell phone program, do you think you should be working together to stop the extreme waste, fraud and abuse instead of expanding the program?\n7) Why do you refuse to debate Sen. David Vitter on this issue? It was reported that you agreed to debate him while speaking with him on the phone, but have never responded to multiple dates that he has proposed.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141206043710/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-announces-production-at-first-american-made-rig-in-gulf-off-louisiana-coast", "Vitter Announces Production at First American-Made Rig in Gulf Off Louisiana Coast", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Announces Production at First American-Made Rig in Gulf Off Louisiana Coast\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 17, 2014\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 made the following statement regarding the first oil at Tubular Bells, a deepwater oil and gas field off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. This site is where the very first offshore rig of its kind was designed and constructed entirely in the United States. Much of the rig construction took place in Houma, La.\n\u201cWe in the Gulf States \u2013 and especially in Louisiana \u2013 are aware of how important domestic energy production is to our economy,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cThis is a major project and great news for the future of energy production in our country. It\u2019s also exciting to see the first completely American-made rig of its kind contributing and bringing us closer to energy independence.\u201d\nMore information about Tubular Bells:\n\u2022 Tubular Bells deepwater oil and gas field was discovered in 2003 and lies 135 miles southeast of New Orleans, La.   \u2022 The offshore oil rig is the first that was designed and constructed entirely in the United States  \u2022 Construction of the rig created 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in Texas and Louisiana  \u2022 Tubular Bells is expected to deliver approximately 50,000 barrels of oil per day from three producing wells\nClick here for more information.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-house-passage-keystone-xl-pipeline", "Scalise Statement on House Passage of the Keystone XL Pipeline", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement regarding House passage of H.R. 5682, legislation to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. The bill passed the House this afternoon with overwhelming bipartisan support, 252-161.\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline will help create American jobs and increase American energy security,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cFor over six years, the Obama Administration has dragged its feet and played political games while delaying this much-needed project and holding 40,000 American jobs hostage. The American people are hungry for a strong national energy policy that increases production here at home and reduces our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. That policy starts today.\n\u201cThe American people have waited far too long for this moment. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly approve this legislation so that the president can sign it into law. I would like to thank Mr. Cassidy for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141114185953/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-house-continues-washington-exemption-from-obamacare", "Vitter: House Continues Washington Exemption from Obamacare", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: House Continues Washington Exemption from Obamacare\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, November 14, 2014\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 issued the following statement today expressing disappointment in the House of Representatives vote to protect Washington\u2019s Exemption from Obamacare. Congressman Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) proposed a rule for the House Republican Conference that would have required all members and staff to be enrolled in Obamacare as the law states. Some members created a loophole and designated their staff as \u201cnon-official\u201d so they could be exempted from entering the Obamacare Exchange.\n\u201cIn this election, Americans across the country sent a message: Washington is out of touch and on the wrong track. The House of Representatives had an opportunity to change course today, but instead they protected their exemption under Obamacare,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cCongress gave America Obamacare, and Congress needs to face reality and experience this train-wreck law in the exact same way their constituents do. I\u2019m going to continue fighting to make sure Washington is treated the same way as the constituents they represent by getting rid of Washington\u2019s exemption from Obamacare.\u201d\nThe proposed rule would state that all staff is recognized as \u201cofficial\u201d under Obamacare, which would require them to purchase health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange. Vitter has introduced a Conference Resolution in the Senate that requires all Members to designate all staff as official.\nVitter has introduced legislation that would require all Members of Congress, all Congressional staff, the President, Vice-President, and all political appointees within the administration to purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange and receive the same amount of financial support from tax credits or subsidies as any American would outside of Washington. Vitter has also designated all of his staff, including committee staff, as official as the law requires.\nLast fall Vitter fought to get a vote on his legislation, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blocked his attempts. Vitter also introduced his legislation in April, but Reid pulled the legislation from the floor before it could get a vote. However, Reid did agree to give Vitter a vote in the future. Click here to read some of Vitter\u2019s efforts to pass his \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare.\u201d\nCurrently members of Congress and their staff members are still eligible to receive taxpayer funded subsidies ($5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a family) to pay for their health care. Those same subsidies are not available to any other American.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141113190210/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/sen-vitter-rep-lamborn-warn-administration-not-to-weaken-missile-defense", "Sen. Vitter, Rep. Lamborn Warn Administration Not to Weaken Missile Defense", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Vitter, Rep. Lamborn Warn Administration Not to Weaken Missile Defense\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLawmakers ask State Department for clarification of space arms policy they\u2019ve seemed to develop secretly without informing the Defense Department, Congress\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 13, 2014\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.) and U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) urged the U.S. State Department to clarify the Administration\u2019s outer space arms control policy, particularly how it could negatively impact the United States\u2019 missile defense capabilities and anti-satellite weapon purposes.\n\u201cA major part of our national security and infrastructure revolves around outer space, and our continued ability to use satellites and various missile capabilities,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cWe need to make sure we\u2019re not restricting ourselves, especially when China or Russia are pursuing access to weapons that could destroy U.S. satellites \u2013 putting us a greater national security risks.\u201d\n\u201cAny proposal for a space code of conduct or an outer space arms control treaty should only be considered by the United States if it clearly improves our national security and does not limit our own freedom of action in space. I am particularly concerned by the potential that State Department officials may be proposing agreements without any consideration for the national security implications of their proposals,\u201d Lamborn said.\nThe Administration has seemingly embraced the European Union\u2019s approach to outer space arms, which top national security officials have said is too restrictive and could put the U.S. at an unfair national security risk by not protecting the U.S.\u2019s ability to fully develop missile defenses.\nVitter and Lamborn\u2019s letter highlights the State Department failure to consult with the defense agencies or relevant key committees. Previously, on Feb. 2, 2011, Vitter along with 37 U.S. Senators warned former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the European Union\u2019s approach and requested their reasoning for moving towards adopting the more restrictive approach.\nA copy of Vitter and Lamborn\u2019s letter is below.\nNovember 12, 2014\nMr. Frank Rose  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Defense Policy  U.S. Department of State  2201 C Street NW  Washington, DC 20520\nDear Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rose,\nWe write to ask for your clarification regarding the Administration\u2019s space arms control posture. Like you, we are deeply concerned by the rising threats of anti-satellite weapons in the hands of states like the People\u2019s Republic of China. That said, we believe the Administration would do better to focus on real solutions to these threats, as opposed to more feel good measures like the European Union\u2019s (EU) Code of Conduct for Outer Space activities or other similar measures.\nWe are concerned by proposals for outer space arms control, including the EU Code of Conduct for Outer Space activities, which the Administration has embraced. We see no advantage to such a Code for the United States; according to assessments by the uniformed military, implementation of this code would result in real world operational impacts. The product of this equation demands the opposition of the entire United States government.\nWith the languishing of that Code, we fear a new threat to our ability to protect U.S. outer space capabilities, and, perhaps even to develop our missile defenses. We seek your understanding of the Administration\u2019s position on space arms control, specifically, the \u201cdebris-generating kinetic energy ASAT testing moratorium\u201d which, as we have been informed, you proposed to U.S. allies. We are unfamiliar with any such proposal having been coordinated with the Department of Defense or the uniformed military, and therefore we ask for your answers to the following questions:\n1) Please indicate the date, and by which Department official, the State Department Circular 175 request was signed. What was the scope of this Circ-175 and has the Department determined if this moratorium would be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent?  2) If this Circ-175 will not be submitted to the Senate, on what basis would such an international agreement be negotiated and to what end?  3) Please detail the potential implications for United States space and missile defense activities. How would such an agreement protect our ability to fully develop our missile defenses, including our test and targets program?   4) Please further detail how such agreement will ensure full freedom of action for the United States to take needed defensive and other action in space.   5) Please provide the Joint Staff assessment of impacts to military operations you obtained before discussing this moratorium with our allies.   6) Please detail the specific allies with which you have discussed this moratorium and the respective dates of discussion. Please further detail which State Department official authorized these discussions.\nWe appreciate your prompt responses to these questions.\n   Sincerely,\nCC: SECSTATE  SECDEF   CJCS  ODNI   STRATCOM", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141114190016/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/republican-senators-request-yes-or-no-from-obama-on-keystone", "Republican Senators Request Yes or No from Obama on Keystone", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Republican Senators Request \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d from Obama on Keystone\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 13, 2014\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, along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), wrote to President Obama requesting his opinion on legislation that would authorize and build the Keystone XL Pipeline.\n\u201cMultiples attempts to have the Senate vote to approve the pipeline over the past two years have been rejected by Democratic leadership prior to the recent November election. Now that they are planning to hold a vote, it is essential that we understand your position on this legislation,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cThe American people deserve to know if the effort by Democratic leadership to finally make good on our request to vote to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline is a serious attempt to build the pipeline and grow our economy, or if this is a shell game designed to give certain Democratic Senators cover as they meet with constituents to discuss this issue.\u201d\nThe House of Representatives is expected to vote today on H.R. 5682, introduced by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), which would authorize building the Keystone XL pipeline. The Senate is expected to vote on Keystone next week, and an agreement has been made in the Senate to send H.R. 5682 to the President upon passage.\nVitter was the first member of the Senate to introduce legislation to expedite the Keystone pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline will carry 830,000 barrels of oil a day to U.S. refineries. According to the U.S. State Department, its construction will create 42,000 jobs. Vitter also reintroduced legislation this Congress. Click here to read more.\nText of today\u2019s letter is below. Click here to see the PDF.\n  November 13, 2014\nDear Mr. President,\nAs you know next week the U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on H.R. 5682 by Representative Bill Cassidy (R-LA) that would finally authorize building the Keystone XL Pipeline after more than 6 years of delay by your administration.  The Keystone XL Pipeline will help North America become more energy independent and will contribute more than $3 billion to the economy. Even more significant, your own State Department estimates that building the pipeline will create more than 42,000 jobs.  Multiples attempts to have the Senate vote to approve the pipeline over the past two years have been rejected by Democratic leadership prior to the recent November election. Now that they are planning to hold a vote, it is essential that we understand your position on this legislation.  The American people deserve to know if the effort by Democratic leadership to finally make good on our request to vote to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline is a serious attempt to build the pipeline and grow our economy, or if this is a shell game designed to give certain Democratic Senators cover as they meet with constituents to discuss this issue. A Statement of Administration Policy on this matter is an important and welcome step.\nThank you in advance for your consideration of our letter, and we look forward to a prompt reply.\n  -30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-veterans-day-statement", "Scalise Veterans Day Statement", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement honoring our nation\u2019s veterans.\n\u00a0\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s veterans have earned the gratitude of all Americans for the sacrifices they have made and the freedoms they have defended for us. This Veterans Day, and every day, we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women who gave so much for our country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-administration%E2%80%99s-desire-regulate-internet", "Scalise Statement on Administrations Desire to Regulate the Internet", "2014-11-10", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement in response to President Obama urging the Federal Communications Commission to impose \u201cnet neutrality\u201d regulations on the Internet.\n\u201cToday\u2019s attempt by the president to have the FCC reclassify broadband Internet as a public utility is yet another example of the Obama Administration\u2019s radical effort to have the government take over more aspects of our economy where there is no justification,\u201d Rep. Scalise said.\n\u201cTitle II reclassification would have a chilling effect on the Internet, which is a sector of our economy that has thrived under the current light-touch regulatory model, and sends the wrong message that regulation trumps innovation in the Internet ecosystem. 1930\u2019s-era utility regulations have no business being applied to a 21st century Internet. The best way to guarantee a vibrant Internet economy is by keeping the federal government out of the way, not getting it more involved. The FCC should not allow itself to be bullied into embracing this dangerous proposal that will harm our economy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141106191053/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/-vitter-honored-as-a-leader-in-fighting-tax-increases", "Vitter Honored as a Leader in Fighting Tax Increases", "2014-11-06", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Honored as a Leader in Fighting Tax Increases\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 6, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) was recently honored by the National Tax-Limitation Committee (NTLC) for his leadership in fighting against tax increases and government spending, receiving the organization\u2019s \u201cCertified Tax Fighter\u201d award for this year.\n\u201cI\u2019ll continue fighting against tax increases and fundamental tax reform to lower rates for everyone. Also, we must drastically reduce the complexity and end the special-interest provisions in our tax code. To rein in spending and taxation, we need a balanced budget constitutional amendment that includes a requirement that says any tax increase needs a super majority,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cFundamentally, President Obama has rejected all attempts at meaningful tax reform that do not include major tax increases, but I hope with a new Senate majority that we can convince him to sign pro-growth tax reform.\u201d\nFor the past 30 years, the NTLC has ranked members of Congress using their key votes on tax and budget issues\u2014each member in both houses receives a \u201cfiscal responsibility score\u201d. In the 113th Congress, Vitter received an \u201cA\u201d score, while Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) received an \u201cF\u201d.\u00a0\nThe NTLC promotes limitations on taxation, spending, and deficits at all levels of government to increase our nation\u2019s economic growth.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141106191206/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/-vitter-joins-cruz-calling-on-reid-to-stop-amnesty-in-lame-duck", "Vitter Joins Cruz Calling on Reid to Stop Amnesty in Lame-Duck", "2014-11-05", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Joins Cruz Calling on Reid to Stop Amnesty in \u201cLame-Duck\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 5, 2014\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.) joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and four other Senators today calling on current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to block any attempt by President Obama to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. Reports indicate that Obama plans to grant millions of illegal immigrants amnesty, but has been waiting to do so until after the election.\n\u201cWe know President Obama is quietly preparing to welcome millions of illegal immigrants into our country,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cNot only is it unconstitutional, it\u2019s incredibly dangerous \u2013 for our national security, public health and our economy.\u201d\nThe Obama administration has reportedly told vendors to prepare to manufacture at least 9 million green cards that will allow 9 million illegal immigrants to legally work and live in the United States.   Also joining Cruz and Vitter were Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).\nBelow is a copy of their letter.\nNovember 5, 2014\nSenator Harry Reid  Majority Leader  S-221, The Capitol  Washington, D.C. 20510\nDear Leader Reid:\nWe write to express our alarm with President Obama\u2019s announced intention to take unilateral executive action by the end of this year to lawlessly grant amnesty to immigrants who have entered the country illegally. The Supreme Court has recognized that \u201cover no conceivable subject is the power of Congress more complete\u201d than its power over immigration. Therefore, President Obama will be exercising powers properly belonging to Congress if he makes good on his threat. This will create a constitutional crisis that demands action by Congress to restore the separation of powers.  As majority leader of the Senate, you have the responsibility of not only representing the voters of your State, but also of protecting the Constitution through vigilant exercise of the checks and balances provided under the Constitution. Therefore, we write to offer our full assistance in ensuring expeditious Senate debate and passage for a measure that preserves the power of Congress by blocking any action the President may take to violate the Constitution and unilaterally grant amnesty; however, should you decline to defend the Senate and the Constitution from executive overreach, the undersigned Senators will use all procedural means necessary to return the Senate's focus during the lame duck session to resolving the constitutional crisis created by President Obama's lawless amnesty.\nSincerely,\nTed Cruz (R-Texas)  David Vitter (R-La.)   Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)  Mike Lee (R-Utah)  Pat Roberts (R-Kan.)   Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141105185329/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-demands-answers-from-cdc-about-sick-passenger-who-arrived-at-port-of-new-orleans-from-west-africa", "Vitter Demands Answers from CDC about Sick Passenger Who Arrived at Port of New Orleans from West Africa", "2014-11-04", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Demands Answers from CDC about \u201cSick Passenger\u201d Who Arrived at Port of New Orleans from West Africa\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today sent a letter to the director of the Centers for Disease Control\u2019s (CDC) demanding answers about a \u201csick passenger\u201d on a ship originating from Liberia that arrived in the port of New Orleans. Over the weekend, the CDC notified congressional offices of the passenger but indicated that the patient was not considered to be of any concern for Ebola. Vitter wants answers on how they handled the rest of the passengers on board, why no one was quarantined, and what protocols are in place to protect Louisiana health care workers.\n\u201cThis lack of urgency is exactly why people have zero confidence in the Obama Administration\u2019s response to Ebola,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt\u2019s their responsibility to take absolutely every precaution to ensure that Louisianians are not put in danger.\u201d\nVitter has called for the Administration to impose immediate travel restrictions and highlights how in 1976, there was an Ebola virus outbreak in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]). When the virus began to spread in the region, the United States along with Zaire and other governments quarantined 275,000 people in the affected region and imposed travel restrictions.\nOn October 17, 2014, Vitter along with Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) called on House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to have congress reconvene to address the threat raised by the Ebola virus. Read more here.  Vitter\u2019s letter to the CDC today is below.\nNovember 4, 2014\nDirector Tom Frieden  Office of the Director  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  1600 Clifton Road  Atlanta, GA 30329-4027\nDear Director Frieden,\nI write with serious concerns regarding the Centers for Disease Control\u2019s (CDC) most recent notice informing Louisiana Congressional offices that a sick passenger from a ship originating from Liberia arrived in the port of New Orleans this weekend. What I find alarming is the CDC determined the passenger had a fever, a common symptom of Ebola, the passenger was not placed in the agency\u2019s quarantine program.\nThe CDC\u2019s response to Ebola has been disastrous by many metrics. Your agency has failed to put systems in place to equip health care workers with the resources to protect themselves, patients, and the public from this deadly virus. Weeks after America\u2019s initial Ebola scare, 80 percent of registered nurses surveyed by the National Nurses United said their hospital has not communicated to them any policy regarding potential admission of patients infected by Ebola, 87 percent said their hospital has not provided education on Ebola, and one-third said their hospital lacks sufficient supplies to protect health care workers. Experts have also said that airport screenings for fevers and other symptoms are largely ineffective.\nThis creates a major void of adequate preventative care and protections. And it means that whenever an individual comes to the United States with any potential exposure and displays Ebola symptoms, the CDC has an obligation to follow every precaution and place such person in the quarantine program.\nThe CDC\u2019s mission is to increase our nation\u2019s health security by conducting critical science and providing health information that protects our nation against dangerous health threats. But based on the CDC\u2019s response this week in the Port of New Orleans, I believe your agency has been incredibly incompetent and put the health of Louisianans at risk.\nGiven the critical nature of preparing Louisiana hospitals and health care providers with an effective Ebola response, I ask that you respond to the following questions by no later than November 7, 2014.\n1. Did the CDC evaluate all passengers on the ship that originated in Liberia?  2. Specifically, what tests did the CDC perform while these passengers were under evaluation?  3. Why did the CDC ignore its own recommendations to place individuals with possible exposure and Ebola-like symptoms, such as a fever, in the quarantine program?  4. Will the CDC conduct follow-up tests for these passengers to ensure they do not display Ebola-like symptoms during the 21-day incubation period?  5. Has the CDC given additional resources including best practices, specific protocol, and the necessary supplies to protect Louisiana health care workers in case any of these passengers are eventually diagnosed with Ebola?\nSincerely, David Vitter  United States Senator\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-release-usmc-sgt-tahmooressi", "Scalise Statement on Release of USMC Sgt. Tahmooressi", "2014-11-01", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scalise Statement on Release of USMC Sgt. Tahmooressi                                           \n              Nov 1, 2014      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement regarding the homecoming of United States Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who had been held in jail in Mexico since March.\n\u00a0\n\u201cAfter 214 days in Mexican jail, I am glad Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is finally reunited with his family and is back home in the United States,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cThis is long overdue, and would not have been possible without the relentless work of my colleagues Chairman Ed Royce and Rep. Matt Salmon, whose efforts helped make Sgt. Tahmooressi\u2019s release a reality.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-administration-official%E2%80%99s-comments-israeli-prime-minister-netanyahu", "Scalise Statement on Administration Officials Comments on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu", "2014-10-29", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding the appalling comments made by senior Obama Administration officials deriding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.\u00a0\n\u201cIt is offensive that senior officials within the Obama Administration would make such inappropriate comments about a foreign leader, let alone Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, our strongest ally and most trusted friend in the region. President Obama needs to repudiate any derogatory comments made by his Administration officials toward Israel's Prime Minister, and quickly take steps to hold anyone accountable within the White House who would make such reckless statements,\u201d Rep. Scalise said.\u00a0\n\u201cAt a time when Israel continues to face serious threats from terrorists, as well as actions from within the United Nations that could undermine a mutually negotiated two-state solution, these reckless insults against the prime minister add to the concerns about the Administration\u2019s fraying relationship with Israel. Congress, however, remains united in strong support of our friendship and strategic alliance with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-negotiations-iran", "Scalise Statement on Negotiations with Iran", "2014-10-29", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding recent reports suggesting the Obama Administration will not seek Congressional approval for a nuclear deal with Iran.\u00a0\n\u201cIn less than a month, the Iran nuclear negotiations will end. As a state sponsor of terrorism and gross violator of human rights,\u00a0Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cHowever, it\u2019s\u00a0troubling that these negotiations do not address Iran\u2019s ballistic missile program and any agreement could sunset within the decade.\n\u201cWith this in mind, I\u2019m very concerned by the reports that the Obama Administration is looking to avoid Congressional approval for any deal with Iran and would unilaterally roll back sanctions.\u00a0There is significant bipartisan support from Congress to ensure that Iran will not attain a nuclear weapons capability. I urge the president to work directly with Members of Congress to ensure that any deal will have strong bipartisan support and represent the national security interests of America.\n\u201cCongress has repeatedly passed additional sanctions against\u00a0Iran to disrupt its nuclear program and only Congress can repeal the sanctions. Last December, I introduced H.Res. 431, a bipartisan resolution that calls on the Senate to pass H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act. H.R. 850 overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives 400-20-1. I believe if these sanctions had been implemented, the Administration would have had stronger leverage in the ongoing negotiations.\n\u201cThe\u00a0president must consult with Congress over the next few weeks, not force a deal that will be unacceptable to the vast majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress.\u00a0The president cannot grant concessions that simply delay Iran\u2019s nuclear breakout time while circumventing Congress. Such a bad deal with Iran will continue to threaten our national security, the security of Israel, and further destabilize the region.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141027224813/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-congratulates-sasol-on-final-investment-decision-for-ethane-cracker_says-will-be-part-of-economic-boom-for-southwest-louisiana", "Vitter Congratulates Sasol on Final Investment Decision for Ethane Cracker,  Says Will Be Part of Economic Boom for Southwest Louisiana", "2014-10-27", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Congratulates Sasol on Final Investment Decision for Ethane Cracker,  Says Will Be Part of Economic Boom for Southwest Louisiana\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, October 27, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Lake Charles, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today congratulated Sasol Limited, an energy and chemical company, on their final investment decision on their $8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex at its existing site in Calcasieu Parish. Sasol says an additional $800 million will be invested in infrastructure, utility improvements and land acquisition that will enable future growth in the area. Recently, Vitter helped to secure a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow Sasol to begin constructing their gas-to-liquid (GTL) facility at the same site.\n\u201cThis is a huge investment and will help provide a great boom for southwest Louisiana,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cLouisiana has obviously shown a commitment to the energy and chemical industries, and our abundant natural gas resources make us a perfect fit for the new facility. I\u2019m extremely pleased that we were able to get this major economic project moving forward.\u201d\nVitter has been working very closely with the Corps of Engineers, particularly Col. Rick Hansen, and also with Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Stephen Chustz to move these projects forward.\nConstruction on the first of its kind GTL facility, as well as the ethane cracker facility, is expected to begin very soon. It is estimated that the projects will create 1,200 permanent jobs. In 2010, Sasol announced it would construct one of the world\u2019s first Ethylene Tetramerization Units in Lake Charles. The GTL facility, in addition to the ethylene facility, will produce a number of products including diesel fuel, naphtha and other chemical products, which will be marketed nationally and globally.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225018/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-free-government-cell-phone-program-needs-criminal-investigators", "Vitter: Free Government Cell Phone Program Needs Criminal Investigators", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Free Government Cell Phone Program Needs Criminal Investigators\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 24, 2014\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 urged for more oversight of the controversial free government cell phone program known as Lifeline. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Tom Wheeler, who administers the program, Vitter questioned why they won\u2019t allow the hiring of criminal investigators.\n\u201cThe free government cell phone program is one of the most abused and fraud-ridden federal programs ever,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cIt\u2019s alarming that the federal agency in charge won\u2019t allow criminal investigators to be hired. That needs to change, and the FCC needs to be much more aggressive in tackling the fraud and abuse.\u201d\nRecent testimony by the FCC\u2019s Inspector General David Hunt before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology indicated that the FCC Chairman has denied their request to hire criminal investigators.\nThe Lifeline Program was created in 1984 to expand landline services for low-income households through the Universal Service Fund (USF). The program supporting mobile phones was expanded in 2008 to include wireless service provider and has grown from $143 million in 2008 to nearly $2 billion. Vitter has introduced legislation to eliminate the welfare subsidy for mobile phone service in the Lifeline Program and restore the program to its original intent of providing landline service.\nBelow is the text of Vitter\u2019s letter.\nOctober 24, 2014\nThe Honorable Tom Wheeler  Chairman  Federal Communications Commission  445 12th Street SW  Washington, DC 20554\nChairman Wheeler:\nThe recent testimony by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Inspector General David Hunt before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology regarding your decision to hamper investigations is alarming. According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), you have denied them authority to hire criminal investigators. That needs an immediate explanation. Considering the highly publicized fraud that permeates the FCC, especially within the highly controversial Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline program, it makes absolutely no sense to me why you would deny Mr. Hunt\u2019s request to hire criminal investigators.\nThe Lifeline program is one of the most abused and fraud-ridden federal programs ever, and it is our responsibility to work together to eliminate the fraud and abuse. Mr. Hunt\u2019s testimony revealed major cause for concern regarding your efforts to eradicate the fraud within Lifeline and USF programs. In July 2014, you created a \u201cstrike force,\u201d and I commend that effort. However, given the massive amount of documented fraud within the Lifeline program, the \u201cstrike force\u201d should coordinate with law enforcement and the OIG. It is obvious that you are not using all of the tools at your disposal or even making basic decisions that would allow the \u201cstrike force\u201d to eradicate any findings of fraud and prevent cases of future fraud from happening.\nWhile you might claim that the FCC is taking action to address escalating fraud within Lifeline through implementing the \u201cstrike force,\u201d it is clear that your efforts are neither effective nor comprehensive. It has been two years since the initial push to curb fraud and abuse within Lifeline, but reports keep coming about new, massive cases of fraud. Far more needs to be done. For instance, a recent Washington Examiner report determined that nearly double the number of eligible subscribers have received taxpayer subsidized cell phones from Lifeline in Maryland. The enforcement of the program rules and regulations has not been a priority of the FCC, and that must change immediately. Without enforcement of Lifeline\u2019s eligibility rules, fraud will continue to haunt this taxpayer subsidized welfare program for years to come.\nAt a minimum, you should absolutely allow the OIG to hire criminal investigators. I hope you will reconsider your denial, and start working aggressively to identify waste, fraud and abuse so we can end it.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter   U.S. Senator\n  -30-\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today urged for more oversight of the controversial free government cell phone program known as Lifeline. In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Tom Wheeler, who administers the program, Vitter questioned why they won\u2019t allow the hiring of criminal investigators.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225022/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-crawfish-processors-will-be-compensated-19-million", "Vitter: Crawfish Processors Will Be Compensated $19 Million", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Crawfish Processors Will Be Compensated $19 Million\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 24, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La) made the following statement regarding compensation for Louisiana crawfish processors. United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be compensating crawfish processors $19 million for illegal \u201cdumping\u201d by Chinese importers.\n\u201cExcessive dumping of Chinese crawfish has put Louisiana crawfish producers at an unfair disadvantage,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI think I speak for all Louisianians that crawfish from China probably doesn\u2019t taste right anyway. More importantly, until Chinese importers play by the rules, it\u2019s our jobs and our businesses here in Louisiana that are hurting.\u201d\nThe compensation is part of what is owed to crawfish processors under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (commonly known as the \u201cByrd Amendment\u201d) in effect from 2000 to 2007. That law was designed to compensate the industries directly harmed by illegal trade, using some of the collected duties to help domestic industries deal with illegal trade.   China is the top violator of trade laws, and crawfish was one of the most dumped products from China. Duties owed from the time the Byrd Amendment was in effect can still be paid to the crawfish industry, but CBP has been ineffective in collecting the duties. Meanwhile, Chinese importers do everything possible to avoid their trade obligations, delaying payments to the crawfish industry as the duty collection is behind by years, and even more than a decade for many illegal imports.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225034/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-fleming-announce-camp-minden-explosive-material-cleanup-agreement-", "Vitter, Fleming Announce Camp Minden Explosive Material Cleanup Agreement", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter, Fleming Announce Camp Minden Explosive Material Cleanup Agreement \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 22, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Shreveport, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and U.S. Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (R-La.) announced the settlement agreement that has been signed between the U.S. Army and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on taking responsibility for the disposing of explosive material at Camp Minden in Minden, La. The cleanup of the 15 million pounds will be paid for on behalf of the U.S. Army. In the next week, the EPA will announce a 30 day public comment period to receive input from the local community. The Army confirmed to Vitter this week that a team of experts will be sent to Louisiana to assist with the initial steps.\nIn March, the EPA directed the U.S. Department of the Army to address the 15 million pounds of abandoned explosives and propellant stored on the grounds of Camp Minden. Vitter started working with EPA offices in early 2013 for a solution and has been following up routinely with calls, letters and meetings. Click here to read letters Vitter and Fleming wrote on May 30, 2013.\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Vitter is pushing legislative language that would remove any doubt that the Army is responsible and should use existing funds to address the problem. Vitter has previously elevated this issue with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Gen. Raymond Odierno, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and multiple other high level DOD officials. Last week, Senator Vitter testified to some of the details of the announcement at the Louisiana House Homeland Security Committee Hearing.\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Dr. Fleming has addressed Army officials on numerous occasions, in person and in letters, urging that the Army use its resources to help remedy the dangerous situation at Camp Minden.\nLouisiana State Police discovered a large amount of explosives that had not been properly stored by a defense contractor, Explo Systems, in 2012. The Department of Defense was reluctant to agree that they had necessary authority. After intervention from Vitter and Fleming, the Army sent their Explosives Safety Board to evaluate and provide recommendations.\nIn a written determination in July, the EPA finalized that the Army has the legal and civic responsibility to clean up the material. The Army attempted to reject this determination.\nThe U.S. Department of Justice was forced to intervene, leading to an agreement between the Louisiana Military Department, the EPA, and the Army over the Army\u2019s culpability of the remaining explosives at Camp Minden. The Army will be liable to fund the cleanup efforts.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024001052/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-state-to-stop-designating-eureka-math-", "Vitter Urges State to Stop Designating Eureka Math", "2014-10-21", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Urges State to Stop Designating Eureka Math \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 21, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter sent a letter to Louisiana Department of Education Superintendent John White this week urging the state to stop designating Eureka Math as the preferred curriculum.\n\u201cI\u2019ve been meeting with and hearing from parents all across the state, and I\u2019m concerned with the extreme difficulty and frustration many students and parents are having with Eureka Math,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cAs a practical matter, many local systems have felt pressured to adopt it, particularly smaller systems with very limited curriculum review and development resources. Any pressure to adopt it needs to stop immediately.\u201d\nSt. Tammany Parish School Board recently ordered Eureka Math to be dropped from the district's curriculum by the next school year.\nBelow is the text of Vitter\u2019s letter.\nOctober 20, 2014\nSuperintendent John White  Louisiana Department of Education  1201 North Third Street  Baton Rouge, LA 70802\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL AND OVERNIGHT DELIVERY  IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED\nRE: Local control over curriculum, alternatives to Eureka Math\nDear Superintendent White:\nI am very concerned with the extreme difficulty and frustration many students and parents are having with Eureka Math. And I believe this experience illustrates that, while local control over curriculum is the rule in theory, it is clearly not fully or adequately protected and implemented in practice.\nAs you know, the Eureka Math curriculum is not mandated per se. But it is the only math curriculum designated as Tier 1 by your department. As a practical matter, this has caused many local systems to feel pressured to adopt it, particularly smaller systems with very limited curriculum review and development resources.\nTo correct this, I strongly urge your department to aggressively emphasize and protect local control over curriculum and, in particular, to:\n1) Stop designating Eureka Math as the preferred curriculum in any way.\n2) Ensure that local school systems have all appropriate resources to identify several strong math curricula, including those that use no elements of Eureka Math.\n3) Ensure that Louisiana's testing regime in no way disadvantages students taught under these non-Eureka Math alternatives.\nThank you for your attention to this very important matter.\nSincerely,\n  David Vitter  U.S. Senator\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024001200/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-named-champion-of-national-security-by-center-for-security-policy", "Vitter Named Champion of National Security by Center for Security Policy", "2014-10-20", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Named \u201cChampion of National Security\u201d by Center for Security Policy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, October 20, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter has been named a \u201cChampion of National Security\u201d by the Center for Security Policy. Vitter was one of only five U.S. Senators to receive a 100 percent score. The Center\u2019s rankings are based on legislators\u2019 voting records on issues from border security to terrorist threats.\n\u201cISIS and the Ebola virus are huge national security threats right now \u2013 but the biggest problem is that this Administration hasn\u2019t put forward any real or comprehensive national security strategy on any front, including securing our borders,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cWithout a secure border, we don\u2019t just have an illegal alien crisis, we are actually increasing the threat of terrorists entering our country and the likelihood of a public health crisis. I\u2019m honored to receive this recognition and I\u2019ll keep fighting in the Senate for strong national security.\u201d\nVitter has always voted against amnesty for illegal immigrants. As the Chairman of the Senate Border Security and Enforcement First Immigration Caucus, he\u2019s been a leader in the Senate for pro-enforcement legislation and stronger border security. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Vitter has also fought against the transfer of dangerous Guantanamo detainees into the United States for their detention and trials.\nClick here to see the Center for Security Policy scores. Below are some of the key votes the Center scored.\n \nRestrict transfer of unlawful enemy combatants from Guantanamo Bay.\nOppose provisional immigration status absent secure borders.\nOppose provisional immigration status absent increased border fencing.\nOppose temporary legal status for illegal entrants to the U.S. absent implementation of US-VISIT.\nProvide for comprehensive immigration reform: Voted against allowing a \u201cpathway to citizenship\u201d which was a form of amnesty.\n \n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024001215/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-asks-air-force-for-protocol-on-disinfecting-planes-from-africa", "Vitter Asks Air Force for Protocol on Disinfecting Planes From Africa", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Asks Air Force for Protocol on Disinfecting Planes From Africa\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 17, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today sent a letter to the U.S. Air Force asking questions about their protocol for disinfecting air craft that have been in parts of Africa contaminated with the Ebola virus. Vitter was recently contacted by a constituent in the United States Air Force (USAF) who was given an order to clean and disinfect aircraft that are returning from Africa. However, their squadron has zero training with Ebola or relevant procedures in place to handle this type of event.\n\u201cThe Administration\u2019s response to the Ebola threat has been nothing short of pathetic. People are downright scared that this virus could enter the U.S. more widespread than it already has. We need to have an administration wide \u2013 full strategic plan on how to make sure it doesn\u2019t spread. That includes all our Military branches,\u201d wrote Vitter.\nBelow is the text of Vitter\u2019s letter.\nOctober 17, 2014\nGeneral Mark Welsh  Chief of Staff  1670 Air Force Pentagon  Washington, DC 20330\nThe Honorable Deborah Lee James  Secretary of the Air Force  1670 Air Force Pentagon  Washington, DC 20330\nDear Secretary James and General Welsh:\nThe Administration\u2019s response to the Ebola threat has been nothing short of pathetic. People are downright scared that this virus could enter the U.S. more widespread than it already has. We need to have an administration wide and full strategic plan on how to make sure it doesn\u2019t spread. That includes all our Military branches. Last week my office received a DOD briefing on the military role in the Ebola response, and I was assured that all necessary precautions were being taken to ensure our service members were being adequately protected.\nUnfortunately, I have been presented with evidence that there are flaws within the ongoing operations. I have recently been contacted by a constituent in the United States Air Force (USAF) who was given an order to clean and disinfect aircraft that are returning from Africa. However, their squadron has zero training with Ebola or relevant procedures in place to handle this type of event. The Air Force needs to be far more cautious than this. This type of carelessness is unacceptable.\nSurely the Air Force has squadrons who are trained and equipped to probably disinfect air craft that may have been in contact with the virus. If not, that should be an immediate priority.\nPlease respond immediately to the following five questions:\n1. Does the USAF have squadrons that have had the necessary training to deal with contaminated aircraft?  2. Are untrained airmen being ordered to complete a life-threatening task without proper training and necessary protection?   3. What is the Air Force doing to ensure that maintenance troops receive thorough and expert training to effectively decontaminate these planes and more importantly, protect themselves from exposure to this deadly virus?   4. What measures have been put into place so these airmen will not expose their families and other persons in in the U.S. or at any of our military bases around the world?   5. What measures have been implemented by USAF to train and protect our military members, their families, and those who support our operations at all of our bases?  6. Does the Air Force have necessary protocols and authorities for mandatory leave time to accommodate the required DOD quarantine time when service members return from the field?\nAll of our military branches need to be incredibly cautious to ensure this public health risk does not escalate. Your assistance in this time-sensitive and urgent matter is appreciated.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter  United States Senate\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024001219/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-and-garrett-demand-that-boehner/reid-reconvene-congress-to-address-ebola", "Vitter and Garrett Demand that Boehner/Reid Reconvene Congress to Address Ebola", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter and Garrett Demand that Boehner/Reid Reconvene Congress to Address Ebola\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, October 17, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) today sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid demanding that congress is immediately reconvened to address the threat raised by the Ebola virus.\n\u201cThe Obama administration has failed to recognize this public health threat,\u201d said Garrett and Vitter in the letter. \u201cThus far, the administration has refused to implement flight restrictions from affected countries, and provide effective screening process for travelers after they arrive on shores. The House and Senate must reconvene to direct the administration on what steps must be taken to protect the American people.\u201d\nTo read the letter, click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141017001227/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-impose-immediate-travel-restrictions-fire-cdc-director", "Vitter: Impose Immediate Travel Restrictions, Fire CDC Director", "2014-10-16", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Impose Immediate Travel Restrictions, Fire CDC Director\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSays the CDC\u2019s response to Ebola has been \u201cpathetic\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 16, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is calling for the resignation of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Thomas Frieden and for travel restrictions. Vitter made the following comment.\n\u201cThe CDC Director's response to the spread of the Ebola virus has been nothing short of pathetic,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cPresident Obama needs to fire him, put someone strong and competent in charge, and impose travel restrictions into the U.S. \u2013 all immediately.\u00a0 That sort of quarantine action was an essential part of the eradication of the late 1970s Ebola outbreak in Africa.\u201d\nEarlier today, Sen. Vitter testified at a Louisiana House of Representatives Homeland Security hearing in Baton Rouge, La., where he recommended that the Louisiana state representatives submit a flight restriction request to the CDC.\nIn 1976, there was an Ebola virus outbreak in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]).\u00a0 When the virus began to spread in the region, the United States along with Zaire and other governments quarantined 275,000 people in the affected region and imposed travel restrictions. \u00a0\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141017001322/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-to-testify-at-louisiana-house-homeland-security-hearing-tomorrow-on-camp-minden-border-security", "Vitter to Testify at Louisiana House Homeland Security Hearing Tomorrow on Camp Minden, Border Security", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter to Testify at Louisiana House Homeland Security Hearing Tomorrow on Camp Minden, Border Security\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 15, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Baton Rouge, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter will be testifying at the Louisiana House of Representatives Homeland Security Hearing tomorrow, Thursday, October 16. At the hearing, Vitter will announce a planned settlement agreement that is expected to be reached between the U.S. Army and the Environmental Protection Agency on taking responsibility for the disposal of explosive material at Camp Minden in Minden, La. The agreement is expected to be signed by all parties this month. Vitter will also be testifying about the federal plan to combat the threat of the Ebola virus and the ongoing border crisis.\n\u201cThis announcement for Camp Minden is a great victory, and long overdue. The Army has been dragging its feet for far too long, creating a dangerous situation for folks in Louisiana,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI\u2019ve been working hard to make sure the Army takes responsibility and cleans up this mess, and I\u2019ll continue holding their feet to the fire until they do.\u201d\nHomeland Security Hearing  10 a.m. CT  House Committee Room 5  State Capitol  Baton Rouge\nVitter, who is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, will also be testifying about the current strategy to keep the Ebola Virus out of Louisiana and the United States. Vitter has asked for a clear strategy from the Obama Administration, who is currently asking for $1 billion to fight the spread of the virus. Vitter has advocated for more aggressive flight restrictions from areas where the virus is most prevalent and stated there is a clear lack of coordinated efforts by the administration.\nVitter is also the Chairman of the U.S. Border Security and Enforcement First Immigration Caucus and has been pushing for solutions to the ongoing border crisis. The most recent immigration crisis with unaccompanied alien children (UAC) has spread into Louisiana and will cost more than $10 million (La. Dept. of Ed estimates nearly $7 million, but Vitter\u2019s estimates are above $10 million) just in the school districts alone. Vitter has proposed legislation that would implement mandatory detention at the border and expedited removal of all illegal aliens.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/rep-scalise-calls-gsa-reverse-policy-shipped-jobs-american-disabled-workers-overseas", "Rep. Scalise Calls on GSA to Reverse Policy that Shipped Jobs of American Disabled Workers Overseas", "2014-10-14", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the below letter to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Dan Tangherlini regarding recent\u00a0reports\u00a0that the Obama Administration made a policy change to ship jobs overseas which resulted in\u00a0blind and disabled American workers being laid off.\n\u00a0\nIn his letter to the GSA, Rep. Scalise called on the Obama Administration to reverse this policy in order\u00a0to restore the American jobs that have been lost as a result of the new procurement rules, and also raised questions about the transparency of the new contracts.\n\u00a0\n***\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nOctober 10, 2014\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nHonorable Dan Tangherlini\nAdministrator, General Services Administration\n1800 F. Street, NW\nWashington, DC 20405\n\u00a0\nDear Administrator Tangherlini:\n\u00a0\nI read with concern an article that appeared today in the Washington Times that described how the implementation of a program to provide supplies to our troops in Central Asia was resulting in over 40 jobs lost at the Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans. For over 75 years, AbilityOne agencies, such as Lighthouse for the Blind, have helped to support our troops and provide meaningful jobs and income to individuals who are legally blind or have severe disabilities. At a time when our economy is still struggling to provide jobs, we need to make sure we are not shipping jobs overseas at the expense of the most underemployed sector of our workforce.\n\u00a0\nWhile the safety and security of our men and women overseas is the top priority, I have several questions about whether this program is being administered in a fashion that also protects jobs for the disadvantaged here at home. Specifically, I would like a response on what steps the Administration has taken to protect jobs being disproportionally lost at organizations for the blind and disabled.\n\u00a0\nAdditionally, the underlying statute requires that products purchased overseas be:\u00a0\u201c from a country along a major route of supply to Afghanistan if it is mined, produced, or manufactured in a covered country.\u201d There have been significant questions raised as to whether all products purchased under this program have been \u201cmined, produced, or manufactured\u201d in an eligible country. I request all information on steps the GSA has taken to document this requirement is being met. A government program that chooses to ship jobs overseas must be completely transparent and fully audit suppliers to ensure the law is being followed.\n\u00a0\nI ask that you, in consultation with the Department of Defense, review and reconsider the program's operations to protect the jobs of the blind and disabled. I look forward to your response on how we can best protect both men and women in uniform and, at the same time, those back home who are among the most disadvantaged.\n\u00a0\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nSteve Scalise\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/obamacare-continues-fail-louisiana-families", "Obamacare Continues to Fail Louisiana Families", "2014-10-11", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA \u2013\u00a0U.S. Representative Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding\u00a0reports\u00a0that health insurance providers in the Louisiana Exchange expect to raise premiums by double digits in 2015.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe people of Louisiana are seeing first hand that the second year of Obamacare is even worse than the first \u2013 higher costs, fewer choices, and more broken promises,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cLouisiana families will be facing the sticker shock of double-digit increases in their health premiums due to the president's unworkable law. This is unacceptable and further evidence that the government takeover of health care has failed hard-working taxpayers.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe Obama Administration\u2019s decision to play politics and delay open enrollment until after the November elections is deceptive and underhanded. We need to protect Louisiana families from the sticker shock of Obamacare rate hikes by repealing the law and replacing it with reforms that lower costs and put patients back in charge of their health care decisions with their doctors.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141009235930/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-optimistic-for-midla-pipeline-settlement", "Vitter Optimistic For Midla Pipeline Settlement", "2014-10-08", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Optimistic For Midla Pipeline Settlement\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 8, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Baton Rouge, La.) -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter, top Republican on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, announced that a motion has been filed asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to stop the abandonment application for the Midla Pipeline and move forward with a new pipeline plan. The Midla Pipeline services many rural Louisianians with affordable energy.\n\"The top priority needs to be making sure the rural Louisiana customers utilizing this pipeline have access to affordable energy,\" Vitter said. \u201cIf we hadn't intervened they could have been stuck with exorbitant rate structures for new services that would more than quadruple the current price of natural gas delivery. That uncertainty about the future of meeting their basic energy needs was cause for major concerns.\u201d\n\u201cOn behalf of the Town of Slaughter and the gas districts in East Feliciana Parish, I would like to express our appreciation to Senator Vitter for all he has done to help us in Washington in building a Coalition regarding this issue,\u201d said Slaughter Mayor Robbie Jackson. \u201cHe and his staff have been very accessible and encouraging to us as we are dealing with a difficult and complex issue. This decision enables our community to continue with our economic development projects and locks down a new long term gas supply for all the customers on our system. The benefit of this can\u2019t be overstated, and his effort on our behalf is greatly appreciated.\u201d\nVitter first started calling attention to the potential pipeline abandonment in February. Also, in an April 29, 2014 Vitter along with Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) asked Cheryl LaFleur, Acting Chairman of FERC for a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the abandonment application requested by American Midstream Partners, LP and American Midstream Pipline (Midla).\nAccording to the motion filed this week, interested parties have reached an agreement in pricipal, which will be formalized and filed for FERC approval. The motion states that Midla will be building a new 12\u201d line from Winnsboro to Natchez that will serve Jonesville, Sicily Island, Clayton, and Vidalia. The motion also states that Midla will pay for nearly all of the transition costs of putting those not served by the new Natchez Line on some other form of gas or propane service. The Midla pipeline is an interstate natural gas pipeline with approximately 370 miles of pipeline linking the Monroe Natural Gas Field in Northern Louisiana and interconnections with the Transco Pipeline system and Gulf South Pipeline system to customers near Baton Rouge. Midla was owned by American Midstream but was partially acquired by Boston-based ArcLight and then sold to an ArcLight entity, Highpoint.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141010000024/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-release-isis-persecuting-christians-in-iraq-is-deplorable", "Vitter: ISIS Persecuting Christians in Iraq is Deplorable", "2014-10-08", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: ISIS Persecuting Christians in Iraq is Deplorable\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 8, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today made the following statement regarding ISIS militant\u2019s persecution of Christians in Iraq who won\u2019t convert to Islam. Many Christians have been fleeing Iraq, especially in areas that have been taken over by ISIS.\n\u201cMy thoughts and prayers go out to Christians standing up for their beliefs in Iraq in this ongoing struggle. People such as Bishop Canon Andrew White, who is in Baghdad, has painted a dire picture of what the Christian minority there are expecting in upcoming weeks should ISIS continue to expand. The thought of ISIS murdering people for being Christians is absolutely deplorable,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe Obama Administration hasn't laid out a coherent overall strategy to effectively attack these terrorists yet. I\u2019ve strongly urged him to do this and to ask Congress for a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force. I think this is constitutionally necessary since we're in a whole new country -- Syria -- and it's the right thing to do in order to properly engage Congress and the American people.\u201d\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-commends-local-schools-receiving-national-blue-ribbon-award", "Scalise Commends Local Schools for Receiving National Blue Ribbon Award", "2014-10-01", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scalise Commends Local Schools for Receiving National Blue Ribbon Award                     Three schools in Louisiana\u2019s First Congressional District Recognized as 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools                      \n              Oct 1, 2014      \t\t  Issues: Education      \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    METAIRIE, LA\u00a0\u2013U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) today commended three schools in Louisiana\u2019s First Congressional District for being recognized as 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools.\n\u201cPresident Reagan created the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of schools whose teachers and students demonstrate excellence in education,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cI commend these three schools for exceeding the high standard in education we expect for our children. I\u2019m proud that half of the institutions in Louisiana that met the rigorous selection standards of the program came from the First Congressional District. I applaud the hard work and dedication of the teachers, administrators and students necessary to receive this distinction.\u201d\nThe schools of the First Congressional District that received the National Blue Ribbon Award are:\n Joseph J. Davies Elementary School of Meraux\nOur Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic School of Mandeville\nTchefuncte Middle School of Mandeville\n The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program was created in 1982 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The program recognizes both public and private schools, k-12, for overall academic achievement and excellence in education.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141003000414/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-st-charles-streetcar-in-new-orleans-named-national-historic-landmark", "Vitter: St. Charles Streetcar in New Orleans Named National Historic Landmark", "2014-10-01", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: St. Charles Streetcar in New Orleans Named National Historic Landmark\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, October 1, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today announced that the Interior Department has recognized the St. Charles Streetcar Line in New Orleans as a National Historic Landmark. The St. Charles Line has operated continuously since 1923-24, making it the oldest operational street railway in the country.\n\u201cThe Streetcar is an iconic example of Louisiana\u2019s rich history and culture,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cNew Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the country, and St. Charles Avenue is one of the most beautiful streets. The St. Charles Streetcar Line is certainly deserving of this designation.\u201d\nThe National Historic Landmarks Program is administered by the National Park Service on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141003000432/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-costs-number-of-illegals-in-louisiana-schools-higher-than-reported", "Vitter: Costs, Number of Illegals in Louisiana Schools Higher than Reported", "2014-09-30", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Costs, Number of Illegals in Louisiana Schools Higher than Reported\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tUpdated numbers show more than 1,600 unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in Louisiana school system will cost at least $7 million\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, September 30, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) recently reached out to John White, Louisiana Superintendent of Education, regarding the state\u2019s ability to handle the influx of the 1,275 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) relocated to Louisiana. Since White\u2019s initial response, the number of UACs relocated to the state has increased to 1,652, and he estimated it will cost Louisiana nearly $7 million, if not more, to educate them in the 2014-2015 school year.\n\u201cThis rapid influx puts an additional burden on teachers who will be expected to accommodate non-English speaking students. That\u2019s not fair to the teachers and not fair to the students in the classroom,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cPresident Obama\u2019s failure to enforce basic immigration laws is now causing a huge financial burden for Louisiana.\u201d\nBelow is a chart with information from the Louisiana Department of Education showing how many UAC\u2019s have been relocated to Louisiana. Below the chart are some statistics based on the Parishes who have received the children. Note: some parishes have not provided a cost estimate, therefore the following estimated cost only accounts for less than two thirds of the UACs.\nParish\nTotal # of Unaccompanied Children Relocated between Jan. 1 \u2013 Aug. 31, 2014\nEstimated Cost to Educate UACs\nEast Baton Rouge Parish\n289\n$948,137\nJefferson Parish\n575\n$4,600,000\nLafayette Parish\n107\nN/A\nOrleans Parish\n256\nN/A\nSt. Tammany Parish\n145\n$1,425,640\nUnidentified Parish\n280\nN/A\nTOTAL\n1,652\n$6,973,777\n\u2022 The East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPS) estimates 289 new unaccompanied children. EBRPS has indicated that in order to educate these additional UACs, the district will need to hire 7 new teachers, 7 English as a Second Language (ESL) Paraprofessionals/Facilitators, 7 Parent/Student Advocates, and 1 Practitioner License (PL) teacher.\n(EBRPS estimates a cost of $948,137, which includes $21,000 for translations and materials and supplies.)\n\u2022 The Jefferson Parish School System estimates 575 new unaccompanied children. They have indicated that in order to educate these additional UACs, the district will need to hire 27 new English as a Second Language (ESL) Teachers, 20 New ESL Para-Educators, 19 Regular Education Teachers, and 3 Special Education Teachers.\n(Jefferson Parish School System estimates a cost of $ 4.6 million)\n\u2022 The Lafayette Parish School System estimates it has 107 new unaccompanied children. The district has indicated that in order to educate these additional students, they have hired 1 new English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher for a new ESL program at the High School career center and plan on hiring 7 additional ESL Teachers and 7 additional Bilingual Assistants. Additionally, the district plans to open a new elementary ESL program for grades K-5.\n(Lafayette Parish School System did not provide a cost estimate.)\n\u2022 The St. Tammany Parish School System estimates it has 145 new unaccompanied children, and has indicated that in order to accommodate these additional students, the district hired 1 English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher and 8.5 ESL Aides.\n(St. Tammany Parish School System estimates a cost of $ 1,425,640.)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141003000435/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-co-sponsors-bill-to-encourage-savings-for-education-expenses", "Vitter Co-Sponsors Bill to Encourage Savings for Education Expenses", "2014-09-29", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Co-Sponsors Bill to Encourage Savings for Education Expenses\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tBill would give families more flexibility with Coverdell savings accounts\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 29, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) signed on to legislation authored by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) that would make reforms to Coverdell savings accounts, which are designed to encourage savings for education expenses. The bill would increase the limit that the federal government has set on what a family can contribute each year.\n\u201cEducation is among the best investments a family can make. And as the father of four, I know education expenses add up quick,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cMaking these reforms to savings accounts will make it easier for all families to save more money for education, without the government setting an unrealistically low limit. It also gives families more flexibility on how they can spend their savings.\u201d\nCoverdell savings accounts are opened on behalf of beneficiaries under 18 years old to save for elementary and secondary education. Currently, the total contribution to all accounts on behalf of a beneficiary in any year cannot exceed $2,000. The bill would remove the income restriction on contributors to the account and raise the annual contribution limit to match the annual gift tax exclusion, which is $14,000 for 2014.\nThe bill would also give families more flexibility on how they choose to spend their savings. It will allow home-schooling expenses to qualify as eligible expenses of Coverdell savings accounts and allow savings to be put towards a Roth IRA or the purchase of a first-home once beneficiaries have completed their education.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-sends-modified-charleston-method-reform-recommendations-army-corps", "Scalise sends Modified Charleston Method reform recommendations to Army Corps", "2014-09-26", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u00a0\u2013U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01) made this statement after sending a letter, along with the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding an unrealistic wetland mitigation regulation known as the \u201cModified Charleston Method\u201d (MCM).\n\u201cRadical environmental regulations developed by unelected bureaucrats at the Corps of Engineers threaten communities throughout southeast Louisiana and increase the cost of critical hurricane protection projects,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cThe Corps of Engineers needs to work with the Louisiana Congressional delegation to create a plan that keeps Louisiana families and economic development in mind when they are establishing new regulations and policies. We all know that wetland mitigation is crucial to the survival of southeast Louisiana, but mitigation and economic development should never be mutually exclusive. The Corps must be aware of the impact its regulations have on local communities.\u201d\nSince implementation of MCM, Rep. Scalise has introduced amendments banning the Corps from enforcing MCM, which have passed the House unanimously. To read the most recent amendment, click\u00a0here.\nClick here to read the\u00a0letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/whip-scalise-statement-resignation-attorney-general-holder", "Whip Scalise Statement on Resignation of Attorney General Holder", "2014-09-25", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Whip Scalise Statement on Resignation of Attorney General Holder                                           \n              Sep 25, 2014      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding reports that Attorney General Eric Holder will resign his office.\n\u201cEric Holder\u2019s tenure as Attorney General has been defined by a lack of respect for the rule of law and the further erosion of the public\u2019s trust in President Obama\u2019s administration,\u201d Rep. Scalise said. \u201cAttorney General Holder engaged in political activism and abused the power of his office. I urge President Obama to take this opportunity of Holder\u2019s resignation to restore fairness and accountability to his administration by nominating someone who will carry out the responsibilities of this important office in a fair and impartial manner.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140926001643/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-epas-incomplete-pesticides-analysis-is-killing-ruston-peach-farm", "Vitter: EPAs Incomplete Pesticides Analysis is Killing Ruston Peach Farm", "2014-09-22", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: EPA\u2019s Incomplete Pesticides Analysis is Killing Ruston Peach Farm\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tEPA phases out certain pesticides without providing cost-efficient, effective alternatives. EPA\u2019s ineptitude has likely killed a Louisiana peach farm.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 22, 2014\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 Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regarding the growing negative agricultural and economic impacts due to the Agency\u2019s inappropriately calculated risks and benefits for certain pesticides.\n\u201cJust in the last decade, one of Louisiana\u2019s iconic peach farms has steadily watched the family orchard die thanks to EPA phasing out methyl bromide in pesticides without providing a cost-effective or equally efficient alternative,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cPeaches are a huge part of North Louisiana\u2019s economy and culture, and the EPA needs to provide answers immediately about their failings.\u201d\nIn Vitter\u2019s letter, he highlights a family peach farm in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana that has been devastated as the EPA has continued to wind down the use of a critical pesticide. The orchard has shrunk by 80% over the last decade. Despite efforts to find an appropriate replacement for methyl bromide, thus far attempts have failed and both the orchard and livelihood of many Louisianians are in jeopardy. In today\u2019s letter, Vitter asks EPA to explain the process behind which they grant farmers and businesses critical use exemptions to use pesticides such as methyl bromide for which there are often no commercially or economically viable alternatives.\nText of today\u2019s letter is below.\n  September 22, 2014\nThe Honorable Gina McCarthy  Administrator  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20460\n  Dear Administrator McCarthy:\nIt has recently been brought to my attention that significant concerns exist regarding EPA\u2019s permissible use of methyl bromide under the Critical Use Exemption (CUE) program. I understand that pursuant to the Montreal Protocol there has been a long-term scheduled phase-out of ozone depleting substances including methyl bromide. While I do not intend to argue the merits of ozone restoration, I do have concerns that the lack of appropriately calculating risks and benefits for CUE allocations is having growing negative agricultural and economic impacts in a number of regions around the country.\nAs the primary sources of methyl bromide are oceans and biomass burning, along with the consideration that methyl bromide has a very short life in the atmosphere, there does appear to be a legitimate question as to whether additional phase-outs of the remaining limited uses will result in any significant material benefits towards ozone restoration. Moreover, my understanding of the natural sinks that absorb methyl bromide indicates that scientific understanding is not complete. The clear impacts felt regionally, particularly to the domestic agriculture industry, serve as important notice to the challenges of replacing certain products of critical importance and may provide an example of why decision-making should evolve along with scientific understanding.\nThe challenges of applying for and acquiring CUEs for methyl bromide has had a profound impact on a number of industries, peach farming in Louisiana is unfortunately a good example. In Lincoln Parish, one of Louisiana\u2019s iconic farms has steadily watched the family orchard die off as the EPA has continued to wind down the use of methyl bromide. The orchard has shrunk by 80% over the last decade and threatens the annual Peach Festival, which draws thousands of visitors each year. Despite feverish efforts to find an appropriate replacement for methyl bromide, thus far attempts have failed and both the orchard and the festival, along with the livelihood of many Louisianians are in jeopardy.\nMy understanding is that the primary objection to the process being used by EPA to evaluate requests for CUEs is that the government does not perform an objective analysis of the need for the product \u2013 including taking into account often serious economic impacts.. Essentially, the level of information that the EPA is requiring an applicant to furnish in support of their CUE overwhelms the capabilities of most regular Americans including farmers. Further, when an application is submitted, the general sense seems to be that EPA can be counted on to assert any number of excuses including that it is not sufficient or complete, or the EPA of course forms different conclusions than the researchers regarding the research that is conducted. Finally, it appears EPA has suggested alternatives that often cost multiple times more than methyl bromide and frequently those replacements either lack technical feasibility or have potential to be even more harmful to the environment.\nPerhaps the Montreal Protocol\u2019s stricture in permissible use of methyl bromide can serve as an example of the need to provide member countries the flexibility to better calculate impacts on domestic businesses and families when entering into international agreements, and to provide appropriate off ramps when necessity observes. In the interim to a long-term fix to the growing challenges with the methyl bromide phase-out, I would appreciate responses to the following questions:\n1. How many CUE applications has EPA denied and accepted over the last five years?\n2. What replacement products for methyl bromide have been developed, how do the costs and availability of those replacements compare to methyl bromide, and how has EPA worked to get the information on those products in the hands of farmers?\n3. How has EPA\u2019s science on methyl bromide evolved over the last ten years?\n4. Has EPA done anything to simplify the application process over the last five years?\n5. If not cost-benefit analysis, or risk-benefit analysis, what analysis does EPA utilize to determine the need for a CUE?\nI appreciate your response to these questions as I work to better understand the impacts of the Montreal Protocol and the implementation of the phase-out program.\nThank you,\nDavid Vitter  Ranking Member  Committee on Environment and Public Works", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140926001646/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-says-administration-giving-illegal-aliens-free-pass-on-obamacare", "Vitter Says Administration Giving Illegal Aliens Free Pass on Obamacare", "2014-09-22", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Says Administration Giving Illegal Aliens Free Pass on Obamacare\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 22, 2014\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 highlighting significant inconsistencies with the Obama Administration\u2019s current policy allowing illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer funded Obamacare benefits. Vitter sent a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), demanding answers. CMS is supposed to be reviewing immigration related inconsistencies, but Vitter believes they are taking too long.\n\u201cThe Obama Administration is bending over backwards to give Obamacare to illegal immigrants \u2013 but won\u2019t protect hard working American citizens who are losing their health care coverage,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe Obama administration has been granting deadline extensions, making excuses, and turning a blind eye to falsified documents by illegal immigrants. Enough is enough, and they need to provide answers to why they think illegal immigrants should be eligible for Obamacare.\u201d\nVitter recently offered The Employee Health Care Protection Act which would allow healthcare plans currently available on the group market under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to continue to be offered through 2018. Senate Democrats blocked the legislation that the House has already passed 247 to 167.\nCMS outlined a Sept. 5, 2014 deadline for roughly 310,000 people to respond to requests for documentation or face coverage terminations at the end of the month. As of Aug. 28, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that only 70,000 people of the 310,000 had responded to requests for information.\nHHS officials also said that a firm date has not been established for when coverage termination notices related to immigration would be sent. The department also has yet to act in a similar way on income-related inconsistencies. Although CMS said it was sticking to the Sept. 5 deadline to submit necessary immigration documents, the agency also established a 60-day special enrollment periods for those unable to get the documents in on time.\nThe text of the letter is below.\nMarilyn Tavenner  Administrator  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services  Department of Health and Human Services  7500 Security Boulevard  Baltimore, MD 21244\nDear Administrator Tavenner,\nI write with serious concerns regarding Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance sent to issuers on August 13, 2014 which creates a separate, special enrollment period for individuals who failed to take actions to resolve inconsistencies related to their eligibility for taxpayer funded subsidies under Obamacare.\nIn the CMS guidance, you outlined a September 5th deadline for consumers with unresolved immigration-related inconsistencies to submit necessary documents or lose their coverage and potentially repay subsidies already issued. To further undermine the original deadline of March 31, 2014 for submitting personal information to claim health care subsidies for coverage, CMS quietly established a special enrollment period giving those who have yet to comply with the law an additional 60 day extension.\nThis latest extension to resolve inconsistencies within the 90-day required in statute sheds doubt on the Administration\u2019s commitment to ensure taxpayer funded credits are issued to eligible citizens of the United States. Given the urgency to resolve these inconsistencies before the next enrollment period, I ask that you answer the following questions by no later than October 1, 2014.\n1. What steps has CMS taken to communicate to individuals with immigration related consistencies? Specifically, what information did you request from them to resolve such issues?\n2. What is the internal verification process CMS is using to validate information?\n3. How long will the review process of these 310,000 applications take? Do you expect to resolve these issues prior to the next enrollment period starting November 15, 2014?\n4. Will the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) store this documentation? If so, what security measures will be taken to protect personal information?\n5. How many applications with immigration-related inconsistencies resulted from a computer malfunction on healthcare.gov?\n6. How many applications with immigration-related inconsistencies were from individuals who are illegal immigrants residing in the United States?\n7. If an individual\u2019s self-attested information fails to match federal data resources, will there be repercussions for falsifying documents to a government agency? Does CMS plan on sharing this information with other agencies that would enforce 18 U.S. Code Section 1001?\n8. In August, the Department of Treasury issued a notice stating individuals receiving advanced payment tax credits to offset the cost of their exchange plans will be responsible for repaying the government should they be found ineligible. If an individual is deemed ineligible due to their immigration status, how does the Administration plan on receiving these funds from a person who is technically undocumented and therefore, illegally residing in the United States and may not have a tax identification number or bank account?\nIt is critical as the Administration moves forward into Obamacare\u2019s second enrollment period that CMS dramatically improves the verification process in determining eligibility for taxpayer funded subsidies. Last year was nothing short of a disaster and as a result the Administration continues to bend the rules for people who did not comply with the law in the first place, with an exorbitant cost to the U.S. taxpayer. With millions of Americans losing their plans on the individual market and potentially millions more losing insurance on the small group markets in 2015, CMS has a responsibility to correctly issue credits to eligible Americans.\nSincerely,\nDavid Vitter  United States Senate", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-smart-energy-policy-equates-more-jobs-and-healthy-economy", "Scalise: A Smart Energy Policy Equates to More Jobs and a Healthy Economy", "2014-09-18", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement regarding House passage of the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs & More American Jobs Act (H.R. 2) and the Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4).\n\u201cOver the course of this Congress, the House has remained focused on delivering real solutions for the American people and getting our economy moving again,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cIn fact, the House has passed over 370 bills \u2013 many of which will create jobs and grow the economy \u2013 that are now collecting dust in Harry Reid\u2019s Senate.\n\u201cAs the representative of a region with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, I understand that a smart energy policy equates to more jobs and a healthy economy. The American people are hungry for a strong national energy policy that increases production here at home and reduces our dependence on Middle Eastern countries who don\u2019t like us.\n\u201cToday\u2019s votes in the House took critical steps toward increasing our energy independence and getting the American economy back on track. It starts with smart policy like the Keystone XL pipeline \u2013 a project that has been sitting on the president's desk for six years while 40,000 jobs hang in the balance. It opens up areas rich in natural resources that are currently closed right due to radical policies, off the coasts of places like Virginia, Alaska and even Louisiana. By enacting these reforms, hardworking families struggling in this economy will see lower prices of gas at the pump and lower costs for groceries at the store. The American people can\u2019t afford any more Senate inaction. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly take up these commonsense bills to increase American energy production and spur job growth.\u201d\nEarlier today, Rep. Scalise took to the House floor to speak in support of H.R. 2. \u200eClick HERE to watch the video.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/nicole-gustafson-lead-whip-office-conservative-coalitions-outreach", "Nicole Gustafson to Lead Whip Office Conservative Coalitions Outreach", "2014-09-17", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) has tapped Legislative Counsel Nicole Gustafson to spearhead the office\u2019s conservative coalitions outreach.\n\u201cNicole is committed to advancing the conservative principles that make America great,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cI look forward to working with Nicole to build lasting partnerships with organizations that share our conservative values to help develop and pass bold conservative solutions for American families as we work to move our country forward.\u201d\nGustafson\u2019s announcement was praised by prominent conservative organizations.\n\u201cNicole Gustafson has been a strategic voice for conservatives in her many roles on Capitol Hill,\u201d said Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council.\u00a0\u201cHer tireless advocacy for policy solutions that reflect conservative beliefs on social, fiscal and national defense policy underscores her commitment to conservatism.\u00a0Nicole is a friend to all of those who love and cherish faith, family and freedom.\u00a0We at Family Research Council look forward to continuing to work with her and Majority Whip Scalise to advance policies that benefit the American family.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cNicole Gustafson is a talented coalitions builder who has worked tirelessly with the SBA List throughout the years to advance commonsense legislation that saves unborn children and protects mothers,\u201d said Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Susan B. Anthony List. \u201cWe look forward to continue working with Nicole and Majority Whip Scalise to pass laws that save lives.\u201d\n\u201cWe are so glad to hear that Nicole Gustafson will be working in the House leadership to build bridges and coordinate with pro-life groups,\u201d said Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO for Americans United for Life. \u201cWe are really looking forward to working with Nicole toward building an America where every person is welcomed in life and protected in law.\u201d\n\"Nicole Gustafson is a veteran of many pro-life legislative battles, and we hold her in\u00a0the highest regard,\u201d said Douglas Johnson, Legislative Director for National Right to Life Committee. \u201cNational Right to Life looks forward to collaborating with Majority Whip Scalise, Nicole, and the entire leadership team, to continue to advance pro-life public policy goals.\"\n\u201cNicole is a fighter with a good strategic mind,\u201d said Ed Corrigan, of the Heritage Foundation.\u00a0\u201cShe is well respected in the Conservative Movement and will be a vital asset to the Whip team advancing our principles.\u201d\nNicole joined the Office of the Majority Whip after working for former Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as Chief Counsel.\u00a0Prior to working in House leadership, Nicole served as Policy Director for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and previously with the Senate Judiciary Committee as Counsel to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). She began her career on Capitol Hill as Legislative Counsel to Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) before joining the Pro-Life Caucus.\u00a0Nicole is a graduate of William Penn University and she received her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/whip-scalise-statement-house-passage-continuing-resolution", "Whip Scalise Statement on House Passage of a Continuing Resolution", "2014-09-17", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement regarding the House passage of a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through mid-December at current spending levels.\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote demonstrates the House\u2019s commitment to keeping the government open for business, defending our homeland, and supporting a strong national defense,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cThe debate and discussion we have had as a conference over the past two weeks has brought us closer together in appreciation that we will continue to work hard to represent our districts and protect this country we love so much. My colleagues and I pushed to have a separate vote on the ISIL language because we felt the authorization request from the president deserved its own debate separately from the other components in the CR.\n\u201cWith passage of this bill today, we have sent a clear message to the president that we will not blindly accept whatever legislation this administration forces upon us. We wrote this on our terms, and the entire House came together to pass it. I hope the Senate will move quickly to pass this important legislation so we can get it on the president\u2019s desk.\u201d\nPrior to the passage of the continuing resolution, Rep. Scalise took to the House floor to speak in support of the ISIL amendment. \u200eClick HERE to watch the video.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/another-day-another-obamacare-broken-promise", "Another Day, Another Obamacare Broken Promise", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement regarding a new report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirming that, despite President Obama\u2019s repeated promises to the contrary, taxpayer dollars are being spent on abortion under the Affordable Care Act.\n\"Many of us argued at the time Obamacare passed that it would funnel taxpayer dollars to elective abortions, despite President Obama\u2019s repeated broken promises to the contrary. This independent report validates our claims and proves that yet another Obamacare promise has been broken,\u201d Scalise said. \"The administration should be held accountable for this, the most recent in a string of Obamacare broken promises to the American people. Earlier this year, the House passed bipartisan legislation to codify the Hyde Amendment, prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion. I urge the Senate to do its job and pass the House\u2019s bipartisan legislation that will protect the lives of mothers and their children.\"\nHouse Republican leadership requested the GAO report last December. The House of Representatives in January passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act (H.R. 7) with bipartisan support. The Senate is yet to take action on H.R. 7.\nRead the complete report online here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140918202642/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-new-report-shows-obamacare-funds-used-for-abortions", "Vitter: New Report Shows Obamacare Funds Used for Abortions", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: New Report Shows Obamacare Funds Used for Abortions\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, September 16, 2014\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 said a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) exposes widespread taxpayer-funded abortion coverage under Obamacare. According to the report, taxpayer funding is going toward over 1,000 health insurance plans that include abortion even though such funding is illegal under the law.\n\u201cIt\u2019s tragic and completely unacceptable that this funding is going towards abortions,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt should come as no surprise that President Obama and Democrats in Congress would mislead the American people about yet another aspect of Obamacare \u2013 but this time it comes at the expense of millions of unborn children.\u201d\nAt Vitter\u2019s request, the GAO is investigating the use of federal funding allocated to Planned Parenthood and other specific organizations that perform abortions. Vitter along with Reps. Diane Black (R-TN) and Pete Olson (R-TX) requested the investigation in February 2013.\nIn 2012, Planned Parenthood performed a record 327,166 abortions and received $540 million in taxpayer funding \u2013 nearly $1.5 million per day in the form of government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements. Vitter has legislation that would end taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140918204225/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-urges-vote-to-allow-americans-to-keep-healthcare-plans", "Vitter Urges Vote to Allow Americans to Keep Healthcare Plans", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Urges Vote to Allow Americans to Keep Healthcare Plans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRep. Bill Cassidy passed same bill through the House last week\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, September 16, 2014\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 called on the Senate to vote on legislation introduced by Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and passed by the House of Representatives last week. The Employee Health Care Protection Act would allow healthcare plans currently available on the group market under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to continue to be offered through 2018. The House passed the legislation 247 to 167.\n\u201cMillions of Americans have been losing healthcare coverage and struggling to find new policies under Obamacare. While Washington created a special exemption for Members of Congress to keep their Obamacare subsidy, the rest of America deserves to be able to keep the insurance they like \u2013 just like President Obama and Democrats in Congress promised,\u201d Vitter said.\nThe Employee Health Care Protection Act would give small businesses and their employees the option to choose non-ACA compliant plans, giving them access to more affordable options that can better meet their needs than what is available today and more affordable coverage than what is available today under the President\u2019s health care law. It would also ensure that Americans enrolled in these health plans would not face a penalty under Obamacare\u2019s individual mandate. Last year, 93,000 Louisianans received notice that their health insurance plan had been cancelled. The employer mandate will be kicking in for small and large businesses across the state in a few months, and thousands more Louisiana families are expected to get notice that they cannot keep their health plan.\nThe non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed that this legislation would lower the deficit by $1.25 billion, provide more health plan options with lower premiums, and raise wages for American workers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140918204228/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-senators-to-itc-protect-american-steel-producers-from-unfair-foreign-trade-practices", "Vitter, Senators to ITC: Protect American Steel Producers from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices", "2014-09-15", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter, Senators to ITC: Protect American Steel Producers from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 15, 2014\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 joined a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on the International Trade Commission (ITC) to protect U.S. steel producers from foreign subsidies and unfair trade practices. The steel rebar industry has struggled to compete against imported rebar from Turkey and Mexico that flood the U.S. market through unfair trade practices.\n\"Unfair trade practices could lead to a decrease in demand for our steel made here in America, and that could mean cuts in jobs and pay for Louisianians and other folks across the country in the steel industry,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cFor example, Nucor Corporation just built a major facility in St. James Parish, and we want them to continue as a leader in the industry. Our American workers should be the first to get new business when we build infrastructure here at home \u2013 not foreign countries that cheat the system.\u201d\nVitter signed on to a letter led by Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) and signed by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Al Franken (D-MN), Dick Durbin (IL), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO).\nThe senators\u2019 full letter to Chairman Broadbent is below.\nDear Chairman Broadbent:\nWe are writing to express support for the U.S. steel reinforcing bar (\u201crebar\u201d) producers and their workers, and to encourage the International Trade Commission to ensure that foreign subsidies and dumping are prevented from causing additional injury to an already weakened industry.\nAs the Commission is aware, rebar is used primarily by the construction industry to strengthen concrete structures and is an essential component of American infrastructure. The domestic industry should be benefitting from the modest recovery in construction demand in the wake of the recession. Instead, the industry has faced a continuous onslaught of unfairly traded imports which has had a negative impact on rebar producers and their families.\nSince 2010, these imports have flooded the U.S. market at the direct expense of U.S. producers, who have seen their share of the market drop dramatically. Capacity utilization rates are at historically low levels \u2013 near 60 percent \u2013 and production levels have yet to recover from the recession. Profitability has collapsed and returns on investment have been inadequate. Indeed, conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that some U.S. producers have been forced to close production, while others have had to lay off workers, slash hours, and cut pay to stay afloat.\nThe U.S. rebar industry is a major segment of the U.S. steel industry with over seven million tons of production a year. The industry employs thousands of direct rebar workers in several dozen states, and supports tens of thousands of additional jobs throughout the country. These jobs are in jeopardy.\nOn behalf of the U.S. rebar industry and the workers and their families who depend on the full and fair enforcement of our trade laws for their survival, we urge you to give careful consideration to their arguments regarding investigations involving Turkey and Mexico. It is essential that foreign subsidies and dumping be addressed in order to prevent further harm to the U.S. rebar industry and the unwarranted loss of American jobs.\nThank you in advance for your time and consideration of this critical issue.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/house-majority-whip-scalises-reaction-president-obamas-address-isil", "House Majority Whip Scalise's Reaction to President Obama's Address on ISIL", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0- House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following reaction to President Obama's Address on ISIL.\n\"Tonight we heard the president address the actions he intends to take to confront ISIL and the threat they pose to our nation.\nI have been concerned about the threat that ISIL poses to America\u2019s national security for some time now, and look forward to discussing with my colleagues in the House the best plan of action to address this serious terrorist threat.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-remembers-victims-attacks-september-11-2001", "Scalise Remembers the Victims of the Attacks on September 11,  2001", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding the anniversary of 9/11.\n\u201cThirteen years ago, in an attempt to break our spirit and fracture us as a nation, terrorists carried out the deadliest terror attack on American soil in history,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cLittle did they know that the American people would emerge from the attacks more unified and with a strengthened resolve to combat any threat against our nation. We continue to live in a dangerous world, faced with enemies wanting to destroy the American way of life. Congress has a commitment to defend our homeland, and we will uphold that promise by remaining vigilant, determined, and unified in our support of a strong national defense. Today we pause to remember the 3,000 innocent men, women and children who lost their lives on that tragic day, and we pray for their families and loved ones.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/whip-scalise-votes-uphold-presidents-broken-promise", "Whip Scalise Votes to Uphold President's Broken Promise", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Whip Scalise Votes to Uphold President's Broken Promise                     Millions of hard-working people nationwide are faced with cancelations, higher prices, and fewer options                      \n              Sep 11, 2014      \t\t  Issues: Health Care      \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today voted for legislation that would in part uphold President Obama\u2019s broken promise that, \u201cif you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. Period.\u201d The Employee Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 3522) allows health insurance plans currently offered on the group market to continue to be offered.\n\u201cHard-working taxpayers are experiencing first-hand the devastating impact of President Obama\u2019s failed health care law,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cDespite the president\u2019s repeated promise to the contrary, millions of hard-working people nationwide are experiencing cancelations, higher prices, and fewer options. Last year, the House took action to help Americans losing their health insurance in the individual market. Today\u2019s legislation will bring peace of mind to the millions of Americans and their families who have health insurance they like.\nAs the clock ticks down on my colleagues in the Senate, I urge them to quickly pass this critical legislation. I would like to commend my good friend and colleague Dr. Bill Cassidy for introducing this bill to uphold the president\u2019s broken promise to the American people that they can keep the good health care plans that they have and like.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912000633/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/icymi-vitter-pushes-reform-legislation-on-senate-floor", "ICYMI: Vitter Pushes Reform Legislation on Senate Floor", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "ICYMI: Vitter Pushes Reform Legislation on Senate Floor\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAs Senate Democrats continue to push their legislation to amend the Constitution and limit rights protected under the First Amendment, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today spoke on the Senate floor on reform legislation he\u2019s pushing. Vitter introduced his \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare\u201d legislation as an amendment to the Senate Democrats\u2019 proposal, S.J. Res. 19, which would require all Members of Congress, all Congressional staff, the President, Vice-President, and all political appointees within the administration to purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange and receive the same amount of financial support from tax credits or subsidies as any American would outside of Washington. He also spoke in support of establishing term limits in Congress.\n\u201cAmericans of all backgrounds think that Washington is on a different planet, and Members of Congress just don\u2019t get it,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cWe need to get back to the best traditions of our democracy \u2013 including electing citizen legislators and making sure that legislators don\u2019t put themselves into a separate ruling class.\u201d\nClick here to watch Vitter\u2019s remarks today.\nVitter has fought to get a vote on his legislation since introducing it in May of 2013, and most recently in July; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has blocked each of his attempts. Vitter also introduced his legislation in April as an amendment to legislation, but Reid pulled the bill from the floor before it could get a vote. However, Reid did agree to give Vitter a vote in the future.\nVitter is also the lead author of legislation to establish term limits for members of Congress. His legislation would create a constitutional amendment that limits Senators and Congressmen to three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two in the U.S. Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912000658/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-gets-calcasieu-river-lock-issue-resolved-will-increase-barge-and-boat-traffic-", "Vitter Gets Calcasieu River Lock Issue Resolved, Will Increase Barge & Boat Traffic", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Gets Calcasieu River Lock Issue Resolved, Will Increase Barge & Boat Traffic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Lake Charles, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, today announced that he has resolved an issue affecting the Calcasieu Saltwater Barrier that will increase waterway traffic. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had previously restricted lock hours that hindered recreational and commercial traffic on the Calcasieu River. Vitter was able to increase the lock hours of operation in legislation he passed earlier this year.\n\u201cSouthwest Louisiana is experiencing some incredible growth, and we need to make sure our waterways can accommodate the positive increase in water traffic,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe oil and gas industry is a real engine for the local economy, and we need to make sure that recreational and commercial boats and barges can move up and down the river to service the industry.\u201d\nVitter wrote specific language in Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to ensure that locals had an opportunity to better manage Federal structures on their waterway. Despite the objections of affected businesses and recreational users, the Corps unilaterally decreased lock hours of operation for the Calcasieu Saltwater Barrier. Vitter worked with local officials to find a solution by changing how the Corps can work with non-federal partners to properly fund the operation of inland waterway structures. The Corps officially signed the cooperative agreement this morning.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912000700/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-final-approval-issued-for-cameron-lng-project-in-hackberry", "Vitter: Final Approval Issued for Cameron LNG Project in Hackberry", "2014-09-10", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Final Approval Issued for Cameron LNG Project in Hackberry\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 10, 2014\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 announced that the Department of Energy is issuing the final authorization approval for the Cameron Liquefaction Project in Hackberry, Louisiana, which will be able to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.\n\u201cThe Cameron LNG project is a prime example of the economic growth and opportunities available in Louisiana and across our country when we harness our energy resources,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cNatural gas is arguably the brightest spot in our otherwise weak economy, and moving forward with Cameron LNG will provide thousands of jobs in Louisiana and contribute to more affordable and reliable energy for all Americans.\nIn February, Cameron LNG (liquefied natural gas) received conditional approval by the Department of Energy (DOE). It received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC) in June.\nThe project is the sixth approved by DOE for non-FTA exports and is the third project in Louisiana. The project will create 3,000 jobs during construction and more than 1,300 jobs in Louisiana in the next four years.\nOn January 22, 2014 Vitter visited Cheniere Energy, Inc. to address job creation and the importance of natural gas production. Vitter has been pushing the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to keep both the Cameron LNG and Cheniere Energy, Inc. projects moving forward. Click here to read more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912000704/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-are-1275-illegal-immigrant-children-starting-school-in-louisiana", "Vitter: Are 1,275 Illegal Immigrant Children Starting School in Louisiana?", "2014-09-10", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Are 1,275 Illegal Immigrant Children Starting School in Louisiana?\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 10, 2014\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.) reached out to John White, Louisiana Superintendent of Education, regarding the state\u2019s ability to handle the influx of the 1,275 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) relocated to Louisiana. Vitter has said the influx is a direct result of the Obama Administration\u2019s policies.\n\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s policies created this illegal immigration mess in Louisiana, and the school system should not be left to clean it up,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThis could potentially cause a huge financial burden for the state, and for no reason except the Obama Administration is completely inept at enforcing immigration laws and securing our border.\u201d\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a minimum of 1,275 UACs have been relocated to Louisiana, which puts the state among the top 10 states that have received relocated children.\nVitter has been calling out the Obama Administration for its practices of assisting foreign children being smuggled into the country illegally without penalizing their parents. Vitter has legislation to implement mandatory detention and expedited removal. He has also asked DHS how many times this practice has occurred. Click here to read more.\nVitter is the Chairman of the Senate Border Security Caucus.\nBelow is the text of Vitter\u2019s letter to White today.\n  September 10, 2014\nJohn White  Louisiana Department of Education  1201 North Third Street  Baton Rouge, LA 70802\nDear Superintendent White:\nI wanted to bring to your attention a very important and timely issue that could have a major impact on this school year. According to a recent response I received from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a minimum of 1,275 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have been relocated with sponsors in Louisiana. This places Louisiana in the top 10 of states receiving UACs relocated by the Obama Administration. Below you will find a breakdown of the number of UACs received by parish.\nThis massive and sudden influx of children has the potential to cause significant challenges for the upcoming school year. To begin with, these children were brought here illegally and in most cases, were part of a human smuggling operation. Often, these children were abused physically, sexually, and most certainly emotionally. In addition, nearly all of these children do not speak English, and in some cases, do not even speak Spanish. The trauma this vulnerable group faced will surely leave lasting scars and the lack of language skills coupled with their illegal immigration status will pose significant challenges in educating these UACs.\nEast Baton Rouge 173  Jefferson Parish 533  Lafayette Parish 51  Orleans Parish 237  St. Tammany Parish 54\nIn an effort to better grasp any impact the relocation of these children will have on the education system in Louisiana, I ask that you answer the following questions:\n(1) For the 2014-2015 school year what is the average state contribution that will be given to school districts to assist in the cost of educating students?  (2) For the same year, what is the total average cost of educating students in each of the five parishes mentioned above?   (3) Will each of these students be taken into account when calculating the amount of state funding that will be given to each impacted school district for the 2014-2015 school year?  (4) Will the state or local educational agencies receive additional Federal funding to assist in educating these students?  (5) What is the additional cost in providing English as a second language classes to these students? Particularly to students who speak neither English nor Spanish?  (6) How will the addition of these students affect class sizes in each of these districts?  (7) Will the addition of these students necessitate hiring an additional faculty member so as not to heavily impact class sizes?\nThank you for your time and consideration in answering these questions. I look forward to receiving your responses.\nSincerely,\n  David Vitter  U.S. Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/whip-scalise-condemns-president-unlawful-terror-transfer", "Whip Scalise Condemns President for Unlawful Terror Transfer", "2014-09-09", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement following the House passage of a bipartisan resolution condemning President Obama for the release of five Taliban terrorists without Congressional approval, which was in clear violation of the law. \u00a0\n\u201cWhen President Obama transferred five high-risk terrorists from Guantanamo Bay without Congressional notification, he did so in clear violation of both the Antideficiency Act and the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cThe president\u2019s desire to ignore and rewrite our nation\u2019s laws threaten the delicate system of checks and balances that exists between the branches of our government and the separation of powers critical to the success of our great democracy. Worse than breaking the law, the reckless actions of the president opened the door for the released terrorists to return to the battlefield, putting the American people and our homeland directly at risk. I commend Congressman Scott Riggell and Chairman Buck McKeon for their leadership in holding President Obama and his lawlessness accountable to the American people we represent.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/whip-scalise-statement-house-passage-legislation-stop-executive-power-grab", "Whip Scalise Statement on House Passage of Legislation to Stop Executive Power Grab", "2014-09-09", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today released the following statement regarding the House passage of bipartisan legislation to block the Obama administration from implementing a proposed rule to unilaterally expand the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill passed the House 262-152.\n\u201cAs part of the EPA's radical overreach, the Obama Administration wants to expand the definition of \u2018navigable waterways\u2019 to include every drainage ditch, backyard pond and puddle \u2013 a move that threatens the ability of farmers and landowners alike to make decisions regarding their private property,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cIf allowed to move forward, this near-limitless extremist regulation will be the catalyst for higher prices, costly litigation and the loss of more American jobs. The\u00a0continued abuses, overreach and\u00a0attempted power grabs from the Obama EPA is unacceptable. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly and pass this much-needed legislation to protect hard-working taxpayers. I applaud Congressman Steve Southerland for introducing this critical bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-white-house-immigration-delay", "Scalise Statement on White House Immigration Delay", "2014-09-08", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement regarding President Obama\u2019s decision to delay his unilateral executive action to overhaul the immigration system until after the November elections.\n\u00a0\n\u201cOnce again, President Obama is playing political games to protect his liberal friends in November by using sleight of hand to temporarily hide his radical agenda from the American people,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cThe president needs to abandon his attempt to issue blanket amnesty by executive order, and instead focus on securing the border as the House already did. Border security is a critical national security issue, and President Obama should stop using immigration as a political tool during election time, and instead work in a bipartisan way to solve this problem and secure the border. The decision to delay is a blatant admission that this is not just the wrong policy for the president\u2019s liberal friends, but for the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912000737/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-introduces-no-obamacare-exemption-as-amendment-to-senate-democrats-campaign-legislation-", "Vitter Introduces No Obamacare Exemption as Amendment to Senate Democrats Campaign Legislation", "2014-09-08", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Introduces \u201cNo Obamacare Exemption\u201d as Amendment to Senate Democrats\u2019 Campaign Legislation \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 8, 2014\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 introduced his \u201cNo Washington Exemption from Obamacare\u201d legislation as an amendment to S.J. Res. 19, the Senate Democrats\u2019 proposal to amend the Constitution and allow Congress to set limits on campaign contributions. Vitter\u2019s legislation would require all Members of Congress, all Congressional staff, the President, Vice-President, and all political appointees within the administration to purchase their health insurance on the Obamacare Exchange and receive the same amount of financial support from tax credits or subsidies as any American would outside of Washington.\n\u201cSenate Democrats are unbelievably out of touch with reality. Instead of focusing on big problems like the rising costs of healthcare, the border crisis or foreign policy, they\u2019re inventing a campaign issue \u2013 just two months before an election,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIf Washington has to experience Obamacare like the rest of America, maybe they\u2019ll get their act together and focus on all the problems with it. Instead Harry Reid and Senate Democrats only want to try and change the constitution, which they think will help them stay in office \u2013 and continue collecting their special Obamacare subsidy.\u201d\nVitter has fought to get a vote on his legislation since introducing it in May of 2013, and most recently in July; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has blocked each of his attempts. Vitter also introduced his legislation in April as an amendment to legislation, but Reid pulled the bill from the floor before it could get a vote. However, Reid did agree to give Vitter a vote in the future.\nCurrently members of Congress and their staff members are still eligible to receive taxpayer funded subsidies ($5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for a family) to pay for their health care. Those same subsidies are not available to any other American.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912001338/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-senate-needs-to-bring-up-house-immigration-enforcement-bills", "Vitter: Senate Needs to Bring up House Immigration Enforcement Bills", "2014-09-08", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Senate Needs to Bring up House Immigration Enforcement Bills\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 8, 2014\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 called on Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to bring legislation passed through the House of Representatives to enforce immigration law to a vote in the Senate. President Obama announced last week that he will defer any action on immigration until after the midterm elections. Vitter called on Reid last month to bring the Senate back into session to address the border crisis.\n\u201cObama's balk on an executive amnesty for illegal immigrants does not change the fact that Harry Reid needs to bring up the House-passed enforcement bills,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cI'll continue fighting against amnesty every day, and also working to actually enforce our immigration laws and secure our border.\u201d\nVitter has been calling out the administration for its practices of assisting foreign children being smuggled into the country illegally without penalizing their parents. Vitter has legislation to implement mandatory detention and expedited removal. He has also asked DHS how many times this practice has occurred. Click here to read more.\nVitter is the Chairman of the Senate Border Security Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912001349/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-disappointed-in-sec-decision-will-continue-fighting-to-help-stanford-ponzi-victims", "Vitter Disappointed in SEC Decision, Will Continue Fighting to Help Stanford Ponzi Victims", "2014-09-08", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Disappointed in SEC Decision, Will Continue Fighting to Help Stanford Ponzi Victims\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, September 8, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Baton Rouge, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) spoke out against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for not appealing a court decision which ruled that thousands of victims of the Stanford Ponzi scheme were ineligible to file claims to recoup their losses.\n\u201cIt's disappointing the SEC would just give up, but I\u2019m going to make sure that they stay committed to helping the Stanford Ponzi scheme victims get compensated.\u201d\nIn May, Vitter met with Stanford Ponzi scheme victims in Baton Rouge to discuss his efforts to push Sharon Bowen, the acting chairman of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), to revisit their decision not to compensate victims.\nVitter has urged President Obama to nominate new members to SIPC, which has a record of protecting investors. SIPC is the organization that has blocked compensation for the Stanford Ponzi scheme victims.\nIn November 2013, Vitter introduced the bipartisan \u201cRestoring Main Street Investor Protection and Confidence Act of 2013\u201d which would reform how the SEC and 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.\nVitter has tirelessly pushed SIPC to revisit its decision not to compensate victims of the Stanford Ponzi Scheme. Vitter provided evidence to SIPC that they never considered, and because there was a clear directive to compensate the victims, SIPC still needs to revisit the case. Vitter led the opposition and nearly defeated the former SIPC chair, Sharon Bowen\u2019s, nomination to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Click here to read more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-lauds-bp-court-ruling", "Scalise Lauds BP Court Ruling", "2014-09-04", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today lauded a federal judge\u2019s ruling that BP bears the majority of responsibility for the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.\u00a0This decision is a key step in determining the total amount of fines owed under the Clean Water Act \u2013 80 percent of which will be directed to\u00a0Gulf Coast states for the purposes of ecosystem and economic recovery.\n\u201cToday\u2019s ruling is a crucial step forward as we work to secure RESTORE Act funds for the people of Louisiana,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cI'm encouraged that Judge Barbier agrees that BP was grossly negligent in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and it is time for BP to reach an agreement that allows the families and communities affected to finally repair the damage that was done. The people of south Louisiana have waited long enough. I urge the court to move forward in an expeditious manner so that Gulf States like Louisiana can restore our coast, as we established in the RESTORE Act passed by Congress.\u201d\nIn a ruling released today, U.S. Circuit Judge Carl Barbier determined BP to bear the majority of responsibility for the Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010, citing their \u201cgross negligence\u201d and \u201creckless\u201d practices in the lead up to the spill.\u00a0Under the Clean Water Act, BP may now face fines up to $4,300 per barrel of spilled oil totaling $17.6 billion in fines.\nLast month,\u00a0the\u00a0U.S. Treasury Department issued an Interim Final Rule allowing for Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, to begin\u00a0applying for grants from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. Scalise also met with members of the Coalition for Coastal Resilience &\u00a0Economy to discuss effective ways Louisiana can best implement coastal restoration projects throughout Louisiana when utilizing the RESTORE Act funds.\u00a0\nSpecifically, the RESTORE Act, which Scalise championed through the U.S. House of Representatives and was then signed into law July 6, 2012,\u00a0directs 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster to Gulf Coast states for the purposes of ecosystem and economic recovery. Earlier this year, Scalise joined his Louisiana congressional colleagues Senator David Vitter and Congressman Bill Cassidy to\u00a0push\u00a0U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to expedite the\u00a0rule-making process so that RESTORE funds could be disbursed quickly.\u00a0In November of 2013, Scalise submitted comments to the U.S. Treasury on the proposed regulations governing the use of RESTORE funds. On the one-year anniversary of the passage of the RESTORE Act, Scalise authored an\u00a0op-ed\u00a0emphasizing the importance of specifically utilizing these funds for the purpose of preserving eroding wetlands and coastline.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140904235901/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-comments-on-judge-ruling-that-bp-was-grossly-negligent-in-deepwater-horizon", "Vitter Comments on Judge Ruling That BP was Grossly Negligent in Deepwater Horizon", "2014-09-04", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Comments on Judge Ruling That BP was Grossly Negligent in Deepwater Horizon\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 4, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today made the following statement on the U.S. District Court for Eastern District ruling that BP was grossly negligent in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.\n\u201cNo one felt the effects of the Deepwater Horizon disaster more than the citizens of Louisiana,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cFinishing the job of properly holding BP accountable and making sure that the appropriate penalties go toward restoring the damaged Gulf Coast have been top priorities of mine. Today\u2019s ruling should help make sure a significantly higher dollar figure is apportioned to rectifying the impacts still felt in Louisiana.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/whip-scalise-announces-additional-staff", "Whip Scalise Announces Additional Staff", "2014-09-02", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today announced new additions to his staff for both the Office of the Majority Whip and his personal office.\n\u00a0\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to welcome these new members to my Washington staff,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cAll of them bring to the team their unique and varied experiences, dedication to public service, and commitment to representing the values, interests, and people of Southeast Louisiana. They will play an integral role as we work to unite the Republican Conference around conservative solutions that move America forward.\u201d\n\u00a0\nOffice of the Majority Whip\n\u00a0\nMoira Bagley Smith, Communications Director:\u00a0Moira joins the Office of the Majority Whip after most recently serving as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) since his election to Congress. Prior to her tenure with Sen. Paul, Moira began her career in Washington, D.C., at Roll Call Newspaper before working for the Republican National Committee\u00a0and\u00a0subsequently, The Daily Caller. She is a Kentucky native\u00a0and\u00a0graduate of\u00a0the\u00a0University of Kentucky.\u00a0\n\n\tDan Sadlosky, Policy Advisor:\u00a0Dan is returning to Team Scalise after serving U.S. Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) as a Legislative Assistant. Dan previously worked for Rep. Scalise as a Legislative Aide. Dan is a graduate of the George Washington University, where he also received his master\u2019s degree.\n\n\t\u00a0Office of the First District of Louisiana\n\u00a0\nConner Brace, Staff Assistant:\u00a0Conner joins the Office of the First Congressional District after having recently interned with the Republican Study Committee. Conner is a graduate of the University of Virginia.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nKevin O\u2019Keefe, Intern:\u00a0Kevin joins Team Scalise after recently graduating from Syracuse University. Kevin is a native of Baton Rouge.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-statement-ninth-anniversary-hurricane-katrina", "Scalise Statement on the Ninth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina", "2014-08-29", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u00a0\u2013U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01) today issued the following statement on the ninth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina\u2019s landfall in Southeast Louisiana.\n\u201cAs I spoke at the nine year anniversary ceremony in St. Bernard Parish this morning, I reflected on all of the struggles, challenges and hardship our people have been through since the storm,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cWhat defines us is not the devastation, but instead the strength and resilience of our people. It was inspiring to see the young students at this morning's ceremony, and they are proof that we have emerged stronger and more resilient than ever. We will not stop working until we have rebuilt a better, stronger, and smarter community than before the storm. We remember those who lost their lives and we are Louisiana proud.\nEarlier this year, Congress passed legislation that authorized critical flood protection projects throughout southeast Louisiana.\u00a0 These projects will bring peace of mind, assuring home and business owners that they are no longer as vulnerable to the devastating effects of future storms and floods.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140904235958/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-announces-sasol-construction-permit-approved-by-corps-says-will-be-part-of-economic-boom-for-southwest-louisiana", "Vitter Announces Sasol Construction Permit Approved By Corps, Says will be Part of Economic Boom for Southwest Louisiana", "2014-08-29", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Announces Sasol Construction Permit Approved By Corps, Says will be Part of Economic Boom for Southwest Louisiana\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter has been pushing the Corps daily to grant Sasol this permit to allow construction of a new gas-to-liquid facility in Calcasieu Parish. \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, August 29, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Lake Charles, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter today announced that Sasol, an energy and chemical company, has received the necessary permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin constructing their gas-to-liquid (GTL) facility in Calcasieu Parish.\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely pleased to announce that this major economic project can move forward. It\u2019s a huge investment and will help provide a great boom for southwest Louisiana,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cLouisiana has obviously shown a commitment to the energy and chemical industries, and our abundant natural gas resources make us a perfect fit for the new facility.\u201d\nVitter has been working very closely with the Corps of Engineers, particularly Col. Rick Hansen, and also with Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Stephen Chustz to move this permit forward.\nConstruction on the first of its kind GTL facility, as well as an ethylene facility, is expected to begin very soon. It is estimated that the projects will create 1,200 permanent jobs. In 2010, Sasol announced it would construct one of the world\u2019s first Ethylene Tetramerization Units in Lake Charles. The GTL facility, in addition to the ethylene facility, will produce a number of products including diesel fuel, naphtha and other chemical products, which will be marketed nationally and globally.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-responds-reports-president-obamas-name-and-shame-climate-agreement", "Scalise Responds to Reports of President Obama's \"Name and Shame\" Climate Agreement", "2014-08-28", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u00a0-- U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01) released the following statement in response to a\u00a0report\u00a0that the Obama Administration will sidestep Congress and unilaterally pursue a wide-reaching international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.\u00a0\n\u201cThe Obama Administration needs to finally abandon their radical climate change agenda that is killing jobs and increasing costs for American families,\" said Scalise. \u00a0\"Four years after the Democratic controlled Congress rejected the president\u2019s cap-and-trade scheme, the White House wants to sidestep Congress and commit the United States to a United Nations agreement which would \u2018name and shame\u2019 countries into adopting higher emissions standards. \u00a0This just proves that the president is prepared to pursue his job-killing climate agenda at any cost, which the American people and House of Representatives will not stand for. \u00a0I'm not sure which is more concerning, the president's willingness to sidestep the Constitution and Congress, or his relentless pursuit of radical policies which will have devastating consequences on our economy.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140828235917/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-asks-administration-to-allow-old-rig-to-remain-as-artificial-reef-in-gulf-of-mexico", "Vitter Asks Administration to Allow Old Rig to Remain as Artificial Reef in Gulf of Mexico", "2014-08-25", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Asks Administration to Allow Old Rig to Remain as Artificial Reef in Gulf of Mexico\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, August 25, 2014\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 Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, requesting that the Department allow a collapsed structure to remain serving as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.\n\u201cDecommissioned, idle platforms that develop into artificial reefs are becoming an indispensable resource for aquatic life in the Gulf of Mexico,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cWhile this particular site has yet to obtain official status as an artificial reef site, the thriving ecosystem that has grown around it is already playing an important role in growing and sustaining our Gulf fisheries. The Administration should back off and allow it to prosper.\u201d\nCurrently, Interior is mandating the removal of the Ewing Banks 947A structure, which would disrupt the ecosystem that has been built around it. The State of Louisiana has requested that they exempt this rig from being removed so it can remain as a habitat for marine life. Interior denied the request and Vitter is asking them to reconsider.\nIn May 2013, In May 2013, at the beginning of this Congress, 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. The Artificial Reef Promotion Act requires that twenty new reef planning areas be established after a year of enactment, including six off each of the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, three off the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, and five off of the coast of Florida.\nText of today\u2019s letter is below. Click here for the PDF version.\nAugust 25, 2014\n  Secretary Sally Jewell  U.S Department of the Interior  1849 C Street, N.W.  Washington DC 20240\n  Dear Secretary Jewell,\nI am writing to you today to ask your Department to reconsider a request made by the State of Louisiana to exempt the Freeport McMoran Oil & Gas\u2019s Ewing Banks 947A (EW-947A) structure from the requirements of CFR \u00a7 250.1730 in order to allow for its continued use as an artificial reef.\nIt has been brought to my attention that your Department recently notified the State that you will not be granting this exemption.\nAs you may know, EW-947A is a 4-pile structure located in federal waters, 70 miles offshore at a depth of 477\u2019. Currently, the structure is no longer standing as it was toppled when Hurricane Ike came through the Gulf region in 2008. Since its collapse, parts of the structure, including the deck and debris have been removed, with only the jacket and several stubs remaining. While the inadvertent toppling of the structure is regrettable, one positive outcome has been the increase in marine life that has begun using it as a habitat.\nThe development of marine reefs with significant biodiversity is an unintended benefit of many of the idle rigs remaining in the Gulf of Mexico. Artificial reefs are becoming an indispensable resource for our Gulf fisheries. While this particular site has yet to obtain official status as an artificial reef site, the ecosystem that it has created and supported around it is already playing an important role in growing and sustaining our Gulf fisheries.\nIt is important that extra consideration be given to the request made by the State of Louisiana, and I ask that you please do so. I also ask that you provide the following information by September 25, 2014.\n1. Please provide a full and detailed reasoning for your decision to reject the State\u2019s request for an exemption.\n2. Please provide a list of alternative means, which the State may pursue that will result in as much of this structure remaining in place as safely as possible.\nThank you for your attention to this issue. If you have any questions, please contact the Environment and Public Works Committee at (202) 224-6176.\n  Sincerely,\n  ___________________  David Vitter  Ranking Member  Environment and Public Works Committee", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/event/slidell-satellite-office-hours-5", "Slidell satellite office hours", "2014-08-22", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Slidell satellite office hours                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  September 10, 2014 9:30 am\n         \t  End: \n         \t    September 10, 2014 11:30 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    Location: \n         \t      2055 Second Street,  Slidell, LA 70458\n         \t    \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Aug 22, 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/event/slidell-satellite-office-hours-6", "Slidell satellite office hours", "2014-08-22", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Slidell satellite office hours                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  October 8, 2014 9:30 am\n         \t  End: \n         \t    October 8, 2014 11:30 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    Location: \n         \t      2055 Second Street,  Slidell, LA 70458\n         \t    \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Aug 22, 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/event/slidell-satellite-office-hours-7", "Slidell satellite office hours", "2014-08-22", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Slidell satellite office hours                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  November 12, 2014 9:30 am\n         \t  End: \n         \t    November 12, 2014 11:30 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    Location: \n         \t      2055 Second Street,  Slidell, LA 70458\n         \t    \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Aug 22, 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/event/slidell-satellite-office-hours-8", "Slidell satellite office hours", "2014-08-22", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Slidell satellite office hours                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  December 10, 2014 9:30 am\n         \t  End: \n         \t    December 10, 2014 11:30 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    Location: \n         \t      2055 Second Street,  Slidell, LA 70458\n         \t    \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Aug 22, 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-outlines-restore-act-priorities-coastal-leaders", "Scalise Outlines RESTORE Act Priorities with Coastal Leaders", "2014-08-22", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u00a0\u2013 U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01) today met with community leaders who are members of the Coalition for Coastal Resilience &\u00a0Economy (CCRE) to discuss effective ways Louisiana can best implement coastal restoration projects throughout Louisiana when utilizing the RESTORE Act funds that will flow from the\u00a0Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.\u00a0\n\u201cJust as we've made it clear to our colleagues in Congress that the BP fines should not be used for unrelated spending in Washington, we will work equally as hard to ensure that RESTORE Act funds will be focused on coastal restoration and will not be siphoned off on unrelated spending in Louisiana,\u201d Scalise said. \"The signing of the RESTORE Act into law is without a doubt the single most significant action taken to restore our coast in Louisiana\u2019s history, and we must not let these funds be squandered. I am glad the CCRE coalition is equally committed to ensuring that mistakes of Louisiana history don't repeat themselves, and to ensuring that these vital funds will be used specifically on coastal restoration projects. Our coast makes up the very fabric of our existence in South Louisiana, and the funds that come to Louisiana as a result of the RESTORE Act should be spent developing and defending that most vital asset.\nToday's meeting gave local business and community leaders the opportunity to collaborate and discuss the most effective ways we can revive and protect Louisiana's wetlands and coastline using RESTORE Act funds. With many of Louisiana families still struggling in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, it is imperative that this money be used for critical coastal restoration\u00a0projects and not be raided for unrelated purposes. \"\nSpecifically, the RESTORE Act, which Scalise championed through the U.S. House of Representatives and was then signed into law July 6, 2012,\u00a0directs 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster to Gulf Coast states for the purposes of ecosystem and economic recovery. Earlier this year, Scalise joined his Louisiana colleagues Senator David Vitter and Congressman Bill Cassidy to push U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, urging the agency to expedite the\u00a0rule-making process so that RESTORE funds could more quickly be disbursed. \u00a0In November of 2013, Scalise submitted comments to the U.S. Treasury on the proposed regulations governing the use of RESTORE funds. On the one-year anniversary of the passage of the RESTORE Act, Scalise authored an\u00a0op-ed\u00a0emphasizing the importance of specifically utilizing these funds for the purpose of preserving eroding wetlands and coastline.\nLouisiana loses a football field of wetlands to erosion every hour and more than 16 square miles of coastline a year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140828235938/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-obama-administration-releases-illegal-immigrant-criminals-in-louisiana", "Vitter: Obama Administration Releases Illegal Immigrant Criminals in Louisiana", "2014-08-22", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Obama Administration Releases Illegal Immigrant Criminals in Louisiana\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, August 22, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) today spoke out against the decision by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release illegal immigrants convicted of \u201chomicide-related\u201d offenses that had been awaiting deportation proceedings. ICE responded to a request from Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) disclosing that it released 169 convicted illegals from over 130 zip codes in 2013. At least two of the zip codes mentioned are from Louisiana: Kenner and Baton Rouge, released through the South Louisiana Detention Center.\n\u201cThis information proves that some of our deepest fears about the Obama administration\u2019s amnesty policies are, in fact, true,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely vital that the administration stops granting amnesty and starts enforcing our immigration laws \u2013 and it needs to happen before any more of these criminals are released into Louisiana.\u201d\nVitter joined a group of Senators in March to push for an amendment that would have required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide Congress with information about the illegal immigrants who are being released. Click here to read more.\nVitter has also pushed for information from DHS about how many unaccompanied alien children have been relocated to Louisiana. He has not received an official response from the administration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140822000523/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/senators-warren-and-vitter-and-congressmen-garrett-and-capuano-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-letter-urging-fed-to-strengthen-restrictions-on-emergency-lending-authority", "Senators Warren and Vitter, and Congressmen Garrett and Capuano Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Fed to Strengthen Restrictions on Emergency Lending Authority", "2014-08-18", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Warren and Vitter, and Congressmen Garrett and Capuano Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Fed to Strengthen Restrictions on Emergency Lending Authority\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, August 18, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and David Vitter (R-La.), and Congressmen Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), and their colleagues in the Senate and House sent a letter today to Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen calling for the Fed to strengthen restrictions on its emergency lending authority. The letter was signed by 11 additional members of the Senate and House: Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and Representatives Walter Jones, Jr. (R-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Leonard Lance (R-N.J.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).\nDuring the financial crisis, the Fed invoked its emergency lending authority to provide over $13 trillion in loans primarily to a select group of large financial institutions. These loans were long-term and offered at below-market rates \u2013 a bailout in all but name of institutions regarded as \u201cToo Big to Fail.\u201d\nCongress enacted Section 1101 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) to ensure that such bailouts could not happen again. Yet, as the senators and representatives noted in their letter, the Fed\u2019s proposed rule implementing Section 1101 does not place \u201cmeaningful restrictions on the agency\u2019s emergency lending powers.\u201d\n\"If the Board\u2019s emergency lending authority is left unchecked, it can once again be used to provide massive bailouts to large financial institutions without any congressional action,\u201d wrote the senators and representatives. \u201cThe Board\u2019s proposed rule fails to strike the appropriate balance between promoting financial stability and mitigating moral hazard among the largest financial institutions.\u201d\nThe senators and representatives recommended that the Board:\n\u2022 Establish a clear time limit for a financial institution\u2019s reliance on the Board\u2019s emergency lending.  \u2022 Establish procedures for the orderly unwinding of any emergency lending program.  \u2022 Adopt a broader definition of \u201cinsolvent.\u201d  \u2022 Expand the definition of \u201cbroad-based.\u201d  \u2022 Establish limitations, and a penalty rate, on lending terms.\nRead the full text of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140822000550/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-gulf-council-considers-red-snapper-allocation-pushed-by-ny-based-environmental-activist-group", "Vitter: Gulf Council Considers Red Snapper Allocation Pushed by NY Based Environmental Activist Group", "2014-08-18", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Gulf Council Considers Red Snapper Allocation Pushed by NY Based Environmental Activist Group\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter says amendment considered today would negatively affect red snapper allocation, create long-term battles between sectors and further complicate situation in Gulf\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, August 18, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Baton Rouge, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter, top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), made the following statement regarding the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council public hearing in Baton Rouge today. They are discussing stakeholder views on an amendment that Vitter says would cut off additional access to offshore resources for Louisianians. The hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. CT.\n\u201cAllowing states to have more control over red snapper fisheries and promoting transparency and accountability within the councils are very important to Louisiana anglers,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cThousands of Louisianians and businesses are impacted by the red snapper fisheries, and we should be giving States more control than the federal government. The amendment being discussed today is being pushed by a far-left environmental activist group whose goal is to cut off public access to red snapper in federal waters.\u201d\nThe hearing will be held at 6:00 p.m. CT tonight at the Hyatt Place Baton Rouge:\nPublic Hearing on Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation  6:00 p.m. \u2013 9:00 p.m. CT  Hyatt Place Baton Rouge  6080 Bluebonnet Boulevard  Baton Rouge\nThe amendment today is endorsed by the New York based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). EDF has received a $225,959 Fisheries Innovation Fund grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This grant program is primarily funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Walton Family Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The intended purpose is to support the implementation of a \u201clarge scale recreational catch share\u201d system in the Gulf Region. Vitter and the EPW Committee minority staff recently released a report that shows collusion between the Obama administration and groups like EDF. You can read the report here: The Chain of Environmental Command: How a Club of Billionaires and Their Foundations Control the Environmental Movement and Obama's EPA.\nIn July Vitter introduced two amendments to the bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blocked both.\nVitter's first amendment would bring transparency to closed meetings of the Regional Fishery Management Councils (RFMC), including new requirements for detailed minutes and transcripts. Vitter's second amendment grants the Gulf States regional management authority of the red snapper fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico.\nIn June, Vitter wrote an op-ed in the Houma Courier, \u201cProtecting red snapper fishing.\u201d Vitter\u2019s op-ed was about fairly managing our fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and protecting the rights of recreational anglers - particularly with access to the red snapper fishery. Click here to read the op-ed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-lauds-treasury-rule-allowing-gulf-states-apply-restore-act-funds", "Scalise Lauds Treasury Rule Allowing Gulf States to Apply for RESTORE Act Funds", "2014-08-14", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u00a0- U.S. Representative Steve Scalise (LA-01) released the following statement regarding the \u00a0U.S. Treasury Department\u2019s Interim Final Rule on the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coastal States (RESTORE) Act. \u00a0The rule allows for Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, to begin\u00a0applying for grants from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund for the purpose of environmental restoration and economic development projects.\u00a0\n\"This announcement is a victory and big step forward for the people of Louisiana,\u201d said Scalise.\u00a0 \u201cThe economy, culture and heritage of our great state are shaped and influenced by our unique coastline and wetlands. \u00a0As many families and businesses continue to struggle in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill, the RESTORE Act stands as the single most significant action taken to revitalize our coastline. \u00a0This rule finally enables much-needed funds to\u00a0start flowing to our coastal communities as they continue to recover.\u201d\nScalise championed the RESTORE Act through the House of Representatives in 2011. \u00a0Specifically, the RESTORE Act\u00a0directs 80 percent of BP Clean Water Act fines to Gulf Coast states still struggling with the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill\u00a0for the purposes of ecosystem and economic recovery.\u00a0 Earlier this year, Scalise along with U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-06) sent a letter to the Treasury Department urging the agency to expedite the\u00a0rule-making process so that funds could more quickly be disbursed.\u00a0\nClick here to read\u00a0the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-successful-effort-cut-red-tape-mariners", "Scalise successful in effort to cut red tape for Mariners", "2014-08-14", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "METAIRIE, LA\u2013 Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01) applauds the rollout of the new Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) OneVisit program, resulting from legislation he originally introduced in the House, which eliminates the requirement for thousands of transportation workers to make multiple trips to a TWIC enrollment center. \u00a0\n\u201cThe new OneVisit program streamlines the process for transportation workers, including Louisiana mariners, to obtain the credentials they need so that they can do their jobs,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cWe have finally cut wasteful red tape so transportation workers no longer have to make multiple trips to a TWIC enrollment center, which for some workers can be hundreds of miles away. After listening to workers and business leaders throughout southeast Louisiana, I led the effort in Congress to reform the TWIC program and am thankful that the Department of Homeland Security has finally implemented this common-sense reform.\u00a0\nReforms of this magnitude would have not have been possible without broad cooperation from a bipartisan group of members of Congress dedicated to solving this problem by eliminating the unnecessary \u201cTWIC Second Trip.\u201d This is a great example of Congress working together to eliminate a burdensome federal mandate and deliver results for hard-working taxpayers.\u201d\nThe new program is a direct result of Congressman Steve Scalise authoring and successfully shepherding H.R. 3173 through the House in the 112th\u00a0Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140822000553/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-calls-on-reid-to-come-back-in-session-vote-on-border-crisis-bills", "Vitter Calls on Reid to Come Back in Session, Vote on Border Crisis Bills", "2014-08-14", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Calls on Reid to Come Back in Session, Vote on Border Crisis Bills\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, August 14, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Metairie, La.) \u2013 U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Border Security Caucus, is calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to vote on legislation to address the southern border crisis. Before the U.S. House of Representatives adjourned for August, they passed two bills to address the border crisis by blocking President Barack Obama from continuing or expanding amnesty through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.\n\"We have a true crisis at our southern border. Yet Harry Reid is blocking Senate votes on the two bills the House has passed and has put us in recess instead. I call on him to have the Senate vote on those two common-sense, House-passed bills immediately,\u201d said Vitter.\nEarlier this week it was reported by TIME Magazine that the \u201cwave of unaccompanied children streaming across the U.S. border has compounded a court crisis, as advocates warn backlogs and a shortage of lawyers\u2026\u201d\nVitter has also stated that the number of illegal immigrant children in Louisiana is higher than the Obama administration has let on. He had to confirm through an anonymous Immigrations and Customs Enforcement official that there have been 1,259 new cases opened for juveniles in Louisiana since the crisis began. There were already 1,956 juvenile cases, putting the total at 3,215.\nOn the Senate floor recently, Vitter highlighted that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed that of the 381,458 apprehensions in the Rio Grande Valley sector of the Southwestern Border since October 1, 2013, only 57,567 or (15 percent) were children 17 or younger; 268,493 were adults without children.\nClick here to watch Vitter\u2019s recent remarks on the Senate floor.\nVitter has been calling out the administration for its practices of assisting foreign children being smuggled into the country illegally without penalizing their parents. Vitter asked DHS how many times this practice has occurred but has still not received an answer from them.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140815000437/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-announces-restore-act-recovery-funds-to-finally-start-flowing", "Vitter Announces RESTORE Act Recovery Funds to Finally Start Flowing", "2014-08-13", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter Announces RESTORE Act Recovery Funds to Finally Start Flowing\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tVitter has been pressing the Obama Administration for Louisiana \u2013 hit hardest by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill - to receive RESTORE Act funds in a fair and transparent manner\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, August 13, 2014\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, made the following statement regarding the U.S. Treasury Department\u2019s Interim Final Rule under the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act, which establishes grant programs for the Gulf States, including Louisiana, to receive funds for environmental restoration and economic development projects.\nVitter has been urging the Obama Administration to move forward with the RESTORE Act in a fair and transparent manner, ensuring that Louisiana who was hardest hit by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill is compensated appropriately. Vitter had also been pushing the Administration not to allow Pot 2 money to be utilized for economic projects. Treasury\u2019s original draft would have allowed Pot 2 funds to be directed for economic projects rather than for purely coastal restoration projects, and Treasury appropriately withdrew the language in the final regulations.\n\u201cLouisiana suffered the greatest impacts from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with devastating effects on our economy, communities, and major industries. Getting the money flowing is the first step toward revitalizing our economy and coastal ecosystems,\u201d said Vitter. \u201cI have worked for years pressing the Obama Administration to fairly distribute the recovery funds, and today\u2019s final rule announcement is a major step forward for the recovery of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast States.\u201d\nVitter was an original co-sponsor of the RESTORE Act, which dedicates at least 80 percent of the Clean Water Act (CWA) penalties paid by BP and other responsible parties to the Gulf States to restore coastal ecosystems and economies damaged by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Vitter shepherded the legislation through the EPW Committee where it passed unanimously in November 2011 and through the Senate in March 2012. As a leading Republican conferee on the Highway Bill and the only member from the Louisiana delegation involved in the negotiations, Vitter continued to make the enactment of the RESTORE Act a top priority by insisting that the language be included in the final version of the bill.\nEarlier this year, Vitter along with U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise and Bill Cassidy pressed the Treasury Department to speed up the process developing and finalizing the regulations that will govern how the funds are disbursed to the states. Click here to read more.\nLast month Vitter testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard on issues surrounding the implementation of the RESTORE Act. Vitter highlighted his requests to have the Treasury Department and the Gulf Restoration Council make sure they correctly allocate the funds to the States that were impacted most. Click here to read more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140815000640/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/issa-vitter-gao-report-confirms-epa-fudges-costs-of-regulations", "Issa, Vitter: GAO Report Confirms EPA Fudges Costs of Regulations", "2014-08-11", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Issa, Vitter: GAO Report Confirms EPA Fudges Costs of Regulations\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tFindings Reveal EPA\u2019s Regulatory Process Lacks Transparency and Circumvents OMB Guidance\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, August 11, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled, \u201cEnvironmental Regulation: EPA Should Improve Adherence to Guidance for Selected Elements of Regulatory Impact Analyses.\u201d Issa requested this report in September 2011 after inconsistencies in Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) economic analyses on multiple rules that impose costs on the economy of $100 million or more raised concerns. In January 2013, Vitter joined Issa\u2019s request of the GAO report analyzing EPA\u2019s economic analysis used to support major rulemakings.\n\u201cThe independent study released today demonstrates that the Obama Administration failed to provide thorough, transparent cost-benefit analyses for major environmental rules that cost American jobs,\u201d said Chairman Issa. \u201cRather than using a fair and open rulemaking process, EPA pushed through regulations using sloppy analysis without sufficiently informing Congress or the public of the economic impact.\u201d\n\u201cGAO\u2019s report confirms that EPA has a bad habit of failing to be transparent with the public on how the Agency\u2019s red tape impacts the U.S. economy,\u201d said Sen. Vitter. \u201cUnfortunately, transparency is only a small part of the problem. The real challenge exists in EPA\u2019s methodologies for claiming health and employment impacts, both of which they are fudging and is why the Science Advisory Board economics panel review and continued oversight is so critical.\u201d\nKey Findings:\nEPA failed to use the economic analyses in regulatory decision-making.   \u2022 GAO reports that EPA, \u201cdid not use [economic analyses] as the primary basis for selecting the final regulatory option.\u201d Agencies are required to conduct economic analysis because they are directed to select the regulatory approach that maximizes net benefits. Failure to use the economic analysis in the final decision-making means the regulatory approach selected may not maximize net benefits across the economy.\nEPA economic analyses were unclear and confusing to the public.   \u2022 Statements of Need: EPA did not provide clear statements of need for the proposed regulatory actions. Agencies are required to provide a statement of need for the proposed regulatory action and agencies should use plain, understandable language. As GAO explained, \u201cwithout a clear description of the problem the regulation is intending to address in the [economic analyses] the context and rationale for the analysis is unclear.\u201d\n\u2022 Regulatory Alternatives: EPA\u2019s consideration of alternatives and presentation of the underlying analysis varied. In two of the seven rulemakings reviewed by GAO, only one other regulatory alternative was considered. In two other rulemakings, while EPA claims to have considered regulatory alternatives, EPA failed to include any information about the alternatives in the final economic analyses.\nEPA did not consistently adhere to OMB guidance for estimating benefits and costs.   \u2022 Baselines: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance requires agencies to provide a baseline of the expected state without regulation, so as to accurately compare regulatory alternatives. However, EPA failed to provide a baseline in more than 40% of the rulemakings reviewed by the GAO. In another rulemaking, EPA used a baseline from a 2002 regulation despite having revised certain aspects of the rule in 2006.\n\u2022 Employment Analysis: EPA failed to consider the current state of the economy and employment when analyzing the effects of the regulation on employment. EPA also relied upon a study that was more than 20 years old, and the authors of the study have questioned the use of the study in regulatory analyses.\n\u2022 Non-monetized Benefits and Costs: EPA did not monetize some of the key benefits and costs related to the primary purpose or key impacts of the regulatory action. Without a full attempt to monetize benefits and costs, the economic analyses will be limited in their usefulness for understanding economic trade-offs.\n\u2022 Social Cost of Carbon: EPA uses a method of estimating the benefits of reducing carbon that reflect a global estimate, despite the OMB guidance requirement for domestic estimates. The EPA\u2019s use of a global benefit estimate creates inconsistency with the remainder of the economic analysis, thus undermining EPA\u2019s conclusions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-house-passage-border-solution", "Scalise on House Passage of Border Solution", "2014-08-04", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01) released the following statement on passage of H.R. 5230, the House border supplemental funding bill:\n\u201cToday, the House took strong action to address the crisis on the border where tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors are flooding into our country \u2013 a direct result of President Obama\u2019s failure to secure the border.\u00a0 Rather than giving President Obama a blank check, House Republican Leadership worked with all of our members to get the right policy for the American people and pass a common sense solution to this crisis.\u00a0\n\u201cAs the great-grandson of an Italian immigrant, I\u2019m proud that America is a nation of immigrants, however, we are also a nation of laws. \u00a0The House is the only body that has done its job and shown real leadership in solving this crisis by securing the border and enforcing the rule of law.\u00a0 Last week, the President called on the House to act.\u00a0 Mr. President, the House has taken action. \u00a0Will you demand that the Senate come back from their recess and take up the House-passed solution?\u201d\nSpecifically, the House-passed border solution:\n \nAllows the governors of border states to activate National Guard to secure the border with federal assistance.\n \n \nAllows Customs and Border Patrol agents the ability to patrol all federal land.\nProvides increased funding for the Department of Homeland Security for border security and enforcement.\nAmends the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to treat all unaccompanied children the same as unaccompanied children from noncontiguous countries.\nTemporarily shelters and assists unaccompanied children.\nExpedites the deportation process by establishing a \u201clast-in, first-out\u201d policy to prioritize the removal of those who most recently arrived.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://scalise.house.gov/press-release/scalise-vitter-richmond-host-service-academy-day", "Scalise, Vitter, Richmond to host Service Academy Day", "2014-08-04", "2014", "2014-08", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Steve Scalise", "S001176", "scalise.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scalise, Vitter, Richmond to host Service Academy Day                      Military, Air Force, Naval, Merchant Marine and Coast Guard Academy representatives invited to explain nomination and application process                       \n              Aug 4, 2014      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    \u00a0U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01) today announced he, along with U.S. Senator David Vitter and U.S Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02), will host a Service Academy Day on Wednesday, August 6 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Federal City Auditorium.\n\"America's military service academies offer a unique opportunity for young leaders who are interested in pursuing a post-secondary education while also serving our nation at the same time,\" Scalise said. \"I encourage all interested high school students and their parents to join us at Federal City so they can learn about the application and nomination process for gaining admission into our nation's service academies.\"\nDetails for the Service Academy Day are below. This event is opened to the public and media. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m.\n\u00a0\nService Academy Day\nWednesday, August 6\n2:00 p.m. \u2013 5:00 p.m.\nFederal City Auditorium\n2845 Guadalcanal Street\nNew Orleans, La. 70114", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140801003021/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release-obama-administration-is-hiding-numbers-of-illegals-in-louisiana", "Release: Obama Administration is Hiding Numbers of Illegals in Louisiana", "2014-07-31", "2014", "2014-07", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Release: Obama Administration is Hiding Numbers of Illegals in Louisiana\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, July 31, 2014\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.) said today that the Obama administration is hiding numbers about how many unaccompanied alien children (UAC) are in Louisiana. On July 10, 2014 Vitter requested specific information about how many immigrant minors are being relocated to Louisiana. While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not responded, Vitter has uncovered that there are a total of 3215 cases in Louisiana.\n\u201cI\u2019ve been warning the administration for months that this would happen. Our borders go unsecured and our president does everything in his power to hinder Border Patrol, so an influx of illegal immigrants should come as no surprise,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cThe administration is trying to hide the truth, but we know that there are at least 3215 cases in Louisiana. This is already a national crisis \u2013 it certainly shouldn\u2019t become a Louisiana crisis too.\u201d\nVitter has had to confirm through an anonymous Immigrations and Customs Agency official that there have been 1,259 new cases opened for juveniles in Louisiana since the crisis began. There were already 1,956 juvenile cases, putting the total at 3,215.\nOn the Senate floor last week Vitter highlighted several facilities, including military bases, in Louisiana that have been contacted by the Obama Administration to house unaccompanied alien children (UACs).\nClick here to watch Vitter\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor from last week.\nBelow are the details of who has been contacted.\nFort Polk\u2019s Army Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) housing office was notified by United States Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Headquarters and asked if they could house between 400-500 UACs.\nBarksdale was asked via Air Force Global Strike Command by the Department of Defense on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security on three separate occasions about capacity (most recently on 30 June) to see what was feasible.\nHirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, LA was contacted by International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) to see if they could house illegal immigrants at the fairgrounds. Hirsch has been used for housing people displaced by hurricanes.\nVitter also highlighted that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has confirmed that of the 381,458 apprehensions in the Rio Grande Valley sector of the Southwestern Border since October 1, 2013, only 57,567 or (15 percent) were children 17 or younger; 268,493 were adults without children.\nIn a letter on January 15, 2014, Vitter called out the administration for its practices of assisting foreign children being smuggled into the country illegally without penalizing their parents. Vitter asked DHS how many times this practice has occurred but didn\u2019t get an answer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140801003154/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/icymi-brown-and-vitter-on-bloomberg-say-gao-report-confirms-too-big-to-fail-alive-and-well", "ICYMI: Brown and Vitter on Bloomberg say GAO Report Confirms Too Big To Fail Alive and Well", "2014-07-31", "2014", "2014-07", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "ICYMI: Brown and Vitter on Bloomberg say GAO Report Confirms Too Big To Fail Alive and Well\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, July 31, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and David Vitter (R-LA) today discussed the results of a comprehensive study released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirming that Wall Street megabanks have not only received more support from government bailout programs, but enjoy a taxpayer-funded advantage \u2013 over community and regional banks \u2013 that widens during times of economic crisis. Brown and Vitter requested the report in 2013.\u00a0\nClick here to watch Brown and Vitter on Bloomberg.\nBrown and Vitter are authors of the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act (TBTF Act), or Brown-Vitter. Their legislation would ensure that financial institutions have adequate capital to protect against losses. Specifically, the TBTF Act would:\n\u2022 Set reasonable capital standards that would vary depending on the size and complexity of the institution;  \u2022 Limit the government safety net to traditional banking operations; and  \u2022 Provide regulatory relief for community banks. Provide regulatory relief for community banks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140801003930/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-and-brown-gao-report-confirms-wall-street-megabanks-receive-taxpayer-funded-advantage-that-widens-at-times-of-crisis-", "Vitter and Brown: GAO Report Confirms Wall Street Megabanks Receive Taxpayer-Funded Advantage that Widens at Times of Crisis", "2014-07-31", "2014", "2014-07", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter and Brown: GAO Report Confirms Wall Street Megabanks Receive Taxpayer-Funded Advantage that Widens at Times of Crisis \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, July 31, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the results of a comprehensive study confirming that Wall Street megabanks have not only received more support from government bailout programs, but enjoy a taxpayer-funded advantage \u2013 over community and regional banks \u2013 that widens during times of economic crisis.\nU.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and David Vitter (R-LA), who requested the report and are authors of the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act (TBTF Act), released the following statement:\n\u201cToday\u2019s report confirms that in times of crisis, the largest megabanks receive an advantage over Main Street financial institutions. Wall Street lobbyists may try to spin that the advantage has lessened. But if the Army Corps of Engineers came out with study that said a levee system works pretty well when it\u2019s sunny \u2013 but couldn\u2019t be trusted in a hurricane \u2013 we would take that as evidence we need to act.\n\u201cWe can fix Too Big to Fail by passing our bipartisan legislation which would ensure that Wall Street megabanks \u2013 instead of taxpayers \u2013 have adequate capital to cover their losses in a crisis.\u201d\nBrown and Vitter requested the report in 2013. A copy of their letter to GAO can be found: HERE.\nGAO\u2019s study examined size-based funding costs by comparing fixed-rate senior unsecured bonds issued by banks holding companies (BHCs) from 2006 through 2013. GAO used 16 studies that met certain criteria for relevance and rigorousness.\nRather than provide definitive numbers of a basis point (bp) funding advantage and an associated dollar figure, GAO provided the full range of findings based upon the different variables the report utilized.\nGAO found that while funding cost differences may have declined or reversed in recent years, this change may be due to improvements in bank holding companies\u2019 financial conditions and low borrowing costs. Implied in GAO\u2019s analysis is that investors view all institutions as being relatively safe because of the nature of the current financial sector. The report suggests that under more normalized credit conditions, or if there was another crisis tomorrow, investors would flock to the institutions that they believe are Too Big to Fail. Further, the report confirms that the advantages Wall Street megabanks enjoy today would be roughly the same as they enjoyed back in 2008, suggesting that little progress has been made in addressing Too Big to Fail.\nTo supplement its empirical work, GAO also sought anecdotal evidence from market participants, including investment firms, pension funds, and insurance companies that invest in banks, and non-financial corporate bank clients. The GAO met with six corporate treasurers, all arranged through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. These conversations found that some large corporations look at potential government support as one of the criteria used in determining which institutions with which they transact, but some do not. At least two corporate treasurers do believe that large banks will be bailed out in the future \u2013 a factor that surely influences their financial decisions. Finally, another corporation noted that support can indirectly influence its decision making through the credit rating \u201cuplift.\u201d\nThe nation\u2019s largest Wall Street banks enjoy an implicit guarantee\u2014funded by taxpayers and awarded by virtue of their size\u2014as the market knows that these institutions have been deemed Too Big to Fail. This allows the nation\u2019s largest megabanks to borrow at a lower rate than regional banks, community banks, and credit unions. This funding advantage, which has been confirmed by three independent studies in the last year, is estimated to be as high as $83 billion per year according to Bloomberg.\nBrown-Vitter, or the Terminating Bailouts for Taxpayer Fairness Act (TBTF Act), would ensure that financial institutions have adequate capital to protect against losses. Specifically, the TBTF Act would:\n\u2022 Set reasonable capital standards that would vary depending on the size and complexity of the institution;  \u2022 Limit the government safety net to traditional banking operations; and  \u2022 Provide regulatory relief for community banks. Provide regulatory relief for community banks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140808003034/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-final-vets-bill-passes-senate-includes-va-clinics-for-lafayette-lake-charles", "Vitter: Final Vets Bill Passes Senate, Includes VA Clinics for Lafayette, Lake Charles", "2014-07-31", "2014", "2014-07", "Republican", "House", "LA", "David Vitter", "V000127", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Vitter: Final Vets Bill Passes Senate, Includes VA Clinics for Lafayette, Lake Charles\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, July 31, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t(Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced today that the U.S. Senate passed a final veterans bill that includes authorization for VA outpatient clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles. The legislation passed 91-3.\n\u201cI\u2019ve worked for years to get these clinics authorized. This is a big, big win for veterans across Louisiana,\u201d Vitter said. \u201cEspecially after this recent crisis surrounding the VA, we must regain the trust of our veterans and make sure they have the resources they need - and that means building the Lafayette and Lake Charles VA clinics. I\u2019m setting up a meeting with the VA Secretary as soon as possible to make sure they expedite the building process. If not for their screw-ups, these clinics would have already been built.\u201d\nThe U.S. House of Representatives passed the veterans bill yesterday 420-5. Vitter fought to make sure the bill that passed the Senate included the clinics and urged his colleagues on the conference committee to make sure they stayed in the final version.\nVitter secured language authorizing both the Lafayette and Lake Charles clinics in the Senate\u2019s version of the veterans legislation. Vitter started working to authorize the Lake Charles and Lafayette VA clinics in 2010. Vitter pushed for unanimous consent for his legislation authorizing the stalled VA clinics on six separate occasions this year: February 27, 2014, March 11, 2014, March 26, 2014, April 2, 2014, April 9, 2014, and May 7, 2014.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 344, "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 \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "LA", "p2": "2014"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 344, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=LA&year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 344, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA&year=2014&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "LA", "label": "LA", "count": 344, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "2014", "label": "2014", "count": 344, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2014-07-31,https~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20140808003034~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evitter~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress~2Fvitter-final-vets-bill-passes-senate-includes-va-clinics-for-lafayette-lake-charles", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=LA&year=2014&_next=2014-07-31%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20140808003034~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Evitter~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress~2Fvitter-final-vets-bill-passes-senate-includes-va-clinics-for-lafayette-lake-charles&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 127.18345783650875, "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"}