Lafayette Reporter

BATON ROUGE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined a press conference today about Hurricane Francine recovery with Governor Jeff Landry, law enforcement, and federal and state agency officials.

Kennedy emphasized the importance of federal assistance in his remarks: "There's always something to be grateful for, but that is cold comfort to our people who sustained damage. And we did have damage: A lot of wind, a lot of water, a lot of loss of power."

He assured residents that Louisiana would receive necessary funds from the federal government: "We'll get the money that we deserve from the federal government to help us. That's why we pay taxes, whether it's in the form of public assistance, infrastructure repair, personal assistance, mitigation grants."

Kennedy noted ongoing efforts to secure aid: "I've already started talking to my colleagues. The entire congressional delegation is united on this. I sit on appropriations in the Senate... We do it together with all of us—and we will get the money that we need."

He also expressed gratitude towards local officials and Governor Landry's administration: "I want to thank the governor. I want to thank his entire team. I want to thank our state and local officials. They are on top of this... The damage would have been much, much worse but for their professionalism."

Kennedy highlighted previous investments in flood protection as mitigating factors during Hurricane Francine: "It also would have been much, much worse but for the investment that Louisiana taxpayers and American taxpayers have made in flood protection."

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