988. These three digits represent an important first step toward a transformed crisis care system in America. Congress passed the legislation to formally authorize 988 as the new number for suicide and mental health crises. This 24/7…

I thank Chairwoman DeLauro very much for the opportunity to speak. Last year, Hurricane Ida swept through my State, leaving in its wake a shocking, terrible path of destruction. This body saw the devastation of this storm and saw fit to…

Mr. Secretary, can you provide additional details on what actions US DOT has taken to incorporate the goals of the Justice40 initiative into IIJA program implementation?

Part of the genius of the Founding Fathers was the system of checks and balances. Congress has a duty to oversee the executive branch, and Members of Congress deserve answers to questions they pose to the executive branch.

Wars were fought, movements were launched, constitutional amendments were passed to give every American of every race and gender full citizenship and the right to vote. But last month, the Supreme Court released a shadow docket ruling…

In Louisiana, we know the awesome power of the water. We also know that it is the lifeblood of our Nation's economy and environment. The Army Corps of Engineers is the Federal department that most supports water management, ecosystem…

I am proud to represent southeast Louisiana in Congress, a region that is rightfully famous for its community, its culture, and its incredible food. Around 9,000 restaurants in Louisiana applied for the Restaurant Revitalization Act in the…

The COVID pandemic has produced a rise in drug abuse, violent crime, and other indicators of collective trauma. These are pressing issues that urgently need resources devoted to them. We must stop wasting precious resources on marijuana…

March is Women's History Month, and I can't let this month pass without highlighting two barrier- breaking public servants. So many women have contributed greatly to Louisiana, but today, I want to take a few moments to celebrate two…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Louisiana has the second highest diabetes mortality rate but only the 11th highest number of cases. The rate of diabetes among Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American adults in the State is…

We must help foster safety in HBCU communities. Today's resolution is a way that Congress can commit to fighting against hatred and racism and stand with HBCUs.

I thank the chairman for yielding, and a special thanks to Representative Alma Adams for her tireless efforts on behalf of our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities. HBCUs were built to educate and celebrate the Black…

Down in New Orleans where the blues were born, it takes a cool cat to blow a horn. Down in LaSalle and Rampart Street, it is Mardi Gras combo with a mambo beat. Today is Mardi Gras, and as a New Orleanian, this is a special time for our…

My great home State of Louisiana is where the tignon laws originated. These laws mandated that Black women of Louisiana cover their beautiful hair, making it illegal to expose our hair. Imagine that. All Americans should have the right to…

This bill would, incredibly and tragically, for the first time make lynching a Federal hate crime in America. Despite more than 200 attempts to pass antilynching legislation through Congress over the past 120 years, lynching has never been…

20 States, including Louisiana, still have the same hourly pay floor as the Federal minimum wage: $7.25. Louisiana also has the second highest poverty rate of any State. That is because minimum wage is a poverty wage--a full-time salary is…

This week, a Louisiana legend turned 102 years old. Dr. Attorney Johnnie Jones, Sr., has lived a lifetime fulfilling every day with service, activism, and love for family and country. Born in 1919, he was one of eight children in a…

This is our moment. Now is the time to deal the working people back in. We need to prove to the people that the government works for them, not just for those on top. Build Back Better lowers family healthcare costs by strengthening the…

This is a transformational moment for the people of Louisiana.

We were meeting with victims of violent crimes. They flew to D.C. to meet with members of Congress. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 362 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 363.

Let me paint a picture. It is the east side of New Orleans in 1959. A Black man at a swimming pool jumps off the high dive, arched in the sky. Fellow swimmers and passersby watch him from the shade of a palm tree. A Ferris wheel turns at…

Louisiana's Second Congressional District includes an industrial corridor of nearly 150 oil refineries, plastic plants, and chemical facilities. Many sites provide high-paying jobs that lift families out of poverty or build a better life…

School supplies, gas for the car, swimming lessons, payment for rent, these are just a few of the ways my constituents in southeast Louisiana are spending their child tax credit payments. Especially as my community recovers from Hurricane…

COVID-19 has taken over 725,000 lives. One person gone too soon that I want to highlight is Bennie Pete, a New Orleans jazz musician. He passed away at the age of 45 from complications of COVID-19, shortly after deciding to get his first…

The biggest factor in recovery is how fast we get money back into the pockets and start people getting back to some semblance of normalcy with their lives.