A Note from the Desk of Congresswoman Julia Letlow

My top priority is hearing from Louisianans from all walks of life and bringing their stories with me back to Washington to advocate and find common sense solutions to the issues facing Louisianans every day.

While agriculture is the backbone of the Fifth District, ensuring our farmers and ranchers have the resources they need is critical for our communities - That’s why I’ve championed legislation for the Louisiana agriculture sector. Following this summer's devastating drought in Louisiana, I introduced the Drought Assistance Improvement Act - which provides more frequent payments for cattle farmers dealing with the effects of drought. Following the forest fires we experienced related to the drought, I introduced the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act. This bill would provide forest owners who have experienced loss of timber due to natural disasters like forest fires and hurricanes with upfront emergency assistance.

As we begin 2024, know that I will continue to be accessible to every Louisianan I serve and hear your feedback so I can be your best advocate in Congress. Reach out to my office if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. We are here to serve you!

Sincerely,

Julia Letlow, Ph.D.
Member of Congress

Continue reading for more on my travel through the Fifth and work in D.C. for Lousianans.

Louisiana agriculture and forestry have been hit particularly hard the last few years. I have heard from so many in the forest industry about the devastating impact of forest fires and hurricanes, and the long-term damage these events can cause. I introduced the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2023 to provide them with assistance in dealing with the aftermath of these natural disasters.

This bill will provide nonindustrial forest owners who have experienced natural disasters such as forest fires and hurricanes with upfront emergency cost assistance, so they don’t have to wait until they have taken costly emergency measures to receive the assistance they need to recover.

Read more on my website HERE.

Sexual violence is being used as an act of war by Hamas terrorists. And, unbelievably, support for Hamas terrorists and their savage actions is running rampant on college campuses, along with calls for the genocide of the Jewish people. You would think condemning those calls would be an easy decision, however presidents from Harvard, MIT, and UPenn were unable to do the right thing and put a stop to antisemitic rhetoric and acts on their campuses.

As a former college administrator, I know that years of work have gone into programs and policies to end violence and sexual harassment towards women on our campuses. Students perpetuating messaging from terrorists who use sexual violence against women as an act of war is egregious. The buck stops with university presidents and I let them know that their hypocrisy on this issue was horrifying. Every student should feel safe on a college campus, and in this case especially Jewish women. The president’s lack of action has been a huge step backwards in all that we have done to protect women on campuses. I spoke with my fellow female colleagues who share the same shock and disappointment that I do about the current situation, and what needs to happen.

Listen to my full remarks HERE.

As a former higher education professional, and a current mother of two children, I am passionate about seeing children succeed. Providing children and parents with school choice so they can pick what works best for their child will set children up for success. Charter schools for example are an additional form of public education that are extremely successful, especially in rural districts like ours.

Unfortunately, some individuals are attacking school choice, saying that it “attacks democracy.” Providing parents with more choice is the epitome of democracy. I will continue to advocate for more school choice in Louisiana and across the country.

Click the video below to watch my interview with Fox Business about this issue:

The border crisis is completely out of hand. This month we hit a new record - 12,300+ border encounters in just ONE SINGLE day. Border patrol agents are exhausted to the bone, and truly disheartened to the core. And unfortunately, there will be no end in sight if President Biden doesn’t change his border policies and secure our borders.

My Republican colleagues and I passed H.R. 2 - the Secure the Border Act - almost 7 months ago. It is the most comprehensive border security bill ever and would allow us to regain control at the border. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have been stalling, sidestepping, and generally whatever they can to hold it up.

It's time for the President and Senate Democrats to end this unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis and secure our borders once and for all.

Click the video below to watch my interview with Fox News where I discuss this issue further:

Jackson Parish Hospital Emergency Room Expansion

I will never take for granted how blessed we are to have so many top-notch medical facilities, professionals, and administrators who are dedicated to serving the community. With the expansion of Jackson Parish Hospital's Emergency Room, we will be able to provide medical care to so many more people. I was pleased to have secured $2 million for the hospital project through the FY23 Appropriations process.

Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home

I had a wonderful visit at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home last month. There are so many children who are in need of a home, and the Children’s Home makes it their mission to take care of as many children as possible. They provide children with a place to live, medical care, clothing, and education just to name a few. But equally as important, they strive to provide each child with love and support. It warmed my heart to meet some of the kiddos and see the joy and hope they embodied. I thank the caregivers and staff members for all they do.

United Way

The folks at United Way of Northeast Louisiana are so committed to making our region a better place. Whether it is rallying hundreds of people to volunteer in our communities, or making sure families have the resources they need to live and thrive, they are truly changing lives around our great state.

Legislative Update

Floor and Committee Activity:

• I voted for H.R. 2670 the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure our servicemen and women are fully trained and equipped to defend our country. The FY24 NDAA will benefit servicemen and women, strengthen America’s ability to counter the Chinese Communist threat, and implement strong investments in our Louisiana military bases.
• In the recent Education and Workforce Committee hearing, I questioned the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and The University of Pennsylvania about their handling of antisemitism on their campuses. I was severely disappointed with their lackluster testimonies about protecting their Jewish students. I am committed to holding campus leaders accountable and voted in support of H.Res. 927, to condemn the testimonies of these college presidents
• The Education and Workforce Committee considered H.R. 6585, The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which would allow students to use Pell grants to gain additional technical skills through high-quality education programs that they otherwise may not be able to afford. I cosponsored this bill because it will help students quickly move into high-demand jobs, providing invaluable education experiences and addressing workforce shortages simultaneously.
• I supported H.R. 4468, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act of 2023, to protect consumer choice in auto sales. Louisianans should have the ability to choose what kind of car they drive, not have the government mandate it for them.
• I supported H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, to ensure students have access to more varieties of milk in their schools and to benefit the dairy industry in Louisiana.
• I supported H.Res. 918 to move forward with the investigative process of formalizing the Impeachment Inquiry of President Biden. Americans deserve transparency regarding President Biden’s personal business engagements. I am committed to holding government officials accountable and ensuring that our nation’s leaders are acting in the best interest of Louisianans.
• I supported H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, by taking steps to directly lower health care costs and increase the transparency of healthcare costs for patients.

Notable Letters & Bills:

• I introduced the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2023 to provide farmers impacted by natural disasters with the option to receive advance emergency payments prior to carrying out emergency measures, and additionally expand eligibility for upfront payments to include damage caused by fires.
• I wrote a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture urging him to take a serious look at the impact of drought and excessive heat on Louisiana agriculture this year. Our farmers are experiencing significant loss of crops and income, and the success of this industry is crucial since we represent the largest agriculture district in Louisiana. I will continue to fight for critical resources to support our agricultural industry.
• I signed a letter to voice my concerns about the implementation of new changes to the USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments for losses from 2022. Despite clear Congressional direction, the Department did not provide the level of assistance that farmers needed to handle their losses resulting from natural disasters. We are calling on the USDA to reconsider this program and return to the 2021 guidelines.
• I cosponsored a resolution to honor The 30th Anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. This program offers an alternative education to at-risk youth and helps shape them into productive citizens who are ready for their next steps. I visited the Louisiana program earlier this year and am proud of its positive influence on the youth in our community.
• I signed a letter to Leadership asking them to prevent additional cuts to Medicare reimbursement payments for physicians. These cuts could have negative effects on rural and underserved areas and could strain limited health care resources in our rural communities.

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