Central Louisiana News

ALEXANDRIA – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) addressed the North Rapides Business and Industry Association’s (NRBIA) monthly meeting, highlighting the benefits of his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for central Louisiana. The discussion included a $1.35 billion investment into the GUMBO 2.0 broadband program announced alongside Governor Jeff Landry last Monday.

“I had a great meeting with local officials, speaking about how the bipartisan infrastructure bill has helped their communities and how they operate,” said Dr. Cassidy. "My goal is to serve.”

The GUMBO 2.0 broadband program aims to expand high-speed Internet access to 100,000 homes, including 60,000 in rural parishes. It will also extend access to 35,000 businesses and 4,000 “community anchor institutions,” such as schools or hospitals. The initiative is expected to create between 8,000 and 10,000 new jobs and increase Louisiana’s GDP by $1.3 billion.

Additional benefits from the IIJA are also slated for central Louisiana this year. These include $1.29 million awarded for cleaning up a one-acre brownfield in Alexandria, $500,000 provided to the Rapides Parish Policy Jury for updating its airport master plan study, and $384,000 allocated to the Rapides Area Planning Commission to improve transportation options for senior citizens, disabled individuals, and those in rural communities. Furthermore, the IIJA authorized the I-14 corridor project that will run from Georgia to Texas with stops in Leesville and Alexandria.

Cassidy also discussed his efforts to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset which reduce Social Security benefits for state and local government retirees. He proposes repealing these provisions as part of a broader Social Security reform package aimed at preventing an approximate 21% cut in Social Security benefits within nine years.

At the NRBIA meeting, State Representative Mike Johnson expressed gratitude towards Senator Cassidy for addressing central Louisiana's needs related to infrastructure and Social Security reforms.

“We thank Senator Cassidy for attending our monthly meeting today to discuss the needs of central Louisiana," said Speaker Pro Tempore Johnson. "Specifically, the announcement of the GUMBO 2.0 broadband program by Governor Landry last Monday, which Senator Cassidy helped finance, will connect rural parts of this region to high-speed broadband helping our schools, hospitals, and small businesses. Senator Cassidy’s leadership in helping make this happen is much appreciated.”