Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy participated in the grand opening of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) new campus in mid-city New Orleans, Southeast Louisiana. The event marks the merger of NAMI's New Orleans and St. Tammany branches to create a Southeast Louisiana affiliate aimed at enhancing mental health care services in the region.

“I appreciate NAMI’s partnership in improving access to quality mental health care in Southeast Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This remains a top priority of mine in Congress.”

Cassidy has been active in expanding mental health resources across Louisiana, contributing to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, which improved access to mental health and suicide prevention programs through community centers and schools. This legislation also invested in telehealth for rural and underserved communities.

Furthering his commitment, Cassidy led efforts to reauthorize resources from his Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, part of the 21st Century Cures Act, which enhanced children’s access to mental health care and boosted suicide prevention initiatives.

The new NAMI Southeast Louisiana branch will serve nine parishes including Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington by offering behavioral health services and housing for those with serious mental illnesses who are homeless.

“We were honored to have Senator Cassidy join us for this momentous occasion,” said Nick Richard, Executive Director of NAMI Southeast Louisiana.

In addition to attending the grand opening ceremony, Cassidy hosted his fourth Rural Community Funding Summit of 2024 in Covington alongside local associations such as the Louisiana Municipal Association and LITACorp. These summits aim to help communities secure funding from Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for infrastructure improvements like water systems and flood mitigation projects.

“The North Shore and the Florida Parishes are growing rapidly. Expanding infrastructure is essential,” said Dr. Cassidy.“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Recently announced funds include over $101 million for rail construction, airport upgrades, gas infrastructure replacement, water system repairs across Louisiana; $9.8 million for flood mitigation elevations in St. Tammany Parish; $1.5 million since May for Bogalusa airport improvements; over $2.7 million since June for Slidell's Bayou Patassat Green Corridor Project.

Madisonville Mayor Jean Pelloat expressed gratitude towards Senator Cassidy: “Every mayor and council member...wants to meet residents' needs...We appreciate that Senator Cassidy has made money available."

Future summits will occur Tuesday at Rayne Civic Center and Wednesday at Price LeBlanc PACE Center in Gonzales.