Central Louisiana News

This week, six bills led and sponsored by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) were signed into law, passed the U.S. Senate, or are headed to the President’s Desk. These legislative measures include renaming a post office in Rayville, Louisiana in honor of Luke Letlow, providing tax relief for victims of Hurricanes Francine and Ida, improving healthcare for expectant mothers, and supporting Gold Star family spouses and veterans organizations.

Cassidy's bill offering tax relief to those affected by Hurricanes Francine and Ida is now awaiting the President's signature. This legislation allows victims of these hurricanes and other major natural disasters to deduct disaster-related personal casualty losses from their income while taking the standard deduction. "Three years after Hurricane Ida and months after Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana, communities are still recovering, and every bit helps," stated Dr. Cassidy.

Another bill from Cassidy aims to support veteran service organizations through the Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act. This act seeks to expand charitable contribution deductions for federally chartered tax-exempt organizations serving current and former Armed Forces members by overturning restrictions on donations if over 10 percent of their membership comprises peacetime veterans. Dr. Cassidy remarked, "Giving back to the men and women who wore the uniform for our freedom is a noble cause."

The Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act also passed the Senate this week with a focus on improving healthcare for expectant mothers through remote monitoring technologies. Dr. Cassidy commented on this initiative: "Maternal mortality is preventable and far too common in Louisiana today."

Additionally, Cassidy's Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act gained unanimous support in the Senate. This legislation enhances access to job counseling services for surviving spouses through programs within the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service at the U.S. Department of Labor.

In another legislative effort, the TAKE IT DOWN Act was unanimously approved by the Senate on Tuesday night. The act criminalizes non-consensual intimate imagery publication including AI-generated content known as “deepfake revenge pornography” while requiring online platforms to remove such content within 48 hours upon notice from a victim. Dr. Cassidy emphasized its importance: "The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a crucial step toward protecting victims of intimate image abuse."

Lastly, legislation designating a United States Postal Service facility in Rayville as the “Luke Letlow Post Office Building” was signed into law honoring Luke Letlow’s public service contributions before his untimely death due to COVID-19 complications.

Dr. Cassidy reflected on this dedication: "Luke’s death at too young of an age due to COVID robbed his family, Louisiana, and our nation of a man who served others his entire professional life."