SHREVEPORT – Yesterday afternoon, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke to the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, where he spoke about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) impact on their community, and what is being done to help their community.
“When I was negotiating this bill, it was my hope that our state would benefit as much as possible. It is a pleasure to visit Natchitoches and know that it has received a grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to redo a downtown thoroughfare,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I am working so that every village, town and city benefits.”
Specifically, the RAISE grant for Natchitoches is worth $17.2 million and was awarded in August of 2022. When completed, the City of Natchitoches says it will revitalize the Texas Street Business Corridor and rehabilitate feeder roads and neighborhood streets. There will also be new pavement, new and widened sidewalks, walking paths, marked bike and pedestrian lanes, and improved lighting.
As of last fall, money has also been awarded to replace bridges in Natchitoches Parish, as well as provide money to the Natchitoches Regional Airport. Cassidy was welcomed to the Chamber by Ms. Laura Lyles, President and CEO of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We appreciate Senator Cassidy taking the time to engage with our Chamber membership about legislative priorities and how they impact our region,” said Ms. Lyles. “This kind of open dialogue is crucial as we work together to create opportunities for growth and prosperity in our communities.”
Later that afternoon, Cassidy visited the CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center, where he held a wide-ranging discussion about the needs of Red River Parish with members of the policy jury, officials at CHRISTUS Coushatta, and the Superintendent of the Red River Parish School District.
“I did two good things in Red River Parish today,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I met with community leaders and toured Coushatta Hospital. In my meeting, I heard from them about the good things happening in Red River Parish. I got to talk about how legislation I worked on such as the Safer Communities Act can expand access to mental health care services in schools, and how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill can help meet Red River Parish’s needs.”
Before their meeting, Cassidy toured CHRISTUS Coushatta and learned how they meet their patients’ needs. According to them, they have highly trained health professionals and up-to-date technology, which helps them provide emergency care services, acute inpatient care, laboratory services, mammograms and oncology services, among other programs.
As a doctor and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Cassidy has been a champion for rural health care and underserved communities. Earlier this Congress, Cassidy introduced the Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act to improve rural ambulance services, and the PEERS in Medicare Act, to expand peer mental health counseling in rural areas. He also introduced the CONNECT for Health Act to expand telehealth services through Medicare and make COVID-era telehealth flexibilities permanent. This coupled with the launch of Louisiana’s new $1.35 billion broadband initiative funded by Cassidy’s IIJA will substantially improve telehealth access across the state.
Among others, Cassidy was thanked for visiting Coushatta by Mr. Brandon Hillman, the administrator for CHRISTUS in Coushatta and a member of the Red River Parish Police Jury.
“We appreciate Senator Cassidy taking the time to tour CHRISTUS Coushatta and to join leaders in Red River Parish for a roundtable discussion on local issues,” said Mr. Hillman. “We were able to engage in a robust discussion about the ways the Senator can continue to support rural health care in Louisiana, and the many federal resources available to enhance the infrastructure of the parish.”
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