WASHINGTON – This week, six bills led and sponsored by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) were signed into law, headed to the President’s Desk, and passed the U.S. Senate via unanimous consent. This included renaming a post office in Rayville, Louisiana in honor of Luke Letlow, providing tax relief for Hurricanes Francine and Ida victims, improving health care for expectant mothers, and supporting Gold Star family spouses and veterans organizations.
TAX RELIEF LEGISLATION FOR HURRICANE FRANCINE AND IDA VICTIMS HEADED TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Cassidy took to the Senate floor on Wednesday night to pass his bill that provides tax relief for Americans impacted by Hurricanes Francine and Ida. Now heading to the President’s Desk to be signed into law, the bill allows Hurricanes Francine and Ida victims and victims of other Presidentially-declared major natural disasters to deduct qualified disaster-related personal casualty losses from their income, even when taking the standard deduction.
“Three years after Hurricane Ida and months after Hurricane Francine hit Louisiana, communities are still recovering, and every bit helps,” said Dr. Cassidy.
LEGISLATION SUPPORTING VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS HEADED TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Cassidy’s Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act would expand the deductibility of charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations serving current and former members of the Armed Forces. Specifically, it overturns a provision that prohibits veteran organizations from accepting tax-deductible donations if their membership contains over 10 percent peacetime veterans.
“Giving back to the men and women who wore the uniform for our freedom is a noble cause,” said Dr. Cassidy. “If this bill incentivizes one more American to help our veterans, then it has been a good day in the U.S. Senate.”
SENATE PASSES CASSIDY BILL TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Cassidy’s bicameral Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act aimed at improving health care for expectant mothers passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday night.
“Maternal mortality is preventable and far too common in Louisiana today,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Passing this bill through the Senate is one step closer to providing high-risk moms the comfort to stay in their homes while her physician remotely monitors her and her baby’s health.”
CASSIDY BILL SUPPORTING GOLD STAR SPOUSES PASSES SENATE WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT
Cassidy’s Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday night as well. The legislation increases access to job counseling services for spouses of members of the Armed Forces who died while on active duty – “surviving spouses” – through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, a program housed within the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service at the U.S. Department of Labor.
“The families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice deserve the best we have to offer,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Passing this bill ensures Gold Star spouses always have access to the services they need.”
CASSIDY-SPONSORED BILL TO STOP AI “REVENGE PORN” UNANIMOUSLY PASSES U.S. SENATE
On Tuesday night, the Cassidy-sponsored TAKE IT DOWN Act unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII (commonly referred to as “deepfake revenge pornography”), and require social media and similar websites to have in place procedures to remove such content within 48 hours of notice from a victim.
The TAKE IT DOWN ACT has received widespread support from nearly 90 organizations, including victim advocacy groups, law enforcement, and tech industry leaders.
“The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a crucial step toward protecting victims of intimate image abuse, especially minors, in today’s digital world,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I’m pleased to see we are closer to making this a reality.”
POST OFFICE NAMING HONORING LUKE LETLOW SIGNED INTO LAW
Cassidy’s legislation to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Benedette Street in Rayville, Louisiana, as the “Luke Letlow Post Office Building” was signed into law. Luke Letlow was a Start native who dedicated his life to public service. He was elected in 2020 to represent the 5th Congressional District of Louisiana but died of complications from COVID-19 before being sworn into office.
“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,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This post office naming memorializes his work, his life, and the tragedy of COVID.”
Cassidy delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor in support of the bill and to honor Luke Letlow’s life of service.
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