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Thank you for contacting my office. You are receiving this email because you have written to my office, or because you signed up for this newsletter. I write to give you a brief update on the current legislative session, along with other information that may be useful to you. I would also appreciate if you can fill out this survey so that I can hear your views on several issues that we will be visiting this legislative session. (If you returned the post card with your responses - thank you!)

The Louisiana Department of Health is reaching out to everyone who receives Medicaid benefits to update your contact information! Click the photo above for more information.

The Louisiana Legislature is currently in regular session until June 6, 2022. As this is a "general" session, many bills have been filed (about 1600!). You may see some of them in the news, such as bills related to regulating the insurance industry post-Ida. I filed several bills that may be of interest to you, including: protections for tenants after a federal disaster; the ability of New Orleans to pass our own gun laws to help deal with increased violence; regulation of the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA); a ban on conversion "therapy"; and several other issues.

Last week, the Legislature chose to override Governor Edwards' veto of the Congressional map passed a few weeks ago. I voted "no" on override. The map only has 1 majority-minority opportunity district out of 6, when it should have 2, as the state's population is 1/3 Black. This map is now in federal litigation and it will be a while before we know what will happen next.

The main priority of the Orleans Delegation this legislative session will be to ensure that the City receives the funds it needs for the Sewerage & Water Board Power Plant, as well as several other important infrastructure projects. I requested and hope to receive funding for a drainage project in Hollygrove in District 91, along with funding for the Port of New Orleans and other important projects.

You may remember that one of my top priorities last year was the extension of Medicaid postpartum for new mothers, an effort strongly supported by my colleagues. Many new moms lose their coverage 60 days following birth; ensuring a year of postpartum coverage helps the population who needs it most, in the state with one of the highest maternal mortality rate. We found out last week that not only has this new coverage finally been approved and gone into effect, but that Louisiana was the first state in the country to do so. I am so so proud of the hard work of so many advocates over the past year to make this a reality.

If you'd like to learn more about a bill, you can start your research at this link. Bills can be searched by year, author, number, committee, or even by word search. I made a short video that shows how to find a bill on the legislature's website. All committee hearings are posted here as well, and you can watch committee meetings and floor debate live.

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority invited the Natural Resources Committee to tour the Spanish Pass Marsh & Ridge project which will create 7 miles of land, and is a huge part of ongoing coastal restoration efforts in our area.

Here is some of the other work that I perform as part of my legislative duties:

I am one of 8 representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House, to be on the Special Committee that is investigating the death of Ronald Greene. Mr. Greene was killed in 2019 while in Louisiana State Police custody. There are many questions and complications surrounding his death, and this committee is examining the incident, as well as LSP's response. Here are a few articles on this committee's work: here, here, and here (includes a short interview with me).

I was recently on WDSU's the Hot Seat discussing legislative session, along with three of my colleagues. Click here to view.

I am occasionally contacted by national media for certain issues. I recently was interviewed about a new Louisiana Supreme Court opinion that could have devastating effects on the right to peacefully protest. I was also interviewed by CNN immediately prior to and after Hurricane Ida.

Gambit readers voted me their favorite legislator for the second year in a row. Thank you to all constituents who voted!

I recently toured the Spanish Pass Marsh Creation in Barataria Basin as a member of the Natural Resources Committee. This will be a 7 mile stretch of land and marsh, just one piece of ongoing coastal restoration projects through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. This will cost about $100 million, paid for by BP oil spill settlement money.

If you or a friend or family member needs assistance with unemployment, SNAP, the Office of Motor Vehicles, or any other state benefit or state agency, please email me at hse091@legis.la.gov or leave a message at (504) 895-2526.  My district director, Nicole Hershey, has helped hundreds of constituents, and we will do all we can to assist you.

I am always happy to speak to neighborhood associations, school groups, advocacy groups, or anything that you might think I could provide assistance with. 

If you have ideas for legislation, please reach out!

You can always keep up with what I've been doing in the news, and I'm very active on both Twitter and Instagram.

Stay safe.

Rep. Mandie Landry

Louisiana House

District 91 - New Orleans