07.19.18
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LRN PM Newscall July 19th

North Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham has been tagged to help negotiate the differences between the Senate and House’s farm bill. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana homeowners who suffered flood damage in 2016 have until tomorrow to fill out the Restore Louisiana Survey. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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North Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham has been named to the conference committee that will try to resolve differences in the Senate and House’s Farm Bill. The Farm Bill sets agriculture policy for the next five years, and also houses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Abraham says he’s looking for big changes to the food stamp program.

 

Cut 3 (07) “to work.”

Abraham says he’ll be pushing the conference committee, made up of select House Representatives and Senators, to adopt a program he’s pushing that would facilitate educational and vocational training for SNAP beneficiaries.

Cut 4  (11) “for that.”

Farm Bill discussions are hitting just as the Chinese trade war ramps up, with the eastern power targeting US agricultural products in response to the Trump Administration’s initial round of tariffs. Abraham says while that trade war heats up, he wants to make sure Louisiana growers are protected.

Cut 5  (10) “these tariffs”

The current Farm Bill expires at the end of September.

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Practitioners who use the hair-removal technique known as eyebrow threading no longer need 750 hours in order to work in Louisiana. Institute of Justice attorney Renee Flaherty says the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology has a new policy that doesn’t require expensive training.

Cut 6 (10)  “…with the state.”

Flaherty says the Institute for Justice filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Cosmetology on behalf of two eyebrow threaders in order to change the previous mandate for 750 hours of training, which is not needed to be an eyebrow threader.

Cut 7 (10)  “…simply don’t do.”

Renee believes the Board is doing the right thing and she says this will allow hundreds of threaders and their clients to practice the ancient grooming technique.

Cut 8 (10) “…back to work.”

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Louisiana’s Republican Congressional Delegation is lashing out against US Senate Democrats who blocked a House resolution from Congressman Clay Higgins that endorses the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE. Higgins says the movement to abolish ICE endangers national security and threatens ICE agents.

cut 9 (09)  “American citizens”

ICE has become a controversial agency in recent months, as the agency that has been tasked with carrying out the Trump Administration’s immigration policies such as family separations and detainment of asylum seekers.

Congressman Steve Scalise praised ICE agents for their work tracking down and deporting tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants from American communities.

Cut 10 (07) “our country”

But Immigrant advocates say ICE is being used to terrorize immigrants in Louisiana who are not a threat to public safety and who moved to the state years ago to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Congress of Day Laborers Organizer Rachel Taber says the mass marches against the agency last month show its time for a change.

Cut 11 (12) “of immigrants.”

Higgins’ resolution passed the House 244-35. A similar resolution that would denounce those who call for the agencies abolishment has been brought in the Senate by John Kennedy.

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Friday is the deadline for Louisiana homeowners who had flood damage in 2016 to fill out a survey to participate in the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program. The governor’s Communications Director Shauna Sanford says 52,500 homeowners have completed the survey that can result in federal assistance for home repairs…

Cut 12 (09)   “…over the phone”

Sanford believes those that have not yet completed the survey are hesitant to do so, due to receiving other forms of government assistance.

Cut 13 (11) “…from the Restore.” 

Many recipients for SBA loans have not been able to access money from the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program. But Sanford says Congress could make changes to the guidelines, making more flood victims eligible for additional federal assistance…

Cut 14 (10) “…out that survey”

Eligible homeowners have been offered grant awards totaling 348-million dollars through the Restore Homeowner Assistance Program. The survey can be found at restore.la.gov or call 1-866-735-2001.