‘Big Beautiful Bill’ proposes more funding for Louisiana military

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — After U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s tie-breaking vote, the reconciliation budget, also known as the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ is back in the House of Representatives.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says this bill will be beneficial to residents across the state of Louisiana.

“By our state’s constitution, we have to use that for coastal restoration or projects that support it. That’s a good thing, because we know that our state is vulnerable to hurricanes because our coastline [is] melting away,” says Senator Cassidy.

While many citizens are concerned about how the bill’s $4.5 trillion tax cuts will impact 33 rural hospitals in Louisiana, Sen. Cassidy states that safeguards have been put in place to protect those hospitals.

“There’s also a $50 billion fund set up specifically to help rural hospitals. So we’re not forgetting them; no, we’re very much invested in them. Both by preserving some of the medicaid money, but by having this $50 billion fund in addition to that.”

If passed, the bill’s proposed significant cuts to Medicaid could potentially result in reduced coverage and increased costs for individuals and healthcare providers, leaving approximately 200,000 Louisianians uninsured.

And with Northwest Louisiana being home to Barkdale Air Force Base, Cassidy says the bill’s provisions on the military are beneficial to the area. 

“This is so important to Northwest Louisiana, we make a major investment in the military. And increase their funding, which senate democrats would never allow us to do. Through this bill were increasing the funding for the military, which, of course, is so important to Barksdale and is so important to Fort Polk,” says Cassidy.

The House of Representatives is currently working to pass the bill before President Donald Trump’s self-imposed July 4th deadline.