U.S. Sen. John Kennedy highlighted Ascension Parish’s expanding industrial base and federal investments in flood protection Tuesday, telling local business leaders that continued infrastructure improvements will be critical as billions of dollars in new development flow into the parish.
Speaking at the Ascension Chamber of Commerce’s monthly member luncheon, Kennedy pointed to major investments by CF Industries and Hyundai Motor Group as examples of the parish’s growing role in Louisiana’s economy.
Kennedy also discussed his role as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which oversees funding for the Department of Energy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
He highlighted federal funding for flood-risk reduction and other infrastructure initiatives, including $5 million for the Lower Mississippi River Basin to develop recommendations for comprehensive management focused on flood-risk reduction, navigation and ecosystem restoration. Kennedy also pointed to $23 million for the Upper Barataria Basin Project to begin architectural and engineering design work for levees and other flood-control features.
Kennedy said the government’s role in supporting communities such as Ascension Parish should center on creating conditions that allow businesses to grow.
Government should provide the business community with four things, he said: “low taxes, reasonable regulation, decent infrastructure and a skilled workforce.”
“And then government needs to get the hell out of the way and let you go forth and multiply,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also discussed the broader U.S. economy, saying it remains on solid footing despite persistent inflation and the high cost of living.
He cited low unemployment, job creation and wage growth as signs of economic strength. But he described inflation as the economy’s biggest challenge, noting that a slower rate of inflation does not mean prices are falling.
Kennedy said addressing inflation will require reducing federal spending and regulations while promoting stronger economic growth. He argued that the federal government runs deficits because it spends too much and called for efforts to reduce fraud in government programs.
During a question-and-answer session following his speech, Kennedy was asked about AI data centers and the energy infrastructure needed to support them.
“We’ve got to figure out how to properly regulate it,” he said. “Congress is in the process of doing that now.”
Kennedy said he believes AI has great potential and is working with several colleagues on related legislation.
“Every AI model has to have a kill switch,” he said. “If this thing gets away from us, we’ve got to be able to stop it. The major companies have done a terrible job of explaining and selling AI.”
Kennedy also raised concerns about the amount of water consumed by data centers. He said the facilities should be required to use closed-loop water systems and pay for the electricity infrastructure needed to power their operations.
“They can afford it. No more riding on the backs of the people of America,” Kennedy said. “They’ve got to stop coming in and taking our tax money and our tax subsidies and wanting special breaks. We’re doing them a favor. They’ve got to talk straight up to the American people about artificial intelligence, what it’s going to mean to the extent they know, and they haven’t done a very good job of that. That’s why the American people and the people in Louisiana turned against them. It’s up to these companies to make their case and explain how we can work together.”
