Cassidy Discusses Rural Broadband at Amite Chamber

BATON ROUGE - Yesterday afternoon, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke to the Amite Chamber of Commerce, where he talked about the benefits of his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), especially when it comes to extending high-speed broadband to rural Louisiana.

"There were business and community leaders who came today to learn how to make Tangipahoa safer and more prosperous," said Dr. Cassidy. "Because of the infrastructure bill, we can protect this area from floods and gas leaks, and take local small businesses global with high-speed broadband. We can partner to give our children and grandchildren a brighter future in this community."

The IIJA is providing $1.35 billion for the GUMBO 2.0 broadband program, which was announced last week alongside Governor Jeff Landry. The program will expand broadband access to 100,000 homes, including 60,000 in rural communities. Small businesses, schools, hospitals and law enforcement agencies will also benefit.

Tangipahoa Parish has benefitted in other ways from the IIJA. In July, over $890,000 was provided to the City of Hammond to make improvements to the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport. Additionally, Cassidy is working to secure money in a separate Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bill for the Airport Road and Highway 3158 Roundabout Project.

Cassidy also discussed his visit last month to Liuzza Farms in Tangipahoa Parish with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), the highest ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, as they prepare a future Farm Bill. Finally, he praised local leaders in the audience for the work they do to make Tangipahoa Parish better, including the new Sheriffs of Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes and the President of Southeastern Louisiana University. He was welcomed to the Chamber by President Bridget Keyser.

"We appreciate Senator Cassidy's willingness to visit us in Amite and advocate for us in Washington," said Ms. Keyser. "He is helping extend high-speed broadband to rural communities and ensure we have the same access to federal dollars for water and sewage upgrades that larger cities enjoy. That makes a big difference for Amite and our entire parish. On behalf of the Amite Chamber of Commerce, we thank him and look forward to working with him in the future."

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