Cassidy Breaks Ground on New Livingston Executive Airport, Receives Award for Supporting Charter Schools

On Thursday morning, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Livingston Executive Airport, which will be located in Satsuma, Louisiana. Livingston Parish launched its Airport District in 2016 and has taken the steps necessary to secure ownership of suitable land, obtain an environmental assessment, and wetlands permit, receive recognition from the Federal Aviation Administration for its air space and qualify for state aviation funding.

"The new Livingston airport will be a gateway to a parish that is growing now and will grow even more in the future," said Dr. Cassidy. "This is this generation's gift to every generation that comes after."

When complete, the Livingston Executive Airport will service general aviation, including potentially new local business opportunities and space for air passengers attempting to land in Louisiana for major events when pre-existing airports are at capacity for arriving flights. The airport will have a 5,000-foot runway, a parallel taxiway, and hangars for pilots to house their planes. Cassidy was joined by multiple elected and appointed officials, including Ms. Delia Taylor, Chair for the Livingston Parish Airport District.

"We are excited about this project becoming reality and the potential it holds for our parish and the greater region," said Ms. Taylor. "Already, we have received a tremendous amount of interest in investing in our project. We will be working with our leadership over the coming months to advance construction efforts and identify those opportunities that best represent our vision."

Additionally last evening, Cassidy received the highest award from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools at their Charter Champions and Education Champions Award Ceremony in Baton Rouge. He was honored with a Charter Champion Belt as a fighter for charter schools and the students and families they serve.

"Charter schools could also be called parents' choice schools," said Dr. Cassidy. "They give parents the ability to choose the setting that's best for their child. We should all support the schools which are supporting these parents."

As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Cassidy has been a leader on school choice and increasing charter school options for students. Last May, he introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure access to public property and provide federal grants to states for charter school facilities. The grants, available from the Federal Charter Schools Program, can be used by charter schools to acquire and renovate existing facilities, cover ongoing facilities costs, or create a reserve fund for future acquisition, renovation, or maintenance. Cassidy also introduced bipartisan legislation to streamline the application process for new charter schools.

Additionally last January, he introduced the Educational Choice for Children Act, which creates a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. The legislation would provide $10 billion in annual tax credits to support parents' ability to secure the best educational opportunities for their children.

Cassidy was thanked for his efforts by Ms. Caroline Roemer, Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of Public Schools, whose organization represents and supports charter schools across Louisiana.

"We were thrilled to present U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy with a Charter Champion Award for his tireless work on behalf of students in Louisiana," said Ms. Roemer. "Senator Cassidy understands the importance of meeting each child where they are because not every student's needs are the same."

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