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Adams and Reese EC Chair and leading Government Relations Partner Jeff Brooks authored a guest column published in the “Louisiana Beltway Beat” Politics & Policy section of State Affairs, an intelligence news and legislative update platform for government insiders.
Brooks discusses the impact on Louisiana now that the Republicans swept the presidency, House, and Senate, including Louisiana’s own Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise remaining speaker of the House and House majority leader, respectively. Brooks and members of the Adams and Reese GR team have had a longstanding relationship with Congressional members, including Louisiana’s current delegation.
At Adams and Reese, Brooks is serving a sixth term as Executive Committee Chair. Brooks has been an integral member of the firm’s GR Practice since he helped establish the firm’s DC office in 1997. Brooks represents clients’ interests at the federal, state, and local levels, in diverse areas, including energy, transportation, public works, budget appropriations, education, and financial services, among others.
Below is Brooks’ column published by State Affairs.
BY JEFF BROOKS
With Republicans sweeping the presidency, House and Senate, Louisiana’s own Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise will remain speaker of the House and House majority leader, respectively, for the 119th United States Congress. So how does Republican control of Washington impact Louisiana over the next two-to-four years?
The answer is twofold. First, let’s start with President-Elect Donald Trump. The state of Louisiana voted for Trump, so many of his potential policies should favor the state’s economy.
For instance, a Trump presidency likely creates the potential for robust growth and opportunities for increased production in the Gulf, both on the outer continental shelf and inland, and a potential five-year plan for lease sales. For years, our congressional delegation has preached an “all of the above” energy strategy. These strategies include oil and gas, natural gas, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy, and this diversification will give Louisiana opportunities in the energy sector under the Trump administration. Trump has also discussed the potential for corporate tax cuts, and many of our congressional delegation members, including Johnson and Scalise, will be at the forefront of leading those tax cuts through Congress.
Secondly, under Republican control of Congress, in addition to Johnson and Scalise, many of the Louisiana delegation may have the opportunity to assume leadership positions within House and Senate committees. Those positions will be announced over the upcoming weeks, and those appointments will be critical for Louisiana to continue to improve energy, economic development, defense infrastructure, transportation and additional critical industry needs.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, as ranking member of Senate Health Education Labor and Education Committee, is poised to take the chairmanship of that committee. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, through his leadership efforts on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, may rise to chair of that committee, which determines all discretionary spending and has broad oversight over expenditures made by the federal government.
Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who won re-election in Louisiana’s new 5th Congressional District, remains on the House Appropriations Committee and may rise to a higher position with more of an influence for money invested in Louisiana. Congressman Clay Higgins is in position to rise to leadership on the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Congressman Troy Carter, who won re-election in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, has the potential to become a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, following his success in gaining infrastructure and transportation projects for Louisiana over the last two years. Congressman-elect Cleo Fields, who won Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, will have a leading voice in the House.
While Louisiana’s congressional delegation is small in comparison to other states, the opportunities our delegation has are a true testament to their leadership skills, hard work and success while they have been in office.
Note: Adams and Reese is holding a free webinar about the election results on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 11:30 a.m. Central Time on the ON24 webcast platform. Click the link for more information.
Jeff Brooks is a partner in the Adams and Reese Washington, D.C. office. The firm has more than 320 attorneys and advisors in 20 offices and 10 states, including D.C.