Speaker Mike Johnson promotes Budget Bill during Northeast Louisiana tour

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - House Speaker Mike Johnson spent Wednesday touring Northeast Louisiana, promoting the newly passed federal budget bill and addressing key issues from agriculture to education.

“‘America First’ is no longer just a slogan, it’s now the law of the land,” Johnson told a crowd during one of several stops across the region.

At Louisiana Tech University, Johnson met with academic leaders to discuss free speech on college campuses. He called universities the “marketplace of ideas,” stressing the importance of open debate and differing viewpoints in higher education.

“The point of an academic institution is for people to have vigorous debate and find truth through that process,” he said. “But that has been silenced.”

Johnson also spoke with local farmers about agriculture policy, emphasizing the bill’s rural investments in infrastructure and energy.

“Ag is a big component of the big, beautiful bill,” he said. “It’ll make the Farm Bill a much lighter lift this time around.”

Healthcare access in rural areas was another focus. Johnson highlighted a $50 billion fund in the bill aimed at helping small hospitals stay open.

“We’re not getting rid of rural hospitals,” he said. “We’re shoring up safety net programs to ensure healthcare remains available.”

He added that Medicaid spending will continue to rise, despite claims of cuts. “We didn’t cut Medicaid, we cut fraud, waste and abuse.”

Johnson concluded his visit in Monroe, describing the legislation as a budget reconciliation bill and the GOP’s primary legislative tool.

“This is the only procedural tool we have,” he said. “And we used it.”

Speaker Johnson wasn’t met with just praise though, as protestors gathered outside the luncheon.

READ MORE: Protestors gathered as U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson visited Monroe

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