Vision

Politicians left us behind.
Conrad puts us first.

Work Should Pay

  • Louisiana has never set its own minimum wage. Workers are stuck at $7.25 an hour, the same as in 2009. Most families in District 4 don’t earn enough to cover basic needs.

    A living wage in Shreveport-Bossier is over $15 an hour for a single adult and over $30 an hour for a parent with one child. Many full-time workers live in poverty despite working hard every day.

    We can do better. The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 would raise the minimum to $17 by 2030, but that is not enough. Workers deserve a wage that rises with inflation each year, so no one has to struggle to survive.

    Source: Census Reporter

  • Unions help workers get fair pay, benefits, and safe workplaces. When union membership was at its peak in America, we saw growth, prosperity, and stronger communities. Strong unions give workers a real voice.

    Unions let workers negotiate openly, instead of leaving decisions about wages, hours, and safety to corporations behind closed doors. This puts power in the hands of the people who actually make the economy run.

    Louisiana laws have long been stacked against workers. Wages are too low, hours are cut, benefits are stripped. Leaders who put corporations first instead of workers have let this continue for too long.

    It doesn’t have to stay this way. Together, we can protect union rights, strengthen worker protections, and make work fair, safe, and dignified for everyone.

    Source: Congress

  • Tipped minimum wage policies hurt restaurant workers, who have earned only $2.13 an hour since 1991. This wage keeps many workers trapped in poverty.

    The system encourages wage theft and unequal pay. Women and people of color are affected the most, often facing harassment and exploitation. Too many politicians have ignored these problems, leaving workers to struggle for fairness. In a district where a third of the population is African American and half are women, we must ensure a living wage for all workers. 

    Source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research

Healthcare You Can Count On

  • The U.S. is the only wealthy country that does not guarantee health coverage. Millions go without insurance, even though the U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other nation. Too many people pay high bills and get worse care than they deserve.

    It is time for change. Medicare for All ensures everyone can see a doctor, get medicine, and stay healthy without going into debt or skipping care. Healthcare should depend on need, not income. 

    Sources: The Commonwealth Fund and United States Census Bureau

  • One-third of Louisiana’s population relies on Medicaid, including children, working adults, people with disabilities, and seniors. Nearly one in six residents use Medicare.

    Federal cuts could remove millions from coverage, force states to reduce services, and lead to hospital closures and layoffs. These cuts would hurt families, workers, and communities across Louisiana.

    We must protect Medicare and Medicaid so everyone can get care when they need it, without worrying about losing coverage or facing impossible bills.

    Sources: KFF, Congressional Budget Office, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  • Thirty-three rural hospitals in Louisiana are at risk of closing because of recent federal policies. Nine of these hospitals are in District 4.

    Even one closure can leave an entire parish without a medical center or emergency room. That means people could die from treatable emergencies because care is too far away. We must act to keep hospitals open and protect families in every community.

    Source: Ed Markey, Senate

  • Paid family and medical leave lets workers take time off for what matters most: bonding with a new child, recovering from illness, or caring for a loved one.

    The current FMLA doesn’t guarantee paid leave, leaving families struggling. We support fair minimum standards for parental leave for both parents, plus flexible schedules. Under this plan, mothers would get at least 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. Fathers or second parents would get at least 10 paid days. After the minimum, parents could also share up to four months of general parental leave between them.

    This would keep families healthy, reduce stress, and ensure workers don’t have to choose between their jobs and their loved ones.

    Source: Texas A&M Health

  • Thousands of households in District 4, especially along the Red River and Bayou D’Arbonne, rely on affordable flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) protects billions in property, but federal support is not keeping up with rising costs.

    Without help, rural homeowners could see premiums skyrocket or lose coverage entirely. Families in places like Monroe, Lake Charles, Natchitoches, and Ruston could be just one flood away from financial ruin.

    We will fund and reform NFIP so insurance stays affordable and reliable. Everyone deserves protection that keeps them safe and their homes secure, even after a storm.

    Sources: FEMA and Louisiana Illuminator

  • Louisiana is one of the states hit hardest by tornadoes and severe weather. In 2024, the state saw 92 tornadoes, killing three people.

    Federal cuts have reduced staff and resources at NOAA and the National Weather Service, making communities more vulnerable. Strong weather services save lives and protect property. We must restore and strengthen them.

    Source: Insurance Information Institute

  • No family should have to choose between paying their mortgage and keeping insurance. Rates are out of control, and some companies take advantage of Louisiana families.

    We need to make sure coverage is affordable and reliable so homeowners are not left unprotected after a storm. Insurance companies must be held accountable to the communities they serve. Every family deserves the peace of mind that their home and children are protected.

    Sources: Bankrate and Insurance.com

Real Relief When Disaster Strikes

No Family Hungry

  • Many parts of Louisiana have no easy access to fresh food. In rural areas, the nearest grocery store may be 20–30 miles away. In some cities, families are left with only Dollar Stores or corner stores.

    We support using federal and state funding to open USDA fresh food stores in both rural and urban communities. Paired with SNAP benefits, these stores will help families put healthy food on the table and keep money in the local economy by supporting small and regional farms and ranches.

    Sources: Feeding Louisiana and No Kid Hungry

  • In Louisiana, one in six people depend on SNAP to help buy groceries. Federal cuts threaten to take food off the tables of even more families. Already, more than 800,000 people in our state live with food insecurity, including nearly 250,000 children.

    Hunger in the wealthiest nation in the world is unacceptable. America produces enough food, yet families in Louisiana are going without. We must make sure our families and our children are fed. We have the food. We have the ability. No excuse. 

    Source: ReFED

  • For too long, the Farm Bill has favored big industrial agriculture while small and medium farms struggle to survive. On top of that, cuts to programs like SNAP hurt families while corporate subsidies stay untouched.

    We need to rewrite the Farm Bill so it supports family farms, not just giant corporations. That means expanding local food networks, backing USDA fresh food stores, and tying federal dollars to fair pay and fair prices.

    Strong family farms mean stronger communities and a fairer food system for everyone.

    Source: The Nature Conservancy

  • For thousands of kids in District 4, school meals are their main meals. When families lose SNAP, children often lose eligibility for school meals too.

    We already know how to fix this. During the pandemic, we provided free meals to every student, and it worked. When that program ended, millions of children were put aside again.

    Hunger doesn’t just hurt kids’ health, it makes it harder for them to learn. No child in America should go hungry at school. We must guarantee breakfast and lunch for every child, every day.

    Source: Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

water and rural internet

  • Too many communities in District 4 have unsafe or unreliable water. Across Louisiana, a third of water systems are rated C or lower. Eighty-two systems are failing outright and dozens more are close behind. Families cannot live, work, or thrive without clean water.

    We need to fix our broken water systems and guarantee safe, reliable drinking water for every household. Clean water is not optional. It is a basic right.

    Source: Environmental Working Group

  • Reliable internet is essential today for work, school, health, and everyday life. Many rural areas in Louisiana still lack the infrastructure to participate fully in the modern economy.

    Louisiana’s current internet speeds are far below the global average, which means our families, students, and businesses are left behind. We need to build fiber networks in rural areas and make fast, reliable internet the standard for all of Louisiana, so everyone can stay connected and thrive.

    Source: BroadbandNow

End Dark Money, End Corruption

  • The Citizens United ruling opened the door for corporations, wealthy donors, and special interests to dominate our elections. Big money now has too much influence, while everyday families have almost no voice.

    In Louisiana, this means politicians often put corporate interests first instead of listening to the families and workers who actually live here. We must overturn Citizens United and stop dark money from controlling politics. Elections should be about the people, not the richest donors.

    Sources: Brennan Center for Justice (A) and (B)

  • Most Americans agree that members of Congress should not be allowed to trade individual stocks. They have access to inside information, and it is not fair for them to profit from it.

    We support a full ban on congressional stock trading. Every member of Congress should choose between serving the people or serving their own portfolio.

    Source: Common Cause

  • Too many politicians leave office and cash in as lobbyists for the same corporations they once regulated. Big legislation is often written with heavy input from corporate lobbyists, while everyday Louisianans are left behind.

    We will end this revolving door with lifetime bans on former members of Congress lobbying for industries they oversaw. District 4 needs lawmakers fighting for rural hospitals, schools, and farmers at home, not lobbyists.

    Sources: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congress and Joe Neguse, Congress

  • District 4 is heavily gerrymandered, splitting cities and parishes to weaken the voices of everyday people. At the same time, voter suppression laws make it harder for working families, students, and seniors to cast a ballot.

    We support national standards to end partisan gerrymandering and protect voting rights. That means fair maps, automatic registration, and restored protections under the Voting Rights Act. When many residents live in poverty or face food insecurity, their voices should matter, not be carved up to protect incumbents and special interests. Organized people have the power to beat organized money.

    Source: Protect Democracy, League of Women Voters, and Brennan Center for Justice