Dozens of Republican Louisiana state lawmakers Tuesday visited Washington for the White House State Leadership Conference, where three of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet secretaries and other officials discussed the administration’s policy agenda during what attendees described as an open dialogue.
“Nothing was off limits,” said Rep. Julie Emerson, R- Carencro. “They were there to answer whatever questions we had.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum took questions from the Louisiana delegation, as did officials from the justice, energy and education departments.
Louisiana legislators weren’t asked to craft or implement any particular policy but instead participated in a dialogue aimed at establishing open lines of communications with the Trump administration, state lawmakers said after the event.
Lutnick emphasized that Trump is “very committed” to his plan to bring back manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., Emerson said.
“He talked a lot about reshoring American manufacturing,” said Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, adding that the commerce secretary mentioned products like computer chips, steel and pharmaceuticals. “(He) encouraged us to make Louisiana a more business-friendly state for these manufacturing facilities.”
Discussion about tariffs drew praise from Rep. Mike Bayham, R-Chalmette, and other Louisiana lawmakers, especially for the Trump administration’s new levies on imported seafood.
“We thanked them for the tariffs,” Bayham said. “They want to make sure that we have a fair shot, that we don’t lose our domestic commercial seafood industry.”
Hegseth lauded Louisiana for supporting its military installations, noting in particular Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk.
Other topics included liquefied natural gas, or LNG, reopening oil and gas leasing in the Gulf, federal support for coastal restoration and hurricane protection, flood insurance and education.
Officials reiterated they are looking to downsize and close the Department of Education, Emerson said.
The four-hour event, hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, was billed a chance for Louisiana elected officials “to learn how to partner with the administration to implement President Trump’s agenda at the state and local level.”
Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, were at the conference, which was held at the Executive Office Building, next to the White House’s West Wing.
No Democratic state lawmakers attended. House Democratic Caucus Chair Matthew Willard said he believed Democrats did not receive invitations.
Gov. Jeff Landry didn’t attend but endorsed the delegation’s visit, saying Louisiana is playing “a pivotal role” in the country’s transformation under Trump.
“It is great to have Louisiana leaders in our nation’s capital to gain policy perspective and build relationships with our federal partners to ensure Louisiana is working lockstep to implement President Trump’s America First agenda,” Landry spokesperson Elizabeth Crochet said in a statement.
Over the last few months, groups of elected officials from other states like Georgia, Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi traveled to Washington for similar meetings.