WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) released the following statement after a report came out that L.B. Landry High School could be forced to close. 

“We must act now to save L. B. Landry High School.

“The clock is ticking, and Landry’s students, educators, families, and legacy cannot afford further delay. I am calling on NOLA Public Schools and the Orleans Parish School Board to act immediately to keep Landry open, identify a qualified operator, provide the resources students need, and ensure that the Algiers community has a meaningful voice in every decision.

“I grew up in Algiers, and my mother graduated from Landry in the early 1950s. As a member of the New Orleans City Council, I helped rename the street in honor of Dr. Lord Beaconsfield Landry because I understood what his name—and this school—mean to our community.

“We understand that Landry faces serious enrollment and financial challenges, but if Algiers Charter does not intend to renew its charter, then NOLA Public Schools must immediately begin a transparent search for a qualified operator, publish a clear transition timeline, and provide the enrollment, financial, and academic support Landry needs to remain open.

“I am also calling on the Orleans Parish School Board to work with NOLA Public Schools to identify funding, approve a viable operating plan, and consider every option for preserving Landry as a public high school, including interim management if necessary. Any potential operator must present a concrete plan to maintain strong academics, recruit and retain experienced educators, support current students, and rebuild enrollment through meaningful partnerships with Algiers families and community organizations.

“No decision should be made without a public process that gives students, families, educators, alumni, and residents a meaningful opportunity to be heard. The community must have a voice now—not after decisions about Landry’s future have already been made.

“Landry stood before my mother as she walked its halls, and generations of Algiers families have helped shape its story. We owe today’s students a quality education, and we owe future students a genuine effort to keep that story alive. Saving Landry will require urgency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the families who depend on it.

“Please contact NOLA Public Schools and the Orleans Parish School Board today. Tell them to keep L. B. Landry High School open, pursue every viable operating option, and include the Algiers community in the process. Your voice matters, and we need it now.

“I also urge you to attend the town hall I will host to hear from the community and discuss what it will take to keep Landry open. Please watch for details and make plans to attend. This is our opportunity to stand together and demand action before it is too late.

“Algiers has never been a community that gives up on its own. But saving Landry will require all of us to act now. Contact NOLA Public Schools, attend the town hall, and help us protect this vital institution for today’s students and generations to come.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) released the following statement after Converse and Nike released a social media campaign promoting the Chuck 70X sneaker – including pictures with serious racial implications.

“Nike and Converse, what the hell were you thinking?

“Your campaign shows what looks like a hooded Klansman, framed by what appears to be the dangling feet of a lynching victim. There is nothing creative or artistic about it. It is racist, reckless and deeply offensive.

“I am a Black man, a son of the South and a Member of Congress from Louisiana. Where I come from, the image of Black people hanging from trees is not ancient history. That pain still lives in our families and communities. The white hood is not some harmless costume. It is a symbol of terror, murder and generations of racial violence.

“Do not insult our intelligence by dismissing this as an unfortunate misunderstanding. An advertising campaign does not just appear. It is conceived, photographed, reviewed, approved and distributed. At every stage, someone had the opportunity—and the responsibility—to say no.

“Who created this campaign? Who approved it? How many executives saw it? Were there any Black people in the room? If so, did anyone listen to them?

“You do not get to quietly pull the images, issue a polished apology and move on. You do not get a do-over. The public deserves to know how this happened, who was responsible and what you intend to do about it.

“Black pain is not a marketing prop. Lynching is not a creative concept. The Ku Klux Klan is not an aesthetic.

“This campaign should never have been created, approved or released. Nike and Converse must answer for it. You have caused real harm, and repairing that harm will require more than an apology written by your public relations department.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA), alongside Reps.  LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Christian Menefee (D-TX), and Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), re-introduced the Equity in Research Act. This legislation creates a targeted National Science Foundation grant program to increase research capacity for under-resourced institutions of higher education.

“For far too long, students at under-resourced institutions have faced undue barriers to entering high-growth fields in STEM,” said Rep. Carter. “By strengthening research capacity at institutions that have long been at the forefront of empowering generations of students from historically under-resourced and underserved communities, we can strengthen our nation’s innovation pipeline and ensure that all students, not just some, have the resources and opportunity they need to pursue a future in STEM.”

“Researchers who are Black and brown often don’t get a seat at the table, and their contributions get drowned out,” said Rep McIver. “It is important that we provide opportunities to research institutions that are typically underfunded and undervalued because their researchers offer unique and valuable perspectives. Their work informs and supports scientific advancement and furthers workforce development and U.S. competitiveness. I am excited to provide grants that will support important long term work, not just one-time investments.”

“The next lifesaving cure, groundbreaking technology, or scientific discovery could come from a researcher who simply has not been given the resources to pursue it. When we invest in more researchers, more institutions, and more ideas, we expand what is possible,” said Rep Menefee. “That’s why I’m proud to support the Equity in Research Act alongside Rep. Carter and my colleagues in Congress and help ensure that great ideas have the resources they need to become groundbreaking discoveries.”

"The Equity in Research Act is a great opportunity to give students at community colleges and minority-serving institutions the tools they need to get more out of their education and help them compete at the forefront of cutting-edge research. I thank Rep. Troy Carter for his leadership on this bill, which will expand research participation and STEM pathways." Said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz.

Background

The Equity in Research Act creates a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program to strengthen research capacity at institutions of higher education that have historically faced barriers accessing federal research resources. Many minority serving and land grant institutions operate with outdated facilities and limited research infrastructure, restricting their ability to compete for federal grants and contribute fully to the nation’s scientific enterprise.

The bill authorizes NSF grants of $1–$5 million for eligible institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, and 1890/1994 land grant universities. Funding may be used for upgrades to existing buildings, essential research equipment, infrastructure maintenance, and personnel costs directly tied to research activity.

By expanding research capacity at under resourced institutions, the Equity in Research Act strengthens the nation’s innovation pipeline and broadens opportunity for students historically underrepresented in STEM. Ensuring that federal research investments reach a more diverse set of campuses supports scientific advancement, workforce development, and long-term U.S. competitiveness.

Key Points:

• Establishes a dedicated NSF grant program to support research infrastructure at under resourced institutions.
• Provides $50 million in annual authorization beginning in FY27.
• Targets institutions that serve historically underserved communities to expand research participation and STEM pathways.
• Supports sustainable, long-term improvements rather than short-term or one-time investments.

Read the full bill text here.

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