Today, Congressman Carter released a statement following Haley Stevens’ endorsement of GOP Candidate Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race:  

“In my opinion, Haley Stevens’s decision has more to do with a bruised ego than a commitment to the people she was elected to serve. I could not be more disappointed.

“I understand that losing a primary hurts. I also understand that policy disagreements can be deeply held. But when we seek public office, we accept a responsibility to put the people ahead of our own disappointment. That responsibility does not end when we lose an election or feel slighted by another candidate.

“Haley has chosen to endorse Republican Mike Rogers, whose Trump-style policies she once vehemently opposed. What changed for the families of Michigan? What changed about their need for affordable health care, good jobs, lower costs, and protection of their rights? Those needs remain, regardless of how she feels about the Democratic nominee.

“Antisemitism is serious, and we have an obligation to confront it. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has said clearly that he disagrees with the contents of the outside group’s advertisement. 

“Michigan Democrats chose their nominee. Haley had every right to challenge him in the primary and to continue pressing him on policy. But endorsing his Republican opponent days before the election calls into question the convictions she asked voters to believe in throughout her campaign.

“I have worked with colleagues with whom I strongly disagree. Public service requires that. We cannot allow a personal grievance to outweigh the consequences of our decisions for millions of people.

I expected better from my colleague. The people who supported her, volunteered for her, and trusted her word deserved better, too.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02), released the following statement following the motion-to-dismiss hearing held in Shreveport, LA, on Louisiana v. Callais, to determine whether the legal challenge to the final Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana can move forward:

“Fair representation in our democracy doesn’t just mean lines on a map — it’s about whether Black Americans and other Americans of color have a meaningful opportunity to make their voices heard in government and obtain access to good schools, safe roads, and quality health care. The Callais plaintiffs got what they want earlier this year: the Supreme Court eviscerated the Voting Rights Act further, giving permission to conservative state legislators in Louisiana and around the country to eliminate Black-majority congressional districts. As a result, fair political representation for Black communities will take a huge blow this Election Day. But this wasn’t enough; now these plaintiffs want to eliminate the last remaining Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana – a state that is one-third Black and has six congressional districts. I will continue fighting to protect the right to vote and the principles of fair representation in Congress by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

Background

In April 2026, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Callais case that struck down Louisiana’s previous congressional map and further eviscerated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Louisiana eliminated one of its two Black-majority districts. Earlier today, a motion-to-dismiss hearing was held in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the hearing, the original plaintiffs in the Louisiana v. Callais case presented a challenge to Louisiana’s remaining majority-Black congressional district. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has requested the case be dismissed.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Co-Chairs of the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Caucus, introduced the Emergency Preparedness in Higher Education Act. This legislation authorizes $100 million in annual federal funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to distribute to higher education institutions. These grants would improve institutions’ capacity, planning, and facilities to better prepare for, and respond to, disasters and other emergencies that directly impact students, administrators, and staff. The need for greater disaster preparedness was evident when Hurricanes Katrina, Ida, and Irma devastated universities in Louisiana and Florida, and when wildfires forced evacuations of California campuses.

“Our climate crisis makes extreme weather events more frequent and severe, so we need to ensure uniquely vulnerable communities, such as our colleges and universities, have the support and resources they need to prepare for and respond to disasters and emergency situations,” said Congressman Carter. “I’m partnering with Rep. Moskowitz to introduce this legislation and take necessary steps toward preparing our institutions of higher education for protecting the lives, housing, property, and futures of our young adults and the staff that support them before disaster strikes – not after a storm has already arrived.”

“As Florida’s former emergency management director, I know that the time to prepare for a disaster is before it strikes. No student should be left wondering where to go or whether their campus can keep them safe when a disaster hits,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “Families send their children to college trusting that their safety is a priority. That responsibility starts long before the first evacuation order.”

Background

American colleges and universities function as small communities, often housing tens of thousands of students, staff, and researchers in concentrated areas, making them uniquely vulnerable to a range of natural disasters and other emergencies. Campus shootings and other acts of violence, from Virginia Tech to Michigan State, have shown that institutions need well-rehearsed active-threat plans and protocols, reliable mass-notification systems, trained threat-assessment teams, and coordination with local law enforcement. Additionally, climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of hurricanes, wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and other events that can shut down campuses, displace students, and damage infrastructure.

Institutions have a duty of care for the many students who live on campus far from family, including international students, students with disabilities, and low-income students who face additional challenges. Investing in comprehensive emergency planning, resilient infrastructure, continuity-of-operations strategies, accessible communication, and other resources protects lives, preserves academic and research missions, and limits financial impacts. As these threats become more frequent and often overlap, campuses need additional support to make preparedness a core institutional responsibility.

The Emergency Preparedness in Higher Education strengthens higher education resilience by establishing a $100 million annual FEMA grant program to help eligible higher education institutions create or expand emergency management and preparedness capacity. 

Eligible uses of grant funds include personnel costs to expand emergency preparedness; creating or updating comprehensive institutional emergency management plans; infrastructure and facility construction or improvements for emergency operations centers or areas of refuge; and equipment and technology to enhance interagency coordination.

Read the full bill text here.

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