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“I’m saddened to learn that our community has lost Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry, the beloved New Orleans musician and Algiers native. Henry's playful voice and infectious energy made him a local legend. From his early days performing with Bobby Mitchell to sharing the stage with the Beatles, Henry's career spanned decades, leaving a lasting mark on Louisiana's music scene. His enduring hits and unique voice ensure that the rhythm of the ‘Frogman’ will resonate in the heart of New Orleans for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May he rest in peace.”

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02) and Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced federal FY 2024 Community Project Funding grants for criminal justice initiatives in the City of New Orleans. This funding will support Violence Intervention programming and the New Orleans Police Department Crime Lab.

“265 lives were lost in New Orleans to violence in 2022, and since then even more people have suffered. It’s past time we do something about it,” said Rep. Carter. “I’m proud to announce this funding offering a lifeline and providing crucial support for public safety enhancements to curb the violence plaguing our communities. By addressing the root causes of violence and providing comprehensive intervention services, including cognitive behavioral therapy, case management, and community outreach, this initiative will make strides in reducing crime rates and fostering a safer, more resilient city. This funding represents an investment in public safety and a commitment to building a brighter, more secure future for all residents.”

Congressman Carter secured $963,000 for the City of New Orleans Office of Criminal Justice Coordination’s Violence Intervention Program. To combat the city’s violence epidemic, a complex public health problem with numerous interconnected causes, New Orleans needs a robust, comprehensive community violence intervention program that addresses key drivers of risk – disconnection to supportive work and entrenched mental health needs. This funding will be used for staff to support participants, including, but not limited to, cognitive behavioral therapy specialists, case managers, community outreach workers, and project management. It will also support participant wages and more fungible uses to support participant participation such as transportation.

"The City remains focused on getting the necessary resources to not only build back better, but to secure the tools and equipment needed to outfit our crime lab for the 21st century,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "We are one of the only cities in the United States of America getting it done. Building partnerships and focusing on real solutions is the only way to make progress happen and we didn't have to look far, we found it in Congressman Troy Carter and in Senator Bill Cassidy. We've been utilizing State resources for DNA testing, now we are making sure the City of New Orleans can take care of herself at every stage. We will stay focused on improving and being better than we were from Hurricane Katrina. Partnerships is the only way to go, and our federal partners understand the spirit of collaboration and the need for these resources to get the job done."

“With adequate funding the New Orleans Crime Lab can tackle the backlog and reduce the number of crimes that go unsolved,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We made it a top priority to secure this funding because every victim deserves justice.”

“Fighting crime takes more than just manpower; it takes special tools, equipment and programs like Violence Intervention which reach into the community and work on the root causes of violence and crime,” said NOPD Superintendent Kirkpatrick. “That’s why these funds are so crucial. We are grateful to Senator Bill Cassidy and Congressman Troy Carter for their support and their efforts on behalf of the NOPD and the community in securing these funds.”

"In contrast to the dominant narratives that rely on mass incarceration and "tough on crime" approaches to reduce violence in our community, we know that to deliver real, effective solutions, New Orleans must implement a multipronged, holistic approach that advances comprehensive and humane accountability by investing in root solutions that build healthy, flourishing, and ultimately safe communities," said Criminal Justice Commissioner Tenisha Stevens. "This investment by Representative Carter, is a key component of this multi-pronged approach that will support violence intervention by addressing key drivers of risk– disconnection to supportive work and entrenched behavior health needs."

"Last year, my office partnered with the state crime lab to ensure backlogged rape kits from New Orleans were processed," said District B Councilmember Lesli Harris. "We allocated $1.5 million to clear the state sexual assault kit backlog by sending rape kits to a private DNA company to assist with testing. These additional funds from the federal government will help set up the City's crime lab to be fully functional and certified to process DNA kits. This money is vital in closing cases and providing much-needed justice to constituents."

“As the Councilmember for District E, I am proud to stand with Mayor Cantrell and Congressman Carter to celebrate these much-needed funds of almost 3.4 million dollars that are targeted towards the New Orleans Crime Lab and Violence Intervention,” said District E Councilmember Oliver M. Thomas, Jr.“Efforts like these are critical as we continue working to make our city a safer place.  I commend all those responsible for making this funding possible.”

“Violence is a Health Crisis, it’s impossible for one organization/institution to address all the issues. It takes a collective response from multiple stakeholders.” said Ernest Johnson, Co-Founder and Director, Ubuntu Village NOLA.

"I want to thank Mayor Cantrell, Congressman Carter, Senator Cassidy and Commissioner Stevens for their leadership and this funding that will outfit the crime lab with leading edge forensic software and forensic hardware equipment along with other critical resources for the DNA unit," said Dr. Kelley. "This appropriation is another tremendous step toward DNA accreditation that will help bring fair and timely administration of justice which is the cornerstone of our democracy.  Since my appointment, we have made notable strides toward DNA accreditation including procedural development from scratch which takes time and incredible effort, in addition to building new workstations and implementing a training program as early as next week. Evidence processing is indeed an integral component of the legal process, and we want to make sure it is done with precision and expediency, and that is what this funding is going to do. I am incredibly excited to put these resources to work that will bring critical DNA testing to the City of New Orleans."

Additionally, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA) announced $2.4 million for the City of New Orleans for equipment for the New Orleans Crime Lab. This was also acquired through FY 2024 Community Project Funding.

Background

Congressman Carter secured $17,518,279 in Community Project Funding for Louisiana’s 2nd District in the 2024 spending bills. This funding, included in the first of the appropriations government funding packages, responds directly to some of Louisiana’s most pressing needs.

Read more about all of Congressman Carter’s Community Project Funding projects here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) voted to pass a package of six bipartisan funding bills that will help Louisianians deal with high prices, sides with the hard-working middle class, supports education and job training and placement programs, protects women’s rights, reinforces America’s global leadership, and keeps communities safe and secure.

“I was proud to vote for a bipartisan government funding package that invests in the critical government programs and services that support Louisianians while addressing some of our nation’s biggest challenges,” said Rep. Carter. “With these funding bills, Congress produced legislation to make government work for people, not the biggest corporations. We are reducing drug costs and increasing the access and affordability of high-quality childcare. These bills help keep workers safe and ensure they are paid what they are owed. We are reinforcing America’s global leadership and making strategic investments to help communities be safe and secure. With these final funding bills, we are investing in everyday Americans.”

• Democrats rejected extreme Republican cuts and policies. Instead, this government funding package includes:

• $1 billion increase for child care and Head Start.

• $120 million increase in funding for cancer research at the National Institutes of Health.

• $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias research.

• Rejecting Republican cuts, including saving 224,000 teachers’ jobs House Republicans tried to eliminate and protecting Job Corps and more than 20 K-12 and higher education programs.

• Blocking 10 Republican riders to limit women’s reproductive health.

• 12,000 more Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans that assisted the United States.

• $1 billion increase in climate change and resilience activities at the Department of Defense.

Background

This package includes the following funding bills: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

A package containing six other appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024 passed the House earlier this month and was signed into law by President Biden on March 9.

You can read about the first package of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024 here.

You can read about the community project funding Congressman Carter secured for fiscal year 2024 here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) issued a statement following a Disaster Declaration from the Small Business Administration for the Louisiana Crawfish Aquaculture Industry.

“I want to thank Administrator Guzman for making federal resources available to our crawfish farmers, processors, restaurants, grocery stores, and boilers,” said Rep. Carter. “Crawfish aquaculture is more than just a product in Louisiana; it's a way of life. Generations of farmers have dedicated themselves to this time-honored tradition, and recent climate events have resulted in financial setbacks and dealt a blow to the cultural fabric of our state. The crawfish industry is intertwined with our identity, and its preservation is crucial. These federal resources will help Louisianians recover their financial losses.”

To access EIDL loans a business must be in a declared disaster area. Congressman Carter urged Governor Landry to issue a statewide disaster declaration in the crawfish aquaculture industry, including for businesses that service the industry and depend on the product the industry produces due to unprecedented drought. Governor Landry issued this disaster declaration at the beginning of March.

At the end of February, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) sent letters to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) asking them to aid the crawfish aquaculture industry following devastation from extreme weather conditions. This includes a severe drought and a subsequent freeze that has wreaked havoc on Louisiana's agricultural landscape.

“The SBA's mission-driven team stands ready to help Louisiana small businesses affected by the drought and resulting crawfish shortage," said Administrator Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities weather this environmental and economic challenge.”

Read the letters to the SBA and USDA here.

Read the letter to Governor Landry here.

Apply for SBA EIDL funding here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will grant $61,544,718 to New Orleans East through the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. This is for the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility project and was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act that Congressman Carter helped craft and voted for.

The Connecting New Orleans East for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility project will improve safety and mobility for people walking, bicycling, and using transit along the I-10 Service Road corridor in New Orleans East. The grant will fund the construction of shared-use trails along the North and South Service Roads, trail connections at the existing interchanges, and new non-motorized bridge crossings of I-10.

“This funding will improve the safety and convenience for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users along the I-10 Service Road corridor,” said Rep. Carter. “This project will greatly enhance accessibility and connectivity for Louisianans. It also demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to promoting alternative modes of transportation and fostering a more sustainable future. When I championed the Inflation Reduction Act, this is what I was looking forward to.”

Learn more about the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will grant $75,187,718 to LA-02 through the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. The City of New Orleans will receive $61,544,718 for the Connecting New Orleans East for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility project. Baton Rouge will receive $13,643,000 for the Thomas Road Improvements project. This funding was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act that Congressman Carter helped craft and voted for. 

The Connecting New Orleans East for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility project will improve safety and mobility for people walking, bicycling, and using transit along the I-10 Service Road corridor in New Orleans East. The grant will fund the construction of shared-use trails along the North and South Service Roads, trail connections at the existing interchanges, and new non-motorized bridge crossings of I-10. 

The Thomas Road Improvements project will implement complete street principles on Thomas Road in Baton Rouge, Baker, and East Baton Rouge Parish. This includes safety improvements, drainage improvements, and the creation of a new multi-use path to connect local neighborhoods to public transportation, parks, services, retail, and job opportunities.   

“I am proud to see investments from the Inflation Reduction Act that I championed become a reality,” said Rep. Carter. “We know that community-centered transportation, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods, is critical to improving access to people’s daily needs like jobs, education, healthcare, food, nature, and recreation. These improvements will give Louisianans more freedom and make our communities safer.” 

Learn more about the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program here. 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-L.A.) voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, a package of six domestic funding bills focused on helping American families. The investments in the bill will help families with the cost of living, create and sustain good-paying jobs, and help people in need.

“I was proud to vote for this bipartisan government funding package that invests in the programs and services that Louisianians rely on while addressing some of our nation’s biggest challenges,” said Rep. Carter. “These funding bills are making government work for people and will keep our government open. It will help Americans with the high cost of living, create good paying jobs, protect women’s rights, honor our commitments to our veterans, and confront the climate crisis.”

This first government package invests in America’s future and delivers for the American people by:

• Helping with the high cost of living, creating and sustaining tens of thousands of good paying jobs, fighting inflation, and providing full funding for key lifelines such as food assistance and more affordable housing and homeownership.
• Protecting women’s rights by blocking attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and by increasing funding for gender-based violence prevention and prosecution programs.
• Confronting the climate crisis, fighting climate change, and ensuring America’s energy independence with robust, transformative investments in deploying clean energy technologies in communities across the country, and providing funding for cutting-edge scientific and climate-related research.
• Honoring our commitments to our veterans by ensuring they receive the care and benefits that they have earned and investing in veterans’ health care, including targeted investments that advance women's health, mental health, and homelessness assistance.

Background

House Democrats were successful in removing harmful extreme House Republican policies from these bills that attempted to make abortion illegal everywhere, slash efforts to fight climate change, and threaten our national security. Instead, these final bipartisan 2024 funding bills will help keep our communities safe, fight inflation, and boost our economy.

This package includes the following funding bills: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

The remaining six appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024 are expected to be released in the

coming days and be voted on ahead of their expiration on March 22.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-L.A.) voted to finalize $17,518,279 in Community Project Funding that he previously secured for Louisiana’s 2nd District in the 2024 spending bills. This funding, included in the first of the appropriations government funding packages, responds directly to some of our community’s most pressing needs.

“I am incredibly pleased to vote for the Community Project Funding in this bill that I know will have a lasting impact on LA-02,” said Rep. Carter. “These investments will grow our economy, making a real difference in the lives of so many. I am proud to have fought for funding that will make our community healthier, safer, and stronger.”

Rep. Carter championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Louisiana’s 2nd District. These include:

• $3,000,000 for City of Gretna for Wastewater Upgrades
• $963,000 for City of New Orleans Violence Intervention Program
• $850,000 for Delgado Community College Motor Vehicle Technology Center of Excellence
• $850,000 for Dillard University Utilities Renovations
• $850,000 for Elevated Walkway – Connecting to the Riverboat Landing on the Mississippi River, Westwego LA
• $963,000 for Greater New Orleans Police Patrol Enhancement
• $500,000 for HANO Winn Dixie Phase II Development
• $500,000 for Infrastructure and Drainage Improvement: Port of South Louisiana
• $4,116,279 for Lincoln Bridge Access Project
• $963,000 for Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Equipment Modernization Program
• $963,000 for Louisiana District Attorney's Retention and Assistance Fund
• $500,000 for Project Monument
• $1,000,000 for Supplier Diversity Program
• $500,000 for Town of Lutcher King Avenue Project
• $1,000,000 for YWCA Counseling Care Center

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-L.A.) will be joined by U.S. Army Major Tracy Riley (Ret.) as his guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress tomorrow, Thursday, March 7.

Major Riley joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a junior in high school. At the age of eighteen, a college freshman, she was called to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm. After serving a one-year tour of duty, Major Riley immediately re-enrolled at Meridian Community College and earned an associate degree. Later, she enrolled at Dillard University to major in Business Management with an emphasis in Marketing. While a student at Dillard, she served as a cadet in the Army Reserve. Major Riley also served during two tours of duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Today, she volunteers with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3121 serving veterans throughout Louisiana.

“My greatest responsibility and moral duty as an elected official is to support the men and women who have served our nation in uniform. As the husband of a U.S. Army Brigadier General, I know our veterans make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. I am honored to invite Major Tracy Riley as my guest to the State of the Union to hear directly from President Biden about Democrat’s commitment to veterans and their families,” said Rep. Carter. “Major Riley is an active member of her community and volunteer with VFW Post 3121, helping Louisiana’s veterans get the care and support they need. I am delighted to have her as my guest.”

“I’m humbled to have been invited to the State of the Union as a guest of Congressman Troy Carter. Like countless veterans in Louisiana, I still carry scars from my service and depend on federal resources to provide me with vital health care. I look forward to hearing directly from President Biden about his dedication to veterans and our families,” said Major Tracy Riley.

Post 3121 in Gretna, Louisiana is the largest VFW post on the west bank in the New Orleans area. The VFW offers a wide range of assistance programs aimed at helping combat veterans of every generation, including submitting VA claim, offering scholarships for post-secondary education, and providing emergency financial relief.

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BATON ROUGE, L.A. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) issued a statement on the new Louisiana Executive Order issuing a Disaster Declaration for the Crawfish Aquaculture Industry.

“I want to thank Governor Landry for this executive order to assist the federal government in making resources available to Louisiana’s crawfish farmers, processors, restaurants, grocery stores, and boilers. Last week, I requested that the Governor issue a statewide disaster declaration in the crawfish aquaculture industry, allowing access to Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster loans. Crawfish is more than just a product in Louisiana; it’s a way of life. This is a helping hand for an industry facing an unprecedented economic burden,” said Rep. Carter.

Last Tuesday, Congressman Carter wrote Governor Jeff Landry asking him to pursue Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Louisiana’s crawfish farmers as a direct response to his February 22 letter to Small Business Administration Administrator Guzman requesting assistance for businesses in need.

“Louisiana’s extreme drought conditions have affected our farmers, our economy, and our way of life. Approximately 365,000 crawfish acres have been affected by these conditions. That is why I am issuing a disaster declaration. The crawfish industry needs all the support it can get right now. I appreciate Congressmen Troy Carter for their hard work and help on this important issue,” said Governor Landry.   

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-L.A.) praised House passage of his bill H.R. 4403, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act. This bill would ensure stability within the Securing the Cities (STC) program and partnerships with at-risk cities.

“My bill will help cities build and maintain their security capabilities against nuclear or radiological threats,” said Rep. Carter. “It offers a more targeted and effective approach to national security preparedness and response. This shows that we're serious about protecting our communities from dangerous threats. I look forward to working with my colleagues to guarantee that programs like STC will continue to be fully operational.”

The Securing the Cities Improvement Act would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) to determine which cities to partner with for the STC program based on the jurisdiction's capability and capacity to prepare for and respond to threats or vulnerabilities against a terrorist attack and other high-consequence events utilizing nuclear or other radiological materials. It would also establish performance metrics and milestones for the STC program and monitor expenditures for the program. Furthermore, this legislation would require DHS to provide a report to Congress regarding participation in the STC program, the establishment of metrics and milestones for the program, and plans for any changes to the program.

“It is imperative that we, as a nation, secure our cities and other vulnerable communities against mass destruction threats,” said Rep. Higgins. “This includes New Orleans and the surrounding communities, which are critical to our nation’s energy and economic security. I commend my Louisiana colleague, Congressman Troy Carter, for his leadership on this bill.”

“The passage of this legislation is critical for sustaining our preparedness and ensuring the safety of our nation against terrorism,” said Ranking Member Thompson. “This bill will provide improvements to the Securing the Cities program and bolster local jurisdictions' ability to combat chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. I thank Congressman Carter for introducing this bipartisan legislation and for his leadership on this issue.”

Background 

The STC Initiative was launched by the Department of Homeland Security in Fiscal Year 2007 as a pilot program to support New York City, Jersey City, and Newark in detecting and preventing nuclear or radiological threats. The STC program has now grown and provides 14 local governments with detection equipment, training, exercise support, operational and technical subject matter expertise, and programmatic support. However, the program is limited to “high-risk urban areas” designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program. This linkage between STC and UASI can create uncertainty for local governments participating in the program, as the composition of jurisdictions in the UASI program can vary considerably from one year to the next.

The Securing the Cities Improvement Act is cosponsored by Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-M.S.), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Clay Higgins (R-L.A.).

Read the fill bill text here.

Watch Rep. Carter’s remarks here.

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NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – On Tuesday, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) wrote Governor Jeff Landry asking him to pursue Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Louisiana’s crawfish farmers as a direct response to Congressman Carter’s February 22 letter to Small Business Administration Administrator Guzman requesting assistance for businesses in need.

To access EIDL loans a business must be in a declared disaster area. Congressman Carter requests that Governor Landry issue a statewide disaster declaration in the crawfish aquaculture industry, including the businesses that service the industry and depend on the product the industry produces due to unprecedented drought.

“Louisianians know that the industry is broader than the farmers who raise crawfish. Our crawfish processors, restaurants, grocery stores, and boilers are also facing trying economic times. Some of these are amongst the State’s most vulnerable small businesses. For example, an entire industry exists around planning and servicing crawfish boils during the spring. Currently, high prices have decimated this industry when they can obtain crawfish at all. For many of these boilers their entire year’s worth of revenue has been wiped out,” Congressman Carter wrote.

Read the full letter here.

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