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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 6126, Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act:

“I am very disappointed that Speaker Johnson and extreme MAGA Republicans have chosen to put conditions on aid to Israel. The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act provides none of the over $10 billion in humanitarian assistance requested by President Biden. This would deny life-saving humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, to displaced Ukrainians, and to millions globally who are experiencing the devastating effects of Putin’s war and other global conflicts.

“This ill-conceived strategy also leaves out vital security and economic assistance to Ukraine while it fights to defend its sovereignty against Putin’s brutal war of aggression. The key components of U.S. assistance to Ukraine have been exhausted and now is the time to aid our ally at a pivotal moment in the war without delay, not embolden Vladimir Putin and his desire to crush our democracy as we know it.

“Finally, this bill sets a dangerous precedent of tying strings to emergency funding. Emergency spending is intended to respond to urgent, evolving needs, and conditioning this aid only endangers vulnerable communities at the time they need it most. As a Louisiana member, a state that requires more hurricane-related, disaster assistance than anywhere else in the country, I will not be responsible for establishing this practice. Congress has historically responded to emergencies in a bipartisan manner without conditions and must do so again.

“Our ally Israel, and the Palestinian people, urgently require aid. The political gamesmanship is unacceptable, particularly at a time when we can least afford it.

“I grieve the tragic loss of innocent lives witnessed over the past 26 days. I join with all my Palestinian and Israeli friends who are heartbroken and terrified watching the horrors of war unfold, destroying the lives of innocent people.

“Israel has the right to defend itself; however, they must do so in a manner consistent with the Geneva Convention. There are rules to war that everyone needs to follow. We MUST concentrate our attention on protecting the innocent while abolishing the terrorist Hamas. Civilians – Israelis and Palestinians, men and women, babies and the elderly – must be protected.

“I also want to stress the importance of allowing civilians to evacuate. As I vote tonight, hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are waiting by the border and praying for an escape to safety. We must open an evacuation corridor and expedite humanitarian aid.

“Hamas is the enemy of Israelis and the Palestinian people. Israelis and Palestinians have a common enemy in Hamas and Iran.

“I want this violence to end. As a man of faith, I believe that every single life on Earth is precious, and the last month has shown me how fragile the pursuit of peace is and how quickly life can be taken away.

“My heart aches for the people of Israel and the Palestinian people. My heart aches for everyone in Louisiana and around the globe who has felt hopeless watching the atrocities of war unfold. I am praying for an end to this crisis. We must lay the groundwork for a better future for ALL people living in the Middle East.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) and Congressman Garret Graves (R-La.), members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced legislation to extend the Duplication of Benefits (DoB) relief provision in the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018 for an additional five years. Without this bill, the provision will expire this year, putting current and future disaster victims at risk.

“Storms don’t discriminate. They affect us all, regardless of race, political party, or socioeconomic status,” said Rep. Carter. “Our bipartisan bill would allow governors to ask the federal government not to consider a loan a duplication of a grant following a disaster. It’s wrong to tell someone desperate to return home after a storm that because they took out a loan, they will be unable to benefit from future federal programs. A loan is not a grant, and I’ll happily provide a copy of the dictionary to anyone who thinks otherwise.”

“The federal government has spent less time expediting the recovery process for our community than they have developing reasons why we shouldn’t receive recovery assistance at all,” said Rep. Graves. “Their crazy policies have made it nearly impossible for families to recover, and our bill changes this trajectory. We promised the 2016 Flood victims that we would not give up – and the majority of Duplication of benefits victims were promised relief through our previous efforts. We aren’t going to stop until the remaining flood victims receive the relief that they deserve.”

Background

After the 2016 Flood, the Louisiana delegation secured $2.9 billion in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help flood victims rebuild and protect our community from future flooding events.

However, recovery funds promised to victims were reduced or eliminated if a homeowner had qualified for a federal disaster recovery loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Because the homeowner was already approved for federal relief, HUD stated it would be a “duplication of benefits” for them also to receive a federal recovery grant from the CDBG-DR program. While SBA loans are required to be repaid to the federal government, CDBG-DR grants were one-time payments to victims and do not require repayment.

In 2018, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee included language in DRRA to clarify that a loan is not duplicative of a grant because the federal government makes different kinds of assistance available at different times after a disaster.

But, when HUD implemented this DoB fix, the agency said that a loan is still considered duplicative of a grant if a homeowner makes more than 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). As a result, many remaining DoB homeowners were prevented from accessing the grant dollars, even if they had simply applied for a loan and never received it. The AMI requirement did not apply to original flood victims, only those who had received eligibility through the DRRA DoB fix. Carter and Graves’ legislation clarifies that HUD cannot use an additional income test to determine eligibility for duplication of benefits relief.

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) joined Dr. Earthea Nance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator for South Central Region and community partners to celebrate a $3,982,000 million grant for the City of New Orleans. This funding was made possible through the EPA’s the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program (SWIFR) and will be used to construct a new Materials Recovery Facility, expand current residential curbside recycling, and develop a 10-year solid waste master plan.

“I’m committed to environmental sustainability, and this grant funding is a significant milestone in New Orleans’ journey towards a greener and more environmentally responsible future,” said Rep. Carter “I’m also proud that this grant aims to ensure that federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Environmental justice MUST be at the center of any action to address disproportionate health and environmental impacts on communities, especially communities of color. Together, we will make New Orleans a shining example of environmental stewardship, equity, and progress.”

Congressman Carter voted for and helped craft the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which made this grant possible. The Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act provided the largest EPA investment in recycling in 30 years to support National Recycling Strategy implementation.

Background

The City of New Orleans will expand its current residential curbside recycling program to all eligible households. This expansion will ensure universal and equitable access to curbside recycling, providing new recycling access to about 73,000 households and to replace 10,000 legacy recycling carts. The city also will develop a 10-year solid waste master plan that evaluates regional recycling processing infrastructure and capacity, explores opportunities for organics diversion including food waste, and explores infrastructure and policy needs to address waste diversion in multifamily and commercial operations. These project components will help the city meet its Climate Action Plan goal of a 25% waste diversion rate by 2030.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) released the following statement in response to today’s vote for Speaker of the House:

“My vote for Speaker will always be Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Leader Jeffries and the Democratic agenda put people over politics. It’s a vote I proudly cast. However, a Speaker is chosen from the majority party. In this case the Republican Party has chosen Congressman Mike Johnson. I trust that Speaker Johnson will do everything in his power to bring order back to the People’s House.

“I will continue to work across the aisle to address key issues facing every American – from keeping the government open, fighting for environmental justice, fixing risk rating 2.0, providing disaster relief, enshrining voting rights, and much more.

“Mike Johnson and I are ideologically worlds apart, but I consider him a friend and colleague. Together, we must continue to fight for Louisiana and our great country. Congratulations, Mr. Speaker. Let’s move forward and get back to work.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) announced over $300 million for two Louisiana projects which he championed that will boost the resilience and reliability of electrical grid infrastructure and deliver affordable, clean energy. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Rep. Carter voted for and helped craft, these projects will deliver affordable, clean electricity to Louisiana and ensure that our communities have a reliable grid that is prepared for extreme weather worsened by the climate crisis.

“The GRIP program is bringing real results to Louisiana by addressing critical infrastructure challenges,” said Rep. Carter. “We aren’t just fortifying our state’s electric grid against the escalating impacts of climate change, we are also fostering community resilience and committing to social equity. This funding is a beacon of progress, demonstrating a comprehensive and inclusive approach to modernizing infrastructure for a sustainable and resilient future. Louisiana continues to experience the positive impacts of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I will continue to partner with Secretary Granholm and the Biden-Harris Administration on the implementation of these transformative investments.”

The Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program funds activities to modernize the electric grid which will reduce the impacts of natural disasters and extreme weather worsened by climate change; increase the flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of the electric power system with a particular focus on unlocking more solar, wind, and other clean energy and reducing faults that may lead to wildfires; and improve reliability by deploying innovative approaches to electricity transmission, storage, and distribution.

“Extreme weather events fueled by climate change will continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems, but President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will ensure America’s power grid can provide reliable, affordable power,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever direct investment in critical grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden systems, improve energy reliability and affordability—all while generating union jobs for highly skilled workers.”

"These awards for Entergy New Orleans and the State of Louisiana mark a major, positive step for our community following the destruction and long-term outages from Hurricane Ida just over two years ago,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This federal funding will allow Entergy to strengthen our grid infrastructure in the face of increasingly stronger storms, while adding critical solar backup storage power. Funding for the State's HERO project will expand residential access to critical solar-powered resilience hubs, including at City and NORD facilities. I want to thank our partners in Louisiana's Federal Delegation who voted to make this funding available, and to the Biden Administration for the vote of confidence to expand the innovative resilience work being pioneered here in New Orleans.”

Background

The GRIP Program seeks to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather. Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Deployment Office, the GRIP program leverages federal and private investments to ensure that communities across the nation have a reliable grid that's prepared for extreme weather while also delivering affordable, clean energy and creating robust local opportunities for economic investment and jobs.

In Louisiana, the two projects chosen will focus on better positioning disadvantaged communities to withstand extreme weather. The state of Louisiana will launch a strategic initiative with 15 government entities, energy companies, and community and academic institutions to enhance statewide emergency response operations by deploying a network of Community Resilience Hubs powered by distributed energy resources microgrids. These microgrids can stand alone or integrate with utility-owned electric grid infrastructure and back-up generation assets.

Under a separate project, Entergy New Orleans will enhance the local grid’s resilience to severe weather, including hardening existing transmission lines and distribution systems to reduce outage frequency and duration. It will also deploy a battery backup project that will reduce energy bills for disadvantaged communities.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) announced that Southern University in Louisiana will receive a $796,428 Pollution Prevention Grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant is one of 24 recipients recently announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This funding will be used to reduce water pollution from nearby industrial facilities.

Last Congress, Rep. Carter helped secure $100 million in pollution prevention grants through the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he proudly championed.

“This is great news for Louisianians who have endured environmental injustice for far too long,” said Rep. Carter. “All Americans – no matter where they live – deserve to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and live in a healthy environment. That's why I worked so hard to craft the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and am proud to see underserved communities access this critical funding and technical assistance to improve public health at the local level. As the Member for Region 7 of the Regional Leadership Council, I will continue to work closely with the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure these transformative environmental protection policies and programs reach every American in every community in our region.”

Background

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center’s proposed project will provide technical assistance to manufacturing clusters located within East Baton Rouge and New Orleans East to increase P2 implementation rates (for example, promoting safer chemical substitutions). Technical assistance will include on-site water quality assessments and workshops that offer practical solutions to reduce the amount of hazardous substances released to aquifers, such as leveraging EPA’s Safer Choice program. Additionally, the project includes a place-based approach to assess and empower communities to identify, track, and recognize the most impactful solutions that curb hazardous discharge to bodies of water and air. The proposed project will improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by improving clean water and clean air outcomes in East Baton Rouge and New Orleans East, two historically disinvested regions.

The full list of recipients can be found here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) released the following statement in response to the motion to vacate Speaker Kevin McCarthy:

“This Speakership has been dysfunctional since day one. Americans deserve better, and it is our job as elected officials to move our country forward. The ‘House Republican Civil War’ we’re witnessing today is at best distasteful, and at worst defective.

“I came to Congress to make Louisianian’s lives better, to guarantee vital resources for combatting natural disasters, to defend social security and Medicaid, and to protect our most vulnerable. I will continue to find bipartisan solutions with my colleagues whenever possible in the best interest of the people I serve.

“I will always put people over politics; progress over partisanship.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) praised the House passage of H.R. 996, his bill to designate the Post Office located at 3901 MacArthur Blvd. in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the heart of Algiers where the Lombard and Carter families grew up, as the "Dr. Rudy Lombard Post Office." This legislation was supported by the Louisiana House Congressional delegation in a bipartisan effort. 

Dr. Rudolph “Rudy” Lombard was born in the Algiers neighborhood in 1939 and is remembered as a New Orleans icon for his work as a Civil Rights Hero, educator, and lifelong community advocate. He grew up witnessing widespread discrimination against Black New Orleanians and his early life experience prompted him to become an activist. As a college student at Xavier University, Rep. Carter’s alma mater, Lombard famously led a sit-in at the McCroy’s Five & Dime store in protest of Jim Crow laws. Joining him in these protests were the “CORE Four,” Lanny Goldfincy, Cecil Carter, Jr., and Oretha Castle. Their case made its way to the Supreme Court in 1963 and, after review, their criminal mischief arrests were tossed out. This was one of several cases that became precedent for striking down segregation laws and practices.

“Today, we are not just bestowing an honor on a distinguished individual. We are cementing a legacy, recognizing a man whose life exemplified leadership by example,” said Rep. Carter.  “Dr. Lombard was not only a standard-bearer; he was a force for positive change, a catalyst for movements that brought people together. I pray this serves as a reminder to future generations that the struggle for justice is real, and the impact of one person's commitment can resonate across the ages.”

Read the fill bill text here.

Watch Rep. Carter’s Floor Speech here.

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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) hosted the panel “Our Kids are NOT Ok, and Neither are We!” at the 52^nd Annual Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference (CBC ALC). This panel brought together health care experts and stakeholders for a discussion about Black youth mental health.

“Youth mental health is a global crisis. Regardless of age, location, education, and economic standing, racism is the biggest barrier to mental health for the Black community,” said Rep. Carter. “I was proud to host this CBC ALC session where we heard from the experts on the ground who are talking to our young people every day. This event was an extraordinary gathering of visionaries, activists, and leaders who are shaping the future of Black community.”

In May, Congressman Carter introduced H.R. 3760, the Mental Health Workforce Act, to create more diversity and increase the number of culturally competent mental health care providers in the United States. Numerous barriers to access mental health care treatment persists in communities of color, including the stigma associated with mental illness, general distrust of healthcare institutions, and lack of health insurance.

In July, Congressman Carter convened the annual “HBCU Cares Mental Health Symposium” to bring together Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) president’s and stakeholders for a discussion about Black student’s mental health. This dialogue focused on themes including reducing isolation, improving campus safety, and increasing access to health care providers.

Panelists for this event included Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer, Crisis Text Line, Dr. Sabrina N’diaye, Psychologist, Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Brandon Johnson, Bureau Chief, Suicide Prevention Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA), and Dr. Linda Henderson, Director, Evelance Health. The conversation was moderated by Patrice Webb, Kindness Gangsta and Brandon Coleman, Sole Cole. It was presented by Amazon.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) released the following statement in response to the continuing resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives today to extend the government funding deadline:

“Funding the government is a fundamental responsibility of elected officials. This extension protects Louisiana jobs, safeguards important programs that people rely on, and provides much-needed disaster relief. Republicans were forced to do the right thing because of mounting pressure from Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Caucus, and most importantly the American people. This is a victory.

“A bipartisan compromise is the only way forward. This short-term solution gives us time to find that compromise.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – With homecoming season fast approaching, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) introduced the Performance, Resources, Inclusion, Matters for Equity (PRIME) Act to improve athletics at Historically Black Universities and Colleges (HBCUs) and Junior Colleges (JUCOs). Sports have been an important part of HBCU culture since the beginning. From the first Howard homecoming football game in 1924 to the annual Bayou Classic, these events bring the Black community together from around the country. Despite their reputation as beacons of culture, the success of these teams is often thwarted by a lack of funding.

“Supporting athletic programs at HBCUs would attract talented student-athletes and sports administrators by offering them the best athletic and academic experiences possible,” said Rep. Carter. “In turn, HBCUs would generate more revenue to provide the support and resources that their students deserve. My PRIME Act is the first of many investments that underfunded institutions are severely lacking.”

While programs at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) like Louisiana State University (LSU) have athletic budgets of $192 million annually, right down the road, Southern University reported an $18.5 million budget in 2022. Larger budgets allow universities to fund state-of-the-art training facilities and hire talented coaching staff for their athletes. For example, Texas A&M’s Kyle Field is a $485 million facility, while Morehouse's Forbes Arena is only $8 million. HBCUs cannot compete with these programs given their current budgets. Talented student athletes often opt for PWIs when making their college decisions because of the difference in athletic program offerings.

Background

To attract and maintain talent, schools must have equitable funding for their athletic programs. The “PRIME” Act would provide this support in the form of grants to HBCUs and JUCOs with endowments lower than $900 million and an annual operating revenue for athletic programs that is less than $20 million, allowing like institutions to compete against one another for funding. These grants will be awarded by the Department of Education on a competitive basis and may be used to maintain athletic facilities and equipment as long as they are in accordance with NCAA guidelines.

The PRIME Act is cosponsored by Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC), James Clyburn (D-SC), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Donald Davis (D-NC), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), David Scott (D-GA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) and endorsed by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF).

Full bill text for the PRIME Act can be found here.

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