Media

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) released a statement after the confirmation of Judge Dana Douglas to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in New Orleans. She will be the first Black woman to ever serve on this circuit.

“Judge Douglas’ confirmation to the Fifth Circuit is undoubtedly historic, but she additionally has the experience, temperament, and integrity to also be a historic judge on the Fifth Circuit,” said Congressman Carter. “I was proud to recommend her appointment to President Biden and applaud the Senate on her successful confirmation. Congratulations to Judge Douglas on this momentous achievement. This is a wonderful day for Louisiana and our entire nation.”

### 

NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – Every fall the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors a Congressional App Challenge for America’s middle school and high school students to encourage them to learn to code, think creatively, and perhaps even inspire them to pursue careers in computer science.

In his first year hosting this competition for students in his district, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr.’s office received dynamic submissions from students across the district. After thorough consideration, today Congressman Carter has announced the first-place winner of Louisiana’s Second Congressional District 2022 Congressional App Competition is 11^th grader Srija Tamidela of Westwego, Louisiana. Ms. Tamidela’s application is titled WesIgn and gives users the opportunity to explore and embrace their cultural identity through art.

As the district-wide winner, Ms. Tamidela will be invited to Capitol Hill to demonstrate her application at a celebration called #HouseOfCode. At this annual event, students will also have the unique opportunity to have their app displayed and connect with other coders across the United States. Ms. Tamidela will also be invited to the celebrate with the Congressman’s office in the district to recognize her achievement.

“Thank you to all of the wonderful applicants and coders who entered my office’s 2022 Congressional App Challenge,” said Congressman Carter. “A special congratulations to first-place winner Srija Tamidela, whose app uplifts our rich, local culture by teaching users about different art styles and introducing them to New Orleans artists and culture bearers. I am so impressed by the creativity and innovation displayed by all of our app creators, and I cannot wait to see what they achieve next.”

Congressman Carter also selected additional winners for recognition for second and third place. The second-place winner is high school senior Jnea Steiner of Baton Rouge, and her app Pneuma. Users can use the app to navigate large cemeteries to easily find their loved ones. Third place was awarded to students Brennan Gros and Mckenzie Williams of Plaquemine, Louisiana for their app Louisiana T.O.P.S. Calculator, which assists upcoming college students navigate scholarship options and opportunities associated with the state’s T.O.P.S. program.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the bipartisan defense funding measure that will strengthen our national security, invest in our service members, and bring home tangible wins for the people and enlisted Louisianians.

“The security of our nation is not only measured in our military might – but also in the well-being of our service members, the superiority of our technology and the strength of our alliances,” said Congressman Carter. “As our nation confronts accelerating threats to democracy – here at home and around the world – this legislation is a strong step forward to ensure that Americans remain safe and America remains secure. I am also proud to have fought for the inclusion of so many projects within this package that will benefit Louisianians, including my amendment to improve safety along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and to kickstart billions of dollars in critical ecosystem restoration in the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet.”

Congressman Carter continued, “I am grateful that my amendment, the Recreation Hazards of the Banks of the Mississippi River Study, was included in the 2022 NDAA bill. My constituents deserve to enjoy the majesty of our Mississippi River without fearing for their safety. I offered this amendment in memory of the children who tragically lost their lives, and I believe we need to improve the insufficient measures needed to alert the public of the hazards along the riverbank and dangerous river conditions. I hope this amendment will help ensure no other lives are lost and greatly minimize threats to all who enjoy the banks of the Mississippi River.”

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the foundation of American national security policy and has passed Congress for 62 consecutive years, doing so on a strongly bipartisan, bicameral basis. Along with pay raises for our servicemembers, financial investments in Ukraine and our allies, and strengthening protections for people for who have experienced sexual assault in the military, this year’s NDAA also includes the entire Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the major funding measure for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work for flood control, water navigation, and ecosystem restoration.

Both these bills are critically important to our nation and to Louisiana, and that’s why Congressman Carter fought to include specific funding and support for priorities and projects within this entire package that will help improve daily life for his constituents and the people of Louisiana. These include:

Funding for Louisiana National Guard Needs:

Abbeville Readiness Center - $1.65 million

The Abbeville Readiness Center is severely outdated and degraded, which impacts the readiness of the state during All-Hazard events and federal mission preparation. The readiness center will serve as central hub for local units located in the vicinity of Abbeville, LA and will increase efficiency, response efforts, and mitigate unsafe conditions, which currently exist for the service members who operate out of the facility.

Camp Beauregard Energy Resilience Conservation Investment Project – $765,000

The Camp Beauregard Energy Resilience Conservation Investment Program Project (ERCIP) will provide a base-wide 2MW natural gas generator back-up. This project will also include a main backbone (Grid), water and energy resiliency measures, and switchgears to improve isolation capabilities. This project will improve emergency operations by allowing for a consistent energy solution for Camp Beauregard, which is home to Louisiana’s Joint Operations Center.

Munitions Administrative Facility in Belle Chase: $1.65 million

The current Munitions Administrative Facility houses both Air National Guard and active-duty Navy personnel. Munitions build up occurs in the same complex that administrative personnel are housed, which is a violation of munitions safety protocols, and requires all personnel to evacuate the facility while build up is being conducted. This process is not only unsafe, but severely inefficient.

The current Munitions Administrative Facility is located in a joint use building plagued with deteriorating infrastructure that drains resources to keep it viable. As a joint use facility the ANG is reliant on Navy to conduct repairs. This proposal would allow for a separate facility to ensure our service members are performing their duties in safe conditions, and without the need to stop performing their duty while munitions are being handled.

WRDA Bills:

Congressman Carter’s Mississippi River Safety Review of Recreational Hazards

• The final bill included Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr.’s amendment to improve safety along the banks of the Mississippi River, especially after the tragic drowning of three children who resided in his home community of Algiers, New Orleans.

U.S. Army Corps Water Management Projects

• An amendment stating that the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) will be funded at a 100% federal cost share and that the U.S. Army Corps should continue paused ecosystem restoration and construction work to protect coastal habitat and communities on the MRGO. Without this amendment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had determined that the State of Louisiana would be required to cover 10% of the project’s cost.

• The Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study was authorized within the bounds of the Mississippi River & Tributaries project with a 100% federal cost share.

• Authorized a project for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction for the Upper Barataria Basin and for South Central Coastal Louisiana with a federal contribution of: $1.18 billion toward the $1.82 billion project.

• On Louisiana’s South Central Coast, funded a project for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction with a $809.3 million contribution toward the $1.24 million cost.

• U.S. Army Corps water management and flood control in the Lake Pontchartrain vicinity, which gives $950.3 million in federal funding out of the $1.46 billion cost as well as in the West Bank vicinity, with a 508.33 million contribution out of the full $783.05 million price tag.

• Increased the cost cap for the Baton Rouge Environmental Assistance project to $90 million.

• Authorized $36 million for St John, St Charles, and St James Parishes to plan, design, and construct comprehensive water and wastewater treatment facilities.

• Authorized $70 million for St. Charles, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes for water related infrastructure.

• Assigning the U.S. Army Corps Secretary the operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of the Algiers Canal Levees at full federal expense.

• Support for studies and projects to reduce flood and hurricane and storm damage hazards or to restore the natural functions and values of rivers and shorelines including in the Louisiana Coastal Area.

• Funding for U.S. Army Corps programs to address the harmful algal blooms in the coastal and tidal waters of Louisiana.

• Orleans Parish $100,000,000 authorized for water and wastewater infrastructure needs in the parish.

• Formally designates The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, comprised of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, as Regional Ocean Partnerships.

Other key Democratic wins in this year’s NDAA include:

• 4.6% pay raise for service members to help ease the sting of inflation. The bill also empowers the Pentagon to raise the basic housing allowance, bringing down food prices by directing more funding to commissaries, and expanding support for child care.

• Rejecting House Republicans’ top extreme MAGA anti-choice demands: protecting President Biden’s DoD program that ensures service members are able to travel to access legal abortion if they are stationed in a state that criminalizes reproductive care.

• Strengthening fight against sexual harassment in the military by requiring independently trained investigators outside the immediate chain of command to investigate sexual harassment, and placing it under the jurisdiction of the Special Trial counsel.

• Including a version of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act – a long-sought Democratic priority to make it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain diseases to qualify for federal workers’ compensation.

• Making major investments in diversity and inclusion, including a record amount of funding for defense research at HBCUs and MSIs. It also creates a new fellowship program to provide additional opportunities for those from underrepresented communities to serve within DoD.

• Supporting our growing domestic semiconductor industry: requiring government contractors to use exclusive semiconductor chips that were Made in America. This will help create good-paying American jobs, secure our supply chains and bolster our economic competitiveness on the world stage.

• Securing significant investments in clean energy and energy efficiency at DoD, harnessing solar and electric technologies to ensure that our defense facilities and vehicle fleets are resilient to climate disaster and energy disruptions.

• The most consequential Oceans package in generations, focusing on conserving oceans, coasts and Great Lakes in order to protect jobs and businesses, ensure resilient access to clean water and preserve invaluable aquatic life and their natural habitat. At the same time, this package modernizes the NOAA Corps and secures more hurricane hunter aircrafts, to help protect communities from extreme weather and climate disaster.

• Promoting American leadership in the global arena by investing in our alliances and partnerships. The NDAA ensures that America and our allies maintain a military edge: delivering more than $11 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, more than $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, and an additional $800 million in funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

### 

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, amid extreme MAGA Republicans’ continued threats to American’s personal freedoms, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. voted to send the Respect for Marriage Act to President Biden’s desk. This landmark legislation takes several key steps to defend marriage equality: officially repealing the bigoted and unconstitutional “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA), upholding couples’ right to equal protection under federal law and requiring states to recognize valid out-of-state marriages.

“Today, I proudly voted to ensure the federal government never stands in the way of marrying the person you love,” said Congressman Carter. “As extreme MAGA Republicans threaten more of Louisianian and American personal liberties, the Democratic Congress is fighting to honor the dignity and equality of every American. The Respect for Marriage Act is a historic step forward in that fight – sending a clear signal that hate and bigotry have no place in America. This landmark legislation will uphold marriage equality under federal law: tearing DOMA off the books for good, enshrining married couples’ right to equal protection and barring discriminatory officials from invalidating out-of-state marriages.”

The only member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to vote in support of the Respect for Marriage Act,

Congressman Carter has been a lifelong advocate for the rights and issues of the LGBTQ+ community. In 1993 as a Louisiana State Senator, he filed the first ever state bill to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. He continued advocating in a Republican-run State Capitol to pass that bill throughout his tenure as a state legislator.

SarahJane Guidry, Executive Director for the Forum for Equality, Louisiana’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights organization, shared the following statement: "Today's victory is a shining example of how far we’ve come towards fully accepting and celebrating love, family, and the freedom to be our authentic selves. The Respect for Marriage Act will provide clarity and stability for hundreds of thousands of same-sex and interracial couples who are connected through the commitment of marriage. The momentum for the Respect for Marriage Act mirrors the overwhelming support for equal treatment for LGBTQ people among a supermajority of Americans, and here at home. It is a clear indication that the State of Louisiana needs to follow the example of Rep. Troy Carter, and work together to pass fundamental, basic rights for the LGBTQ community through bipartisan leadership."

Since the Republican-appointed Supreme Court’s outrageous Dobbs decision, extreme MAGA Republicans have set their sights on other basic personal freedoms.  In his concurring opinion, Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the Court to reconsider its Obergefell decision upholding marriage equality.  

The Respect for Marriage Act will take several steps to protect the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages:

· Repealing the “Defense of Marriage Act”: While the Supreme Court has effectively voided DOMA, this unconstitutional and discriminatory federal law still remains on the books.  The Respect for Marriage Act will repeal this statute once and for all.

· Enshrining Marriage Equality Into Federal Law: This legislation will uphold married couples’ right to equal protection in all areas covered under federal law, such as Social Security, tax filings and veterans’ benefits.

· Barring Discrimination By State Officials: This legislation prohibits state officials from denying recognition of an out-of-state marriage on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.

Previously passed by the House earlier this year, the Respect for Marriage Act was amended and advanced by the Senate last week.  With today’s House vote, the final bill now goes to the President’s desk for his signature.

The Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading advocacy organizations, including the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Forum for Equality (Louisiana), Freedom for All Americans, GLAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Women’s Law Center and PFLAG.

###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Last night, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. was unanimously elected to the leadership position of Regional Whip in a vote conducted by members of the Democratic Caucus. Louisiana is a part of Region 7, which includes the states of Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and the territory of the Virgin Islands.

“I’m honored to take on this role and add our voice, Louisiana’s voice, to the Democratic leadership team,” said Congressman Carter. “The states and territory of Region 7 have many unique issues facing our constituents, including natural disaster response and recovery. I am eager to work with our new Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar to uplift the voices of consituents and members of Region 7.”

Carter will formally assume the position when the 118th Congress is sworn on January 3rd, 2023 when the 118th Congress convenes.

###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) was elected to serve as the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) Second Vice-Chair in the 118^th Congress. This is the third-most senior position in caucus leadership and is a member of the Executive Committee. This role was previously filled by Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence of Michigan, who is finishing her fourth term in Congress. Congressman Carter will take on this role during his sophomore congressional term.

“I am humbled and grateful to for the opportunity to serve as Second Vice-Chair in the powerhouse institution that is the Congressional Black Caucus, and I thank my colleagues for entrusting me with this leadership position” said Congressman Troy Carter. “I came to Congress to be the voice of my constituents, and it is a job that I take very seriously. I also serve on Capitol Hill as the only Black congressmember in a delegation representing a state that is one-third African American. This is an enormous responsibility, and I know that the greater Black community in my state depends on me to advocate for our shared community within systems that too-often are designed to silence our voices. I will not be silent. In this leadership role in the Congressional Black Caucus, and everyday as a Congressman, I will continue fighting for the issues that make a difference to all Louisianans and Americans.”

Since its establishment in 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus has been committed to using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities have a shot at the American Dream. The CBC is often referred to as the “Conscience of the Congress.”

While the CBC has predominately been made up of members of the Democratic Party, the founding members of the caucus envisioned a non-partisan organization. Consequently, the CBC has a long history of bipartisan collaboration and members who are both Democrat and Republican.

The full results of the 118^th Congressional Black Caucus leadership election will be shared by the Congressional Black Caucus here.

###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. released the following statement following Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that she will not seek a leadership post in the Democratic party in the upcoming Congress.

“Last week the American people used their voices to vote at the ballot boxes. While the final tally did not ultimately result in a continuing Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, it did show that the institution of democracy is strong, a robust rejection of political conspiracy and violence, and that the people’s voice will prevail.

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s historic, dedicated, and accomplished leadership as Speaker of the House of Representatives will go down in history as an era of progress, service, and success for the American people. She is woman of faith, a true public servant and patriot, and her style of leadership inspires hope, loyalty, and hard work.

“An entire generation of Americans has been inspired by her shining example of leadership, grace, and moral fortitude, even through dark times and dangerous days. My prayers are with her and her family as her husband, Paul Pelosi, continues to recover from the terrible attack he faced last month.

“Our nation is undoubtedly better for her 35 years of service in the House of Representatives, and I am so grateful that her expertise, knowledge, and immense strategic ability will remain in the chamber as she continues to serve the people of San Francisco.”

###

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – On Veteran’s Day 2022, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R, S.C.) introduced important legislation to support veterans and V.A. systems in their districts and across the country. The bipartisan WARTAC Improvement Bill would help raise awareness about and bring improvements to the Warrior Training Advancement Course of the Veterans Benefit Administration, or WARTAC. This is a program within the Department of Veteran’s Affairs that helps veterans re-enter the civilian workforce into meaningful roles that also support their fellow veterans. However, just 373 veterans were enrolled in WARTAC last year, leaving a lot of opportunity to grow programmatic participation.

Every year, over 200,000 brave service members transition out of the Armed Forces and back into civilian life. Due to the unique nature of life in the military, this transition can be daunting and difficult for many. These hardships were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which veteran unemployment shot up to 6.5% in 2020, with service members of color and women veterans disproportionately impacted.

“Our veterans give so much to us, we owe it to them to make sure we do all we can to help them live healthy, productive, and meaningful lives after their service,” said Congressman Carter. “This Veteran’s Day, I’m proud to introduce legislation to improve job opportunities and services for our veterans as they re-enter civilian life. We know that many veterans struggle with mental health, housing, and employment after their military service. By connecting returning service members with critical jobs in the V.A., the WARTAC Improvement Bill can be a win-win for veterans and our wider communities.”

“The transition back into civilian life can be a challenge for many of our brave service members,” said Congresswoman Mace. “The Warrior Training Advancement Course is an important workforce training program that not only prepares transitioning service members for a career at the VA but gives the VA more qualified employees to process veterans’ benefits claims. This bipartisan legislation helps us learn more about and improve the Warrior Training Advancement Course and is an important step forward in not only improving this crucial transition but allowing more veterans to receive their disability benefits faster.”

While the V.A. and partners have worked hard to bring the veteran unemployment rate back down, there are still over 220,000 unemployed veterans nationwide. With the Veteran’s Benefit Administration (VBA) already dealing with a severe backlog in cases, and with many more coming due to passage of the PACT Act, the VBA is in dire need of qualified Veteran Service Representatives and Rating Veteran Service Representatives to process these claims.

This bipartisan legislation will direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to the bicameral Committees on Veterans Affairs annually on the Warrior Training Advancement Course of the Veterans Benefit Administration, create a structural opportunity to process feedback, and analyze the program for effectiveness and opportunities to grow and improve.

Several groups including Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and The American Legion also support the legislation.

DAV National Commander Joe Parsetich said, “As an organization of veterans serving veterans for over 100 years, DAV understands that a service member’s successful transition to civilian life is not complete until they secure meaningful employment, which is why VBA’s WARTAC program is so invaluable. It’s imperative, though, that the VA analyzes and reports the efficacy of WARTAC to Congress to ensure the department receives the proper resources to serve our nation’s veterans through such programs. We thank Rep. Carter for introducing this legislation and his leadership on this issue.”

More specifically, The WARTAC Improvement Bill would:

• Include recommendations for best practices and will also include data sets on the number of eligible participants, enrolled participants, participants who successfully complete the program, information on how the Secretary provides the training, and other information deemed relevant.

• Require that the Secretary will report on hiring information and the cost savings of the program including the determination of the Secretary whether other federal agencies may also save money by establishing a program like WARTAC.

• Help veterans receive their benefits more efficiently by increasing the VBA’s hiring capacity

The bill text as introduced is available here.

 ###

NEW ORLEANS, L.A. -- Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. released the following statement after winning his race to be re-elected as Congressman for Louisiana's Second District.

"I am humbled and grateful that the people of Louisiana’s Second Congressional District have re-elected me to serve another term in Congress.

"It is an honor to represent southeast Louisiana in the House of Representatives and I want to thank you for placing your trust in me. As I continue to fight for a better tomorrow, I will always be guided by the opinions, perspectives, and stories of my constituents.

"I promise that every day that I’m blessed to serve you, I will be the voice of the people."

###