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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. announced that the U.S. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health has awarded more than $3 million to eight organizations nationwide for a new initiative to demonstrate policy effectiveness to promote Black youth mental health. Southeast Louisiana will receive a total of $400,000 under one grant for the Institute of Woman and Ethnic Studies.
"Our system is failing to help our dear children stay healthy inside and out,” said Congressman Carter. “It truly is a crisis, and like most crises we face, the situation is exacerbated further for communities of color. We cannot accept this tragic reality, and I’m grateful that HHS has granted the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies of New Orleans $400,000 to fight for the lives and well-being of young Black people. This is a powerful step forward.”
“Over the past decade, Black children under age 13 are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to their White peers,” said RDML Felicia Collins, M.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health. “With this new initiative, we intend to identify specific policies that exhibit a meaningful impact on mental health for Black youth and to spread the word about these effective policy efforts.”
In October 2020, HHS released a report to Congress on African American Youth Suicide, which analyzed National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data between 2014-2017. This data examined the risk and precipitating factors in non-Hispanic Black children and non-Hispanic White children aged 10 to 17, who died by suicide. The report examined youth suicide demographics, risk factors associated with higher rates of suicide among Black youth and evidence-based interventions towards prevention.
Grant Awardees are expected to use a policy assessment framework to identify existing policies to promote mental health in Black youth and test the impact of policies in various settings, such as schools, faith based organizations, community centers, health centers, or other community agency settings.
Later tonight, Congressman Carter plans to share remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives on the importance of improving mental health services for America’s young people. The video will be posted on his congressional YouTube page. Tomorrow morning, Thursday September 22nd, Congressman Carter will participate in a press conference about the impact of the climate crisis and natural disasters on youth mental health. The event will be livestreamed on the Moms Clean Air Force Facebook and Twitter pages at 9:30am ET / 8:30am CT.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. announced that the U.S. Department of Labor – in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority – has awarded over $34.3 million to support education, training and supportive services in regions that have suffered significant job losses in the energy extraction industry. Southeast Louisiana will receive a total of $2,427,213 under two grants for NextOp Inc. ($1,143,215) and New Orleans Career Center ($1,283,998).
“Investing in workforce development is a key tool for economic growth in both our urban and rural communities,” said Congressman Carter. “These investments will allow southeast Louisiana to address local industry demands head-on by both developing a skilled workforce and establishing a vibrant talent pool that will attract new businesses to the region.”
“The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative provides grants to engage local communities and help build pathways for workers to good-paying jobs,” explained Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. “The awards we’re announcing today reflect the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to ensure the benefits of its investments in climate, clean energy, training and workforce development reach and serve disadvantaged communities.”
These investments will complement efforts funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create good-paying, effective jobs that help achieve our nation’s goals of strengthening our nation’s infrastructure and fighting the climate crisis.
In keeping with Executive Order 14008, signed by President Biden, the WORC Initiative aligns with the Justice40 initiative, a whole-of-government approach to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to communities historically marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.
The WORC Initiative helps rural communities address historic inequities and to produce good, quality jobs for dislocated and other workers in rural communities in the Appalachian and Delta regions. The grants also help communities diversify their local economies by developing a skilled workforce and providing equitable access to underserved and underrepresented communities.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. hosted his High School Congressional Essay Contest winner and her mother in Washington, D.C. A junior at Arden Hill Academy in New Orleans, Sydnee Ragas’ essay won first place in the Congressman’s inaugural essay contest during Black History Month. In response to the essay’s prompt about creating a new dream for the future, Ms. Ragas wrote about America’s changing understanding of equality in America.
“I was so thrilled to have Sydnee Ragas, our 2022 Essay Contest winner, join me on Capitol Hill yesterday,” said Congressman Carter. “A young, talented, and bright individual, she represents the spirit of Louisiana’s Second Congressional District. Sydnee, we are so proud of you and look forward to all of your accomplishments!”
During her day at the Capitol, Congressman Carter presented her with a celebratory certificate, gave her a tour, and introduced her to members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Since winning the Congressman’s essay contest, Ms. Ragas has also appeared on WBOK radio and submitted a letter to the editor to The Advocate on reproductive rights.
Photos and videos of the day are available here.
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CHICAGO, IL. — Yesterday, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. presented to the Benzinga National Conference on his legislation the Cannabis Lending and Investment in Marijuana Businesses Act – better known as the CLIMB Act.
The CLIMB Act would allow cannabis companies the ability to access critical lending and investment opportunities by offering protections to financial lenders and government agencies tasked with promoting economic growth. Congressman Carter introduced the bipartisan legislation with Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) in June this year.
Carter outlined the proposed legislation, which goes beyond what the SAFE Banking Act can provide, Tuesday at Benzinga's Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago.
“SAFE Banking is obviously a strong tool, and the CLIMB Act augments that critical proposal to create yet another opportunity to achieve safe harbor for business owners to access capital and thrive in the cannabis industry,” said Congressman Carter. “By clarifying what historically has been a little bit of a gray area, we can boost our economy and help not just license businesses, but allow them to access the capital they need to stand up businesses on their own two feet and allow them to thrive.”
Along with providing access to capital, a critical barrier for business owners from historically marginalized communities, the CLIMB Act would also permit public agencies to provide financial support to the cannabis industry, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA). It would also provide access to the American public capital markets.
Video footage of the Congressman’s presentation at the conference is available here.
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NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. was joined by students, coaches, as well as city, state, and school officials at George Washington Carver High School as he presented a check for $3 million to the 9th Ward Stadium Project, a non-profit committed to bringing a publicly accessible athletic stadium into the heart of this community.
The 9th Ward of New Orleans has never had a public recreation stadium for its students, athletes, musicians, and residents to enjoy. Students from the Ninth Ward travel across the city to play sports or music on other people’s fields, However, the community will soon have access to a high-quality, publicly accessible facility for the community to enjoy.
“I am proud to have secured $3 million in federal funds to help build a state-of-the art stadium to the 9th Ward,” said Congressman Carter. “This will be more than just a stadium for the community to share with the students and public of New Orleans. This is a chance to level the playing field for the 9th Ward, create opportunities for the neighborhood to recreate, build community pride, and ultimately to boost homeownership and energize the surrounding economy. This stadium will be a long-awaited win for this community, and I’m grateful to have played a part in bringing it to fruition.”
Photos of the event are available for download here.
An estimated $9 million project, Congressman Carter was able to secure $3 million in federal funds as a Community Funding Project within the FY 2022 congressional appropriations bill. That combined with a $3.8 million allocation by the Louisiana Legislature this session brings the project to just $2.2 million away from its goal. The organization behind this stadium effort, the 9th Ward Stadium Project, is currently seeking private donations to close the final fundraising gap and hopes to break ground in 2022.
NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. reaffirmed their commitment to put People Over Politics and continue to work to end gun violence.
“Gun violence is a tragedy that strikes every community and weighs on the heart every American. Whether it is in the streets, in our stores, or in our schools, we cannot stand by and watch more innocent Americans lose their lives,” said Congressman Carter. “Tragically, guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Louisiana, killing an average of 112 of our babies every year. I am proud to work for Safer Communities, putting People Over Politics with commonsense reforms to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”
On average, 1,036 Louisianians die from gun violence – the third-highest rate of gun deaths in the United States. Gun violence costs Louisiana $14.3 billion each year, of which $457.6 million is paid by taxpayers (Every Stat).
Congressman Carter shared his support for commonsense gun violence prevention laws, including legislation to require background checks for all gun sales, close loopholes that let dangerous people get guns, and keep our children safe that hevoted to pass in Congress, including:
- The Bipartisan Background Checks Act: Establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties, closing loopholes that allow criminals and abusers buy weapons unchecked. Nearly every House Republican voted against this commonsense, bipartisan measure to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
- Enhanced Background Checks Act: Closes the Charleston loophole, which allows dealers to transfer a firearm to a buyer after 3 business days if the FBI background check has not been completed. Nearly every House Republican voted against closing a loophole that allows guns to get into the hands of people who are legally barred from owning guns.
- The Protecting Our Kids Act: Raises the purchasing age for semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21 years old, outlaws high-capacity magazines, requires the safe storage of firearms, and bans bump stocks and untraceable and deadly ghost guns. Nearly every House Republican voted against making our communities safer for our kids.
- The Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act: Keeps guns out of the hands of people who pose a threat to themselves or others through a federal red-flag program. Nearly every House Republican voted against this life-saving legislation that protects victims of domestic abuse.
Extreme MAGA Republicans continue to oppose life-saving gun violence prevention legislation at every turn, siding with the gun lobby – not the vast majority of Americans who support laws, like universal background checks, that would help prevent these recurring tragedies with commonsense policies that still protect the Second Amendment rights of our citizens.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. issued the following statement on the passing of Maurice Edwin “Moon” Landrieu.
“State Representative, City Councilman, Mayor, Cabinet Secretary, Judge, but most importantly a husband and father. Moon Landrieu served his City, State and Country well. My prayers go out to his family as this good and faithful servant returns home,” said Congressman Troy Carter.
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