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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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NEW ORLEANS, L.A. — Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. announced that families in the Second Congressional District of Louisiana will soon see more affordable prescription drugs for Medicare recipients and lower health insurance premiums made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.
“For far too long, big corporations have forced many Americans to choose between paying for health care, including lifesaving medication and insurance coverage, and putting food on the table. With the Inflation Reduction Act now the law of the land, Democrats in Congress have taken bold steps to rein in out-of-control health care costs,” said Congressman Carter. “I’m proud to have voted for this transformational legislation to lower health care costs for families across my district.”
Congressman Carter’s reports released today show that Inflation Reduction Act benefits for Second Congressional District residents include:
Affordable Health Care
By extending critical tax credits set to expire this year, the Inflation Reduction Act will help 15,000 people in the district currently enrolled in subsidized marketplace health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act save an average of $1,770 in premiums starting next year.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, a family in the district with two adults, two children, and a household income of $75,000 could save $2,832 on their premiums next year.
A single-parent household with one adult, one child, and a household income of $30,000 could save $1,260 on their premiums next year.
A household of two adults over the age of 60 with a joint income of $70,000 could save $17,400 on their premiums next year.
Lower Prescription Drug Costs
The Inflation Reduction Act caps Medicare beneficiaries’ annual out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D at $2,000 per year starting in 2025. An estimated 4,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries in the district had out-of-pocket costs above $2,000 in 2020 and will therefore see savings due to this legislation.
For the estimated 7,800 Medicare beneficiaries receiving insulin in the district, the new law will cap monthly copayments for insulin products at $35 per month.
The Inflation Reduction Act finally allows the government to negotiate lower drug prices with Big Pharma. If the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug pricing provisions had been fully in effect in 2020:
- The total cost of prescriptions filled by Medicare beneficiaries in the district could have been $35 million lower.
- Medicare beneficiaries in the district could have saved a total of $11 million in reduced premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
The urgent need for these reforms was demonstrated by Committee on Oversight and Reform’s landmark drug pricing investigation, which revealed how the pharmaceutical industry’s uninhibited pricing practices lead to price gouging and runaway costs for Americans.
The report on benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act health coverage provisions for 2nd District residents can be found here, and the report on benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act Medicare drug pricing provisions for 2nd District residents can be found here.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. commemorated Women’s Equality Day 2022 by reiterating his commitment to fight for reproductive freedoms for all women.
The recent attack by the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade restricts the constitutional right to reproductive autonomy and privacy. Abortion laws do not eliminate abortions; they eliminate safe abortions. The United States’ maternal mortality rate is already abysmal. From 2019 to 2020, the U.S. maternal mortality rate increased 18%, resulting in 861 total maternal deaths, which does not account for unreported cases.
In Louisiana, the situation is even more bleak. According to the Louisiana Health Department, the state’s maternal mortality rate exceeds the majority of the rest of the nation’s rate. Additionally, for every 1 pregnant White woman that dies from pregnancy-related or associated complications, 4 pregnant Black women die. These disparities cross across all healthcare for Black women.
Tragically, around two-thirds of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. As one of the most technologically advanced and developed nations in the world, this reality is unacceptable.
In order for us to move forward, we must continue to fight and defend women. We cannot move backwards.
In just the past two months, Congressman Carter advocated for and voted to pass:
- The Women’s Health Protection Act – Congressman Carter once again passed targeted legislation to make the protections of Roe v. Wade the law of the land. Not a single House Republican voted for this bill to respect the basic freedoms and the lives of women in every corner of the country.
- The Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act – legislation to stop Republicans from criminalizing, fining, or suing women who exercise their constitutional right to travel across state lines to obtain an abortion or other reproductive healthcare. Nearly every House Republican voted against this life-saving legislation.
- The Right to Contraception Act – legislation to guarantee the right for Americans to obtain and use birth control including oral contraception, emergency contraception, and IUDs. Nearly every House Republican voted that they don’t believe women have a right to birth control.
“With women’s rights and reproductive healthcare under attack, this Women’s Equality Day is more important than ever,” said Congressman Troy Carter. “As an advocate for equity and human rights – as well as the highest-ranking pro-choice official in Louisiana – I’m taking this day to recommit myself to the fight for a brighter, more just future for women in Louisiana and across the United States. The Senate must stop the stalemate and take action on House-passed legislation to protect women’s rights and healthcare freedom.”
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