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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. secured several critical priorities in the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation will strengthen U.S. national security by supporting the development of new technologies, coordinate with America’s global network of allies and partners, and uplift service members and their families, who form the foundation for America’s defense.

The bill included an amendment by Congressman Carter that would extend the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program. This program provides business development support and assistance to eligible small, disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) seeking to participate in federal contracting. This amendment would allow the minority, veteran and women-owned business owners that participate one more year to utilize the program.

“Today’s House passage of the NDAA proves our commitment to those who serve our country in uniform is stronger than ever,” said Congressman Carter. “This year’s defense bill includes bold initiatives to support a diverse and talented military and civilian workforce, provides historic funding for research activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), supports pay raises for service members and civilians, and deepens our alliances and partnerships during a critical moment for democracies worldwide. I am also proud that this legislation includes a $15 an hour minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts as well as my amendment to add an additional year to the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program. This extension of one year will help more, small, historically-disadvantaged business owners greater utilize the business development supports and resources that this program provides.”

The 8(a) Program is currently a nine-year program within the Small Business Administration that offers business development and assistance to eligible small, disadvantaged businesses seeking to participate in federal contracting. A major benefit of the program is that participants have access to training, technical assistance, and contracting opportunities in the form of set asides or sole-source opportunities. The Congressman’s amendment would add an additional year for businesses to participate in the program.

The House version of FY23 NDAA includes a range of key national security priorities for Louisianians and Americans, including:

• Vital benefits for service members and their families, including a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel, 2.4% inflation bonuses for service members earning less than $45,000/year and a $15/hour minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts.

• Over $4 million in funds to update, green, and bring resiliency to military bases and buildings in Louisiana, including the Louisiana National Guard Munitions Administrative Facility Base in Belle Chase, the Abbeville Readiness Center in Abbeville, and Camp Beauregard in Pineville.

• Support for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions, allocating over $111 million for research activities at HBCUS and establishing a pilot program to increase research capacity at minority serving institutions.

• Civilian harm mitigation measures, including the establishment of a Commission on Civilian Harm and a Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation at the Department of Defense.

• New investments in science and technology competitiveness, including $275 million in additional funding for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, directed energy, artificial intelligence, and software.

• Supply chain security, including an assessment of dual-use technology and improving risk management in DoD supply chains involving pharmaceutical products.

• Resources for U.S. allies and partners, including $1 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and funding for the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI).

• Fighting for Safety in Haiti, As a member of the Congressional Haitian Caucus Congressman Carter supported measures to require Commerce and the AG to submit a report on arms trafficking in Haiti as well as a resolution asserting the importance of the Haiti-US relationship and that the nation’s recovery from these recent crises to be democratic and driven by the Haitian people.

A summary of the provisions in the FY23 NDAA is available here.

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NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr introduced legislation to study and protect the culture and integrity of Louis Armstrong Park within the former New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park for future generations. A park at the heart of the New Orleans community, Congressman Carter’s bill The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Study Act of 2022 would authorize a study with meaningful community input to assess the suitability and feasibility of re-establishing an area of Louis Armstrong Park as the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park with federal status under the Department of the Interior.

“The rich culture of New Orleans is deeply rooted in the places, people, and history of our community, and it must be valued, uplifted and protected for generations to come,” said Congressman Carter. “The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Study Act of 2022 would bring together the community, government, and stakeholders to collectively study and determine a path forward for this park that protects the integrity of this true treasure of the Crescent City.”

Congressman Carter continued, “The Tremé is a historically Black and culturally significant neighborhood in the city. We must have the impacted community members not just at the table, but meaningfully involved in these conversations on the future of Louis Armstrong Park to help best preserve the culture and history of this cultural landmark and the city we love.”

The study will analyze the assemblage of historic and cultural resources and their best use of management through partnerships among public and private entities that reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that are a valuable part of the story of the United States and Louisiana.

It will fully develop a conceptual plan that outlines the roles of all participants and stakeholders in the park, including the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.

This study for the future of the park will be done in consultation with the Sec. of Interior, State Historic Preservation Officers, State Historical Societies, State Tourism Offices along with local residents, community advocates, organizers, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and State and local governments that—are involved in the planning of the park.

The study must also provide a conceptual boundary map that has demonstrated support by the public for the designation of the park.

The full text of the bill as introduced is here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $5.2 million in funding from the recently-passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR). The airport will use the money to replace two passenger boarding bridges, bringing reliability, energy efficiency, improved customer experience, and enhanced access for people with disabilities to the airport.

“I am so proud to share that the Infrastructure Law is bringing home $5.2 million to improve accessibility and reliability at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport,” said Congressman Carter. “Safe and efficient airports are essential to the economic well-being of Louisiana. As our entryways to the world, we must ensure our airports put our best foot forward and are as accessible, dependable, and as energy efficient as possible. The Infrastructure Law will help make this a reality here in Louisiana and across the country.”

“Americans deserve modern airports that meet the needs of their families and growing passenger demand,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, today’s grants will improve airport terminals while also creating good jobs in communities across the country.”

Today’s funding is from the Airport Terminal Program, one of three aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal grants.

BTR is one of 90 airports to receive a grant from the fund, two of which are in Louisiana. Lake Charles Regional Airport is also a recipient, receiving $2.5 million from the grant for similar improvements. These updates in addition to the update of MSY last October make for three Louisiana airport renewals in the past eight months, all funded by federal grants.

The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, makes a historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. It will rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, upgrade and expand public transit, modernize the nation’s ports and airports, improve safety, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice and invest in communities that have too often been left behind. It will drive the creation of good-paying union jobs and grow the economy sustainably and equitably to help everyone get ahead for decades to come.

As a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Carter worked on, advocated and voted for this transformative legislation. Despite the Infrastructure Law bringing home over $7 billion to Louisiana, he was the only member of the state’s House Delegation to vote in support.

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NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. released the following statement after the Supreme Court released a shadow docket ruling reinstating Louisiana's GOP-drawn, unrepresentative congressional maps.

“Wars were fought, movements were launched, and constitutional amendments were passed to give every American of every race and gender full citizenship and the right to vote.

“Today, the Supreme Court released a shadow docket ruling that sends Louisiana back to our tarnished history of diminishing and silencing the voices of African Americans.

“It is shameful that the court refused to let the process here in Louisiana play out to draw maps that fairly represent the population of Louisiana.

“We need maps that follow the math and give Black Louisianians their rightful representation in our democratic system. There should be no political gamesmanship when it comes to our representative democracy.

“This Supreme Court is out of control in so many ways, but this and other recent rulings make one thing is clear: It will stop at nothing to silence the voice of Black and Brown voters in the South and across the country.

“Today shows that many of these justices are partisan hacks, loyal not to the Constitution, but to a far-right political agenda.

“We must speak in one voice against the age-old pattern of silencing and diluting Black votes and voices in our democratic system.

“While the forces of injustice may have won this battle we, as we have before, will win the war.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced a new cooperative agreement under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). LFPA funds will be used to fund the Nourishing Louisiana program which aims to support Louisiana producers and underserved communities.

“Farmers and agricultural producers feed our nation and food banks fill a critical gap in our social safety net, but they are all currently struggling to overcome rising costs” said Congressman Carter. “That’s why I am proud to announce that thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan, the USDA and Louisiana will create economic opportunities for producers while bringing food to five food banks in Louisiana – including two in the Second Congressional District.”

“USDA is excited to partner with Louisiana to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) will partner with Feeding Louisiana, five Feed America food banks, non-profit organizations, and community members to support Louisiana producers. Through its partnership with Feed Louisiana, LDAF will purchase food, including fresh produce, meats, seafood, and rice from local growers, targeting underserved farmers, ranchers, and fishers. 

Purchased food will then be provided to five Louisiana food banks which will distribute the food to Louisiana residents experiencing food insecurity. In addition to sharing Louisiana-grown food with hundreds of existing partners working in underserved communities, the food banks will work to establish new partnerships in communities where need is high, and resources are limited. Over the two-year grant period, it is anticipated the Nourishing Louisiana program will purchase 1.8 million pounds of food and impact over 130,000 people experiencing food insecurity. 

“Reports show that at the height of the pandemic, the number of Louisianans experiencing food insecurity totaled over 900,000. That’s a staggering need that this program can help meet,” said the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. “The program will be providing fresh, delicious, and nutritious food to those that need it most while partnering with our underserved farmers, ranchers, and fishers to help them move their products. That’s an investment into Louisiana on multiple levels and an all-around win for our state.”

The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Through this program, USDA will award up to $400 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments to support local, regional, and underserved producers through the purchase of food produced within the state or within 400 miles of delivery destination.

More information about the program is available on AMS’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program webpage.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. voted for bipartisan legislation that takes historic steps to combat gun violence and protect communities in Louisiana. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will help save lives by keeping weapons out of dangerous hands, strengthening mental health services and bolstering school safety.  The first major gun violence prevention legislation passed by Congress in nearly three decades, this bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Today, the Democratic Congress passed our nation’s first major gun violence prevention legislation in nearly three decades,” said Congressman Carter. “Louisianians are horrified by the epidemic of gun violence that continues to steal away lives, devastate families and shatter communities across the country.  The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will implement common-sense measures to curb the violence and keep weapons away from those who pose a danger to themselves and others.”

Gun violence in America is responsible for more than 45,000 deaths per year, and an average of 1,183 deaths in Louisiana every year.  Every day, 30 Americans are murdered with a gun – a number that rises to more than 100 when counting suicides and accidental shootings.  Communities across the nation have been torn apart by nearly 300 mass shootings since 2009 – attacks that have killed more than 1,500 people and wounded 1,000 more. 

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will implement common-sense, bipartisan measures to protect America’s children, keep our communities safe and curb gun violence across our country, including:

• Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders: Incentivizing states to implement extreme risk protection order laws to keep weapons out of the hands of individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.
• Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence: Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole” by adding convicted abusers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
• Cracking Down on Gun Trafficking and Straw Purchases: Preventing dangerous individuals from illegally evading background checks by establishing new federal criminal offenses that cover straw purchasing and trafficking.
• Enhanced Background Checks for Buyers Under 21: Requiring longer, enhanced background checks of up to ten days for gun buyers under 21 years of age.
• Anti-Violence Community Initiatives: Providing $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives. 
• Child and Family Mental Health Services: Improving access to mental health services for children, youth and families through Medicaid, CHIP and other programs.
• Investments in School Safety: Expanding mental health and supportive services in schools, including early identification and intervention programs.

“House Democrats have voted again and again for bold action to combat gun violence,” continued Congressman Carter. “The legislation we voted on today is not perfect, but it is an important step forward. However, we cannot stop here.  House Democrats remain committed to fighting for additional gun safety legislation and finally putting an end to our nation’s daily drumbeat of gun violence.”

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