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NEW ORLEANS, L.A. – Following the last day of Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearings, Congressman Troy A. Carter wrote a letter to Louisiana Senator Kennedy, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging his colleague to vote in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to be the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

“As U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 2^nd Congressional District that accounts for a large percentage of your constituency, I write to strongly urge your support and a “yes” vote for the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States,” write Congressman Carter. “Judge Jackson is not only exceptionally well qualified, but thoughtful, capable, and conscientious. Her exemplary career clearly demonstrates that she will be an outstanding successor to retire Justice Stephen G. Breyer.”

The full text of the Congressman’s letter is here, and below.

Dear Senator Kennedy,

As U.S. Representative for Louisiana’s 2^nd Congressional District that accounts for a large percentage of your constituency, I write to strongly urge your support and a “yes” vote for the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Jackson is not only exceptionally well qualified, but thoughtful, capable, and conscientious. Her exemplary career clearly demonstrates that she will be an outstanding successor to retire Justice Stephen G. Breyer.

As one of our nation’s brightest legal minds, Judge Jackson’s nomination is a triumph for Louisiana and the United States. The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary gave the unanimous opinion that Judge Jackson is “Well Qualified” to serve on the United States Supreme Court. This is the highest rating that the committee awards and notes that the nominee is, “at the top of the legal profession in their community; possess outstanding legal ability; breadth of experience; the highest reputation for integrity, and demonstrates the capacity for sound judicial temperament.” These are the qualifications that a Supreme Court Justice should possess, and it is evident that Judge Jackson has them all. Her judicial record demonstrates that of a thorough and thoughtful jurist who is committed to fairness and justice. In short, Judge Jackson is more than qualified for this role.

I fervently support Judge Jackson’s swift nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. She has twice been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate and I look forward to witnessing her expedient confirmation by the U.S. Senate once again.

On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Louisiana, I ask that you vote “yes” in support of her nomination.

Sincerely,

Troy A. Carter, Sr.

Member of Congress

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a total allocation of nearly $3 billion in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to help communities recover from disasters, move back into permanent housing, and build inclusive resilience to climate change.

Louisiana is receiving the following allocation, totaling nearly $1.3 billion:

State of Louisiana is receiving $1,272,346,000.

Baton Rouge is receiving $4,648,000.

Lake Charles is receiving $10,776,000.

“Today’s announcement is yet another example of the federal government showing up for the people of Louisiana,” said Congressman Troy Carter. “This more than $1.27 billion infusion into our state will not only help communities rebuild and recover from Hurricane Ida and recent floods, but will help build long-term strength and resiliency in our systems. These funds, along with the Infrastructure Law, are historic investments for Louisiana. I am proud to have supported and voted for these efforts.”

With today’s allocations, HUD has now allocated the remaining funds of the $5 billion for CBDG disaster recovery funds appropriated from the disaster aid supplemental measure that the House passed on September 30^th, 2021. Congressman Carter was proud to vote in support of this  measure and bring home billions to Louisiana.

In February, Congressman Carter joined his delegation members in a letter calling for more federal disaster relief resources as well as the allocation of funds from the September disaster supplemental. Today’s announcement meets many of the letter’s requests.

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SUNSET, L.A. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, and local and state officials in Sunset, Louisiana to celebrate the announcement of federal investments in Louisiana’s broadband system and flood mitigation programs. He joined the Vice President and Deputy Secretary in their flight to Acadiana on Air Force Two.

The first major announcement of the day was the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) award of $29.9 million to expand broadband in the Acadiana region, including Acadia Parish, Evangeline Parish, and St. Landry Parish. The award will be used to fund the Acadiana Regional Public/Private Partnership project, which will fund last-mile broadband deployment to the Acadiana region of Louisiana and serve 22,196 households. These awards serve as a down payment on the Louisiana’s broadband future and will pave the way for at least $100 million in investments to the state to expand broadband thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Today I was proud to welcome the Vice President and Deputy Commerce Secretary Graves to Louisiana,” said Congressman Carter. “We heard directly from residents about the challenges they face due to lack of access to affordable, high-speed broadband and delivered a vision of a brighter future. Thanks to the President’s Infrastructure Law, which I was proud to support, we are now one step closer to bridging the digital chasm that has held back parts of Louisiana for far too long. Thanks to this $29 million award and the anticipated total $100 million coming our way, we will ensure Louisianians, wherever they live, can better advance their pursuits through reliable access the internet.”

Today, Vice President Harris also announced a new federal grant initiative that will help four states affected by Hurricane Ida, one of the most intense storms to hit the United States in recent years, build resiliency against flooding.

The new $60 million Swift Current initiative, made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocates $40 million to Louisiana. This funding will equitably expedite mitigation grants to disaster survivors with repetitively flooded homes. This is the first FEMA initiative funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen national preparedness and resilience.

Congressman Carter was one of just two members of the Louisiana congressional delegation to vote in support of the Infrastructure Law and was the only member of the delegation to attend today’s event with the Vice President.

“These investments show the federal government’s commitment to helping communities in Louisiana impacted by flooding get back on their feet,” said Congressman Carter. “We need to build resilience within communities, and these Swift Current grants put money in the hands of homeowners to do exactly that. We must reduce the financial burden facing families struggling to rebuild after a storm, and the next step is to address the rising cost of flood insurance facing many Louisianians.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $3.5 billion in Flood Mitigation Assistance grants over five years. As part of the $3.5 billion, the Swift Current program will help communities reduce flood damage by offering more equitable access to mitigation grants for projects such as eligible projects include property acquisition and demolition, elevation, and relocation. This program includes increased federal cost shares which can allow participation from communities that often face barriers to meeting their non-federal match.

Louisiana and three other states were selected because they hold the highest number of unmitigated severe repetitive loss and repetitive loss properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as total flood insurance claims within their respective FEMA regions.

The $60 million in Swift Current funding will distribute $40 million to Louisiana, $5 million to Mississippi, $10 million to New Jersey, and $5 million to Pennsylvania.

To be eligible, buildings must be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program for FEMA to consider them for this funding opportunity.

The initiative promotes equity in line with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, as the Swift Current funding opportunity aims to prioritize help by providing at least 40% of the benefits to disadvantaged communities.

The application process for federal grants can be burdensome for socially vulnerable communities. FEMA reduced grant application complexities by developing pre-calculated benefits to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of eligible mitigation projects. This enables communities with limited access to resources to apply for these grants, along with the savings from the increased federal cost-share match.

The application period opens on April 1 and closes Oct. 3. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is available on Grants.gov, and all applications must be submitted in the Mitigation eGrants system, by 12:00pm ET on Oct. 3, 2022.

For more information, interested parties should contact their state’s hazard mitigation officer.

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General Merrick Garland during the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) regional symposium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Congressman used the conversation to push for further policies and actions to promote greater justice and policing, as well as to highlight the tragedy, failure, and coverup in the case of the 2019 death of Ronald Greene.

The Congressman issued the following statement:

“In speaking with Attorney General Merrick Garland today I reiterated how critical it is that our nation move forward to advance federal policies that promote greater justice in policing and prevent further police misconduct. One especially tragic and disturbing example of this happened in Louisiana in 2019 with the death and consequent coverup of Ronald Greene in the custody of State Police.

“Along with humanizing the story of Mr. Greene, I raised the issue to the Attorney General to reiterate my request that the Justice Department launch a patterns or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police and hold bad actors accountable.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, also known as the CROWN Act.

If passed into law, this legislation would prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is frequently associated with a certain race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. Similar bills have already passed in 15 states and 30 cities. Congressman Troy A. Carter is a longtime advocate for this issue at the state and federal levels and was proud to vote in support today.

“For far too long, Black and Brown people have been penalized or discriminated against for wearing natural hair styles in school, the workplace, and other settings,” said Congressman Carter. “We must affirm every person’s right to show up in the world as their authentic self. I am proud to have worked on this issue in Louisiana and now the federal level alongside the leadership of my friend Adjoa B. Asamoah. After a long road, today I was proud to vote yes on the CROWN Act to finally end race-based hair discrimination. It’s time for the Senate to finish the job and make it law.”

“As a lifelong racial equity champion who created the legislative and social impact strategy for the CROWN Act movement I lead nationwide on behalf of the CROWN Coalition I co-created, I couldn’t be prouder today,” said Adjoa B. Asamoah, CROWN Act Legislative and Social Impact Strategist & CROWN Coalition Co-Creator.

The CROWN Act is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 116 Representatives. A companion bill is sponsored in the Senate by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. met with FBI Director Christopher Wray as a part of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) regional symposium. The conversation focused on the FBI and federal law enforcement’s response to recent bomb threats at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country.

Following the meeting, Congressman Carter released the following statement:

“When institutions refused to admit Black students, HBCUs offered a safe space and a high-quality education for many African American scholars. However, the recent bomb threats on scores of HBCUs across the country – including several in Louisiana’s Second Congressional District – have shattered this sense of safety on many campuses. We need to ensure that our HBCUs, and all who spend time at them, are protected.

“Today I was grateful to discuss these bomb threats in a meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray. He listened to my concerns and pledged that he and his agency would continue working to defend our HBCUs and bring cowards who threaten them to justice. Director Wray also committed to continuing a meaningful dialogue with my office and other stakeholders going forward.

“I am grateful to Director Wray and the entire Biden-Harris Administration for their attention to this important issue. Along with security efforts from agencies like the FBI, this week the Department of Education announced they will provide short-term grant funding for impacted schools to help restore a safe learning environment. Today’s meeting reinforced that through good times and through bad, this President and his Administration stands with our nation’s HBCUs.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. introduced legislation in the U.S. House that would create grants for eligible recipients to use for pre-development projects funded by the Public Works and Economic Development Act, commonly known as EDA.

Pre-development projects are tasks that need to be completed before construction in order to clear the way for infrastructure projects to move forward.

The bill amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act to create predevelopment grants for eligible recipients for:

• planning and community asset mapping; 
• training; 
• technical assistance and organizational development; 
• feasibility and market studies; 
• demonstration projects; 
• organizational capacity building; 
• organizing and facilitating convenings; and
• other predevelopment activities determined by the Secretary to be appropriate. 

“The Public Works and Economic Development is a powerful law that has long helped communities boost their economic development and help struggling businesses make it through hard times,” said Congressman Troy Carter. “Many good ideas never move forward because they face barriers in the pre-development stage. The bill I introduced today will help these same communities jumpstart their projects by covering the costs of important pre-development activities such as inclusive community engagement and feasibility studies.”

The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 established the Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide grants to economically distressed communities to support employment and industrial and commercial growth and requires reauthorization by Congress.

“With a huge influx of infrastructure projects on the way thanks to funding from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, this legislation is designed to help more economic development projects efficiently get off the drawing board and become reality,” said Congressman Carter.

This bill to support pre-development projects will be under the jurisdiction of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The full text of the bill can be found here.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – One year since Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. highlighted how this legislation changed the course of the pandemic, put working Louisianians back on the path to financial security and supported police officers, firefighters, health care workers and other frontline heroes.

“The American Rescue Plan gave Louisianians reason to hope that we could finally defeat this pandemic,” said Congressman Carter. “Thanks to Democrats’ leadership, that hope has given way to results: 2.45 million Louisianians have been vaccinated and Louisiana’s unemployment rate has plummeted to 4.4 percent.  This historic legislation kickstarted an historic recovery, delivering the resources needed to get vaccines in arms, money in pockets, workers back in jobs and kids safely back in schools.  The American people elected President Biden and Democratic Majorities in Congress to deliver – and with our Rescue Plan, that’s exactly what we did.  I am proud to have cast my vote to give our state the tools to beat the pandemic and support Louisiana’s working families.”

Democrats’ Rescue Plan has deployed billions in funds to help Louisiana contain COVID-19 and build a strong, sustainable and just economic recovery, including:

· $3 billion for Louisiana’s state and local governments, helping to preserve services, scale up testing, distribute vaccines, and keep essential workers on the job – including health care workers, police, firefighters, teachers, and food, sanitation, and transportation workers

· $2.6 billion for Louisiana’s schools, helping students safely return to in-person learning

· $1,400 relief checks delivered to 2,393,823 people in Louisiana, totaling $5.76 billion

· $261.7 million in emergency rental assistance for Louisiana, keeping a roof over working families’ heads

· $772.5 million in child care funds for Louisiana, helping early childhood educators and family child care providers keep their doors open

· $683 million supporting Louisiana’s colleges and universities, including $196 million for community colleges

Nationally, these investments have powered an unprecedented economic recovery that has delivered: 

· The greatest single year of job creation in American history: 6.6 million jobs created in the President’s first year and 7.4 million over the course of the Biden Administration.  More manufacturing jobs – nearly half a million – were created than in any year since 1994.

· The fastest economic growth in almost 40 years: with the GDP growing last year at 5.7 percent, the fastest rate since 1984. 

· The biggest single year drop in the unemployment rate in our history: falling from 6.4 percent when Democrats took office to around 4 percent and now, 3.8 percent.  When President Biden took office, over 18 million were receiving unemployment benefits; now, only 2 million are.

· A new record of 5.4 million new small businesses created: a full million more small businesses than in the year before. 

“As we mark this milestone, Congressional Democrats are continuing to build on the progress of the past year by lowering costs, growing paychecks and creating jobs,” said Congressman Carter.  “I am committed to fighting for and winning the resources we need to Build a Better Louisiana.”

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