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ATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Flooding in Louisiana is nothing new, but prevention and cleanup are a constant struggle.
That’s why Republican Congressman Clay Higgins wants to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This time, with some changes to try and make it better. It’s an effort both Democrats and Republicans support.
“Yes, not only do I support it, I’m a co-author of the bill. I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA).
The most notable proposed changes are extending the program for five years into September of 2026 and capping the amount you pay for coverage from the current 25% to just 9%. It will also put guardrails on FEMA and their new rating method, known as Risk Rating 2.0, to prevent any changes in interest rates that could weaken the program.
“You know, we have to go in a direction to where people aren’t having to keep applying for these grants by doing better to fix many of these things that cause people to need flood insurance in the first place,” Congressman Carter continued.
Marie Constantin with the Louisiana Storm Water Coalition said she could not agree more.
“The NFIP is only half of the solution. If we don’t pivot in the state of Louisiana and start giving storm water management permanent funding on utility bills and grants and other cobbled together monies, then what good is it?” Constantin said.
As a fierce advocate for stormwater flood prevention in the Baton Rouge area, Constantin said the NFIP is a two-sided coin.
“It’s huge and it’s helpful but in some sense, it’s hurting us because it’s allowing us to be in denial. You know, it’s only good if we do this other piece too and we are starting to do this other piece,” Constantin explained.
This bill is still making its way through Congress and some more changes are likely to be made along the way. But according to both congressmen, the timeframe for a vote looks like it could be sometime next year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. joined with his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This long-awaited and overdue infrastructure bill was passed on a bipartisan basis, and will deliver enormous results to his home state of Louisiana.
After the final passage, the Congressman released the following statement:
“This is a transformational moment for the people of Louisiana, and the entire country. The building blocks of our nation have been falling into disrepair for far too long, and I am so proud that tonight the House of Representatives came together on a bipartisan basis to pass this long-term investment in the foundation of our nation.
In Louisiana, we’ve learned the hard way what it means to have failing roads, bridges, water and flood control systems. We need infrastructure we can count on, and that will withstand storms.
In this package, Louisiana will get billions from the federal government to repair and update our roads, bridges, sewage and water systems, update flood protections, harden our power grid, increase internet connectivity and so much more.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs and will finally invest in the systems we need to remain competitive and successful in a global economy.
The American people need a strong foundation to stand on, and Congress has delivered.
There is much more to do to build a stronger America. Next, we must shore up our social safety net and invest in America’s kids, seniors and families by passing the Build Back Better Act. We are just getting started.”
Congressman Troy Carter recorded a video statement celebrating the historic passage of this vote.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. welcomes Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan’s upcoming visit to the Second Congressional District of Louisiana. The Administrator is visiting the region at the request of the Congressman and community groups and leaders as a part of his environmental justice listening tour.
Congressman Troy Carter has previously written the EPA Administrator calling for federal assistance to study and improve the public health and environmental impacts of emissions and polluting substances generated in the industrial hub of Louisiana’s River Parishes.
There has been longstanding concern for environmental justice issues in the industrial corridor of the River Parishes, especially regarding the elevated and disproportionate rates of cancer and respiratory conditions in the region.
“I am grateful that EPA Administrator Michael Regan is able to visit my district to highlight the issues of environmental justice in southeast Louisiana,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. “Communities in in New Orleans and the River Parishes have been concerned about issues of environmental justice for a long time, and this tour by EPA leadership is a first step toward building trust and forwarding actions on environmental justice. It is my hope that these meetings will lead to action and will bring the type of accountability, monitoring, research, and support that communities desperately need.
He continues, “While I believe that industry and communities can coexist, the health and safety of communities must always come first. Lives are on the line, and a strong partnership with this agency will help us make needed changes to protect our communities. I am confident that the EPA will move quickly to provide independent, third-party air monitoring and a cumulative health impact study as I requested.”
EPA Administrator Michael Regan provided the following comment: “At the urging of Congressman Troy Carter, I look forward to visiting Louisiana, where I’ll be on the ground with community members who are on the frontlines of fighting for environmental justice.”
Due to conflicting votes in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Troy Carter will not be able to join Administrator Regan in person.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. convened a private listening session between several members of Congress and family members of victims of police violence. The family members represented victims who died during incidents with law enforcement in Louisiana.
This listening session and discussion focused on sharing the stories of the family members and the path forward for justice.
The members of Congress that attended were Congressman Troy Carter, Congressman Al Green and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
The family members and close friends of victims of police violence in attendance were as follows:
- Ronald Greene’s mother, Mona Hardin
- Ronald Greene’s sister, Dinelle Hardin
- Ronald Greene’s friend, Terrance Key
- Dontrunner Robinson’s mother, Casa Bean
- Dontrunner Robinson’s brother, Myron Robinson
Several advocates from civil rights organizations were also in attendance.
“Meeting with and listening to these family members was powerful, humbling, and sobering all at the same time,” said Congressman Carter (LA-02). “Their stories exemplify how important it is that we take action on the federal, state, and local levels to increase police accountability and continue the never-ending fight for justice. Their loved ones should never haven been taken, but their passing cannot be in vain. This meeting is only a starting point. We must not rest until we have a justice system that actually metes out justice for everyone of every race and creed.”
Congressman Carter has previously called for a pattern-or-practice Department of Justice investigation into the Louisiana State Police, following extremely disturbing reports from their department, including the event that led to the death of Ronald Greene. Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus Joyce Beatty also sent a letter in support of further investigation. There has already been one DOJ indictment of a Louisiana State Police officer.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in March 2021. Bipartisan negotiations on police reform policy have currently stalled in the Senate, but the message from all of the members who participated in today’s meeting is that the fight is not over.
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NEW ORLEANS, LA. – Today, Congressman Troy Carter highlights how the Democrats’ Build Back Better framework will meet the urgent needs of Louisiana’s kids and seniors in a new fact sheet, and how the expanded Child Tax Credit has already helped kids and families.
In the wake of the pandemic, high costs of child care, health care, home- and community-based care, early and higher education, housing, and more are hurting the most vulnerable in Louisiana and around the nation. The Build Back Better framework delivers transformative investments that will address these needs, while also ensuring that the wealthiest and big corporations pay their fair share.
“For far too long, Louisiana’s families have been held back by soaring costs – from child care to health care to education to the climate crisis and more,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. “Democrats’ Build Back Better framework – which we will soon enact into law – will deliver for the people in our state, with millions of good-paying jobs, historic middle class tax cuts and lower costs, so kids, seniors and families can thrive and succeed.”
A new report from the Joint Economic Committee estimated that 85,000 Child Tax Credit monthly tax cuts were sent to families in the Second Congressional District in the month of October. A total of $38.1 million in tax cuts went back in the pockets of southeast Louisiana families.
Statewide, 541,000 monthly tax cuts went to families in October for a total of $229.5 million. The average tax cut per Louisiana household for October was $424.
Nationwide, the Joint Economic Committee estimates the Child Tax Credit tax cuts are pumping $19.3 billion into local economies each month, supporting local jobs and businesses.
“This historic tax cut puts more of hardworking families’ own money back in their pockets so they can pay for child care, put gas in the car to get work, put food on the table, cover school expenses, spend money at our local businesses and continue to grow our local economy while building better lives for their families,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. “The expansion of the Child Tax Credit in the Build Back Better framework is just one of the many ways that the framework will change the foundation of America, especially for the youngest and oldest in our communities.”
Estimates from the White House show the following expected benefits to Louisiana’s kids and seniors under the Build Back Better framework:
- Child care: The average annual cost for child care in Louisiana is $8,205. The Build Back Better framework will expand access for 307,562 young children and ensure that no Louisiana family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care.
- Early education: Only 41% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Louisiana have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600. The Build Back Better framework will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K to 60,031 additional young Louisianians – setting these children up for lifelong success and saving their parents thousands of dollars.
- Health care: By closing the Medicaid gap, expanding Medicare to include hearing care and extending relief for insurance purchased through the ACA, the Build Back Better framework will help 87,000 uninsured people in Louisiana gain coverage. Additionally, 68,100 people who purchase coverage on their own will save hundreds on health insurance premiums each year.
- Lower taxes: Before Democrats secured the expanded Biden Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, 19% percent of Louisiana children lived in poverty. The Build Back Better framework extends this life-changing tax cut and continues our historic progress toward reducing child poverty. The framework will also provide a tax cut of up to $1,500 in tax cuts for 281,900 low-wage workers in Louisiana by extending the American Rescue Plan’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansion.
Congressman Troy Carter continues to support passage of both the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan “Invest in America” infrastructure package.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. joined with his colleagues and voted to support the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021 (FVPSA). This legislation will enhance and refocus federal investments to address intimate partner violence and support survivors, increasing funds for the states to run these programs by 37% on average.
In Louisiana, the passage of H.R. 2119 would result in a 41% funding increase from $1.74 million to $2.44 million.
“Over 10 million people experience domestic violence in the United States each year. 35.9% of Louisiana women and 35.2% of Louisiana men experience intimate partner violence of some kind,” said Congressman Carter.“With my colleagues in Congress, I’m working to put an end to these staggering statistics by passing comprehensive legislation like the FVPSA that prevents violence and protects survivors.”
Passing FVPSA into law would allow states and tribes to:
- Increase prevention efforts, which helps reduce the rate of intimate partner violence and decrease the funding needs for support services
- Increase dedicated resources to help support and serve over-represented and underserved populations, including communities of color, Tribal communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities
- Better help survivors receive culturally appropriate, accessible services
This legislation passed the House of Representatives during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. released the following statement on the passing of former Secretary of State and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Colin Powell.
“Today I join the nation in mourning the loss of General Colin Powell. He was a man who embodied many ‘firsts,’ serving as both the first Black Secretary of State and the youngest ever Chair of the Joint Chiefs.
General Powell rose to the highest ranks of the United States military and advised four presidents.
He looked ahead to the future, and was committed to fighting for the next generation.
All in all, and in everything he did, General Powell put service to his country first. He held an unwavering commitment to the American people regardless of race or party affiliation.
Our heartfelt sympathy is with his wife, Alma, and their children, Linda, Annemarie and Michael.”
Rest in Peace.”
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