Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. Secures Key Funding for New Orleans, Passes Bipartisan Funding Bill for Sickle Cell Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) highlighted his support of bipartisan funding bills, H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act and H.R. 7148, the Department of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act. Congressman Carter voted in favor of both measures, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I am incredibly pleased to vote for the Community Project Funding in these bills that I know will have a lasting impact on LA-02," said Rep. Carter. "These investments will grow our economy, making a real difference in the lives of so many. I am proud to have fought for funding that will make our community healthier, safer, and stronger."

Additionally, H.R. 1796 the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act passed as a part of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Act. Congressman Carter championed this bill that reauthorizes the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program for five years, which was last reauthorized in 2018. The program provides research funding for prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD).

"Sickle cell disease is a painful and often debilitating condition," said Rep. Carter. "I'm proud that this bill passed in the House, which marks a critical step toward ensuring that patients with this inherited blood disorder receive the comprehensive, coordinated care they urgently need. It's past time that we prioritize the health and well-being of those impacted by sickle cell disease, especially Black Americans who are disproportionately affected. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law."

SCD is a blood disorder predominantly affecting African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups. Individuals with SCD have a significantly lower life expectancy than the overall population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States.

You can read H.R. 1796 the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act here.

Key investments secured by Congressman Carter in FY26 Appropriations include:

Commerce, Justice, Science

• $1,031,000 for the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation Coastal and Fisheries Restoration Research and Equipment Initiative to fund research and equipment for Louisiana coastal erosion and fisheries restoration.
• $1,031,000 for the Engaged Learning Strategies for the "School-within-a-School" project to re-engage at-risk and disengaged middle school students through a turnkey, customizable, and comprehensive STEM-based curriculum. The project will help divert at-risk youth from the justice system.
• $1,031,000 for the First 72+ and Operation Restoration Comprehensive Reentry Program to provide reentry services for the populations served by the First 72+ and Operation Rescue, including access to mental health care, housing navigation, financial literacy, childcare, and workforce development.
• $1,031,000 for the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office Coroner Advanced Forensic Center Equipment Project to purchase state-of-the-art forensic equipment for a new Advanced Forensic Center that Jefferson Parish and neighboring criminal justice organizations will use in southeast Louisiana.
• $1,031,000 for the Jefferson Manning Family Center Morgan Rae Center for Hope Child Abuse Program to provide support services for child victims of abuse and witnesses to violence.
• $1,031,000 for United Way of Southeast Louisiana's Safe Children Initiative Firearm Storage Program to distribute free biometric gun safes to gun owners across seven parishes in Southeast Louisiana.

Interior and Environment

• $1,092,000 for the City of Kenner's Sewer/Wastewater Treatment Plant and Stabilization and Improvement Project to upgrade the city's sewer system to improve stormwater drainage and reliability in the area near MSY Airport.
• $1,092,000 for the City of Westwego's Wastewater Treatment Plant Modernization to make critical upgrades to the city's existing wastewater treatment facilities to extend their useful life, reduce operational costs, and support economic development.
• $1,092,000 for St. Bernard Parish's St. Claude Avenue Culvert Drainage Improvements Project to make drainage improvements to mitigate flooding for residents and industry in the Arab community.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development

• $3,700,000 for Biodistrict New Orleans Medical Education project to fund infrastructure for the Xavier University of Louisiana and Oschner Health's joint College of Medicine (XOCOM), which will help fill a critical gap in the Louisiana physician pipeline and support broader public health measures.
• $2,550,000 for the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission and City of New Orleans Hayne Blvd Improvements Project which will enhance safety by implementing traffic calming measures designed to slow traffic that has been documented to be at extremely high and unsafe speeds. The project will also support the reopening of Lincoln Beach, which is located along this road.
• $1,200,000 for the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and Port of New Orleans Bywater Rail Relocation Project to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the Bywater neighborhood while also creating a safer section of the railroad for the public and shippers.
• $150,000 for Ascension Parish's Intersection Improvements Project to improve traffic flow and safety at the existing intersection (LA73-LA429).

You can read H.R. 6938 here.

You can read H.R. 7148 here.

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