Troy Carter

I wish equity had been a top conversation during Hurricane Katrina.

While some of my colleagues on the other side consider FEMA's equity work to be racial discrimination or take away from the culture of preparedness, those of us working and watching know that storms do not know socioeconomic status, age…

I commend Administrator Criswell and the Biden administration for incorporating principles of equity in initiatives such as the 2022 to 2026 FEMA Strategic Plan.

I hope to hear from you today about how you're working to make flood insurance more affordable, more accessible, and not just become a luxury that only the wealthy can afford.

I would just implore that you guys continue pushing but push a little faster, a little harder, to give some relief.

I will double down and push just a little bit at the sense of urgency.

I mentioned to the Secretary my concerns with Risk Rating 2.0 methodology, and he stated, and I quote: 'We're reviewing our grants program to ensure that, again, that they leave no community disenfranchised.'

We have a very robust outreach program in Louisiana's Second Congressional District where we take our efforts to the community.

I just want to kind of jump in on a couple of points, one of which is, you mentioned these resources.

Give them the shot in the arm of confidence that this is actually going to happen.

I think the American people have a right to know.

I think transparency is so important.

I find it kind of disturbing in many ways that this is public transportation, billions of dollars going to it.

Do you believe that the Stafford Act should be reviewed as well as a document that may have lived out its usefulness?

We know they are coming, and we know they tend to come faster and stronger.

I have lived through Katrina, and served my community in our time of need.

There may not be a more vulnerable stretch of America to natural disasters than the gulf coast.

I know disasters. I have lived with them my entire life.

Obviously, making sure that we don't have the ability to slow or damage the recovery efforts.

We want to make sure that we protect and provide resources so our good police officers are able to protect and serve all communities.

We see the rise of white supremacy and the violence that's acted out on the streets of America every day.

If we want to talk about protecting the homeland and supporting law enforcement, we must talk about the weapons of war that are on our streets.

Weak gun laws are killing children. They're killing parents and grandparents. They are killing law enforcement officers.

We, as a committee and as a Congress, have a responsibility to do better.

Weak gun laws are killing our children. They are killing our parents, our grandparents.