WDSU NEWS HOT SEAT. I’M TRAVERS MACKEL JOINING US TONIGHT, CONGRESSMAN TROY CARTER, WHO REPRESENTS NUMEROUS PARISHES ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. THE FIRST OFF, CONGRESSMAN, THANKS FOR COMING IN. HAPPY TO BE HERE. ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE ON THE HOT SEAT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO HERE. WE’RE GOING TO START TALKING ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES IN JUST A MOMENT. BUT LET’S START OFF WITH WHAT’S HAPPENING IN D.C. THE SPENDING BILL TO FUND ISRAEL, TEHRAN, AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES LIKE UKRAINE PAST YOU VOTED FOR IT. WHY IS THAT NECESSARY FOR A LOT OF OUR ALLIES HERE, IT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY. WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR ALLIES, MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE SECURE ABROAD, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE WE’RE SECURE AT HOME. IT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. AND WE KNOW THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCES THAT WE HAVE ARE CRITICAL TO PROTECTING US FROM THE ONSLAUGHT OF TERRORISM, INSURGENCY INTO AMERICA. IT’S MORE THAN WHAT MEETS THE EYE. WE WANT STOOD ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL, ALL REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS AND PLEDGED 100% SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST PUTIN. YET SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE WAS A SHIFT IN IN PARTY PHILOSOPHY WITH MY FRIENDS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THAT WAS HELD UP. AND THAT’S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE LOST CRITICAL GROUNDS AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST PUTIN AND HIS SELF-STYLED COLD WAR THAT IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK AND WHAT SPEAKER JOHNSON DID LAST WEEK, EVEN IN THE FACE OF THREATS WITH HIS OWN PARTY, WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO SUPPORT ISRAEL AND TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, HAYNE AND TAIWAN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE EVILS OF THOSE WHO WOULD THREATEN OUR DEMOCRACY. WE KNOW THAT THERE’S A LOT GOING ON IN IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE KNOW THAT THERE’S SO MUCH NEED FOR HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA BECAUSE THERE’S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING SENSELESSLY, AND WE NEED TO GET A STOP TO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO END THE ONSLAUGHT OF INNOCENT LIVES. WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED NOW CALLOUSLY AND IN A HORRIBLE WAY. AND SO WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK WAS A PUSH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO HOPEFULLY END THE WAR AND GET BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF DEMOCRACY, BECAUSE BACK HERE AT HOME, THIS HAS BEEN A HOT BUTTON TOPIC. YOU’VE SEEN WHAT’S GOING ON IN LOCAL COLLEGE CAMPUSES. IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S A LIGHTNING ROD FOR CONTROVERSY. EVEN HERE LOCALLY, WITH WHAT’S GOING ON BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GAZA, A LOT OF PASSION GOING ON, A LOT OF PASSION GOING ON, WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE OUT THERE, REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THIS YOU FALL, IS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND HAVE YOUR YOUR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE DONE IN A WAY THAT IS RESPECTFUL, THAT DOESN’T CAUSE HARM TO ANYBODY ELSE. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS ON THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE IN PALESTINE CAN. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN GAZA ARE PROTECTED AGAINST THE TERROR OF HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH, WHO ARE DANGERS TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND WE KNOW THAT THEIR SUPPORT COMES FROM IRAN, AND IRAN IS NO FRIEND TO AMERICA. SO WE HAVE TO BE EVER VIGILANT IN HOW WE PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF AMERICANS WHILE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO ARE BEING HARMED IN GAZA, AS WELL AS OUR FRIENDS AND OUR ALLIES IN ISRAEL. FINAL QUESTION WHILE WE’RE ON THIS TOPIC, YOU BROUGHT UP MIKE JOHNSON. YOU WERE THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE LOUISIANA DELEGATION, BUT YOU HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH A LOT OF YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS STATE. THERE’S THE CHANCE THAT HE COULD LOSE HIS SPEAKERSHIP OVER THIS. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT PROBABLY BENEFITS MIKE JOHNSON, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN AND YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, IT PROBABLY BENEFITS THE STATE TO HAVE THE SPEAKER FROM LOUISIANA. BUT THERE’S A CHANCE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE PUSHED THIS VOTE, HE MAY BE OUSTED HERE. LISTEN, MIKE DID THE RIGHT THING. OUR SPEAKER DID THE RIGHT THING. WE’RE IN DIFFERENT PARTIES, AND WE OFTEN PHILOSOPHICALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY DISAGREE ON POLICY. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LOUISIANA, WE TRY OUR BEST TO STAND TOGETHER, FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA. ALTHOUGH OUR OUR IDEOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL VIEWS ARE OFTENTIMES QUITE DIFFERENT, I 100% SUPPORT THE FACT THAT HE DID THE RIGHT THING AS FAR AS FUNDING THIS FUNDING PACKAGE. EVEN AT HIS OWN RISK, WITH HIS OWN PARTY. THIS NOTION THAT BECAUSE HE DID THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE HE HAD THE AUDACITY. TO STAND WITH DEMOCRATS, HE SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT WE SAW, WHAT HAPPENED WITH MCCARTHY. WE SAW HOW IT PARALYZED THE HOUSE, HOW WE WERE UNABLE TO GET A SPENDING PACKAGE, HOW WE’RE PUTTING ALL OF OUR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, OUR MILITARY AT RISK OF NOT BEING PAID, OF NOT HAVING RESOURCES. WE CAN’T GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER. THAT’S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. DOES IT HURT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CONGRESS AS A WHOLE? IF HE IS OUSTED AND THERE’S GRIDLOCK AGAIN, TRYING TO GET ANOTHER SPEAKER IN EVERY TIME WE FREEZE OUR MOTION, EVERY TIME WE GO THROUGH THESE MACHINATIONS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE PUBLIC’S BUSINESS, THE CONFIDENCE IN AMERICA, THE CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS AND THE CONFIDENCE OF ITS LEADERSHIP WANES. WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME LIKE NOW WHEN THERE’S SO MUCH UNREST IN THE WORLD, WHEN OUR SUPERPOWER STATUS OF PROTECTING OUR ALLIES AND WORLD PEACE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE FOR. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PLAY THOSE KIND OF POLITICAL GAMES. ALL RIGHT. RECENTLY YOU HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF FUNDING. A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE LIKE TO SEE THIS, SOME FOR THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS AS THEY EXPAND INTO SAINT BERNARD PARISH. WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST ONE SECOND. BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ISSUES HERE IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. YOU’VE GOTTEN SOME MONEY FOR THE CRIME LAB. CRIME IS TOP OF MIND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS, ESPECIALLY IN NEW ORLEANS. AND JEFFERSON PARISH. WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO KEEP THAT FEDERAL MONEY IN THIS AREA? TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE, AS YOU KNOW, FEDERAL DOLLARS, LIKE ANY DOLLARS, ARE VERY COMPETITIVE. SO WE ALL GO TO WASHINGTON AND WE FIGHT TO BRING BACK AS MANY DOLLARS AS WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR STATE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. UM, CRIME, OBVIOUSLY, IN NEW ORLEANS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. AND SO ALL HANDS HAVE TO BE ON DECK. SO WHETHER IT IS FUNDING THE CRIME LAB, WHICH IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW SINCE THE STORMS WE’VE NOT HAD A FULLY FUNCTIONAL CRIME LAB, WE’VE HAD TO USE THE STATE POLICE. WELL, NOW WE’LL BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR OWN CRIME LAB. AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, ACCESS TO THE MOST MODERN TECHNOLOGY MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE ABLE TO OPEN COLD CASES, MAKING SURE WE’RE ABLE TO USE DNA AND OTHER STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGIES, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE MONEY FOR CRIME PREVENTION BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE’D MUCH RATHER PREVENT CRIME THAN ARREST CRIME. IF WE CAN STOP PEOPLE FROM BECOMING CRIMINALS, THAT’S FAR BETTER THAN CATCHING SOMEONE SO WE’VE GOT TO INVEST MONEY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE STOP THE BAD ACTORS BEFORE THEY BECOME BAD ACTORS. AND SO WE’VE PUMPED IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS AREA TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH OUR STATE POLICE, WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, WITH OUR SHERIFF’S OFFICES TO MAKE SURE THAT RESOURCES ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. LET’S TALK ABOUT GUNS. YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS BEFORE YOU WERE IN CONGRESS, YOU WERE IN THE SENATE. BEFORE THAT, YOU WERE ON THE COUNCIL, AND BEFORE THAT, YOU WERE A STATE HOUSE MEMBER WHO REPRESENTED ALGIERS. AND YOU WERE TELLING ME BEFORE YOU PASSED THE FIRST CARVE OUT DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS TO MAKE THEM GUN FREE ZONES. IT’S A HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW. OUR LOCAL DELEGATION IS TRYING TO MAKE ESSENTIALLY A BIG PORTION OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS A CARVE OUT, GUN FREE ZONE. THE FRENCH QUARTER AND THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IS THAT IS THAT NECESSARY? YEAH, SURE IT IS. BUT I’LL TELL YOU WHAT’S REALLY NECESSARY IS THAT WE NOT HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND LIKE THE WILD, WILD WEST. EVERYONE CARRYING A GUN CONCEALED WITHOUT A DUTY TO INFORM, EVEN POLICE OFFICERS. THIS MEASURE PUTS POLICE OFFICERS AT RISK, PUTS COMMUNITIES AT RISK. BECAUSE NOW ANYONE CAN TUCK A FIREARM IN THEIR WAISTBAND. AND WHEN THE POLICE COMES OVER, THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE TO INFORM THEM UNDER OLD LAW, YOU HAD THE DUTY TO INFORM OFFICER, I HAVE A LOADED PISTOL IN MY IN MY GLOVE BOX. OFFICER, I HAVE A LOADED PISTOL JUST BY WAY OF DISCLOSURE, WHEN YOU REMOVE THAT DUTY TO INFORM WHEN YOU REMOVE THOSE SAFETY BELTS THAT PROTECT CITIZENS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS VERY DANGEROUS. NOW, IN 1992, A BRAND NEW, FRESH MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I PASSED GUN FREE ZONES FOR LOUISIANA GUN FREE ZONES THAT SET UP SAFE PLACES AROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO YOU COULDN’T HAVE A FIREARM ANYWHERE WITHIN 300FT OF A SCHOOL, OR YOU WOULD HAVE ENHANCED PENALTIES. HERE WE ARE IN 2024, AND WE’RE LOOKING AT REPEALING THAT AND MAKING IT OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE GUNS EVERYWHERE. SHOULD WE HAVE CARVE OUTS? ABSOLUTELY. SHOULD GUNS BE AROUND SCHOOLS? ABSOLUTELY NOT. SHOULD THEY BE AROUND HOSPITALS? ABSOLUTELY NOT. SHOULD IT BE AROUND COURTROOMS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER, AROUND MARDI GRAS PARADES? TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I’M A GUN ENTHUSIAST. I HAVE A GUN PERMIT. I LIKE TO HUNT. I AM A STRICT CONSTITUTIONALIST, SO I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE NECESSITY OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABSOLUTE TRAINING, BACKGROUND CHECKS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE LICENSED AND KNOW THE SAFETY MEASURES OF HOW TO HANDLE A GUN. MY GOD, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE, A LICENSE TO DRIVE A CAR, RIGHT? BUT YOU CAN HAVE A GUN WITHOUT ONE AT YOU CAN’T BUY A BEER, BUT YOU CAN CARRY A GUN. YOU CAN GO TO WAR. UM, AT 18, BUT YOU CAN’T BUY A PACK OF CIGARETS. NOW, I’M NOT ADVOCATING PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO BUY A PACK OF CIGARETS, BUT THE POINT I MAKE IS IF THESE THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE GUNS TO HAVE PROPER LICENSING AND PERMITTING, YOU CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE THEM. FOR PERSONS CARRYING A LOADED FIREARM REALLY QUICKLY, A FOLLOW UP ON THIS, BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A BIG TALKER RIGHT NOW, I KNOW IT’S 32 YEARS AGO, BUT HOW DID YOU GET THAT PASS? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, FOR SOME OF YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AS DEMOCRATS, IT’S AN UPHILL BATTLE. IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE IN A HYPER RED STATE, AND A LOT OF SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS JUST ARE NOT GOING TO PUSH SOMETHING LIKE THIS THROUGH. SO HOW DID YOU DO IT 32 YEARS AGO, AND WHAT DO THEY NEED TO DO NOW IF THEY’D LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN FOR THE CITY? WELL, 32 YEARS, 32 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND OUR STATE WAS STILL BLUE. SO WE HAD DIFFERENT VIEWS ON ON GUN CONTROL, DIFFERENT VIEWS ON GLOBAL PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE. BE THE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, WE HAVE NOW SHIFTED FROM WHAT I THINK IS COMMON SENSE TO PARTIZANSHIP THOSE BULLETS. KNOW NO RACE. THEY KNOW NO COLOR, THEY KNOW NO PARTY, AND WE HAVE TO BE SMARTER THAN JUST BEING PARTIZAN. LISTEN, I’M A PROUD DEMOCRAT. I MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR IT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING. TOGETHER WITH REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND OTHERS TO PROTECT LIVES, TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING THE NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS AND GUARDRAILS. IN TO PROTECT PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, ALL COLORS, AND ALL PARTIES. WE’VE GOT TO BE BETTER THAN THAT. WE’VE GOT TO BE SMARTER THAN THAT. WE JUST CAN’T HIDE BEHIND OUR PARTY AND SAY, OH, THIS IS THE TALKING POINTS FOR OUR PARTY. SO. THEREFORE THERE IS NO NOTION IN MY MIND I CAN’T SPEAK TO EVERYONE, BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND FOR MAJORITY OF MY PARTY, NO ONE IS TRYING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR GUNS. LET’S LET’S JUST BE TRAINED. LET’S HAVE A PERMIT. LET’S MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE NOT FALLING IN THE HANDS OF THE WRONG PEOPLE. AND LET’S PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. THAT’S WHAT THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT. THAT’S WHAT THE DEBATE SHOULD BE ABOUT, NOT ABOUT WHICH PARTY. IS WINNING. WE’RE AMERICANS AND OUR ROLE SHOULD BE TO FIGHT FOR AMERICA AND NOT FOR OUR PARTY. REALLY QUICKLY, NOT TO NOT TO RUSH YOU, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO GET TO A COUPLE OF MORE TOPICS, ESPECIALLY INSURANCE. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PORT. THE MONEY THAT YOU SECURED. IT WAS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THERE IS PUSHBACK, THOUGH. SAINT BERNARD IS STILL FIGHTING THIS LEGALLY IN COURT. BUT. IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS. AND THIS PROJECT THAT’S GOING TO EXPAND. I’D LISTEN FROM EVERYTHING FROM EXPANDING THE PORT TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE EXPANDED CONTAINER CONTAINERIZED SHIPPING, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE TRUCKS, THE MANY TRUCKS THAT COME IN ARE, ARE, UM, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE REDUCING EMISSIONS. THE LAST $7 MILLION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OUTFIT TRUCKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE REDUCED EMISSIONS, BUT THE EXPANSION INTO SAINT BERNARD, INTO ONE PORT AND TO HAVING WHILE WE HAVE MULTIPLE PORTS IN, EVERYONE’S FREE TO HAVE THEIR AUTONOMY. WE REALLY OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT US BEING ONE, NOT TAKING AWAY ANYBODY’S AUTHORITY WITHIN THEIR. INDIVIDUAL PORTS. BUT WE SHOULD SWING FROM THE SAME VINE WORKING TOGETHER AND TO TO OUR FRIENDS. IN SAINT BERNARD. I HAVE PLEDGED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MITIGATE WHATEVER THE ISSUES ARE, WHATEVER THE CONCERNS ARE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS EXPANSION IS GOOD FOR SAINT BERNARD, GOOD FOR JEFFERSON, GOOD FOR ORLEANS, GOOD FOR PLAQUEMINES, AND GOOD FOR OUR ENTIRE STATE. BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE SHOULD NOT BE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER AS A PORT. THE REST OF THE WORLD. AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE COMPETE AGAINST. WITH LOUISIANA. AND WE ONCE HAD. THE STRONGEST PORT. AND WE WILL AGAIN, THESE RESOURCES WILL GET US A LONG WAY TO REBUILDING AND STRENGTHENING OUR PORT SO WE CAN HAVE THE KIND OF JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCE THAT WE KNOW OUR PORT CAN HANDLE. YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO GO BACK. TO WHAT? TO WHAT IT WAS AS WELL TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST PORTS IN AMERICA. UM, LET’S TALK ABOUT INSURANCE RIGHT NOW NEXT TO CRIME THAT IS PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE. PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY. JUST CAN’T AFFORD IT. HOMEOWNERS SAY, I’M GETTING PRICED OUT. BUSINESSES DON’T LIKE IT. OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE WITH RISK RATING 2.0. HOW ARE. YOU WORKING WITH TIM TEMPLE, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN, BUT I THINK IT’S BIGGER THAN POLITICS HERE. HOW ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE STATE TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE MORE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE? WELL, YOU KNOW, THE TWO PARTS OF THIS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND. SO. FLOOD INSURANCE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM. THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM IS FULLY FUNDED BY BY THE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OPERATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE THE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS REGULATED BY THE STATES. SO WE ARE WORKING TO HELP IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN WITH WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE LEGISLATURE TO COME UP WITH MEANS OF DEALING WITH PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE. WE KNOW THE RISK, WE KNOW THE PAIN, WE KNOW THE EXPONENTIAL JUMPS IN COST. THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. SO WE PLEDGE OURSELVES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO HELP COME UP WITH WITH THOSE THOSE RESOLUTIONS. NOW SHIFTING TO FLOOD INSURANCE, WHICH IS SINGULAR. LEE AS PROPERTY AND CASUALTIES FOR THE STATE. FLOOD INSURANCE IS IS SINGULARLY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND I’VE HAD SECRETARY MAYORKAS OF HOMELAND SECURITY. I’VE HAD THE ADMINISTRATOR. OF OF UM OF OF OF FLOOD CONTROL, DEANNA GRISWOLD TO TO BE IN FRONT OF. OUR OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT RISK RATING 2.0, BECAUSE WE KNOW AND LISTEN, WE’VE HAD THEM BOTH ON THE GROUND HERE IN LOUISIANA. I’VE HAD THEM BOTH IN MY OFFICE, HAD THEM BOTH BEFORE US IN COMMITTEE AND HOMELAND SECURITY. TO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT. WE ARE GOING TO DO. DINA GRISWOLD IS THE IS THE SECRETARY OR THE ADMINISTRATOR RATHER FOR FEMA. FEMA HAS RESPONSIBLE FOR FLOOD CONTROL FOR THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. AND WE’VE ASKED THEM TO GIVE US THE ALGORITHM UMMS GIVE US THE FORMULA OF HOW YOU COME UP WITH THIS RISK RATING 2.0 THAT WE KNOW IS STRANGLING HOMEOWNERS IN LOUISIANA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, RIGHT. THIS RISK RATING, 2.0 IS LITERALLY MOVING PEOPLE FROM A POINT OF BEING ABLE TO LIVE IN HOMES THAT THEY PAID FOR BECAUSE THE RATES HAVE GONE ON UP. SO HIGH IN A VERY BIPARTISAN. WAY, I CAN SAY, WITHOUT FEAR OF CONTRADICTION, EVERY MEMBER. OF OUR DELEGATION HAS WORKED IN THE SAME VEIN. TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT, TO TO CALL THEM BEFORE COMMITTEE HEARINGS, TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE WAYS OF HAVING ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES. AND LET’S RELATIVE CHANGES. SO WE’RE NOT GOING TO SIT ON OUR HANDS. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK UNTIL WE FIND A WAY TO CORRECT RISK RATING 2.0 AND BRING THOSE PRICES DOWN SO PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE HOMES AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY CHOOSE. MANY OF WHICH ARE RETIREES AND SENIOR CITIZENS WHOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN PAID FOR FOR YEARS. HERE’S THE THE FURTHER RISK INSULT TO INJURY A PERSON DECIDES THAT I CAN’T AFFORD TO HAVE INSURANCE, SO NOW I DON’T HAVE IT ANYMORE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A MORTGAGE, THERE’S NOBODY GOING TO FORCE. YOU TO DO IT. SO NOW YOU GO WITHOUT INSURANCE, PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER. APPAREL COMES. A PERSON CHOSE NOT TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPS IN ANYWAY, SO ISN’T IT BETTER FOR US TO PROVIDE RESOURCES SO PEOPLE CAN INSURE THEMSELVES. IN A IN AN AFFORDABLE WAY AND NOT BE AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? BUT IT’S GOVERNMENT’S JOB, AND I’M GOING. TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE. REDUCE THOSE RATES. I HOPE SO, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW ARE DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT IT REALLY QUICKLY IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES, BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE. A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON AT THE STATE CAPITOL THREE YEARS AGO, BEFORE. YOU WERE ELECTED TO CONGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU. YOU WERE A STATE SENATOR. RIGHT NOW, THE OPTICS OF EVERYTHING SEEMS LIKE IT’S REPUBLICANS BASICALLY GETTING THEIR WAY AT THE STATE HOUSE RIGHT NOW. IS THAT UNFORTUNATE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR VOTERS WHO VOTE DEMOCRAT. OR VOTERS WHO ARE JUST NONPARTISAN, WHO SAYS. HEY, LOOK, I JUST WANT WHAT’S BEST FOR THE STATE. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING HAS TO BE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IN BATON ROUGE. IT’S UNFORTUNATE FOR LOUISIANA BECAUSE. WHENEVER WE PUT OUR PARTY AHEAD OF PEOPLE, WE PUT POLITICS AHEAD OF PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE LOSE. WE’VE GOT TO PUT PEOPLE AHEAD OF POLITICS. AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT PARTY, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR OWN PHILOSOPHICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL VIEWS. IT’S OKAY. NONE OF US HAVE A PATENT ON BEING CORRECT. WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE OUR OWN IDEAS AND TO LOVE OUR PARTIES, BUT WE SHOULD NEVER PUT OUR PARTY SO FAR AHEAD OF THE PEOPLE. AND I’M AFRAID THAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BATON ROUGE NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS STARK FIGHT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, THAT ONE PARTY RULES AND SO ANYTHING THAT DEMOCRATS WANTS KILLED EVERYTHING THAT IS JUST NOT SMART. AND IT’S NOT THAT IT’S BAD FOR JUST DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS. IT’S BAD FOR LOUISIANA. IT’S BAD FOR BUSINESS. IT’S BAD WHEN WE SAY A DEMOCRATIC IDEA IS NO GOOD BECAUSE REPUBLICANS AREN’T CHARGED. THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE. IF YOU HAVE A GOOD IDEA AND IT’S GOING TO SAVE LIVES AND IT’S GOING TO PROVIDE FOR RESOURCES TO THE PEOPLE, MAN, WE SHOULD WE SHOULD JUMP ON THAT. IF A REPUBLICAN BRINGS IT’S GOOD. WE SHOULD GO WITH IT. IF A DEMOCRAT BRINGS IT AND IT’S GOOD, WE SHOULD GO WITH IT. LISTEN,. $71 MILLION THAT FOUGHT TO BRING TO LOUISIANA FOR ET, UH, THE SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM. AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE DON’T WANT IT BECAUSE IT’S $2.5 MILLION OR $3 MILLION TO ADMINISTER IT, BUT THEN 10 MILLION CAMERON HENRY, THE THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER, WHO ARE REPUBLICANS, SAID, AND THAT’S WE WANT IT. AND THAT’S THE POINT. I’M GOING TO MAKE $3 MILLION TO COME IN AND ADMINISTER 71 MILLION. I’LL TAKE THAT DEAL. 3 MILLION FOR 71 MILLION TO FEED NEEDY KIDS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE BLACK, WHITE, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, OTHERWISE. BUT HERE’S THE NEXT PART. BEING ABLE TO TAKE THOSE DOLLARS AND HAVE PEOPLE SPEND IT IN A LOCAL STORES WITH OUR LOCAL MERCHANTS, IT’S ENHANCING OUR ECONOMY. IT’S A WIN WIN. AND THANK GOD FOR JASON HUGHES FOR CAMERON HENRY, FOR SPEAKER DUVAL, FOR THOSE WHO ARE STEPPING UP, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, SAY, WHOA, PUMP YOUR BRAKES, GOVERNOR. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. RIGHT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO. SO THE BATTLE CONTINUES. I’LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT WITH US. WORK WITH USDA TO GET THESE DOLLARS HERE. AND FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A SPEAKER, PRESIDENT CAMERON HENRY, AND SPEAKER DUVAL, JASON HUGHES, AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER MEMBERS. DELICIA BOYD AND OTHERS THAT ARE WORKING TO PUSH FORWARD. AND OUR CITY COUNCIL, WHO’S BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH ME AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND A WAY TO FEED CHILDREN THESE ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE PARTIZAN, YOU KNOW, ROADS AND BRIDGES AND FLOOD CONTROL, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, QUALITY OF QUALITY OF LIFE, SAFETY, POLICE. THESE ARE ISSUES WE’RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT, ALL ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO SEE. SOME FAIRNESS AND COMFORT WITH. THEY SHOULD NOT BE STYMIED BECAUSE A DIFFERENT PARTY IS TRYING TO BRING IT. LISTEN, MAN, WE’RE AMERICANS. WELL, LOUISIANIANS FULL STOP PARTY NEXT. ALL RIGHT, TROY CARTER, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE COULD PROBABLY TALK FOR THE NEXT HOUR HERE. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME. YOU CAN SEE SEE THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT OF THE HOT SEAT TOMORROW MORNING ON O