In less than two years, Congressman André Carson has become known nationally as a strong voice for working families and Americans who need opportunity and justice.
He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, following a special election in which voters chose him to finish the term of his grandmother, the late Julia Carson, as representative of the 7th Congressional District. The congressman was elected to a full two-year term later the same year.
Located in Indianapolis, the district includes more than 675,000 residents and nearly 240,000 households.
“My goal is to work hard to provide the people of the 7th district with the tools and resources they need to lift up their communities and expand economic opportunity,” Carson said.
He will be honored for his dedication to public service with the Founder’s Award during Indiana Black Expo’s Corporate Luncheon this month.
“Congressman Carson continues to follow in the footsteps of his grandmother, Julia Carson, with a passion for growth, an interest in public safety and commitment to excellence,” said Tanya Bell, president of Indiana Black Expo.
In his first term, Carson has already sponsored or co-sponsored legislation to help homeowners prevent foreclosure, protect the rights of consumers, improve school facilities and teacher training, support the development of new technologies to reduce dependence on foreign oil, increase funding for national security and HIV/AIDS prevention, and supporting the successful transition of ex-offenders back into society to reduce recidivism (the rate of people returning to prison.)
Carson’s other accomplishments include passing legislation to create thousands of new jobs, co-authoring a bill to protect homeowners by cracking down on abusive lending practices, and extending quality, affordable health insurance to an estimated 11-million needy children, including tens-of-thousands of young Hoosiers. He has also secured $29 million in federal funding to transform troubled properties into affordable housing.
Before his election to Congress, Carson served as a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council and had a distinguished career in law enforcement with the Indiana State Excise Police and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Carson also served as a board member of the Citizens Neighborhood Coalition and the Indianapolis Parks Kennedy-King Park Advisory Board, where he turned his attention to the development of safe parks and thriving community organizations.
Carson has said that his love for public service was shaped in high school by his grandmother, one of the most popular figures in Indiana politics, as well as memorable experiences that came from growing up in a rough area of Indianapolis, such as passing drug dealers and gang members on the way to school.
“I’ve dedicated myself to being part of the solution and not the problem,” he said. “We all should ask, ‘What can I do to help make our city a better place to live, work and play in?’ Working together, we can make Indianapolis a first-class city in all areas, including economic development and opportunity, education and health care.”
