About Me

  • About Me

     

    U.S. Representative John R. Carter was re-elected in a landslide in November 2012 to his sixth term representing Texas' Thirty-First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Carter was selected this term as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations and also to serve on the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee and Defense Subcommittee. In addition, this is his third term as Co-Chairman of the bipartisan House Army Caucus. He has been a member of the House Appropriations Committee since 2004.

    Since his first election in 2002, Congressman Carter has established himself as a leader in Congress who has the foresight and courage to author and support numerous pieces of legislation that would increase the protection of U.S. citizens and bring justice to those who threaten our freedom and way of life.

    Congressman Carter is one of the few House Members who has authored legislation signed into law under both Presidents Bush and Obama. In spite of now being a veteran Congressman, John Carter is still known as "Judge" for having served over 20 years on the district court bench in Williamson County, which he won as the first county-wide elected Republican in Williamson County history. Before becoming a Judge, Congressman Carter had a successful private law practice and continued to practice law while serving as the Municipal Judge in Round Rock.

    high-res photo link 

    Congressman Carter's leadership ability has been recognized by his colleagues and others. During his first term, Congressman Carter was named one of the "Top Five Freshman" in Congress by Capitol Hill's leading newspaper.

    In July 2004, President Bush held a signing ceremony for Congressman Carter's Identity Theft bill at the White House. The law lessens the burden of proof making identity theft easier to prove and prosecute and also defines and creates punishment for aggravated identity theft.

    A true Texan at heart, Congressman Carter was born and raised in Houston and has spent his adult life in Central Texas. Carter attended Texas Tech University where he graduated with a degree in History and then graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1969.Congressman Carter and his wife, Erika, met in Holland and have been happily married since June 15, 1968. Since then they have built a home and raised a family of four on Christian beliefs and strong Texas Values. Congressman Carter and Mrs. Carter are also a proud grandparents to six precious grandchildren.  

     

     

    To stay connected with Chairman Carter:

    Email - http://carter.house.gov/contact-john-nav
    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/judgecarter
    Twitter - https://twitter.com/JudgeCarter
    YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/RepJohnCarter 
    Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/repcarter/
    E-Newsletter - http://carter.congressnewsletter.net/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=profile 
    House Appropriations Committee - http://appropriations.house.gov/

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Transparency in Government

The American people want an open, honest government that isn’t spending your tax dollars on secret projects anonymously buried in lengthy legislation and hidden from the public.  The American people deserve transparency in spending, and that means transparency across the board.

Over the years the word “earmark” has received a bad wrap, and rightfully so.  We all remember the news reports concerning the “Bridge to Nowhere.”  While I do believe that earmarks are, and have been misused, in order to guide secret funds to frivolous projects and lobbyists, I also believe they can be used as a powerful and necessary tool for our district. 

Contrary to popular belief, an earmark is not extra funding tagged onto a bill at the last minute.  It is, in fact, directed spending of funds already being spent.  For example, in Central Texas, transportation dollars are critical to our growing population.  If I didn’t direct small portions of federal transportation dollars specifically to roads and highways in our region, smaller cities like Belton and Temple, Round Rock and Cedar Park would have to compete with larger cities such as Dallas, Houston and San Antonio for highway dollars.  Designating these funds at the federal level allows our smaller urban areas to obtain the necessary dollars to maintain and build better and safer roads and highways.

That is not to say that these “earmarks” haven’t been abused in Congress.  We have made great strides to reform the earmark process to prevent abuse by increasing transparency and accountability.  Hallmark reforms to House rules made it possible for all House members, for the first time ever, to challenge individual taxpayer-funded earmarks on the House floor.  Each member of Congress is forced to place their name next to their project.  In addition, Republicans changed House rules to allow legislators the ability to force a debate and vote on any earmark coming to the floor.  Although these reforms are necessary, they come and go as the Majority changes hands.  I strongly believe we need to make these reforms permanent and go even further to provide more sunshine to the American people.

I have a policy to never request anything that I wouldn’t be proud to see on the front page of any of our newspapers.  I believe if a member of Congress is willing to spend taxpayer dollars on a project, they have an obligation to stand by that project and explain its value and purpose.  I will continue to hold myself to these standards and work to bring Central Texans an open and honest government.

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    repName John Smith  
    helpWithFedAgencyAddress Haverhill District Office
    1234 S. Courthouse
    Haverhill, CA 35602    		  
    district 21st District of California  
    academyUSCitizenDate July 1, 2012  
    academyAgeDate July 1, 2012  
    academyApplicationDueDate October 20, 2012  
    repStateABBR AZ  
    repDistrict 1  
    repState Arizona  
    repDistrictText 1st  
    repPhoto  
    SponsoredBills Sponsored Bills  
    CoSponsoredBills Co-Sponsored Bills  
         
         
         
         
         

  • Office Locations Push

    Office Name Location Image Map URL
    Washington DC
     
    409 Cannon H.O.B.
    Washington, D.C. 20515
    (202) 225-3864
    		 http://goo.gl/maps/XNh4Y
    Round Rock Office
     
    1717 North IH 35
    Suite 303
    Round Rock, TX 78664
    (512) 246-1600
    		 http://goo.gl/maps/NNJtv
    Bell County Office
    6544B S. General Bruce Drive
    Temple, TX 76502
    Located next to the DPS office
    (254) 933-1392
    		 https://goo.gl/maps/fcvH3