A resolution honoring the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter and commending President Jimmy Carter for his life-long career of public service, humanitarian leadership, diplomacy, and courageous advocacy.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 19
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-09: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S76; text: CR S81)
- Last Updated
- 2025-02-03T22:16:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 19) aims to honor the life, legacy, and contributions of former President Jimmy Carter upon his passing. It recognizes his extensive career in public service, humanitarian efforts, diplomacy, and advocacy, while expressing the Senate's condolences to his family.
Key Provisions
- Biographical Recognition: Details Carter's early life, including his birth in 1924 in Plains, Georgia; academic excellence (graduating in the top 10% of his U.S. Naval Academy class in 1946); marriage to Rosalynn Carter in 1946; and family (four children, 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren).
- Military and Early Career: Highlights his service as a Navy lieutenant in the submarine program, resignation in 1953 to manage his family's peanut farm after his father's death, and initial public roles in Georgia local government.
- Political Achievements: Notes his two terms as Georgia State Senator (1963–1967), governorship (1971–1975) where he addressed racial discrimination and government inefficiency, and presidency (1977–1981) as the 39th U.S. President.
- Presidential Accomplishments:
- Brokered the 1978 Camp David Accords, leading to the Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
- Signed the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, which created the Office of Personnel Management, the Senior Executive Service, and federal labor rules for non-postal employees.
- Established diplomatic relations with China in 1979.
- Created the Department of Education and Department of Energy.
- Negotiated the 1979 SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union to limit nuclear arms.
- Post-Presidency Work: Describes his role as a professor at Emory University; co-founding The Carter Center with Rosalynn in 1982 to promote democracy, resolve conflicts, fight diseases, and improve mental health globally; mediation in multiple regions; near-eradication of Guinea worm disease; election monitoring in over 100 elections across 40 countries; and volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, building or repairing about 4,400 homes in 14 countries over 30 years.
- Awards and Longevity: Acknowledges awards like the 1998 UN Human Rights Prize, 1999 Presidential Medal of Freedom (shared with Rosalynn), and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize (one of four U.S. presidents to receive it); notes he lived to 100, the longest-living U.S. president.
- Resolution Clause: The Senate mourns Carter's passing, extends sympathies to his family, and honors his legacy of service to the U.S.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution with no legal force, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or policies. It serves solely as a formal expression of tribute.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: None direct; it symbolically reinforces the value of public service in federal institutions like the Departments of Education and Energy, which Carter helped establish.
- On Citizens: Encourages reflection on civic duty and humanitarianism, potentially inspiring volunteerism or community service among Americans, but no enforceable effects.
- On International Relations: Highlights Carter's diplomatic legacy (e.g., Camp David Accords, China relations, SALT II), which may subtly affirm U.S. commitment to peace and human rights abroad, though without practical policy shifts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Carter Family: Receives formal condolences and recognition of their shared legacy.
- U.S. Senate and Congress: Bipartisan support (introduced by Sen. Warnock with 100+ cosponsors from both parties) demonstrates unity in honoring national figures.
- American Public: Benefits from a symbolic affirmation of values like democracy, human rights, and service.
- International Community: Organizations like The Carter Center, Habitat for Humanity, and global partners in disease eradication or election monitoring are indirectly celebrated.
- Humanitarian and Nonprofit Sectors: Gains visibility for ongoing work in conflict resolution, health, and housing.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: As a simple resolution agreed to by the Senate, it requires no presidential approval and has no binding effect under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which governs congressional resolutions for internal or ceremonial purposes.
- Political: Demonstrates rare bipartisan consensus in a divided Congress, potentially fostering goodwill across party lines. It underscores the tradition of honoring former presidents, reinforcing political norms of respect for democratic institutions and post-office public service without partisan critique.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Cosponsors (98)
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Thune, John [R-SD], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela [D-MD], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] and 48 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-09: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S76; text: CR S81)
- 2025-01-09: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-01-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Honoring the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter and commending President Jimmy Carter for his life-long career of public service, humanitarian leadership, diplomacy, and courageous advocacy. — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (5 pages)