Two Georgia congressmen introduced a bipartisan bill on Tuesday that would honor Georgia native former U.S. President Jimmy Carter with the Congressional Gold Medal, a prestigious civilian award bestowed by the U.S. Congress.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. of Albany, Georgia, and Republican U.S. Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton, Georgia, teamed up with conservative New Jersey lawmaker David Norcross to introduce the legislation.
“Jimmy Carter embodies the best of our country’s ideals. He is a model of compassion, duty, and selfless service. Georgia is proud of this native son, a humble man from Plains, who has accomplished so much in his life,” said Bishop in a Wednesday press release. “It has been a privilege to know and work with him for over 50 years. He is a devoted family man whose boundless love is reflected in the fruits of his lifetime of service and sacrifice on behalf of humankind.”
Carter, 99, is the oldest living president in American history. Prior to his tenure as Commander in Chief, Carter served as a Georgia state senator from 1963 to 1967, before serving as Georgia governor from 1971 to 1975.
During his tenure as president, Carter introduced the Panama canal treaties and Camp David Accords and established a diplomatic relationship between China and the U.S.
After serving one term in the White House, Carter went on the establish the Carter Center one year later in 1982. The nonprofit organization, according to its website, is committed to preventing and resolving conflicts, enhancing freedoms and improving health for U.S. and international citizens.
“Through their work with the Carter Center, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are credited with the near eradication of the painful parasitic infection known as Guinea worm disease, reducing cases from an estimated total of 3,500,000 in 1986 to just 14 in 2023,” read the bipartisan bill, which detailed several of Carter’s further accomplishments.
“Through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity known as the Carter Work Project, Jimmy and his wife Rosalynn led and worked alongside over 100,000 volunteers across 14 countries to build, improve and repair over 4,400 homes,” the bill stated.
Established in 1776 with George Washington as the inaugural recipient, the U.S. Congressional Medal is considered the highest national honor to acknowledge renowned achievements and contributions.
Recent recipients include deceased civil rights legends Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, lawyer Benjamin Berell Ferencz and the former hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis, which coincided with Carter’s presidential term.
“President Jimmy Carter’s life of distinguished public service is a shining example for all Americans. From his time in the Navy to his humanitarian work after his Presidency, he has made Georgia proud and deserves this honor,” said Scott in a press release.
Carter, who will turn 100 on Oct. 1, was the recent guest of honor at a musical event on Sept. 18 at the Fox Theatre to celebrate his upcoming birthday.
In addition, the 2002 Noble Peace Prize winner was announced early Thursday as the recipient of the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award from the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation.
Carter, who is currently in hospice care facility in Plains, Georgia, will have the honor awarded at a November ceremony that will honor the former president’s literary achievements as the author of 32 books. Jason Carter, grandson of the Plains native, has been announced to accept the award on his grandfather’s behalf.
“From authoring more than 30 books to brokering peace among nations both in office and as a private citizen, and his dedication to human rights for everyone around the world, my grandfather’s lifetime of work is wide-reaching,” Jason Carter said in a statement on Thursday.
“I look forward to being in Dayton to personally accept this award … and to celebrate and discuss his tireless and ongoing devotion to exploring the many paths to peace through the written word,” he added.
