Reps. Bieda, Condino, Tobocman, Accavitti, Anderson, Waters, Zelenko, Law, Clack, Stallworth, Gieleghem, Spade, Vagnozzi, Sheltrown, Gleason, Cheeks, Reeves, Sak, Hunter, Adamini, Brown, Lipsey, Meisner, Gillard, Minore, McConico, O'Neil, Farrah, Elkins, Dennis, Hood, Kolb, Jamnick, Murphy, Williams, Phillips, Hopgood and Daniels offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 303.

A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to adopt H.R. 3665 and to award Congressional Gold Medals to former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

Whereas, H.R. 3665 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by the Honorable Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. of Georgia; and

Whereas, President Jimmy Carter and his wife First Lady Rosalynn Carter epitomize the best qualities in American service, volunteerism, and statesmanship, through their life work in Plains, Georgia, and throughout the world.  Since leaving the White House, the Carters have redefined the role of former president to help broker peace and fight disease worldwide; and

Whereas, President and Mrs. Carter have selflessly distinguished themselves as exemplary public servants, both in the United States and throughout the world; and

Whereas, President Carter’s domestic accomplishments included a long-term program designed to solve the mounting energy shortfalls, including a limit in imported oil, gradual price decontrol on domestically produced oil, a stringent program of conservation and development of alternate sources of energy such as solar, nuclear, and geothermal power; an overhaul of the civil service system; creation of the Departments of Education and Energy; deregulation of the airlines to stimulate competition and lower fares; and environmental efforts that included passage of a law preserving the vast wilderness areas of Alaska; and

Whereas, President Carter’s foreign policy achievements included negotiating the Panama Canal treaties, the historic Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, the SALT II treaty with the former Soviet Union, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China; and

Whereas, First Lady Rosalynn Carter focused national attention on the performing arts, and invited to the White House leading classical artists from around the world as well as traditional American artists.  She also took a strong interest in programs to aid mental health, the community and the elderly.  From 1977 to 1978, Mrs. Carter served as the Honorary Chairperson of the President’s Commission on Mental Health.  Mrs. Carter also served as the President’s personal emissary to Latin America; and

Whereas, After serving as President and First Lady of the United States, President and Mrs. Carter built the Carter Center in Atlanta, a nonprofit organization promoting international peace, human rights, conflict resolution, democracy and economic development, and the fight against poverty, hunger and disease in some 65 countries.  Mrs. Carter currently serves as Vice Chair of the Carter Center, where she leads a program to diminish stigma against mental illness and to promote greater access to mental health care; and

Whereas, Since 1982, President and Mrs. Carter have been active volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity and serve on its International Board of Advisors.  Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization which since its founding in 1976 has built over 30,000 homes; and

Whereas, In December 2002, President Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to adopt H.R. 3665 and to award Congressional Gold Medals to former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in recognition of their life work and service to the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the members of the Michigan Congressional delegation, the majority and minority leaders of Congress, the chair and ranking minority member of the House Committee on Financial Services, and President and Mrs. Carter.