Kaptur Statement on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter

Toledo, OH – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), released the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. Congresswoman Kaptur served as a domestic policy advisor to President Carter. During his Administration, she helped maneuver 17 housing and neighborhood revitalization bills through Congress.

“Alongside a grateful nation, I mourn the loss of former President, great humanitarian, and a man I was honored to serve, James Earl Carter Jr. of Plains, Georgia. Jimmy Carter truly was among the most honorable men to serve in the office of the Presidency in our nation's history.

“With high intentions to heal our nation and set it on a course for prosperity and opportunity for all following pathbreaking Civil Rights progress of the 1960’s, he faced the onslaught of deep recession following the first Middle East oil embargo and then the Iranian hostage crisis. Through it all, President Carter remained clear eyed and resolute. 

“He not only achieved establishment of the US Departments of Energy and Education, he brokered the most significant Middle East Peace agreement in modern history, between Israel and Egypt.

“A proud veteran of the nuclear Navy, President Carter and his foreign policy team engineered the enhanced set of relationships in Europe that led to the eventual and profound collapse of the tyrannical Soviet Union a decade later. 

“Upon retirement, alongside his beautiful wife Rosalynn, he returned to Georgia and embarked upon establishing the Carter Center, which has continued to pursue their many objectives focused on human development they were not able to achieve while in office.

“These included major breakthroughs in community health at home and abroad, especially neglected regions of Africa and enhancing the capacity of Habitat for Humanity organizations across our nation to build housing for the most underserved.

“May the spirit and memory of President Carter and his loving wife comfort their family, staff, and all the millions of people the Carter family touched with healing and inspiration. Rest in Peace President Carter. Our grateful nation is indebted to your service and to your life’s example of utterly selfless humanity.”

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