[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1002-H1003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                    HONORING SERGEANT WYTASHA CARTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and service of Sergeant Wytasha Carter, a 16-year veteran of the 
Birmingham Police Department, who lost his life, tragically, in the 
line of duty on January 13, 2019.
  Wyt, as his family and friends fondly called him, was a natural-born 
leader with whom others enjoyed working. Sergeant Carter was a 
Birmingham native who graduated from Phillips High School before 
attending Liberty University.
  Sergeant Carter was drawn to service from a young age. After 
graduating from college, he served in the United

[[Page H1003]]

States Armed Forces, as a U.S. Air Force sergeant, before beginning his 
law enforcement career in 2002 as a correctional officer with the 
Shelby County Sheriff's Department. Sergeant Carter served with the 
Birmingham Police Department for nearly 8 years and was recently 
promoted to sergeant last year.
  But above all, Sergeant Carter was a husband, he was a father, and he 
was a beloved member of his community. He was so beloved that more than 
2,000 people gathered to celebrate his life and his service at his 
funeral last Saturday.
  Sergeant Carter was a passionate guardian of his Birmingham 
community: He was a fierce protector of his coworkers; he mentored 
children about the dangers of drugs and gangs; and he was someone who 
consistently worked above and beyond the call of duty, devoting his 
life to improving his community.
  Sergeant Carter died from a gunshot wound while doing the job he 
loved so passionately. He and other police officers were working to 
make our community safer.
  Sergeant Carter led by an example of excellence and of giving back to 
his community. The city of Birmingham is better because of his 
contributions.
  His death is a stark reminder of the dangers that our brave policemen 
and -women face while working to secure our safety. They courageously 
put their lives on the line day after day to protect and to serve our 
neighborhoods while we sleep. Every time they put on their uniform--and 
even when their uniform comes off--they bravely put duty before self.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in praying that God provides comfort 
to Sergeant Carter's family and friends, especially his wife of 21 
years, Tiphanie, his daughter, and his young son. We pray for all of 
those who were affected by this senseless tragedy, as well as his 
fellow officer, who was critically injured in the shooting and who 
continues to rehab toward full recovery.
  We must use this tragedy as a reminder that Congress must act to 
prevent this sort of senseless gun violence, gun violence that Sergeant 
Carter spoke out against. We honor the legacy of service of Sergeant 
Carter by making sure we in this body act. As President Obama said: 
``Our tears are not enough. Our words and prayers are not enough.'' We 
must act.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District 
and a grateful nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
the life of Sergeant Carter's contribution to making the community of 
Birmingham better and this Nation. May we live out Sergeant Carter's 
legacy by working for a safer and more secure nation today and every 
day.

                          ____________________