[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, 4 months ago, the news came from Plains, 
Georgia, that former President Jimmy Carter, along with his family, had 
made the decision to enter hospice care as he approaches the end of his 
amazing 90-year-old life.
  Interestingly, in the wake of that announcement, accolades came from 
all over the world, again reminding us all of the work that President 
Carter did during his time in the White House.
  He led the way to the Camp David peace accords, which demilitarized 
the Sinai Peninsula.
  He was a prophet and leader, a visionary in terms of renewable 
energy. Under President Carter's leadership, the National Renewable 
Energy Laboratory was founded, which to this day still operates in 
Colorado, utilizing cutting-edge technology and innovation in terms of 
development of renewable energy.
  After President Carter left the White House, he founded The Carter 
Center in Georgia, which has done amazing work in terms of eradicating 
disease in different parts of the world, such as river blindness, 
amongst many others.
  Mr. Speaker, I represent eastern Connecticut, which, again, has a 
special and unique appreciation for former President Jimmy Carter. 
After he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis in 
1946 and following two tours as an ensign on surface ships, President 
Carter volunteered for the submarine force and was stationed at Naval 
Submarine Base New London located in Groton, Connecticut. There, 
President Carter received officer training from Groton's Submarine 
School and was promoted to lieutenant. This picture shows President 
Carter onboard one of those submarines.
  In 1952, Carter became part of the legendary Hyman Rickover's new 
Office of Naval Reactors, an elite unit which introduced nuclear 
propulsion to America's submarine force and revolutionized the reach 
and stealth of our fleet.
  At that point of his career, Carter was assured a virtually 
guaranteed path of promotion and success. However, in October 1953, 
Carter's 58-year-old father succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Jimmy 
Carter left Active Duty with an honorable discharge after 7 years and 4 
months of service, returning to his childhood home in Plains, Georgia, 
to run the family farm.
  Mr. Speaker, President Carter left Connecticut in 1953, but he never 
forgot our State. He proved that in 2005, when the Navy, as part of the 
BRAC process, sought to close the Groton Naval Submarine Base and 
transfer its fleet of submarines to Kings Bay, Georgia. Despite the 
fact that this would help his native State of Georgia, he shocked his 
home State and the Navy by publicly opposing this plan. As Anthony 
Principi, the Chairman of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, 
stated at the time: Carter's letter citing the value of SUBASE New 
London's ``proud submarine heritage'' was a ``key factor'' when he and 
the Commission voted 7-1 to reject the Navy's plan.
  Eighteen years later, with 16 attack submarines in Groton that are in 
active heel-to-toe deployments, the wisdom of that position that he 
took certainly has paid off in terms of blindingly obvious facts.
  Also, eastern Connecticut is the place where the USS Jimmy Carter, 
which was one of the Seawolf-class submarines, was built. Today, it 
still operates, doing amazing work as part of that unique three-
submarine class that has farther stealth, is able to operate at deeper 
depths, travels at higher speeds, and does great work.
  Recently, the executive officer of the USS Jimmy Carter, Lieutenant 
Commander Jacob Cates, stated: ``As our sailors walk through the ship, 
they are met by images representing the Carters' service to our 
submarine force, our Navy, and to our country. President Carter has 
always been an advocate for those in need. By helping to eliminate 
disease, feed the hungry, teach Sunday school, and prevent war, 
President Carter has positively impacted countless lives. . . . We are 
honored by the fact that we are on the USS Jimmy Carter, and we strive 
to prepare for and execute our mission in a manner worthy of President 
Carter's legacy.''

                              {time}  1215

  Well said, Lieutenant Commander Cates.
  Again, as we pass the 4-month mark of President Carter's hospice, I 
want him and his family to know that certainly, in eastern Connecticut, 
our prayers are with him, as well as our deepest admiration and 
feelings, just like Lieutenant Cates whose words were reported just a 
few days ago.
  Again, we honor his record of service in terms of our Navy, our 
country, and his service after the time he spent in the White House 
where he did not monetize his service but, again, continued to do great 
things to help people in need around the world.

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