[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H641-H642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JACOB CARTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Kilmer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
legacy of Jacob Carter, a dearly beloved husband, brother, son, and co-
owner of Howdy Bagel in Tacoma, Washington.
  Jacob was tragically and senselessly killed while vacationing in New 
Orleans with his husband, Daniel, just after the new year.
  Jacob and Daniel opened their bagel shop, Howdy Bagel, in May 2023, a 
milestone accomplishment that began with at-home experimentation during 
the pandemic lockdowns. Howdy opened to immediate and sustained success 
in Tacoma, with lines week after week, stretching far past the front 
door.
  With Howdy, though, Jacob brought so much more than good food to 
Tacoma. The store, proudly queer-owned and -operated, has provided a 
warm, inclusive gathering spot to the LGBTQ+ community, yes, but also 
to anyone willing to make new friends with their neighbors while 
waiting in line for lox.
  Jacob was a light in Tacoma and cultivated this community 
intentionally. As Howdy's motto goes, ``Y'all Means All.'' The saying 
is a tip to his Texas

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roots and a reflection of his efforts to always ensure everyone had a 
seat at the table.
  Whether it was his work selling bagels, helping resettle asylees and 
refugees, or aiding community development in the Middle East, Jacob 
never faltered in spreading kindness and inclusivity.
  He was the kind of Good Samaritan we all strive to be.
  Madam Speaker, I join our Pacific Northwest community in grieving the 
loss of a burgeoning leader.
  Like far too many others in our Nation, Jacob was the victim of the 
epidemic of gun violence, a uniquely American scourge that cannot be 
accepted as a fact of life.
  I join Jacob's husband, Daniel, and the rest of his family in 
grieving the loss of a uniquely generous and loving soul.
  Madam Speaker, I stand here on the House floor to recognize that the 
city of Tacoma will forever be better because Jacob made it his home.

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