[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 120 (Monday, July 14, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3207-H3208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING JANIE HUNT

  (Mr. Carter of Georgia was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy 
heart.
  On May 8, 2016, God sent an angel to this Earth. He blessed my 
extended family in Dallas, Texas, with a beautiful little girl, Janie, 
who lit up this world with her infectious smile, compassion, and love 
for everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. I was one of those lucky 
people who got to know and love Janie Hunt, my daughter-in-law's niece.
  Being from the South and part of a close-knit family, we have a 
tradition of gathering for Lowcountry boils. I got to know Janie at 
these large family events, which she loved, enjoying good food with her 
many cousins, who adored her.
  Janie loved life, and she loved people. She loved school. She loved 
telling jokes. She loved church and learning about her Christian 
heritage and faith. She demonstrated a keen intellect and mastered many 
disciplines beyond her years. She was adventurous, kind, and 
charitable. She never wanted anyone to feel left out and was always 
thinking of how to make people laugh.
  Knowing this about Janie, you can imagine her excitement when she 
learned that she would get to go to Camp Mystic this summer for the 
very first time, along with five of her cousins, for a summer of fun, 
faith, and family. Sadly, tragedy struck instead.
  Jane Marie Hunt, age 9, passed away and into the loving arms of her 
Lord and Savior during the catastrophic flash flood that befell Camp 
Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 4, 2025.
  Her talents were many, from artistry and acting to athletics and 
mathematics. Her teachers called her a model student. Even as an 8-
year-old, she was designated talented and gifted in mathematics and 
then in explorations, for her invention of a pinball game. She excelled 
on her basketball team, with her steals and fast breaks.
  She loved her Girl Scout troop and was so excited to start selling 
cookies in third grade. She performed in ballet recitals and shined as 
Scuttle in a musical production of ``The Little Mermaid'' in 2024.
  She was always teaching her family new math tricks she had learned. 
She invented many new traditions for holidays such as themed meals and 
scavenger hunts. I am certain those traditions will continue in Janie's 
honor.
  She aspired to be an artist when she grew up. One of her artistic 
creations was the only selection from her class in the exhibition at 
the Highland Park Independent School District 2025 Art Show.
  Janie was honored as the first Golden Art Star in 2024 at Hyer 
Elementary and won the Gold Youth Design Award at the 2022 Dallas 
Garden Club Flower Show.
  As I mentioned earlier, faith was very important to Janie. Janie was 
baptized at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where she grew up 
attending Sunday school, singing in the children's choir, and 
participating in several weekly Bible studies.
  She cherished her church experiences and practiced her faith in 
everything she did, always defending others who were being mistreated 
and providing sympathy to other children who needed encouragement. 
Janie made it her life's mission to make everyone around her as happy 
as she was.
  In her 5 days at Camp Mystic before the flood, she had already become

[[Page H3208]]

known as the camper who consoled all the girls who were homesick.
  Last year, she formed a fundraising group called The Baker Girls, 
cooking and selling baked goods to benefit her beloved elementary 
school.
  At home, she was constantly going through her belongings, such as 
clothes, books, and stuffed animals, thinking of who less fortunate 
could use them more. She was named Sweetest Camper in her 2022 summer 
day camp.
  Janie was the heartbeat of her family, always teaching how to live 
our lives in Christ.
  Her favorite Bible verse was Luke 10:27, where Jesus summarizes the 
two greatest commandments: ``Love the Lord your God with all your 
heart, and with all your soul, and all your strength, and with all your 
mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.''
  Janie steadfastly followed these commandments and was a mentor and 
inspiration to everyone around her, both children and adults.
  Her parents, Davin and Anne Lindsey, should be proud of the wonderful 
girl their daughter became. Her siblings, Henry and Julia; 
grandparents, Janet and Mike McColloch; and Doug and Margaret Hunt; and 
the many, many loved ones Janie left behind, including 17 amazing 
cousins, are in our thoughts and prayers. Leaning on their faith, as 
Janie would, may they find comfort in knowing that she is in the loving 
arms of our Lord and Savior.
  With faith, gratitude, and deep sorrow, I ask that we all, in Janie 
Hunt's memory, strive to embody the lessons and message of Luke 10:27.

                          ____________________