[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING AND REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF SENATOR JAMES E. CARNES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL A. RULLI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2026

  Mr. RULLI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Senator James 
E. Carnes, 84, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, who passed away on April 25, 
2026. Born February 19, 1942, in Wheeling, West Virginia, he was the 
son of the late Edward A. and Avis E. Carnes.
  A lifelong Belmont County resident, Carnes graduated from Flushing 
High School in 1960 and dedicated his career to the Ohio coal industry, 
rising to President and later President-Emeritus of Cravat Coal Company 
after 57 years of service. He also owned and operated the Plaza Motel 
and Carnes Mobile Home and Appliances.
  He was a prominent figure in Ohio Republican politics for over five 
decades, serving as Belmont County GOP Chairman, on state and national 
party committees, and as a delegate to multiple conventions. He later 
served in the Ohio Senate from 1995 to 2004, representing southeastern 
Ohio and chairing key committees, including Energy and Finance.
  Following his Senate service, he was appointed Deputy Director of the 
Ohio Department of Natural Resources and later served on the Ohio 
Liquor Control Commission until 2025. Known for his pragmatic 
leadership and ability to work across party lines, he was widely 
respected for his service to Ohio.
  I invite my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives 
to join me in honoring Senator James E. Carnes. He will be remembered 
as a devoted family man, a man of faith, and a lifelong public servant.

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