Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter

HOUSTON, TX – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States: 

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of President Jimmy Carter. President Carter was a statesman in the truest sense, with his greatest gifts to this country and the world coming after his term. He found his true calling not as a public official, but as a private citizen, where he continued the mission he started in the White House to bring peace, dignity, love, and justice to every corner of the earth.

“As City Controller of Houston, I had the honor of traveling with President Carter as part of the official U.S. delegation to return the Panama Canal to the people of Panama. On that trip, I saw firsthand that man he was: a champion of human rights, democracy, international partnership, and prosperity for the poor. He proved that doing the right thing pays off in the end and that peace must always be our goal. In later years, he won the Nobel Prize as his foundation, the Carter Center, played a key role in rooting out deadly parasites and dictatorships across the globe.

"His passion for service to others continued by building homes with Habitat for Humanity, understanding the security and stability a home provides. With his decision to enter hospice care, he showed us that the end of our lives can be gentler and fuller, sparking many family discussions across the country on this profound subject.

“President Carter and his wife Rosalynn, his thought partner for decades, embodied the teachings of Jesus, focusing on justice and love. Our world is kinder, safer, and humbler because of his leadership. My prayers are with the Carter family, their community of Plains, and all those around the world who mourn his passing but find hope in his legacy as he is reunited with his beloved Rosalynn Carter in heaven.”

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