Vice President Kamala Harris, left, delivers a eulogy for former President Jimmy Carter as he lies in state during a ceremony in the Capitol, Jan. 7, 2025, in Washington. Carter died Dec. 29 at the age of 100.

US lawmakers honor former President Jimmy Carter in Capitol Rotunda

by · Voice of America

WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers honored Jimmy Carter on Tuesday, as the body of the nation's 39th president arrived to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.

"Today, we gather to celebrate the life of a man whose works will echo for generations to come," Vice President Kamala Harris said to the distinguished guests and members of Carter's family assembled in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

The casket of former President Jimmy Carter arrives on a horse-drawn caisson at the East Front of U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
Members of the U.S. Navy line up to march with the casket of former President Jimmy Carter before it arrives at the U.S. Navy Memorial to travel to the Capitol in Washington to lie in state, Jan. 7, 2025.
People watch as casket of former President Jimmy Carter passes on a horse-drawn caisson on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington on its way to the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 7, 2025.
U.S. Military joint force pallbearers carry the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter into the U.S. Capitol, where he will lie in state, in Washington, on Jan. 7, 2025.
Members of the Carter family look on as a joint services military body bearer team carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter up the steps into the U.S Capitol, in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
Mourners look at the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter as he lies in state in the Capitol, in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a eulogy at the Lying in State Ceremony for former President Jimmy Carter at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer presents a wreath during a ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 7, 2025.
Amy Carter touches the flag-draped casket of her father, former President Jimmy Carter, after a ceremony where Carter lies in state at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
The flag-draped casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
The Carter family pay their respects during a ceremony as the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter lies in state, at the Capitol, in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
The flag-draped casket of the late former President Jimmy Carter lies in state at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
Mourners pay their respects as former President Jimmy Carter lies in state at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Jan. 8, 2025.
A person gestures as the casket of Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100, lies in state at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, Jan. 8, 2025.
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In photos: Mourners pay respects to Jimmy Carter

Carter, a one-term Democratic president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, will lie in state in Washington for two days, allowing the American public to pay its final respects.

Harris recognized Carter's role in brokering the Camp David Accords, instituting ethics reforms and founding the departments of Education and Energy.

Congressional leadership also recalled his presidency, which occurred during a tumultuous time in American history.

"President Carter's life, his selfless service, his fight against cancer and his lasting contributions to his fellow man are all truly remarkable," Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said. "President Carter was willing to roll up his own sleeves to serve and get the job done."

The casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter arrives on a horse-drawn caisson to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor earlier Tuesday that Carter was "one of the most decent men ever to hold the office of president. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word: kind, honorable, intelligent, humble, deeply patriotic. These are the virtues he brought to the Oval Office, in an era where trust in government was arguably at a low in the 20th century."

Carter's presidency began while the nation was still recovering from the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, the latter of which resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon and the decline of American trust in public institutions.

Carter's term (1977-1981) was marked by economic inflation and crises in Iran and Afghanistan.

"President Carter was a man who served his country. He loved America. I didn't agree with all of his policies, but you could agree with his patriotism," Republican Representative Ralph Norman told VOA.

Carter was the longest-living U.S. president, dying at 100 years old. His post-White House career traveling the world engaged in diplomacy and charity work redefined how American presidents lived after their terms in office.

"Jimmy Carter had a presidency at a time of tumult — the Iranian hostage crisis, inflation. Frankly, not dissimilar to Joe Biden's presidency in some respects," Republican Representative Mike Lawler told VOA. "But I think Jimmy Carter has always been viewed by the American people as a decent man, someone who really cared deeply about this country and its people and certainly in his post-presidential life was very focused on what he could do to help the American people and his work with Habitat for Humanity."

According to the Architect of the Capitol, only 46 individuals have lain in state or in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda since the nation's founding. Carter's remains will return to his home state of Georgia on Thursday for a private family burial.

Kateryna Lisunova and Mykhailo Komadovsky contributed to this report.