House Passes Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) announced today that the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1471, legislation to expand the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, Ga. Congressman Bishop introduced the bipartisan legislation earlier this year.

“Jimmy Carter possesses a level of commitment to his country and the cause of humanity that has only rarely been matched,” Bishop said. “The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site does a remarkable job of helping people to understand the values that shaped this great Georgian. This bill will ensure that the site will continue to inspire generations of visitors, as well as grow and positively impact the economies of Plains and Sumter County through increased opportunities for tourism.”

In summary, the bill will expand the national historic site’s authorized boundaries from 15 acres to 18 acres and will allow the National Park Service to acquire several additional properties for the park, including a house that the Carter family lived in from 1956-1961. Additionally, the legislation will redesignate the park from a national historic site to a national historical park and will direct that that the park service preserves and interprets a southern agricultural-based rural community during the early to middle years of the 20th century.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.