WASHINGTON — The U.S. House and Senate have signed off on a measure that would upgrade the federal designation of various sites in Plains, Georgia, tied to former President Jimmy Carter. Now, it's up to President Donald Trump to decide if he will sign the bill into law.
That would allow the farm where Carter grew up, the train depot that once headquartered his presidential campaign, his old high school and the city center to be upgraded from "historic sites" to a "national historic park."
The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park would also one day include the home where the 96-year-old and his wife, Rosalynn, reside today. After they pass away, the park would expand to include their burial site.
The U.S. House approved the measure, H.R. 5472, by a voice vote on Thursday. The Senate approved it Monday by unanimous consent. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, a Georgia Democrat and the bill's sponsor, said the changes are a needed tribute to the country's longest-living ex-president.
"President Carter has spent his life making Plains, Ga., and America a better place for all and it is fitting that we honor him with this change," he said in a statement. "The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park will increase tourism in Plains for many years to come, as President and Mrs. Carter desire."
Bishop also said the reclassification would provide for additional protections at the various landmarks. The other 13 members of Georgia's House delegation cosponsored the measure.
U.S. Sens. David Perdue, which took the lead in his chamber, and Kelly Loeffler released a joint statement applauding the bill's passage. And Carter thanked lawmakers for backing the change.
"No matter where life has taken me, from the Governor's mansion to the White House, Plains has always been my home," he said. "Rosalynn joins me in thanking Senator Perdue, Congressman Bishop, and the Georgia delegation for helping preserve my family's legacy."
The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and Preservation District was established in 1987 to preserve artifacts of Carter's presidency, as well as highlight the influence the rural town in southwest Georgia had on his life.
Trump has a few days left in his presidency to decide if he will approve the reclassification or veto it. The White House did not immediately respond to a question about which action he might take.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta underwent a similar name change in 2018 with Trump's approval.
