IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1251 

Honoring Rosalynn Smith Carter’s legacy in mental health advocacy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2024 

Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself and Mrs. DINGELL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Rosalynn Smith Carter’s legacy in mental health 

advocacy. 

Whereas May 2024 is Mental Health Awareness Month; 

Whereas Rosalynn Smith Carter, since 1970, when her husband, future President of the United States Jimmy Carter, was a candidate for Governor of Georgia, was a leading advocate for raising awareness about mental health 

and substance use disorder; 

Whereas Mrs. Carter emerged as a national driving force for 

mental health when, during Jimmy Carter’s Presidential 

administration, Mrs. Carter became the active honorary 

chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health; 

Whereas the work of President Carter’s Commission on Mental Health resulted in passage of the Mental Health SysVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:19 May 23, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1251.IH HR1251

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HRES 1251 IH 

tems Act of 1980, which offered reforms to publicly funded mental health programs; 

Whereas, in 1982, President and Mrs. Carter founded The 

Carter Center, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in the United States and in the developing world through programs waging peace, fighting 

disease, and building hope; 

Whereas, from 1985 to 2016, Mrs. Carter hosted the annual 

Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy, 

bringing together national leaders in the mental health 

community to discuss a specific topic each year, including 

promoting access to appropriate and affordable behavioral health care services, improving the quality of such 

services, and reducing the stigma and isolation associated 

with mental health disorders and substance use disorder; 

Whereas the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program, established in 1990, under the leadership and guidance of 

Mrs. Carter, continues to build consensus in order to effect positive change in mental health and substance use 

policy and systems, with a focus on vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those who 

care for individuals with mental health disorders or substance use disorder. 

Whereas, in 1996, Mrs. Carter established the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, which 

have provided training and support to more than 260 

journalists in the United States and abroad to report accurately and sensitively about and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health disorders, mental health care, 

mental health law and policy, and related issues; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HRES 1251 IH 

Whereas Mrs. Carter, in 2008, played a key role in supporting the passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete 

Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity 

Act of 2008, which helps ensure that mental health disorders and substance use disorders are covered by insurance at parity with other illnesses; 

Whereas throughout Mrs. Carter’s 50 plus years of advocacy 

for mental health, she has been an effective champion for 

rights of persons with mental illness and substance use 

disorders, the inclusion of persons with lived experience 

in the crafting of policy, and the elimination of stigma 

and discrimination against people with mental health disorders, which are among the most common health conditions around the world; 

Whereas Mrs. Carter believed that solutions are truly within 

our reach to overcome stigma, provide mental health advocacy and substance use prevention programming in all 

communities, and make treatment and support available 

to all, including the people who care for individuals with 

mental health and substance use disorders, allowing every 

individual the chance to create a happy and fulfilling future; and 

Whereas, after her passing on November 19, 2023, The Carter Center continues to carry forward her legacy to continue to decrease stigma and discrimination against individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, 

increase mental health advocacy and substance use prevention, and improve access to treatment and supports 

for all such individuals and those who care for such individuals in the United States and around the world: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HRES 1251 IH 

1 (1) hereby expresses its profound gratitude, on 

2 behalf of the people of the United States, to 

3 Rosalynn Smith Carter for her lifetime of accom4 plishments and commitment on behalf of those af5 fected by mental health disorders and substance use 

6 disorders; 

7 (2) recognizes, praises, and appreciates the im8 provements in well-being and the betterment of soci9 ety Mrs. Carter’s contributions generated; 

10 (3) recognizes The Carter Center for its leader11 ship and for its continued work to carry forward the 

12 legacy of Rosalynn Smith Carter in advocating for 

13 mental health for all; and 

14 (4) encourages all people of the United States 

15 to follow Mrs. Carter’s example of putting compas16 sion into action through a lifetime of service to hu17 manity. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB