# Plain Language Summary: President Jimmy Carter Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to former President Jimmy Carter in recognition of his lifetime of service to the nation. A Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honors the United States can bestow, and it's a way for Congress to officially recognize exceptional contributions to American society. The bill doesn't create any new laws or change how government operates—it's simply a formal recognition of Carter's accomplishments.

The bill outlines Carter's major achievements across his career, including his seven years as a Navy submarine officer, his time as Georgia's governor, and his presidency from 1977 to 1981. It highlights his foreign policy successes like the Camp David Accords (which brought peace between Egypt and Israel) and his work establishing diplomatic relations with China. Domestically, the bill notes his role in creating the Department of Energy and Department of Education, as well as protecting millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness through environmental legislation.

Beyond his presidency, the bill emphasizes Carter's decades of humanitarian work after leaving office. Through the Carter Center, he and his wife Rosalynn worked to nearly eliminate Guinea worm disease, reducing cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to just 14 by 2023. They also led Habitat for Humanity projects that built or improved over 4,400 homes across 14 countries. In 2002, Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts and advancing human rights worldwide.

From a practical standpoint, this bill has minimal impact on everyday Americans. The Treasury Department will design and strike a gold medal, and the Speaker of the House and Senate President will present it to Carter. The bill also allows the Treasury to create and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover the costs of making the original medal. Any money from selling these duplicates goes back into the U.S. Mint's fund. This is essentially a ceremonial honor with no direct effect on taxes, laws, or government services.