Former President Carter is expected to lie in state at the Capitol next week after congressional leaders on Monday announced they intend to ask the House and Senate to pass resolutions allowing it.
Such resolutions are generally a formality and the Carter Center on Monday accepted the invitation, following Carter’s death at the age of 100 on Sunday.
In a letter addressed to Carter’s son, James Carter III, and the Carter Center, congressional leaders announced their intent to have the former president lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
The letter was signed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who also expressed their condolences for his death.
The lawmakers said they intended for Carter’s remains to lie in state at the Capitol in recognition of his “long and distinguished service to the nation,” and so the American people can “pay their respects to President Carter before he is laid to rest.”
In a post online, the Carter Center said it was accepting the invitation.