[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 347 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 347

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
    should be issued in honor of William C. Velasquez, the national 
                         Hispanic civic leader.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 8, 2003

Mr. Rodriguez submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
    should be issued in honor of William C. Velasquez, the national 
                         Hispanic civic leader.

Whereas William C. Velasquez, affectionately known as ``Willie'', paved the way 
        for his generation and future generations of Hispanics to empower 
        themselves through voter registration, political empowerment, economic 
        self-reliance, and education;
Whereas the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), which he 
        founded in 1974, continues Mr. Velasquez's work of empowering all 
        Americans, through political participation, by its nonpartisan voter 
        registration, voter education, candidate training, and get-out-the-vote 
        efforts;
Whereas the groundbreaking work of Mr. Velasquez and his associates created 
        opportunities for Hispanics to enter into the political arena, and gain 
        a voice for a significant community in American society;
Whereas, upon news of his death, the Congress adjourned its session for the day, 
        symbolically illustrating his single-handed effect on our political 
        process;
Whereas President Clinton posthumously awarded Mr. Velasquez the Presidential 
        Medal of Freedom, stating that he ``was driven by an unwavering belief 
        that every American should have a role in our democracy and a share in 
        the opportunities of our great Nation'', adding that Mr. Velasquez 
        ``made this a greater country'';
Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in the words of President Clinton, 
        celebrates those who have changed America for the better and who embody 
        the best qualities in our national character;
Whereas cancer cut short Mr. Velasquez's pioneering efforts in 1988 at the age 
        of 44;
Whereas Mr. Velasquez was an American leader who truly believed that universal 
        political participation was the best means to hold elected leaders 
        accountable and to hold America to its founding principle of ``one 
        Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all'';
Whereas the issuance of a stamp recognizing his contributions will broaden the 
        historical understanding of the development and struggle of the Hispanic 
        community of the United States and further serve to increase awareness 
        of the influence of Hispanics on our country; and
Whereas postage stamps have been commissioned to honor other significant civic 
        and community leaders in American history: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) a postage stamp should be issued by the United States 
        Postal Service in honor of William C. Velasquez; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
        to the Postmaster General that such a postage stamp be issued.
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