[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 175 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 175

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that a postage stamp should be 
  issued to commemorate the War of 1812 and that the Citizens' Stamp 
Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such 
                           a stamp be issued.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2009

  Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Buyer, Ms. Norton, Ms. Kilpatrick of 
Michigan, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Peters, Mr. Camp, Mr. 
    Hoekstra, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, and Mr. Rogers of Michigan) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that a postage stamp should be 
  issued to commemorate the War of 1812 and that the Citizens' Stamp 
Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such 
                           a stamp be issued.

Whereas the War of 1812, often referred to as ``America's Second War of 
        Independence'', was a significant effort for the United States in 
        securing territorial boundaries and limiting violence on the frontier, 
        clarifying the border between the United States and Canada, ensuring 
        safety for American mariners from attack in passage to Europe and other 
        shores around the world, and securing a lasting and definitive 
        independence from Great Britain;
Whereas the continental United States was invaded and partly occupied, and 
        public buildings in the Nation's capital were burned, by a foreign 
        power;
Whereas the major areas of military operations took place along the Canadian-
        American border in the North, the Atlantic Seaboard in the East, and the 
        Gulf Coast in the South;
Whereas the infant United States Navy won small but important victories with 
        ships like the USS Constitution, or ``Old Ironsides'', against the 
        dominant world naval power of the time, and American squadrons on Lake 
        Erie and Lake Champlain defeated British squadrons;
Whereas the War of 1812 was a proving ground for future leaders of the United 
        States, including Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, James Monroe, 
        Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, John Quincy Adams, Jacob Brown, and 
        others;
Whereas the War of 1812 produced heroes and heroines that entered into American 
        legend, such as Dolley Madison, Jean Lafitte, Davy Crockett, and others, 
        including many whose names have been lost to history or are buried in 
        War Department records;
Whereas Native American resistance to encroachment on their lands was ennobled 
        and personified by The Great Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and others;
Whereas desperate battles and circumstances produced a number of inspirational 
        and patriotic sayings, including ``Don't give up the ship'', ``Remember 
        the Raisin'', and ``We have met the enemy and they are ours'';
Whereas the bombardment of Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the 
        words of what was to become the National Anthem;
Whereas the War of 1812 left the people of the United States with a new respect 
        and reverence for their national flag;
Whereas the iconic figure Uncle Sam made his first appearance in the War of 
        1812;
Whereas on December 24, 1814, the Peace Treaty to end the War of 1812 was 
        officially signed in Ghent, Belgium;
Whereas the Treaty of Ghent declared the release of all prisoners of war and 
        returned land seized by both sides;
Whereas the Treaty of Ghent also formally restored diplomatic relations between 
        the United States and Great Britain, resulting in a lasting peace that 
        has endured to this day;
Whereas the War of 1812 was significant in the formation of Canada and the 
        Canadian identity;
Whereas 2012 marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812; and
Whereas the War of 1812 was an important benchmark, not only in forging the 
        identity of this Nation, but also in the emergence of the United States 
        as a great power: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a postage 
        stamp commemorating the War of 1812; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
        to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.
                                 <all>