[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1417 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1417

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
   States Postal Service should issue a commemorative postage stamp 
honoring Lewis Howard Latimer, in recognition of his distinctive life, 
 scientific achievements, and his civic contributions to technological 
advancement, to commemorate the upcoming 175th year anniversary of his 
birth and that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
         to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2022

Ms. Meng submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                   Committee on Oversight and Reform

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
   States Postal Service should issue a commemorative postage stamp 
honoring Lewis Howard Latimer, in recognition of his distinctive life, 
 scientific achievements, and his civic contributions to technological 
advancement, to commemorate the upcoming 175th year anniversary of his 
birth and that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
         to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.

Whereas Lewis Latimer was an African-American scientist, inventor, and social 
        justice advocate, who lived from 1848 to 1928;
Whereas the son of escaped slaves, Lewis Latimer bravely served in the United 
        States Navy at 16 years of age during the Civil War and received an 
        honorable discharge;
Whereas Lewis Latimer was self-educated having only formally finished elementary 
        school, he taught himself mechanical drawing and drafting working at 
        Crosby and Gould Patent law office;
Whereas Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison both worked in close conjunction 
        with Lewis Latimer and, by employing his highly sought-after services, 
        the two inventors made vital technological strides that propelled the 
        electric and telecommunications industries;
Whereas Lewis Latimer left an indelible mark on the scientific and technological 
        community, discovering the improved process for manufacturing carbon 
        filament, which made light bulbs longer lasting and feasible for 
        widespread commercial use;
Whereas Lewis Latimer secured the patent for his invention, Apparatus for 
        Cooling and Disinfecting, in 1886, the forerunner to the modern air 
        conditioning unit;
Whereas, in 1890, Lewis Latimer authored ``Incandescent Lighting: A Practical 
        Description of the Edison System'', the first published works of Thomas 
        Edison's revolutionary electric lighting;
Whereas Lewis Latimer was a champion of social justice issues, advocating 
        relentlessly for the full recognition of civil rights for Black 
        Americans;
Whereas Lewis Latimer was the only African American of the 28 charter members to 
        belong to the Edison Pioneers, a group of men who worked closely with 
        Edison to transform the electric industry;
Whereas Lewis Latimer was the living embodiment of the American dream, and his 
        accomplished life merits recognition; and
Whereas September 4, 2023, will be the 175th anniversary of Lewis Latimer's 
        birth: Now, therefore be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued by the 
        United States Postal Service honoring the life and legacy of 
        Lewis Howard Latimer; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
        to the Postmaster General that such a postage stamp be issued.
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