[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4065 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4065

  To obtain and direct the placement in the Capitol or on the Capitol 
  Grounds of a statue to honor American humanitarian and star athlete 
                    Roberto Clemente of Puerto Rico.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 2023

Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon (for herself, Mr. Soto, Mr. Torres of New York, and 
  Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was 
           referred to the Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To obtain and direct the placement in the Capitol or on the Capitol 
  Grounds of a statue to honor American humanitarian and star athlete 
                    Roberto Clemente of Puerto Rico.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Roberto Clemente Walker was born in San Anton Ward, at 
        the time a sugarcane growing community in Carolina, Puerto 
        Rico, on August 18, 1934, to working class parents Melchor 
        Clemente and Luisa Walker.
            (2) Showing an early athletic talent, Clemente excelled in 
        track and field events at Vizcarrondo High School, but baseball 
        was his true passion, and he began his professional baseball 
        career in the Puerto Rico Winter League at age 17.
            (3) Scouted by the Dodgers at age 18, he spent a short time 
        in the minor leagues in that organization before being drafted 
        by the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he remained for his entire 
        time in Major League Baseball.
            (4) Clemente was one of the pioneers who still had to face 
        persistent discrimination and negative attitudes related to his 
        origin and culture on and off the field and in the media, but 
        his talent and discipline soon spoke louder.
            (5) He proved his mettle in the Pirates teams, reaching 
        championships in two World Series, including in 1971 when he 
        was named Most Valuable Player. He was named the 1966 regular 
        season Most Valuable Player. He won 12 Gold Gloves as one of 
        the most effective, hard-throwing, and precise outfielders in 
        the game. He won four batting titles, had a lifetime .317 
        batting average and 3,000 hits, and was a 12-time member of the 
        All-Star team.
            (6) Clemente was an exemplary figure off the baseball field 
        as well. Having received a rare opportunity, he made sure that 
        he could be of service to others.
            (7) During his rookie season, Clemente also served as a 
        member of the Marine Corps Reserve, fulfilling his commitment 
        to the Nation.
            (8) Once he reached stardom, he would spend the off-season 
        actively supporting community efforts in Puerto Rico and in 
        neighboring countries in the Caribbean region, using sports as 
        a vehicle to motivate the progress of communities and specially 
        to provide opportunities for social development for 
        disadvantaged families. One of his desires was the founding of 
        a center for developing underprivileged youth through sport and 
        education.
            (9) A man of strong family values, Clemente in 1964 married 
        Vera Cristina Zabala, with whom he started a family that grew 
        with the birth of his sons Roberto Jr. in 1965, Luis in 1966, 
        and Enrique in 1969. Upon winning the 1971 World Series MVP, he 
        showed that strong bond and his faith when in his interview he 
        sent a blessing to his children and asked for one from his 
        parents.
            (10) After the December 23, 1972, earthquake in Managua, 
        Nicaragua, having earlier that year worked in that country with 
        an international tournament, Roberto Clemente was a leader in 
        efforts to obtain relief supplies for the victims and mobilize 
        aid.
            (11) Concerned over reports that this help may not reach 
        those who needed it but was instead being diverted or misused, 
        on December 31, 1972, he boarded an aid flight, so that he 
        could participate directly in delivering it.
            (12) That flight, tragically, suffered a mechanical failure 
        during takeoff climb and crashed into the sea just off the 
        coast, with all on board perishing. The loss of Roberto 
        Clemente was traumatic across the Puerto Rican and general 
        Latino community and the sports world.
            (13) The accolades received by Clemente are many, and to 
        this day he continues to accumulate recognition on his home 
        soil and away from it, not only as a sports superstar with 
        lasting fame in that endeavor, but as an example of commitment 
        to humanity in its times of need, even to the ultimate 
        consequences. The Baseball Writers Association almost 
        immediately waived the waiting period requirement and named 
        Roberto Clemente Walker to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. 
        The Major League Baseball Roberto Clemente Award is given every 
        year to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, 
        sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual's 
        contribution to his team. The Puerto Rico Winter League is now 
        named the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League.
            (14) Roberto Clemente Walker is a hero for whom respect and 
        love is shared by all segments of Puerto Rican communities in 
        the Island and across the Nation and the world.

SEC. 2. STATUE HONORING ROBERTO CLEMENTE WALKER.

    (a) Obtaining of Statue.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, in consultation with the Committee 
        on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and under 
        such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee on the Library 
        considers appropriate consistent with applicable law, the Joint 
        Committee shall enter into an agreement to obtain a statue 
        honoring humanitarian and star athlete Roberto Clemente Walker.
            (2) Consideration of artists of variety of backgrounds.--In 
        selecting an artist for the statue under paragraph (1), the 
        Joint Committee shall consider artists from a variety of 
        backgrounds, including artists from the Puerto Rican community 
        and underrepresented demographic groups, and shall make public 
        announcements targeting such artists.
            (3) Donation.--The Joint Committee may obtain the statue 
        under paragraph (1) by donation, subject to the laws and rules 
        governing the acceptance of donated works of art.
    (b) Installation.--The Architect of the Capitol, under the 
direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, shall permanently 
install the statue obtained under subsection (a) in an appropriate 
location in the United States Capitol or on the Capitol Grounds, as 
described in section 5102 of title 40, United States Code.
    (c) Authorizing Funding With Amounts in Capitol Preservation 
Fund.--
            (1) Authorization.--Notwithstanding section 803 of the 
        Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act of 1988 (2 U.S.C. 2083), the 
        United States Capitol Preservation Commission established under 
        section 801 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 2081) may transfer amounts in 
        the Capitol Preservation Fund established under section 803 of 
        such Act (2 U.S.C. 2083) to the Joint Committee on the Library 
        and the Architect of the Capitol for purposes of obtaining and 
        installing the statue under this Act.
            (2) Limitation on amount transferred.--The amount 
        transferred under paragraph (1) may not exceed $500,000.
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