[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10121 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10121
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
August 20, 2026
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mr. Soto, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Reschenthaler,
Mr. Hernandez, 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.
<all>