I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2303 

To provide for the issuance of a ‘‘forever stamp’’ to honor the sacrifices 

of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded 

the Purple Heart. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 14, 2007 

Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. SOUDER, Mrs. 

MALONEY of New York, Mr. WALSH of New York, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, 

Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. CUMMINGS, 

Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. HALL of New 

York, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. MCCOTTER, 

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. WOLF, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. WICKER, Mr. MCNULTY, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. 

WALBERG, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. HOLT, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. 

FALLIN, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. PAUL, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mrs. 

CAPITO, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mrs. DAVIS of California, 

Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, and Mr. WAMP) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

A BILL 

To provide for the issuance of a ‘‘forever stamp’’ to honor 

the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed 

forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Perpetual Purple 

3 Heart Stamp Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

5 The Congress finds that— 

6 (1) the Purple Heart is the oldest military deco7 ration in the world still in use; 

8 (2) the Purple Heart was first established by 

9 General George Washington on August 7, 1782, as 

10 the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known 

11 as the Badge of Military Merit or Decoration of the 

12 Purple Heart; 

13 (3) the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of 

14 the President of the United States and may, among 

15 others, be awarded— 

16 (A) to any member of the armed forces 

17 who is wounded in an action against or held 

18 prisoner of war by an enemy of the United 

19 States; or 

20 (B) posthumously to the next of kin of any 

21 person who is a member of the armed forces at 

22 the time the person is killed or wounded under 

23 circumstances otherwise qualifying that person 

24 for award of the Purple Heart; 

25 (4) more than 1,700,000 Americans have been 

26 awarded the Purple Heart; and 


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•HR 2303 IH

1 (5) the Purple Heart postage stamp, first 

2 issued by the United States Postal Service on May 

3 30, 2003, honors the sacrifices of the brave men and 

4 women of the armed forces who have been awarded 

5 the Purple Heart. 

6 SEC. 3. PERPETUAL PURPLE HEART STAMP. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—In order to continue to honor the 

8 sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces 

9 who have been awarded the Purple Heart, the Postmaster 

10 General shall provide for the issuance of a forever stamp 

11 suitable for that purpose. 

12 (b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this Act, the term 

13 ‘‘forever stamp’’ means a definitive stamp which meets the 

14 postage required for first-class mail up to one ounce in 

15 weight, and which retains full validity for that purpose 

16 even if the rate of that postage is later increased. 

17 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The stamp described in sub18 section (a) shall be issued beginning as soon as practicable 

19 after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall not 

20 thereafter be discontinued. 

Æ 


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