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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 38 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 38

Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
should be issued honoring Martha Matilda Harper, and that the Citizens' 
  Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General 
                      that such a stamp be issued.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2001

 Ms. Slaughter (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Hilliard, Mrs. Maloney of 
New York, Ms. McCarthy of Missouri, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Ms. Baldwin, 
Mr. McNulty, Mr. Berman, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. Clayton, Mrs. Morella, Mrs. 
  McCarthy of New York, Mr. Kucinich, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Frost, 
    Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Gutierrez, Mrs. 
Napolitano, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, 
  Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mrs. Thurman, Ms. 
DeLauro, and Mrs. Lowey) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
should be issued honoring Martha Matilda Harper, and that the Citizens' 
  Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General 
                      that such a stamp be issued.

Whereas Martha Matilda Harper, after spending much of the first 25 years of her 
        life as a domestic servant, opened the Harper Method Shops and School, a 
        health-conscious hair and skin care store in Rochester, New York, in 
        1888;
Whereas Martha Matilda Harper subsequently expanded the business to include 2 
        international manufacturing centers, 5 training schools, and over 500 
        beauty shops around the world;
Whereas Martha Matilda Harper shared the opportunity of business ownership with 
        former servant women, and created the first franchise business model;
Whereas customers of Harper shops included world leaders, socialites, and 
        suffragists, such as Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge, 
        Kaiser Wilhelm II, Prime Minister Anthony Eden, First Ladies Jacqueline 
        Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, and Susan B. Anthony;
Whereas Martha Matilda Harper's 19th century management practices, which 
        included a customer-oriented focus, an equitable relationship with 
        staff, a childcare center in each shop, and the manufacture and 
        promotion of organic products and procedures, would be contemporary by 
        today's standards;
Whereas franchising now dominates retail business (with a new franchise opening 
        every 8 minutes) and generates more than $1,000,000,000,000 in revenues 
        annually; and
Whereas, for her accomplishments, Martha Matilda Harper has been referred to by 
        some as the ``mother of franchising'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued honoring 
        Martha Matilda Harper; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
        to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.
                                 <all>
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