IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 669 

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 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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 

Ms. MENG submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

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 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; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HRES 669 IH 

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; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HRES 669 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be 

4 issued by the United States Postal Service honoring 

5 the life and legacy of Lewis Howard Latimer; and 

6 (2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 

7 should recommend to the Postmaster General that 

8 such a postage stamp be issued. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB