IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1417 
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 upcoming 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 30, 2022 
Ms. MENG submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the United States Postal Service should issue a com-
memorative postage stamp honoring Lewis Howard Lati-
mer, in recognition of his distinctive life, scientific 
achievements, and his civic contributions to technological 
advancement, to commemorate the upcoming 175th year 
anniversary of his birth and that the Citizens’ Stamp 
Advisory Committee should recommend to the Post-
master 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; 
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•HRES 1417 IH 
Whereas the son of escaped slaves, Lewis Latimer bravely 
served in the United States Navy at 16 years of age dur-
ing the Civil War and received an honorable discharge; 
Whereas Lewis Latimer was self-educated having only for-
mally finished elementary school, he taught himself me-
chanical 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 inven-
tors made vital technological strides that propelled the 
electric and telecommunications industries; 
Whereas Lewis Latimer left an indelible mark on the sci-
entific and technological community, discovering the im-
proved process for manufacturing carbon filament, which 
made light bulbs longer lasting and feasible for wide-
spread 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 revolu-
tionary 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 trans-
form the electric industry; 
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•HRES 1417 IH 
Whereas Lewis Latimer was the living embodiment of the 
American dream, and his accomplished life merits rec-
ognition; and 
Whereas September 4, 2023, will be the 175th anniversary of 
Lewis Latimer’s birth: Now, therefore be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) a commemorative postage stamp should be 
issued by the United States Postal Service honoring 
the life and legacy of Lewis Howard Latimer; and 
(2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 
should recommend to the Postmaster General that 
such a postage stamp be issued. 
Æ 
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