H. Res. 506 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
March 11, 2014. 
Whereas Va´clav Havel, former President of the Czech Repub-
lic, passed away on December 18, 2011, at 75 years of 
age, at his country home in Hra´decˇek in the Czech Re-
public; 
Whereas Va´clav Havel is widely recognized and respected 
throughout the world as a defender of democratic prin-
ciples and human rights; 
Whereas through his extensive writings, Va´clav Havel coura-
geously challenged the ideology and legitimacy of the au-
thoritarian communist regimes that ruled Central and 
Eastern Europe during the Cold War; 
Whereas Va´clav Havel, who was imprisoned multiple times by 
the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia for his advocacy 
of universal human rights and democratic principles, 
maintained his convictions in the face of repression; 
Whereas Va´clav Havel was one of the founders of Charter 77, 
a group of 242 individuals who called for the human 
rights guaranteed under the 1975 Helsinki accords to be 
realized in Czechoslovakia; 
Whereas Va´clav Havel was a cofounder of the Committee for 
the Defense of the Unjustly Prosecuted, an organization 
dedicated to supporting dissidents and their families
•HRES 506 EH 
which helped to advance the cause of freedom and justice 
in Czechoslovakia; 
Whereas Va´clav Havel, as leader of the Civic Forum move-
ment, was a key figure in the 1989 ‘‘Velvet Revolution’’, 
the peaceful overthrow of the Czechoslovakia communist 
government; 
Whereas, on February 21, 1990, Va´clav Havel addressed a 
Joint Session of Congress where he stated, ‘‘Thomas Jef-
ferson wrote that ‘governments are instituted among 
men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the 
governed’. It was a simple and important act of the 
human spirit. What gave meaning to that act, however, 
was that the author backed it up with his life. It was not 
just his words but it was his deeds as well.’’; 
Whereas following the Velvet Revolution, Va´clav Havel was 
democratically elected as President of the Czech and Slo-
vak Federal Republic in 1990, and after a peaceful parti-
tion forming 2 separate states, democratically elected 
President of the Czech Republic in 1993; 
Whereas under the leadership of Va´clav Havel, the Czech Re-
public became a prosperous, democratic country and a re-
spected member of the international community; 
Whereas also under his leadership the Czech Republic became 
a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) on March 12, 1999, and continues to be a val-
ued ally of the United States; 
Whereas during his lifetime, Va´clav Havel received praise as 
one of the world’s great democratic leaders and was 
awarded many international prizes recognizing his com-
mitment to peace and democratic principles;
•HRES 506 EH 
Whereas, on July 23, 2003, President George W. Bush hon-
ored Va´clav Havel with the Presidential Medal of Free-
dom, the highest civilian award of the United States Gov-
ernment, for being ‘‘one of liberty’s great heroes’’; 
Whereas after leaving office as president of the Czech Repub-
lic in February 2003, Va´clav Havel remained a voice on 
behalf of democratic dissidents worldwide and against au-
thoritarian regimes; and 
Whereas the legacy of Va´clav Havel inspires those that advo-
cate and work for freedom from tyranny: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That to honor the life and legacy of Va´clav 
Havel, the House of Representatives Fine Arts Board shall 
provide for the display of an appropriate bust of Va´clav 
Havel in the House of Representatives wing of the United 
States Capitol. 
Attest: 
Clerk.