IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 347
Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
should be issued in honor of William C. Vela´squez, the national Hispanic 
civic leader. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2003
Mr. RODRIGUEZ 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 in honor of William 
C. Vela´squez, the national Hispanic civic leader.
Whereas William C. Vela´squez, affectionately known as 
‘‘Willie’’, paved the way for his generation and future 
generations of Hispanics to empower themselves through 
voter registration, political empowerment, economic self-
reliance, and education; 
Whereas the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project 
(SVREP), which he founded in 1974, continues Mr. 
Vela´squez’s work of empowering all Americans, through 
political participation, by its nonpartisan voter registra-
tion, voter education, candidate training, and get-out-the-
vote efforts;
•HCON 347 IH 
Whereas the groundbreaking work of Mr. Vela´squez and his 
associates created opportunities for Hispanics to enter 
into the political arena, and gain a voice for a significant 
community in American society; 
Whereas, upon news of his death, the Congress adjourned its 
session for the day, symbolically illustrating his single-
handed effect on our political process; 
Whereas President Clinton posthumously awarded Mr. 
Vela´squez the Presidential Medal of Freedom, stating 
that he ‘‘was driven by an unwavering belief that every 
American should have a role in our democracy and a 
share in the opportunities of our great Nation’’, adding 
that Mr. Vela´squez ‘‘made this a greater country’’; 
Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in the words of 
President Clinton, celebrates those who have changed 
America for the better and who embody the best qualities 
in our national character; 
Whereas cancer cut short Mr. Vela´squez’s pioneering efforts 
in 1988 at the age of 44; 
Whereas Mr. Vela´squez was an American leader who truly 
believed that universal political participation was the best 
means to hold elected leaders accountable and to hold 
America to its founding principle of ‘‘one Nation, under 
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’’; 
Whereas the issuance of a stamp recognizing his contribu-
tions will broaden the historical understanding of the de-
velopment and struggle of the Hispanic community of the 
United States and further serve to increase awareness of 
the influence of Hispanics on our country; and
•HCON 347 IH 
Whereas postage stamps have been commissioned to honor 
other significant civic and community leaders in Amer-
ican history: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) a postage stamp should be issued by the 
United States Postal Service in honor of William C. 
Vela´squez; and 
(2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 
should recommend to the Postmaster General that 
such a postage stamp be issued.
Æ