I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4065 
To obtain and direct the placement in the Capitol or on the Capitol Grounds 
of a statue to honor American humanitarian and star athlete Roberto 
Clemente of Puerto Rico. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2023 
Mrs. GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N (for herself, Mr. SOTO, Mr. TORRES of New York, 
and Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on House Administration 
A BILL 
To obtain and direct the placement in the Capitol or on 
the Capitol Grounds of a statue to honor American hu-
manitarian and star athlete Roberto Clemente of Puerto 
Rico. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Roberto Clemente Walker was born in San 
Anto´n Ward, at the time a sugarcane growing com-
munity in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on August 18, 
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1934, to working class parents Melchor Clemente 
and Luisa Walker. 
(2) Showing an early athletic talent, Clemente 
excelled in track and field events at Vizcarrondo 
High School, but baseball was his true passion, and 
he began his professional baseball career in the 
Puerto Rico Winter League at age 17. 
(3) Scouted by the Dodgers at age 18, he spent 
a short time in the minor leagues in that organiza-
tion before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, 
where he remained for his entire time in Major 
League Baseball. 
(4) Clemente was one of the pioneers who still 
had to face persistent discrimination and negative 
attitudes related to his origin and culture on and off 
the field and in the media, but his talent and dis-
cipline soon spoke louder. 
(5) He proved his mettle in the Pirates teams, 
reaching championships in two World Series, includ-
ing in 1971 when he was named Most Valuable 
Player. He was named the 1966 regular season Most 
Valuable Player. He won 12 Gold Gloves as one of 
the most effective, hard-throwing, and precise out-
fielders in the game. He won four batting titles, had 
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a lifetime .317 batting average and 3,000 hits, and 
was a 12-time member of the All-Star team. 
(6) Clemente was an exemplary figure off the 
baseball field as well. Having received a rare oppor-
tunity, he made sure that he could be of service to 
others. 
(7) During his rookie season, Clemente also 
served as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve, 
fulfilling his commitment to the Nation. 
(8) Once he reached stardom, he would spend 
the off-season actively supporting community efforts 
in Puerto Rico and in neighboring countries in the 
Caribbean region, using sports as a vehicle to moti-
vate the progress of communities and specially to 
provide opportunities for social development for dis-
advantaged families. One of his desires was the 
founding of a center for developing underprivileged 
youth through sport and education. 
(9) A man of strong family values, Clemente in 
1964 married Vera Cristina Zabala, with whom he 
started a family that grew with the birth of his sons 
Roberto Jr. in 1965, Luis in 1966, and Enrique in 
1969. Upon winning the 1971 World Series MVP, 
he showed that strong bond and his faith when in 
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his interview he sent a blessing to his children and 
asked for one from his parents. 
(10) After the December 23, 1972, earthquake 
in Managua, Nicaragua, having earlier that year 
worked in that country with an international tour-
nament, Roberto Clemente was a leader in efforts to 
obtain relief supplies for the victims and mobilize 
aid. 
(11) Concerned over reports that this help may 
not reach those who needed it but was instead being 
diverted or misused, on December 31, 1972, he 
boarded an aid flight, so that he could participate 
directly in delivering it. 
(12) That flight, tragically, suffered a mechan-
ical failure during takeoff climb and crashed into the 
sea just off the coast, with all on board perishing. 
The loss of Roberto Clemente was traumatic across 
the Puerto Rican and general Latino community and 
the sports world. 
(13) The accolades received by Clemente are 
many, and to this day he continues to accumulate 
recognition on his home soil and away from it, not 
only as a sports superstar with lasting fame in that 
endeavor, but as an example of commitment to hu-
manity in its times of need, even to the ultimate 
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consequences. The Baseball Writers Association al-
most immediately waived the waiting period require-
ment and named Roberto Clemente Walker to the 
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. The Major League 
Baseball Roberto Clemente Award is given every 
year to the player who best exemplifies the game of 
baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, 
and the individual’s contribution to his team. The 
Puerto Rico Winter League is now named the Ro-
berto Clemente Professional Baseball League. 
(14) Roberto Clemente Walker is a hero for 
whom respect and love is shared by all segments of 
Puerto Rican communities in the Island and across 
the Nation and the world. 
SEC. 2. STATUE HONORING ROBERTO CLEMENTE WALKER. 
(a) OBTAINING OF STATUE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, in consulta-
tion with the Committee on House Administration of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Rules and Administration of the Senate, and under 
such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee 
on the Library considers appropriate consistent with 
applicable law, the Joint Committee shall enter into 
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an agreement to obtain a statue honoring humani-
tarian and star athlete Roberto Clemente Walker. 
(2) CONSIDERATION OF ARTISTS OF VARIETY 
OF BACKGROUNDS.—In selecting an artist for the 
statue under paragraph (1), the Joint Committee 
shall consider artists from a variety of backgrounds, 
including artists from the Puerto Rican community 
and underrepresented demographic groups, and shall 
make public announcements targeting such artists. 
(3) DONATION.—The Joint Committee may ob-
tain the statue under paragraph (1) by donation, 
subject to the laws and rules governing the accept-
ance of donated works of art. 
(b) INSTALLATION.—The Architect of the Capitol, 
under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, 
shall permanently install the statue obtained under sub-
section (a) in an appropriate location in the United States 
Capitol or on the Capitol Grounds, as described in section 
5102 of title 40, United States Code. 
(c) AUTHORIZING FUNDING WITH AMOUNTS IN CAP-
ITOL PRESERVATION FUND.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding section 
803 of the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act of 1988 
(2 U.S.C. 2083), the United States Capitol Preser-
vation Commission established under section 801 of 
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such Act (2 U.S.C. 2081) may transfer amounts in 
the Capitol Preservation Fund established under sec-
tion 803 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 2083) to the Joint 
Committee on the Library and the Architect of the 
Capitol for purposes of obtaining and installing the 
statue under this Act. 
(2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT TRANSFERRED.— 
The amount transferred under paragraph (1) may 
not exceed $500,000. 
Æ 
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