I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2303 
To provide for the issuance of a ‘‘forever stamp’’ to honor the sacrifices 
of the brave men and women of the armed forces who have been awarded 
the Purple Heart. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2007 
Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. SOUDER, Mrs. 
MALONEY of New York, Mr. WALSH of New York, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, 
Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. CUMMINGS, 
Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. HALL of New 
York, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. MCCOTTER, 
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. WOLF, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. CROW-
LEY, Mr. WICKER, Mr. MCNULTY, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. 
WALBERG, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. FRELING-
HUYSEN, Mr. HOLT, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
FALLIN, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. PAUL, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mrs. 
CAPITO, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mrs. DAVIS of California, 
Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. PRICE of North Caro-
lina, and Mr. WAMP) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To provide for the issuance of a ‘‘forever stamp’’ to honor 
the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed 
forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Perpetual Purple 
Heart Stamp Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) the Purple Heart is the oldest military deco-
ration in the world still in use; 
(2) the Purple Heart was first established by 
General George Washington on August 7, 1782, as 
the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known 
as the Badge of Military Merit or Decoration of the 
Purple Heart; 
(3) the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of 
the President of the United States and may, among 
others, be awarded— 
(A) to any member of the armed forces 
who is wounded in an action against or held 
prisoner of war by an enemy of the United 
States; or 
(B) posthumously to the next of kin of any 
person who is a member of the armed forces at 
the time the person is killed or wounded under 
circumstances otherwise qualifying that person 
for award of the Purple Heart; 
(4) more than 1,700,000 Americans have been 
awarded the Purple Heart; and 
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(5) the Purple Heart postage stamp, first 
issued by the United States Postal Service on May 
30, 2003, honors the sacrifices of the brave men and 
women of the armed forces who have been awarded 
the Purple Heart. 
SEC. 3. PERPETUAL PURPLE HEART STAMP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to continue to honor the 
sacrifices of the brave men and women of the armed forces 
who have been awarded the Purple Heart, the Postmaster 
General shall provide for the issuance of a forever stamp 
suitable for that purpose. 
(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this Act, the term 
‘‘forever stamp’’ means a definitive stamp which meets the 
postage required for first-class mail up to one ounce in 
weight, and which retains full validity for that purpose 
even if the rate of that postage is later increased. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The stamp described in sub-
section (a) shall be issued beginning as soon as practicable 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall not 
thereafter be discontinued. 
Æ 
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