King, Clinton Introduce Legislation to Make Purple Heart Stamp Permanent

May 15, 2007

For Immediate Release                                 
Contact Clinton Press Office
202-224-2243
Contact Rep. King (Carol Danko)
202-225-7896

WASHINGTON, DC - As a new postal rate increase goes into effect, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Representative Peter King (R-Seaford) announced that they have introduced The Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act in both houses of Congress to make the Purple Heart stamp a permanent "forever stamp."  The stamp, which commemorates our heroic service members wounded or killed in combat, is in jeopardy of being retired with the new rate change.

"The Purple Heart stamp honors those men and women in uniform who have made tremendous sacrifices in the defense of our nation.  This stamp is one way that Americans can honor them and express gratitude for their service.  I am hopeful that we can make this important and historic stamp permanent so that it will continue to be printed in their honor," said Senator Clinton.

“I’m honored that I was asked to introduce this legislation to commemorate our courageous Purple Heart veterans,” said Rep. King. “This stamp will serve as a constant recognition of the sacrifices these brave men and women made for our nation’s freedom and security.  Their efforts should never be forgotten.”

The Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act, which was drafted by Rep. King’s office in collaboration with the NY State Military Order of the Purple Heart, honors the sacrifices of our all our nation's brave Purple Heart veterans by providing for the permanent issuance of the Purple Heart stamp as one of the United States Postal Service's "forever stamps."  A "forever stamp" is a new innovation by USPS under which the stamp meets the postage required for first-class mail up to one ounce in weight even if the rate of postage is later increased. 

The Purple Heart stamp was first issued by the USPS on May 30, 2003. Senator Clinton championed creation of the Purple Heart Stamp and helped launch the first issue of the Purple Heart Stamp in Newburgh, New York. Senator Clinton succeeded in pressing the

USPS to continue issuing the Purple Heart stamp at the time of the last rate increase in December 2005.

The Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly known as the Purple Heart, is the oldest military decoration in the world in present use. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded in conflict with an enemy force, or while held by an enemy force as a prisoner of war, and posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who are killed in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of a wound received in conflict with an enemy force. There are over 1,535,000 recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, approximately 550,000 of whom are still living.

The Purple Heart was established on August 7, 1782 during the Revolutionary War, when General George Washington issued an order establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known as the Badge of Military Merit, or the Decoration of the Purple Heart.

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