WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has introduced legislation that would instruct the Postmaster General to create a commemorative postage stamp to honor the legacy of Rosa Parks. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Kerry, D-Mass., Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. "Rosa Parks will be remembered decades from now because of her courage and her commitment to doing what's right," said Obama. "I believe we should continue to honor her legacy by issuing a postage stamp in her honor." Postal Service regulations require the honoree to be deceased for 10 years before issuing a commemorative stamp. Obama's legislation would request an exception to this rule. The only regular exception made is for Presidents, who need to have been deceased for one year. The last time the House made an exception was in 1948 for Moina Michael, an advocate for World War I veterans. Since 1893, only 8 percent of commemorative stamps issued have featured women. "Rosa Parks will be remembered in our history books and our hearts, because we would not be the country we are today without her courage so many years ago," Sen. Kerry said. "This commemorative stamp is a wonderful way for her legacy to continue to inspire us to act on the courage of our convictions and always be true to our ideals of equality, freedom and justice." Recently, Sens. Kerry and Obama and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., introduced legislation to place a statue of Parks in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. President Bush recently signed this legislation into law. Parks will be the first African American honored with a statue in the hall.
