Observance of USPS release of Poet Phillis Wheatley Stamp January 29, 2026
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S 861 — Observance of USPS release of Poet Phillis Wheatley Stamp January 29, 2026
Last action — Introduced and adopted
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 28, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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4 sponsors
4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AMERICAN REVOLUTION-ERA POET PHILLIS WHEATLEY AND TO RECOGNIZE JANUARY 29, 2026, AS THE OFFICIAL DATE ON WHICH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WILL ISSUE A STAMP COMMEMORATING HER ENDURING LITERARY LEGACY.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
50 added · 8 removedPlain-language change summary
In the latest version of Bill S 861, an official resolution has been added to honor Phillis Wheatley, a prominent American Revolution-era poet. It recognizes January 29, 2026, as the date the United States Postal Service will issue a stamp in her honor. This change is significant because it acknowledges Wheatley's literary contributions and her historical importance as the first African American woman to publish a book, fostering greater awareness of her legacy.
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Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.) A senate RESOLUTION TO HONOR AMERICAN REVOLUTION-ERA POET PHILLIS WHEATLEY AND TO RECOGNIZE JANUARY 29, 2026, AS THE OFFICIAL DATE ON WHICH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WILL ISSUE A STAMP COMMEMORATING HER ENDURING LITERARY LEGACY.
Whereas, Phillis Wheatley, a formerly enslaved woman, became known as the first author of African descent in the American colonies to publish a book, and whose literary achievements were recognized by prominent Americans including George Washington, Samson Occom, and Thomas Paine, as well as by British figures John Thornton and John Newton;
and Whereas, the people of the Midlands honored Wheatley beginning in through the establishment of a public library branch bearing her name, sponsored by the Rosenwald Foundation to expand library services to African American residents.
It was first housed in the Phillis Wheatley YWCA at 1429 Park Street and later relocated to 2314 Gervais Street in Waverly and remained at that location until 1972.
Currently, it is the Richland Library Wheatley branch at 931 Woodrow Street. It opened in 1993 and was named through the influence of Richland Library Board member Ethel Martin Bolden to preserve Wheatley's legacy;
and Whereas, the people of the Lowcountry honored Wheatley through the enduring work of the Phillis Wheatley Literary and Social Club, founded in 1916, whose papers are held at the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston.
The club fostered the study of writers such as Carter G.
Woodson and W.E.B.
DuBois while supporting organizations including the Jenkins Orphanage and the NAACP;
and Whereas, the people of the Upstate honored Wheatley first with the founding in 1919 of the Phillis Wheatley Association on Haynie Street by Hattie Logan Duckett.
It served as a social and academic center for young Black women and later moved to East McBee Avenue.
It expanded to serve boys and girls.
In 1924, the association moved to 121 Broad Street as the Phillis Wheatley Center.
From 1930 to 1970, the center served as the Black YWCA.
It was a support center for Black World War II soldiers and became a neighborhood hub.
In 1978, a new building was dedicated to the historic Nicholtown community.
In the 1980s, the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theatre was added, counting actor and singer Phillip Boykin among its distinguished alumni.
In 1999, the center gained upper and lower campuses, and in 2019, the facility became the Phillis Wheatley Community Center;
and Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate take pride that the honor bestowed upon Phillis Wheatley within this State has endured for more than a century and continues to be recognized during the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America and beyond.
Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, honor American Revolution-era Poet Phillis Wheatley and recognize January 29, 2026, as the official date on which the United States Postal Service will issue a stamp commemorating her enduring literary legacy.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on January 28, 2026 at 02:02 PM
Action History
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Introduced and adopted
Sponsors
- Senator Darrell Jackson · Primary
- Senator Karl B. Allen · Primary
- Senator Margie Bright Matthews · Primary
- Senator Tameika Isaac Devine · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 166 not signed on
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (166)
166 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 166 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does S 861 do?
- A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AMERICAN REVOLUTION-ERA POET PHILLIS WHEATLEY AND TO RECOGNIZE JANUARY 29, 2026, AS THE OFFICIAL DATE ON WHICH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE WILL ISSUE A STAMP COMMEMORATING HER ENDURING LITERARY LEGACY.
- Who sponsors S 861?
- S 861 is sponsored by Senator Darrell Jackson, Senator Karl B. Allen, Senator Margie Bright Matthews, and Senator Tameika Isaac Devine.
- What is the current status of S 861?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 28, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track S 861?
- Track S 861 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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