[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 189 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 189
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 25, 2004
Received and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year
(IGY) and supporting an International Geophysical Year-2 (IGY-2) in
2007-08.
Whereas the year 2007 is the 50th anniversary of the IGY of 1957-58;
Whereas the IGY, conceived in and promoted by the United States, was the largest
cooperative international scientific endeavor undertaken to that date,
involving more than 60,000 scientists from 66 nations;
Whereas the IGY legacy includes the dedication of an entire continent to
cooperative scientific study through the Antarctica Treaty and the
inauguration of the global space age through the launching of Sputnik
and Vanguard;
Whereas IGY cooperation continues as the model and inspiration for contemporary
world science and also, in this strife-torn era, for the human species
as a whole;
Whereas the IGY was conceived as a follow-on to the International Polar Year of
1932 that would reflect new and more globally comprehensive research and
measurement techniques in geophysics; and whereas in like-minded spirit
it would be appropriate for an IGY-2 to reflect global developments in
biology, genetics, the neurosciences, and other areas of scientific
research;
Whereas it also would be appropriate for an IGY-2 to recognize interdisciplinary
research that incorporates the physical and social sciences and the
humanities in enriching understanding of diverse life on Earth;
Whereas the 35th anniversary of the IGY was commemorated by the International
Space Year, a globally implemented congressional initiative conceived by
the late Senator Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii, that was highlighted by
globally coordinated environmental monitoring and research whose ongoing
legacy continues to benefit humanity; and
Whereas it is entirely fitting that Congress takes the lead again, in the same
spirit, in promoting global cooperation through worldwide commemoration
of the IGY with activities reflecting the unity and diversity of life on
Earth: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that the President should--
(1) endorse the concept of a worldwide IGY-2 for the 2007-
2008 timeframe;
(2) direct the Director of the National Science Foundation
and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, in association with the National Academy of
Sciences and other relevant governmental and nongovernmental
organizations, to initiate interagency and international
inquiries and discussions that explore the opportunities for a
worldwide IGY-2 in the 2007-2008 timeframe, emphasizing
activities dedicated to global environmental research,
education, and protection; and
(3) submit to Congress at the earliest practical date, but
no later than 6 months after the date of adoption of this
resolution, a report detailing the steps taken in carrying out
paragraphs (1) and (2),
including descriptions of possible activities and
organizational structures for an IGY-2 in 2007-2008.
Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2004.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.