[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.