[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 431 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 431

Calling on the President to proclaim 2007 as the ``National Year of the 
                                Bible''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 2006

   Mrs. Musgrave (for herself and Mr. Rush) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Calling on the President to proclaim 2007 as the ``National Year of the 
                                Bible''.

Whereas 2007 is the 275th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, the 
        father and first President of our great Nation and for whom the Bible 
        was a primary inspiration for his life, as is manifested in the many 
        direct Biblical references and Biblical allusions in his writings and 
        speeches;
Whereas 2007 is the 225th anniversary of the Aitken Bible, the first English 
        Bible printed in America;
Whereas 2007 is the 225th anniversary of the creation of the Great Seal of the 
        United States, a ``coat of arms'' whose Biblical imagery was considered 
        by the founders to represent the beliefs and values of an independent 
        nation and a free people with grand aspirations for the future;
Whereas 2007 is the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in England, a 
        cause which was largely driven by William Wilberforce who drew his 
        inspiration from scripture and who played a major role in the creation 
        of the first British Bible Society;
Whereas 2007 is the 175th anniversary of the founding of the New England Anti-
        Slavery Society, similarly inspired by Biblical principles;
Whereas the Bible has had a profound impact in shaping America into a great 
        nation;
Whereas many of our Presidents have recognized the importance of God and the 
        Bible, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald 
        Reagan who declared 1983 the ``National Year of the Bible'';
Whereas the Bible has inspired Americans from all walks of life, especially the 
        early settlers whose faith, spiritual courage, and moral strength 
        enabled them to endure intense hardships in this new land;
Whereas shared Biblical beliefs unified the colonists and gave our Founding 
        Fathers the wisdom to write the Declaration of Independence and the 
        Constitution of the United States, both of which recognized the inherent 
        divine worth, dignity, and inalienable rights of each individual, thus 
        unifying a diverse people with the right to vote and the freedoms of 
        speech and religion;
Whereas the Bible has been the world's best-selling book since first published 
        in English in 1526 and has influenced more people than any other book;
Whereas the Bible has been a cornerstone in the development of Western 
        civilization, influencing the nations in the areas of history, legal and 
        political systems, culture, music, literature, art, drama, and moral 
        philosophy;
Whereas the Bible was the primary inspiration for the work of Rev. Dr. Martin 
        Luther King, Jr., in advancing the civil rights movement in the United 
        States, as evidenced by many biblical references in his speeches and 
        writings; and
Whereas the Bible, used as a moral compass, has inspired compassion, love for 
        one's neighbor, and the sanctity of life and marriage, and has 
        stimulated many benevolent initiatives that have healed and strengthened 
        our families, communities and the entire nation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
Thatthe Congress calls upon the President to issue a proclamation--
            (1) designating the ``National Year of the Bible'';
            (2) calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and 
        apply the priceless and timeless message of the Bible; and
            (3) encouraging the people of the United States to join the 
        President and the Congress in observance of this year of 
        national celebration of the Bible with appropriate programs, 
        ceremonies, and activities.
                                 <all>