110 HCON 284 IH: Encouraging the President to proclaim 2008 U.S. House of Representatives 2008-01-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 284 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 29, 2008 Mr. Akin (for himself and Mr. Cleaver) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Encouraging the President to proclaim 2008 as The National Year of the Bible.

Whereas the Bible has had a profound impact in shaping America into a great nation; Whereas deep religious beliefs stemming from the Old and New Testament of the Bible have 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 many of our Presidents have recognized the importance of God and the Bible, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, FDR, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and especially Ronald Reagan, who declared 1983 as The National Year of the Bible; Whereas shared Biblical beliefs unified the colonists and gave our early leaders the wisdom to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, both of which recognized the inherent 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 which gave men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the courage to lead the Civil Rights Movement; Whereas the Bible has been the world’s best selling book since it was 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 especially moral philosophy; Whereas the Bible, used as a moral guide, has inspired compassion, love for our neighbor, and the preciousness of life and marriage, and has stimulated many benevolent, faith-based and community initiatives which have healed and blessed our families, communities, and our entire Nation, especially in times of crises and tragedies; Whereas the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have unified Americans, commemorated through shared celebrations such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and Memorial Day, as well as Labor Day and Presidents Day; and Whereas 2008 is an appropriate year to name The National Year of the Bible since it is the 25th anniversary of the 1983 Year of the Bible: Now, therefore, be it

That the President is encouraged— (1)to designate an appropriate year as The National Year of the Bible; and (2)to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scriptures which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of self government, as well as its rich spiritual heritage, and which has unified, healed, and strengthened its people for over 200 years.