[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5942-S5943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Bennett, 
        Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Burns, Mr. Chafee, Mr. 
        Coats, Mr. Cochran, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Graham, Mr. Heflin, Mrs. 
        Hutchison, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, 
        Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Pell, Mr. Pressler, Mr. 
        Robb, Mr. Simon, and Ms. Snowe):
  S. 1850. A bill to provide for the recognition and designation of the 
official society to administer and coordinate the United States of 
America activities to commemorate and celebrate the achievements of the 
second millennium, and promote even greater achievements in the 
millennium to come by endowing an international cross-cultural 
scholarship fund to further the development and education of the 
world's future leaders; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.


                       the millennium act of 1996

 Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, today I am introducing the 
Millennium Act of 1996 along with my colleagues, Senators Warner, Dodd, 
Bennett, Boxer, Breaux, Burns, Chafee, Coats, D'Amato, Graham, Heflin, 
Hutchison, Jeffords, Kerry, Lieberman, Lott, Moseley-Braun, Murkowski, 
Pell, Pressler, Robb, Simon, Snowe, Bryan, and Cochran.
  This bill is a bipartisan effort to focus the Nation's attention on 
what may become one of the most anticipated events in history--the 
beginning of the new millennium. As the new millennium nears, this bill 
hopes to focus our attention on the achievements of the past 1,000 
years and helps to foster educational opportunities for those who may 
take on leadership responsibilities in the next 1,000 years.
  Since its founding in 1979 by a group of college students from around 
the world, The Millennium Society has worked to organize a global 
celebration and commemoration of humankind's achievements during this 
millennium and to endow a cross-cultural scholarship program to help 
educate future leaders. I believe it is the oldest organization in the 
country formed for the specific purpose of celebrating and 
commemorating the historical significance of the Millennium. The 
Society was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable 
organization in 1984 for the purpose of establishing and administering 
the Millennium Society Scholarship Program.
  The Millennium Society plans to organize and telecast ``Countdown 
2000'' celebrations here and around the world to enable the 
international community to both view and participate in this historic 
moment. The Society hopes that the ``Countdown 2000'' events will raise 
at least $100 million to permanently endow its Millennium Scholars 
Program.
  Unlike the Bicentennial Commission which required Federal funding, 
this bill asks for no Federal funds. Title I of this bill provides the 
Society with the official authorization and designation to administer 
Millennium activities both here and abroad and ensures that charitable 
proceeds go to the Millennium Scholars Program. The organizers hope 
that this designation can operate much like the U.S. Olympic Committee 
trademark. Mr. President, to the best of my knowledge, there are no 
other organizations that are competing for this designation nor have 
any indicated any specific interest in doing so.
  The second title authorizes the minting of commemorative coins. This 
bill incorporates some of the language from the House Commemorative 
Coin reform legislative package, H.R. 2614. Specifically, the 
Millennium Society agrees not to derive any proceeds until all the

[[Page S5943]]

numismatic operation and program costs allowable to the program have 
been recovered by the U.S. Mint. Moreover, it embodies some of the key 
criteria and recommendations of the Citizens Commemorative Coin 
Advisory Commission. The minting of the Millennium coins would not 
begin until July of 1999. Further, through its own fund raising 
efforts, the Millennium Society will match the funds received through 
commemorative coin sales for its scholarship program.
  The third title of the bill expresses the sense of Congress that the 
U.S. Postal Service should consider the issuance of stamps to 
commemorate the close of the second millennium and the advent of the 
third millennium.
  The Millennium Society was established as an international charitable 
organization dedicated to giving students from around the world a 
chance to go on to college and to promote international fellowship and 
understanding among the world's peoples on an unofficial and 
nongovernmental basis.
  I hope other Senators will join us in supporting this legislation to 
both commemorate the coming millennium and help provide scholastic 
funding for its future leaders.
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