[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE MILLENNIUM ACT OF 1996

                                 ______


                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1996

  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Millennium Act of 
1996 along with my colleagues, Representatives Moran, Bateman, Pickett, 
Scott, Sisisky, L.F. Payne, Boucher, Wolf, Gejdenson, Frost, Wilson, 
Moorhead, Fazio, Bereuter, Roemer, Manton, Montgomery, Lantos, Stearns, 
Costello, Conyers, Durbin, Markey, D. Young, Whitfield, and Bilirakis.
  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 a new millennium. As the new millennium nears, this bill 
hopes to focus our attention on the achievements of the past 1,000 
years and help 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 successfully to organize a 
global celebration and commemoration of humankind's achievements during 
this millennium and to endow a crosscultural 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 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 will go to the Millennium Scholars Program. The organizers 
hope that this designation can operate much like the U.S. Olympic 
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 
numismatic operation and program costs allocable 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 will not begin 
until July 1999. Further, through its own fundraising efforts, the 
Millennium Society will match the funds received through commemorative 
coin sales for its scholarship program.
  The third title 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.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues 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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