[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H1413-H1414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR (IGY) 
 AND SUPPORTING AN INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR-2 (IGY-2) IN 2007-08

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 189) celebrating the 50th 
anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and supporting 
an International Geophysical Year-2 (IGY-2) in 2007-08, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 189

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Bonner) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bonner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 189, the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alabama?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H. Con. Res. 189 which 
recognizes the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year 
(IGY). I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) as well as the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for leading Congress in the 
celebration of this important anniversary and milestone.
  The IGY, spanning 1957 through 1958, was an internationally 
coordinated effort to observe and collect data about Earth science. 
More than 60,000 scientists from 67 countries participated in IGY. 
Their efforts had a far-reaching effect on a variety of scientific 
disciplines. IGY scientists paid particular attention to Antarctica, 
representing the first and only time an entire continent was set aside 
for cooperative research. That designation continues to this day and 
was formalized with the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, which currently has 
45 signatory countries.
  Also, research to develop rockets and satellites for IGY, atmospheric 
studies laid the technical foundations for the U.S. space program. 
Modern-day weather and natural-disaster forecasting, including El Nino 
forecasting and volcanic eruption predictions, are a direct result of 
IGY research.
  Yet many questions remain about the complex interactions of the 
ocean, land and atmosphere; and today there are more advanced tools 
scientists can use as they search for answers to these questions. H. 
Con. Res. 189 calls on the National Science Foundation and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration to pursue plans for a second 
International Geophysical Year in 2007 and 2008. This will provide an 
opportunity for today's Earth scientists to focus their efforts and to 
inspire the next generation of scientists.
  This resolution does not authorize any new money. It simply expresses 
the sense of Congress about celebrating the anniversary of the first 
IGY and endorsing the idea of a second IGY. I urge my colleagues to 
support this timely and important resolution and thank my colleagues on 
the Committee on Science for bringing this matter before us today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as its author, I obviously support passage of this 
concurrent resolution. I am pleased to be here today with the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Bonner) to discuss what the gentleman has just 
acknowledged is an important resolution. I also want to extend my 
thanks to the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) and the 
ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), for making 
it possible for the House to consider H. Con. Res. 189 today. I am also 
grateful to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards, for his 
support of the resolution.
  Last year, I introduced this resolution calling for a worldwide 
program of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary for the most 
successful global scientific endeavor in human history, the 
International Geophysical Year of 1957 and 1958. It is hard to imagine 
not commemorating the historic global undertaking that was the historic 
International Geophysical Year, popularly remembered as the IGY.
  The 60 nations and 60,000 scientists who participated in the IGY left 
an ongoing legacy that is beyond measure. Satellite communications, 
modern weather forecasting, modern natural-disaster prediction and 
management,

[[Page H1414]]

from volcanic eruptions to El Nino, they are legacies of IGY scientific 
activities that spanned the globe and breached the space frontier.
  In a broader context, the IGY marked the coming of age of 
international science. Globally coordinated activities which save 
millions of lives today, such as the campaigns to contain and find 
cures for SARS and AIDS, owe their working model to the scientists from 
throughout the world who banded together to implement the IGY.
  My resolution calls for an IGY-2 that would be even more extensive in 
its global reach and more comprehensive in its research and 
applications. After all, the frontiers of science are continually 
expanding. The biological sciences, genetics, computer sciences, and 
the neurosciences, among others, have made tremendous advances 
worldwide during the half century since the IGY.
  IGY-2 would not only promote research, but it would also provide a 
stage for showcasing the new scientific developments and a forum for 
presentation and discussion of their continually unfolding 
significance. It is entirely fitting that the United States take the 
lead in launching an IGY-2 and that Congress, and particularly the 
House, provide the impetus.
  In 1985, to mark the 35th anniversary of the IGY, Congress passed a 
resolution authored by Senator Spark Matsunaga calling for a year of 
globally coordinated space activity. At President Reagan's direction, 
the U.S. led a worldwide planning effort that culminated in the 
implementation of an International Space Year in 1992, which made major 
scientific contributions, notably in the field of global environmental 
monitoring.
  So we have both scientific and congressional precedent for the U.S. 
to take the lead internationally in calling for an IGY-2. I join my 
colleagues along with the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bonner) to join 
me in promoting this initiative in support of modern science and 
international scientific cooperation. I urge adoption of this 
resolution.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 189.
  The first International Geophysical was held from July 1957 to 
December 1958. It was modeled after the successful International Polar 
Year of 1882 and its 50th anniversary in 1932. The International 
Geophysical Year allowed over 60,000 scientists from 67 countries 
around the world to take part in a series of coordinated observations 
of various geophysical phenomena.
  I remember it well because I was reading about the IGY that sparked 
my interest in science and set me toward a career in physics that I 
pursued before coming to Congress.
  The scientific activities spanned the globe from the North to the 
South Poles. In particular, the research in the Antarctic yielded new 
estimates of the Earth's total ice content--a number of extreme 
importance given today's melting of major glaciers due to global 
warming. In addition, instruments to record cosmic rays, spectroscopes 
to analyze the signals, and balloons were put to use to explore the 
upper reaches of the atmosphere. Finally, post-World War II 
developments in rocketry made possible the exploration of space 
employing what was then the exciting new technology of artificial 
scientific satellites with the launching of Sputnik and Vanguard.
  Because 2007 will be the 50th anniversary of this most exciting 
worldwide scientific undertaking, I wholeheartedly support H. Con. Res 
189 for celebrating 2007 as the International Geophysical Year--2 and 
recommend that Congress, as in 1957, promote world-wide cooperation in 
the commemoration of the International Geophysical Year--2 with 
scientific activities so that we humans can better understand our 
environment and our place in the universe.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased that we are considering 
this resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International 
Geophysical Year (IGY), and I thank my colleague from Colorado, Mr. 
Udall, for his work in recognizing this important anniversary. I 
distinctly remember the first IGY. I was a graduate student in physics 
at that time. There was much excitement around this coordinated 
research effort, which led to discoveries with far-reaching impacts on 
every field of earth sciences. For example, research on making rockets 
and satellites to better understand weather was a factor in building 
the technological foundation for the U.S. space program.
  As often happens with scientific research, the more we learn, the 
more questions we develop. Much of the first IGY research focused on 
Antarctica, setting aside an entire continent for cooperative 
scientific research. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty formalized this 
arrangement by designating Antarctica for scientific investigation ``as 
applied during the International Geophysical Year.'' I am pleased that 
this resolution continues that spirit of scientific discovery by 
directing the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration to pursue plans for a second International 
Geophysical Year in 2007-08. A second IGY will inspire the next 
generation of earth scientists to work collaboratively and across 
international borders to study the most pressing Earth science 
questions.
  I urge my colleagues to support this timely and important resolution.
  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. Udall for once 
again showing leadership on an important environmental issue. 
Additionally, I want to thank Chairman Boehlert for moving this 
resolution to the floor so quickly.
  The resolution properly commemorates the magnificent achievements of 
the International Geophysical Year. A new IGY will be good for the 
environment. It will also be very healthy for our standing as a nation 
to take the leadership role in developing a new IGY for the 21st 
century.
  The IGY was conceived and promoted by the United States and has been 
one of the largest cooperative international scientific endeavors 
undertaken. IGY cooperation continues to be a model and inspiration for 
contemporary world science.
  In a similar spirit, it is appropriate for an IGY-2 to reflect global 
developments in biology, genetics, the neurosciences, and other areas 
of scientific research and recognize the interdisciplinary research 
that incorporates the physical and social sciences and the humanities 
in enriching an understanding of diverse life on earth. Therefore, it 
is entirely fitting that Congress take the lead again, in the same 
spirit, in promoting global cooperation through the worldwide 
commemoration of the IGY.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bonner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 189, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.




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