[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                THE INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR (IGY)

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing a 
resolution to mark the 50th anniversary of the International 
Geophysical Year (IGY), honoring its contributions to space research, 
and looking forward to future accomplishments. I am pleased that 
several of my colleagues from the Science and Technology Committee have 
joined me as original cosponsors and would like to thank Chairman 
Gordon, Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Calvert, and 
Research and Science Education Subcommittee Chairman Baird for their 
support.
  The International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958 was a highly 
successful international effort to coordinate global observations and 
measurements of the solid Earth, oceans, the atmosphere, and the near-
Earth space environment. It was truly a global effort, involving 
thousands of scientists from 67 nations who came together--in the midst 
of the Cold War--to plan and carry out this ambitious cooperative 
scientific initiative.
  As we pause to honor the accomplishments of the IGY, it is worth 
remembering that the IGY marked the dawn of the Space Age. The 
successful launches of the first artificial satellites, Sputnik 1 by 
the former Soviet Union and Explorer 1 by the United States, opened new 
areas of research and enabled one of the most notable achievements of 
the IGY, the discovery of belts of trapped, charged particles in the 
Earth's upper atmosphere by the late Dr. James Van Allen of Iowa.
  Yet the discovery of the Van Allen belts is just one of the 
significant scientific achievements of the IGY. Indeed, scientists 
around the world continue to build on the impressive research legacy 
left to them by their predecessors fifty years ago. Equally 
importantly, the IGY has been a shining example of the benefits of 
international cooperation in scientific endeavors. The coordination of 
global interdisciplinary observations by researchers from multiple 
nations during a time of geopolitical tensions continues to be an 
inspiration and a model for those who recognize the significant 
contributions that can be achieved when nations come together in the 
peaceful pursuit of scientific knowledge.
  I introduced a similar resolution in the 108th Congress, which passed 
the House, to honor the IGY and to encourage the celebration of its 
50th anniversary throughout the country and the globe. This 
commemoration serves to not only remember the great scientific work 
that was done during the IGY, but also to inspire the next generation 
of scientists and engineers, who will be critical to our continued 
progress and economic well being. In that regard, I encourage the 
public and in particular our young people to participate in 
celebrations planned for the IGY anniversary year and to embrace 
challenging goals for future research in Earth and space science, so 
that we will be able to look back, 50 years from now, on equally 
exciting accomplishments and discoveries.
  Madam Speaker, I think that it is fitting that this Congress take the 
time to recognize and honor the fiftieth anniversary of the 
International Geophysical Year, and I hope that this concurrent 
resolution will be speedily adopted by the House.

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