IV 

★

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 121 

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as ‘‘The National Year of 

the Bible’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 7, 2009 

Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. FORBES, Mr. 

PENCE, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. JORDAN

of Ohio, Mr. WAMP, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. 

CARTER, Mr. AKIN, and Mr. MCCOTTER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 

Government Reform 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 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; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; John F. 


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HCON 121 IH1S 

Kennedy; Ronald Reagan, who declared 1983 as ‘‘The 

National Year of the Bible’’; and especially Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th Birthday Celebration in 2009 highlighted freedom for the slaves; 

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 vast religious freedoms, which inspired courageous men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 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, law, politics, 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 community initiatives and neighborhood partnerships that have healed and blessed our families, communities, and our entire Nation, especially in times of 

war, tragedy, and economic and social crisis; 

Whereas the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have 

unified Americans, commemorated through shared celebrations such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, PresiVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:06 Jul 08, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC121.IH HC121

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dents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor 

Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; and 

Whereas 2010 is an appropriate year to designate as ‘‘The 

National Year of the Bible’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the President is encouraged— 

3 (1) to designate an appropriate year as ‘‘The 

4 National Year of the Bible’’; and 

5 (2) to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens 

6 of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, 

7 timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has 

8 profoundly influenced and shaped the United States 

9 and its great democratic form of Government, as 

10 well as its rich spiritual heritage, and which has uni11 fied, healed, and strengthened its people for over 

12 200 years. 

Æ 


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