IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 284 

Encouraging the President to proclaim 2008 as ‘‘The National Year of the 

Bible’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 29, 2008 

Mr. AKIN (for himself and Mr. CLEAVER) submitted the following concurrent 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the President to proclaim 2008 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 

and Abraham Lincoln, FDR, Harry Truman, John F. 

Kennedy, and especially Ronald Reagan, who declared 

1983 as ‘‘The National Year of the Bible’’; 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
2 

•HCON 284 IH 

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 religion which gave men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the courage 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, legal and political systems, 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 and community initiatives which have healed 

and blessed our families, communities, and our entire 

Nation, especially in times of crises and tragedies; 

Whereas the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have 

unified Americans, commemorated through shared celebrations such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 

Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and Memorial Day, as 

well as Labor Day and Presidents Day; and 

Whereas 2008 is an appropriate year to name ‘‘The National 

Year of the Bible’’ since it is the 25th anniversary of the 

1983 Year of the Bible: Now, therefore, be it 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
3 

•HCON 284 IH 

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 Scriptures which has 

8 profoundly influenced and shaped the United States 

9 and its great democratic form of self 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 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS