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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 284 Introduced in House (IH)]

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'';
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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the President is encouraged--
            (1) to designate an appropriate year as ``The National Year 
        of the Bible''; and
            (2) to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all 
        faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message 
        of the Holy Scriptures which has profoundly influenced and 
        shaped the United States and its great democratic form of self 
        government, as well as its rich spiritual heritage, and which 
        has unified, healed, and strengthened its people for over 200 
        years.
                                 <all>
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