H. Con. Res. 76 Agreed to June 20, 2007 

One Hundred Tenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 

the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven 

Concurrent Resolution 

Whereas the year 2007–2008 is the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957–1958; 

Whereas the IGY initiated the Space Age with the successful launch 

of the first artificial satellites, Sputnik by the former Soviet 

Union, and Explorer I by the United States; 

Whereas the interdisciplinary approach of IGY and the use of 

new space-based platforms enabled fundamental changes in the 

conduct of research concerning the Earth and its surrounding 

space environment; 

Whereas the interdisciplinary approach of IGY enabled coordinated, 

synchronous, global observations and measurements of the Earth, 

oceans, atmosphere, ice, and near-Earth space environment; 

Whereas the IGY increased our understanding of the causes of 

magnetic storms, ionospheric disturbances, and the origins of 

cosmic rays; 

Whereas the use of new space-based platforms enabled the discovery 

of the Van Allen radiation belts, which are trapped, charged 

particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, showed that those 

particles form belts of energy around the Earth, and contributed 

to the understanding of the Northern Lights; 

Whereas the IGY, involved thousands of scientists from 67 nations; 

Whereas the IGY, which occurred during the height of Cold War 

tensions, facilitated international cooperation in science and 

helped lead to the Antarctic Treaty, which established the use 

of Antarctica for peaceful purposes and promoted continued, 

cooperative scientific investigations on the continent; 

Whereas the IGY led to the creation of institutional structures 

that continue to promote and enable the international exchange 

of scientific research related to the Earth and space, including 

the International Council on Science’s Committee on Space 

Research (COSPAR), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research 

(SCAR), and Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR); 

and 

Whereas this 50th anniversary celebration offers as an opportunity 

to inspire our public and youth to build on the legacy of success 

of the IGY, recognizing that a coordinated, international approach 

to interdisciplinary scientific challenges such as climate change, 

high energy physics, and space exploration contributes to the 

advancement of knowledge and sustains the cooperative spirit 

and goodwill among nations set forth in the IGY: Now, therefore, 

be it 
H. Con. Res. 76—2 

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress— 

(1) honors the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and its contributions to the scientific investigations of the Earth and outer space; and 

(2) encourages the public, and especially American youth, 

to attend IGY celebrations and seminars, such as those being 

planned at locations around the United States by the National 

Academy of Sciences and other organizations, and participate 

in discussions about the future of space science and Earth 

science. 

Attest: 

Clerk of the House of Representatives. 

Attest: 

Secretary of the Senate.