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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 76 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

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

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

          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

    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.
```