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 Inter-
national 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 concur-
ring), That the Congress— 
(1) honors the 50th anniversary of the International Geo-
physical Year (IGY) and its contributions to the scientific inves-
tigations 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.