III 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 51 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
OCTOBER 1, 2009 
Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 
Antarctic Treaty. 
Whereas the Antarctic Treaty was signed by 12 nations in 
Washington, DC, on December 1, 1959, ‘‘with the inter-
ests of science and the progress of all mankind’’; 
Whereas the Antarctic Treaty was established to continue 
and develop international ‘‘cooperation on the basis of 
freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica as ap-
plied during the International Geophysical Year’’; 
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Whereas the Antarctic Treaty came into force on June 23, 
1961, after its unanimous ratification by the seven coun-
tries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, 
Norway, and the United Kingdom) with territorial claims 
in the region and five other countries (Belgium, Japan, 
South Africa, the Soviet Union, and the United States), 
which had collaborated in Antarctic research activities 
during the International Geophysical Year from July 1, 
1957, through December 31, 1958; 
Whereas the Antarctic Treaty now has 47 nations as signato-
ries that together represent nearly 90 percent of human-
ity; 
Whereas Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty states that ‘‘no 
acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is 
in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting 
or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarc-
tica’’; 
Whereas the 14 articles of the Antarctic Treaty have pro-
vided a lasting foundation for maintaining the region 
south of 60 degrees south latitude, nearly 10 percent of 
the Earth’s surface, ‘‘for peaceful purposes only’’; 
Whereas the Antarctic Treaty prohibits ‘‘any measure of a 
military nature’’; 
Whereas the Antarctic Treaty has promoted international nu-
clear cooperation by prohibiting ‘‘any nuclear explosions 
in Antarctica and the disposal there of radioactive waste 
material’’; 
Whereas the Antarctic Treaty provides a framework for the 
signatories to continue to meet ‘‘for the purpose of ex-
changing information, consulting together on matters of 
common interest pertaining to Antarctica, and formu-
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lating and considering, and recommending to their Gov-
ernments, measures in furtherance of the principles and 
objectives of the Treaty’’; 
Whereas common interests among the Antarctic Treaty na-
tions facilitated the development and ratification of the 
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Liv-
ing Resources; 
Whereas the international cooperation represented by the 
Antarctic Treaty offers humankind a precedent for the 
peaceful governance of international spaces; 
Whereas in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Inter-
national Geophysical Year, the Antarctic Treaty Parties 
in their Edinburgh Declaration recognized the current 
International Polar Year for its contributions to science 
worldwide and to international cooperation; and 
Whereas the International Polar Year program has endorsed 
the Antarctic Treaty Summit that will convene in Wash-
ington, DC, at the Smithsonian Institution on the 50th 
anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) recognizes that the Antarctic Treaty has 
greatly contributed to science and science coopera-
tion worldwide and successfully ensured the ‘‘use of 
Antarctica for peaceful purposes only and the con-
tinuance of international harmony’’ for the past half 
century; and 
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(2) encourages international and interdiscipli-
nary collaboration in the Antarctic Treaty Summit 
to identify lessons from 50 years of international co-
operation under the Antarctic Treaty that have leg-
acy value for humankind. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 30, 
2009. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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