III 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 189
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 25, 2004
Received and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International Geo-
physical Year (IGY) and supporting an International 
Geophysical Year-2 (IGY–2) in 2007–08.
Whereas the year 2007 is the 50th anniversary of the IGY 
of 1957–58; 
Whereas the IGY, conceived in and promoted by the United 
States, was the largest cooperative international scientific 
endeavor undertaken to that date, involving more than 
60,000 scientists from 66 nations;
HCON 189 RFS 
Whereas the IGY legacy includes the dedication of an entire 
continent to cooperative scientific study through the Ant-
arctica Treaty and the inauguration of the global space 
age through the launching of Sputnik and Vanguard; 
Whereas IGY cooperation continues as the model and inspira-
tion for contemporary world science and also, in this 
strife-torn era, for the human species as a whole; 
Whereas the IGY was conceived as a follow-on to the Inter-
national Polar Year of 1932 that would reflect new and 
more globally comprehensive research and measurement 
techniques in geophysics; and whereas in like-minded 
spirit it would be appropriate for an IGY–2 to reflect 
global developments in biology, genetics, the neuro-
sciences, and other areas of scientific research; 
Whereas it also would be appropriate for an IGY–2 to recog-
nize interdisciplinary research that incorporates the phys-
ical and social sciences and the humanities in enriching 
understanding of diverse life on Earth; 
Whereas the 35th anniversary of the IGY was commemorated 
by the International Space Year, a globally implemented 
congressional initiative conceived by the late Senator 
Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii, that was highlighted by 
globally coordinated environmental monitoring and re-
search whose ongoing legacy continues to benefit human-
ity; and 
Whereas it is entirely fitting that Congress takes the lead 
again, in the same spirit, in promoting global cooperation 
through worldwide commemoration of the IGY with ac-
tivities reflecting the unity and diversity of life on Earth: 
Now, therefore, be it
HCON 189 RFS 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
President should—
(1) endorse the concept of a worldwide IGY–2 
for the 2007–2008 timeframe; 
(2) direct the Director of the National Science 
Foundation and the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, in associa-
tion with the National Academy of Sciences and 
other relevant governmental and nongovernmental 
organizations, to initiate interagency and inter-
national inquiries and discussions that explore the 
opportunities for a worldwide IGY–2 in the 2007–
2008 timeframe, emphasizing activities dedicated to 
global environmental research, education, and pro-
tection; and 
(3) submit to Congress at the earliest practical 
date, but no later than 6 months after the date of 
adoption of this resolution, a report detailing the 
steps taken in carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2),
HCON 189 RFS 
including descriptions of possible activities and orga-
nizational structures for an IGY–2 in 2007–2008.
Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 
2004. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.