Designating the week beginning October 25, 1992, as "World Population Awareness Week".
PL 102-505 (H.J.Res.458), enacted 10/24/1992

106 STAT. 3278 
PUBLIC LAW 102-505—OCT. 24, 1992 
Public Law 102-505 
102d Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Oct. 24, 1992 
Designating the week beginning October 25, 1992, as "World Population Awareness 
[H.J. Res. 458] 
Week". 
Whereas in 1992 the population of the world exceeds 5,000,000,000 
persons and is growing at an unprecedented rate of approximately 
90,000,000 persons per year; 
Whereas virtually all of this growth is occurring in the poorest 
countries, those countries least able to provide even basic services 
for their current citizens; 
Whereas the demands of growing populations have contributed 
substantially to enormous environmental devastation and pose 
threats of even greater harm to the world; 
Whereas one-half of the 10,000,000 infant deaths and one-quarter 
of the 500,000 maternal deaths that occiir each year in the 
developing world could be prevented if volimtary child spacing 
and maternal health programs could be substantially expanded; 
Whereas research reveals that one-half of the women of reproductive 
age in the developing world want to limit the size of their families 
but lack the means or ability to gain access to family planning; 
Whereas for more than 20 years the global commimity has recog-
nized that it is a fimdamental human right for people to volim-
tarily and responsibly determine the number and spacing of their 
children and the United States has been a leading advocate 
of this right; 
Whereas the demands of growing populations force many countries 
to borrow heavily and sell off their natural resources to cover 
the interest on their debt; 
Whereas selling off natural resources in these circumstances often 
causes irretrievable losses, such as the destruction of the tropical 
rain forests at a rate of 50,000 acres per day; 
Whereas the reliance of a rapidly growing world population on 
burning fuels is a critical factor in the emission of carbon dioxide 
into the atmosphere, which many scientists believe has already 
catalyzed a warming of the Earth's climate; 
Whereas pollution is damaging the ozone layer to such an extent 
that within 40 years the ultraviolet light reaching our planet 
is expected to be up to 20 percent greater than it is today; 
and 
Whereas in 1990 and 1991 the Congress designated and President 
Bush proclaimed "World Population Awareness Week" nationally, 
and in 1991 37 State Governors proclaimed such week in their 
States, to call attention to the consequences of rapid population 
growth: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That the week 
PUBLIC LAW 102-505—OCT. 24, 1992 
106 STAT. 3279 
beginning October 25, 1992, is designated as "World Population 
Awareness Week", and the President is authorized and requested 
to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United 
States to observe such week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, 
and activities. 
Approved October 24, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 458: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
Oct. 5, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 8, considered and passed Senate.