A joint resolution designating October 22 through 28, 1989, as "World Population Awareness Week".
PL 101-465 (S.J.Res.158), enacted 10/25/1990

104 STAT. 1082 
PUBLIC LAW 101-465—OCT. 25, 1990 
Public Law 101-465 
101st Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Oct. 25, 1990 
Designating October 21 through October 27, 1990, as "World Population Awareness 
[S.J. Res. 158] 
Week". 
Whereas the population of the world today exceeds five billion and 
is growing at an unprecedented rate of approximately ninety 
million 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 ten million infant deaths and one-quarter of 
the five hundred thousand maternal deaths that occur each year 
in the developing world could be prevented if voluntary child 
spacing and maternal health programs could be substantially 
expanded; 
Whereas research reveals that one-half of the women of reproduc-
tive 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 the global community has for more than twenty years 
recognized that it is a fundamental human right for people to 
voluntarily 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 riiany countries 
to borrow heavily and sell off their natural resources to cover the 
interest on their debt; 
Whereas selling off natural resources in such circumstances often 
causes irretrievable losses, such as the destruction of the tropical 
rain forests at a rate of fifty thousand 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 forty years the ultraviolet light reaching our planet is 
expected to be up to 20 percent greater than it is today; and 
Whereas in 1988, forty State Governors proclaimed "World Popu-
lation Awareness Week" in their States to call attention to the 
consequences of rapid population growth and the House of Rep-
resentatives also passed a resolution to that effect: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That October 21 
through October 27, 1990, is designated as "World Population 
Awareness Week", and the President is authorized and requested to 
49-139 O - 90 (465) 
PUBLIC LAW 101-465—OCT. 25,1990 
104 STAT. 1083 
issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
observe such week with appropriate pn^ams, ceremonies, and 
activities. 
Approved October 25,1990. 
LEGISLATIVE 
fflSTORY—S.J. 
Res. 158: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 135 (1989): Oct. 6, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 136 (1990): Oct. 16, considered and passed House, amended. 
Oct. 17, Senate concurred in House amendments.