PRINTER'S NO. 2983

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 535 Session of 2012

INTRODUCED BY SACCONE, DENLINGER, STERN, AUMENT, BAKER, BLOOM, BROOKS, ELLIS, EMRICK, FLECK, GILLEN, GROVE, HAHN, HENNESSEY, HESS, KAUFFMAN, F. KELLER, KILLION, KRIEGER, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MALONEY, MARSHALL, MILLARD, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, PAYNE, PAYTON, RAPP, READSHAW, REESE, ROCK, SIMMONS, SONNEY, STEVENSON, SWANGER AND TALLMAN, JANUARY 23, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 23, 2012

A RESOLUTION

1 Declaring 2012 as the "Year of the Bible" in Pennsylvania.

2 WHEREAS, The Bible, the word of God, has made a unique

3 contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and

4 blessed nation and people; and

5 WHEREAS, Deeply held religious convictions springing from the

6 holy scriptures led to the early settlement of our country; and

7 WHEREAS, Biblical teachings inspired concepts of civil

8 government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence

9 and the Constitution of the United States; and

10 WHEREAS, Many of our great national leaders, among them

11 President Washington, President Jackson, President Lincoln,

12 President Wilson and President Reagan, paid tribute to the

13 influence of the Bible in our country's development, as

14 exemplified by the words of President Jackson that the Bible is

15 "the rock on which our Republic rests"; and

- 1 -

1 WHEREAS, The history of our country clearly illustrates the

2 value of voluntarily applying the teachings of the scriptures in

3 the lives of individuals, families and societies; and

4 WHEREAS, This nation now faces great challenges that will

5 test it as it has never been tested before; and

6 WHEREAS, Renewing our knowledge of and faith in God through

7 holy scripture can strengthen us as a nation and a people;

8 therefore be it

9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare 2012 as

10 the "Year of the Bible" in Pennsylvania in recognition of both

11 the formative influence of the Bible on our Commonwealth and

12 nation and our national need to study and apply the teachings of

13 the holy scriptures.