Senator Fred Harris of Oklahoma

"The President of the United States, I am informed, has proclaimed this year of 1966 to be the Year of the Bible, and I am particularly interested in the extension of that thought, as embodied in this resolution, because of my admiration and respect for the Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., which operates a linguistics institute, among other places, at the University of Oklahoma.

"The ultimate goal of the Wycliffe Bible Translators and its affiliate organizations is to study the...unwritten languages of the world, to provide alphabets and written form, and to translate the Scriptures into these languages.

"The Wycliffe Bible Translators, with its highly skilled and trained scientists and educators—career personnel—is in a position to render unique and welcomed service around the world. Numerous sources have acknowledged the urgently needed and strategic nature of the work, as well as the spiritual impact of the group which has been described as 'a Peace Corps with wings and a soul.'

"Mr. President, I have made special reference to the Wycliffe Bible Translators because of my special and personal knowledge of their work and my friendship with their general director, Mr. W. Cameron Townsend."