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III
116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. RES. 593
To recognize the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the leadership of its
founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY 20, 2020
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. SMITH, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr.
BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN,
Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. UDALL, Ms. ROSEN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. CAR-
PER, Mr. COONS, Mr. DURBIN, and Ms. HARRIS) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
RESOLUTION
To recognize the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the
leadership of its founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson.
Whereas Earth Day is observed annually around the world to
demonstrate support for preserving, protecting, and de-
fending the environment, the planet, and the inhabitants
of the planet;
Whereas Senator Gaylord Nelson, a native of Clear Lake,
Wisconsin—
(1) established Earth Day as an event and move-
ment led by young people;
(2) is recognized as one of the leading environ-
mentalists of the 20th century; and
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•SRES 593 IS
(3) received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for
his public leadership;
Whereas the Earth Day movement established by Senator
Gaylord Nelson helped launch an era of international en-
vironmental awareness and activism;
Whereas ongoing environmental degradation and accelerating
climate change threaten the well-being and livelihoods of
the individuals of the United States and individuals
around the world;
Whereas pollution, environmental degradation, and the cli-
mate crisis are generational justice issues that dispropor-
tionately impact young individuals and future genera-
tions, who will have to live with—
(1) the health consequences of toxic pollution;
(2) the economic consequences of depleted resources;
and
(3) the moral and political consequences of a grow-
ing world population that is vulnerable to extreme weath-
er, famine, and other stressors exacerbated by climate
change;
Whereas multiple national and international scientific reports
have concluded that the climate crisis is an urgent threat
to the planet and all life on the planet that requires ur-
gent action;
Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution,
there are 74,000,000 children and youth under 18 years
of age in the United States;
Whereas young individuals were critical in the organization
and mobilization of 20,000,000 individuals on the first
Earth Day in 1970, making that celebration the largest
environmental grassroots event in history at that time;
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Whereas the first Earth Day spurred broad support for envi-
ronmental conservation and contributed to the creation of
the Environmental Protection Agency and the enactment
of bipartisan bedrock Federal environmental protections,
including the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et
seq.), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
Whereas the United States has experienced a youth-led resur-
gence in environmental and climate activism that has led
to hundreds of thousands of individuals in the United
States demanding climate action;
Whereas low-income communities and communities of color
continue to face disproportionate harm from climate
change, pollution, and environmental degradation; and
Whereas the mission and purpose of Earth Day remains rel-
evant in 2020 for a new generation to face environmental
challenges that lie ahead: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
1
(1) recognizes April 22, 2020, as the 50th anni-
2
versary of Earth Day; and
3
(2) commends the leadership and vision of the
4
founder of Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson.
5
Æ
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