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. CARPER, 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 defending 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 movement led by young people; 

(2) is recognized as one of the leading environmentalists 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 environmental 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 climate crisis are generational justice issues that disproportionately impact young individuals and future generations, 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 growing world population that is vulnerable to extreme weather, 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 urgent 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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•SRES 593 IS 

Whereas the first Earth Day spurred broad support for environmental 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 resurgence 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 relevant in 2020 for a new generation to face environmental 

challenges that lie ahead: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes April 22, 2020, as the 50th anni3 versary of Earth Day; and 

4 (2) commends the leadership and vision of the 

5 founder of Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson. 

Æ 


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