Expressing support for honoring the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and for other purposes.

Whereas Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970; Whereas April 22, 2020, will be the 50th anniversary of Earth Day; Whereas the late Senator Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day, called on the people of the United States to hold elected officials accountable for failing to adequately protect the health of people and the natural environment; Whereas former Congressman Pete McCloskey served as co-chair and Denis Hayes served as national coordinator of the first Earth Day celebration; Whereas after witnessing years of environmental neglect, millions of Americans of all ages, walks of life, and political affiliations gathered in cities across the Nation on the first Earth Day to demand basic protections for our planet and to commit to leaving behind a healthier world for the next generation; Whereas Earth Day united people who had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage and toxic dumps, the loss of wildlife, and other environmental ills; Whereas that work continues today; Whereas Earth Day is an annual event created to promote environmental citizenship and action year-round; Whereas the first celebration of Earth Day was the largest environmental grassroots event ever held at that time and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement; Whereas the voices of inaugural Earth Day participants galvanized an unparalleled period of legislative and grassroots activity that changed the way we interact with the environment, leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and passage of legislation such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act; Whereas, by 1990, Earth Day was celebrated globally, with 200,000,000 people in 141 countries participating in Earth Day events; Whereas, on April 22, 2016, the 46th anniversary of Earth Day, 175 world leaders signed the Paris Agreement, a landmark international agreement to combat climate change and accelerate actions and investment in a sustainable, clean energy future; Whereas the 50th anniversary of Earth Day will be marked by tens of thousands of engagement events in every country across the world; Whereas Earth Day fosters environmental activism and stewardship around the world, and encourages people to find ways to protect the environment, including managing their own environmental impact; Whereas on Earth Day, people engage in projects, initiatives, and campaigns to protect and restore the planet including planting trees, removing litter, cleaning up coral reefs, conserving water and energy, and other environmentally responsible actions; Whereas in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Earth Challenge 2020 was launched, a global citizen science initiative to demonstrate how small acts of science can add up to global change; Whereas new and continuing challenges, including climate change, pollution, sea level rise, and loss of forests, wetlands, and other wildlife habitats, reinforce the need for adequate protections for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we inhabit, and the animals we live alongside; Whereas there is scientific consensus that climate change poses a dire threat to our planet and its inhabitants, and that urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to mitigate its worst effects; Whereas Earth Day reaffirms our national responsibility in the global effort to combat climate change and protect our planet for all; Whereas Earth Day encourages us to acknowledge the prevalence of environmental injustices that directly affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the country, and affirms our commitment to ameliorating existing environmental injustices, and to preventing future injustices; Whereas Earth Day reminds us of the need to expand environmental and climate literacy not only to strengthen environmental and climate protections but also to accelerate development of green technologies and creation of green jobs that will benefit all communities; and Whereas Earth Day reminds us we must not pass a world beyond repair to our children: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and urges the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the anniversary of Earth Day, consistent with the practice of the previous administration; (2) encourages the American people to mark Earth Day by working to address environmental challenges large and small, from climate change to litter; to educate their friends, neighbors, and elected representatives about the need for year-round action; and to otherwise honor the stewardship ethic for which Senator Gaylord Nelson stood; (3) urges governments and peoples around the world to continue building upon the Paris Agreement and other efforts to ensure that future generations inherit a livable, sustainable, and ecologically rich planet Earth; and (4) reaffirms that immediate action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect our planet, public health, and overall well-being of all people and wildlife.

Summary: This resolution recognizes the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and addresses environmental challenges. It urges (1) the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the anniversary; and (2) governments and people to continue building upon the Paris Agreement and other efforts to ensure that future generations inherit a livable, sustainable, and ecologically rich planet. The resolution reaffirms that immediate action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect our planet, public health, and overall well-being of all people and wildlife. In addition, it encourages the American people to mark Earth Day by working to address environmental challenges, educate others about the need for year-round action, and honor the stewardship ethic for which Senator Gaylord Nelson stood.