III 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 255 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
APRIL 22, 2010 
Received 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and 
honoring the founder of Earth Day, the late Senator 
Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson, former United States Senator from 
Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading environ-
mentalists of the 20th Century who helped launch an 
international era of environmental awareness and activ-
ism; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson grew up in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, 
and rose to national prominence while exemplifying the 
progressive values instilled in him; 
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HCON 255 RDS 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson served with distinction in the Wis-
consin State Senate from 1949 to 1959, as Governor of 
the State of Wisconsin from 1959 to 1963, and in the 
United States Senate from 1963 to 1981; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day, which was first 
celebrated on April 22, 1970, by 20 million people across 
the United States, making the celebration the largest en-
vironmental grassroots event in history at that time; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson called on Americans to hold their 
elected officials accountable for protecting their health 
and the natural environment on that first Earth Day, an 
action which launched the Environmental Decade, an un-
paralleled period of legislative and grassroots activity that 
resulted in passage of 28 major pieces of environmental 
legislation from 1970 to 1980, including the Clean Air 
Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Environ-
mental Education Act; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson was responsible for legislation that 
created the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the 
St. Croix Wild and Scenic Riverway and protected other 
important Wisconsin and national treasures; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson sponsored legislation to ban 
phosphates in household detergents and to ban the use 
of 
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane 
(DDT), 
and 
he 
worked tirelessly to ensure clean water and clean air for 
all Americans; 
Whereas in addition to his environmental leadership, Gaylord 
Nelson fought for civil rights, enlisted for the War on 
Poverty, challenged drug companies and tire manufactur-
ers to protect consumers, and stood up to Senator Joe 
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HCON 255 RDS 
McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Com-
mittee to defend and protect civil liberties; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson was a patriot, who as a young sol-
dier honorably served 46 months in the Armed Forces 
during World War II, and then, as Senator, worked to 
ban the use of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange; 
Whereas, in 1995, Gaylord Nelson was awarded the highest 
honor accorded civilians in the United States, the Presi-
dential Medal of Freedom; 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson’s legacy includes generations of 
Americans who have grown up with an environmental 
ethic and an appreciation and understanding of their 
roles as stewards of the environment and the planet; and 
Whereas Gaylord Nelson was an extraordinary statesman, 
public servant, environmentalist, husband, father, and 
friend, and who never let disagreement on the issues be-
come personal or partisan: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress commemorates the 40th anni-
versary of Earth Day and honors the founder of Earth 
Day, the late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 21, 2010. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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