During the 1970s, McCloskey led the Club's legislative activity—preserving Alaskan lands and eastern wilderness areas, and supporting the new environmental agenda: the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, the Clean Air Act amendments, and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, passed during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.
20世纪70年代，麦克洛斯基领导了俱乐部的立法行动——保护阿拉斯加州的土地和东部荒野地区，和支持有关环境的新议程：1976年的有毒物质控制法（英语：Toxic Substances Control Act）、空气洁净法（英语：Clean Air Act）修正案，以及1977年在吉米·卡特总统任内通过的露天采矿控制和恢复法案（英语：Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act）。