[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 255 Received in Senate (RDS)]

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 environmentalists of the 20th Century 
        who helped launch an international era of environmental awareness and 
        activism;
Whereas Gaylord Nelson grew up in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, and rose to national 
        prominence while exemplifying the progressive values instilled in him;
Whereas Gaylord Nelson served with distinction in the Wisconsin 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 environmental 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 unparalleled 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 Environmental 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 manufacturers to protect consumers, and stood up to Senator Joe 
        McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee to defend and 
        protect civil liberties;
Whereas Gaylord Nelson was a patriot, who as a young soldier 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 Presidential 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 become personal or partisan: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress commemorates the 40th anniversary 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.