[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 593 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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

    (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;
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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes April 22, 2020, as the 50th anniversary of 
        Earth Day; and
            (2) commends the leadership and vision of the founder of 
        Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson.
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