[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S1878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 55--COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
   EARTH DAY AND HONORING THE FOUNDER OF EARTH DAY, THE LATE SENATOR 
                GAYLORD NELSON OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

  Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. Kohl) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 55

       Whereas Gaylord Nelson, former United States Senator from 
     the State of Wisconsin, is recognized as 1 of the leading 
     environmentalists of the 20th century;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson helped launch an international era 
     of environmental awareness and activism;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson grew up in Clear Lake, Wisconsin;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson maintained and exemplified the 
     progressive values of Clear Lake, Wisconsin while rising to 
     national prominence;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson served with distinction--
       (1) as a Senator in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1949 
     through 1959;
       (2) as Governor of the State of Wisconsin from 1959 through 
     1963; and
       (3) as a Senator in the United States Senate from 1963 
     through 1981;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day, which was first 
     celebrated on April 22, 1970, by approximately 20,000,000 
     people across the United States;
       Whereas, at the time, the first celebration of Earth Day 
     was the largest environmental grassroots event ever held;
       Whereas, on the first celebration of Earth Day, Gaylord 
     Nelson called on the people of the United States to hold 
     elected officials accountable for protecting the health of 
     the people of the United States and the natural environment;
       Whereas the first celebration of Earth Day launched the 
     Environmental Decade, an unparalleled period of legislative 
     and grassroots activity that resulted in the passage of 28 
     major pieces of environmental legislation from 1970 through 
     1980, including--
       (1) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.);
       (2) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 
     et seq.); and
       (3) the National Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     5501 et seq.);
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson was responsible for legislation 
     that--
       (1) created the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the 
     St. Croix Wild and Scenic Riverway; and
       (2) protected other important natural treasures of the 
     State of Wisconsin and the United States;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson sponsored legislation to ban 
     phosphates in household detergents and the use of 
     dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT);
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson worked tirelessly to ensure clean 
     water and clean air for all people of the United States;
       Whereas, in addition to providing environmental leadership, 
     Gaylord Nelson--
       (1) fought for civil rights;
       (2) enlisted in the War on Poverty;
       (3) challenged drug companies and tire manufacturers to 
     protect consumers; and
       (4) to defend and protect civil liberties, stood up to 
     Senator Joseph McCarthy, the Un-American Activities Committee 
     of the House of Representatives, and the Nixon 
     Administration;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson was a patriot, who as a young 
     soldier honorably served 46 months in the Armed Forces during 
     World War II;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson, as a Senator, courageously opposed 
     the Vietnam War and worked to ban the use of the toxic 
     defoliant Agent Orange;
       Whereas, in 1995, Gaylord Nelson was awarded the 
     Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor awarded to 
     civilians in the United States;
       Whereas the legacy of Gaylord Nelson has inspired an 
     environmental ethic and an appreciation and understanding of 
     the importance of being good stewards of the environment and 
     the planet in generations of the people of the United States;
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson was an extraordinary statesman, 
     public servant, environmentalist, husband, father, and 
     friend; and
       Whereas Gaylord Nelson never let disagreement on the issues 
     become personal or partisan: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress commemorates the 40th anniversary 
     of Earth Day and honors the founder of Earth Day, the late 
     Senator Gaylord Nelson of the State of Wisconsin.

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