[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2749-H2752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 255) commemorating the 40th 
anniversary of Earth Day and honoring the founder of Earth Day, the 
late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 255

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Speier) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 255. This 
measure was introduced by my colleague the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Mr. Obey) on March 19, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous 
consent on April 14 of this year. The measure has the support of 70 
cosponsors.
  Madam Speaker, tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Our 
planet faces serious environmental

[[Page H2750]]

challenges, challenges we must face not just in the coming years but 
now. Right now.
  The effects of the most serious challenge, global climate change, are 
happening today, and if we do not act deliberately now, right now, the 
future consequences for our country and our planet will be grave. I 
encourage everyone working towards this end to continue their efforts, 
and I hope that we in Congress will stand up and demonstrate further 
leadership to address this threat.
  Of course, Earth Day is also a reminder of the other environmental 
challenges we face, such as developing sustainable and renewable 
sources of energy, preserving wildlife and their habitat, protecting 
our water and our air, cleaning up pollution, and so much more. As 
Representatives, I encourage all of us to stand with our constituents 
this week who are lending their time and services to activities to 
clean up our environment. Across the country thousands of events have 
been organized in the cities, in the countryside, along our roadways 
and parks and on our beautiful coast to put words into action.
  One town in my district expects over 5,000 people to dedicate their 
time and effort to clean up the local shoreline, and I will be there, 
and I know that all of my colleagues will be just as fortunate to 
witness similar local efforts in their districts.
  Earth Day is truly about service and it's a great opportunity for 
friends and neighbors to come together on behalf of our planet. The 
relationships we can build with one another as we do this work are 
lasting, and I am confident that they will foster even greater work in 
the years to come.
  Once again, it is incumbent upon us in Congress to transform the work 
our constituents do at the local level into solutions for our country. 
Protecting the environment is the right thing to do, but as we all 
know, it's also a win-win for our economy and for our national 
security.
  We have made great strides on this front since the first Earth Day. 
The 1970s saw the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency 
as well as a series of important environmental laws, including the 
Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water 
Act. But much work still lies ahead, and, unfortunately, some of our 
most important environmental policies have been watered down in recent 
years. No pun intended.
  However, I know that the efforts of millions of people in the United 
States and around the world who support the goals and ideals of Earth 
Day will pay off. I commend them for their work, and I look forward to 
seeing what we in Congress will further do to support them.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
255, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and honoring the 
founder of Earth Day, former Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.
  For the past 40 years, citizens all across the United States have 
come together once a year to celebrate the wonder of planet Earth on 
Earth Day. Every April 22 Americans from all parts of the country, from 
coastal regions to mountainous regions to forested regions and the many 
other incredibly diverse regions of this country, take time to admire 
and enjoy the beauty and splendor of our environment. Earth Day allows 
all people to realize the importance of ensuring that our children and 
grandchildren can continue to enjoy the beauty of the planet for 
generations to come.

                              {time}  1330

  Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin founded Earth Day because of his 
love for our planet and the environment. As Senator Nelson said in a 
speech on Earth Day, ``Earth Day is dramatic evidence of the broad new 
national concern that cuts across generations and ideologies. It may be 
symbolic of a new communication between young and old about values and 
priorities.''
  A veteran of World War II and Governor of Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson 
served in the Senate from 1963 to 1981. During his career in both State 
and national politics, he promoted many environmental causes and worked 
tirelessly to preserve the planet for future generations. In 1995, he 
received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his public service 
throughout his career. Despite his many accomplishments, Earth Day was 
his most important and lasting legacy.
  Just on a personal note, one thing that he advocated, and I think we 
advocate with Earth Day, is to get outside in the environment and enjoy 
what's around us. Last year I did that to the extreme, I think. I was 
dropped off on a little island in the middle of the Pacific. And for a 
week I didn't see another person, I didn't see a plane, I didn't see an 
automobile, I didn't see a boat, I saw nothing. Just a lot of fish and 
hermit crabs and others.
  Mr. KIND. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FLAKE. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. KIND. What the gentleman, my good friend from Arizona, is 
alluding to is his week of isolation on an island in the South Pacific 
all by himself communing and being one with nature. And I think he has 
assured me that I could be his special agent when Hollywood comes 
calling to do the reality TV show of having a Member of Congress 
stranded on some deserted island for a while contemplating the deeper 
thoughts and philosophy of life. So I am ready to go when he is ready 
to go with that Hollywood production.
  Mr. FLAKE. I thank the gentleman for that. I doubt I will need an 
agent or that they will come calling. Contrary to popular belief, this 
was not a metaphor for the fate of congressional Republicans, being 
isolated on an island either.
  But it was a great opportunity, without any outside influences at 
all, to be there and to see nature at its finest.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I am glad the gentleman from Arizona said 
that and not me.
  I now have the pleasure of yielding 5 minutes to the gentleman who is 
the author of this legislation, and a great leader from the State of 
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).
  Mr. OBEY. I thank the gentlewoman for the time.
  Madam Speaker, 41 years ago my friend and mentor, Wisconsin Senator 
Gaylord Nelson, had a surprisingly simple idea. At the time, the 
country was fighting an unpopular and unwinnable war, and students were 
rising up in protest and holding teach-ins on college campuses all over 
the country. Senator Nelson looked around him and realized that those 
teach-ins were an invaluable tool in helping to educate people and 
calling attention to the need to end the war once and for all.
  In 1969, when the Senate contained such environmental giants as Ed 
Muskie, Scoop Jackson, Gaylord Nelson, and Bob Stafford, he gave a 
pivotal speech at the Seattle Science Center. In that speech he 
suggested that just as Americans had been involved in teach-ins to 
protest the Vietnam war, that they should also set aside a day to call 
attention to the environmental problems facing the planet and to demand 
real leadership from public officials on producing solutions. Wire 
services carried the story from coast to coast. And as history shows, 
the response was overwhelmingly positive. Earth Day was born.
  The first Earth Day launched an 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 
alone, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National 
Environmental Quality Education Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 
and others. And Gaylord was at the center of them all.
  Forty years later his legacy endures, and half a billion people in 
180 countries are expected to gather this week to help clean up their 
communities and to demand leadership and real solutions to the very 
real problems facing the planet today, problems like toxic pollution, 
mercury in our air and water, and climate change.
  As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it is fitting that 
we pass this resolution honoring the founding father of that day. When 
he initially set the date for it he was roundly criticized by, of all 
groups, the John Birch Society, because they attacked him for selecting 
the same day that Lenin was

[[Page H2751]]

born. Gaylord pointed out that since there were only 365 days in a 
year, that each day was bound to be the birthday of both good and bad 
people throughout the world. And he pointed out, for instance, that, 
yes, it was the birthday of Lenin, but it was also the birthday of St. 
Francis of Assisi. But he said, ``more importantly, it's also the 
birthday of my Aunt Tilly.''
  Without the leadership of the late Senator Gaylord Nelson, the air we 
breathe would not be as clean, we would not be swimming in lakes and 
rivers as safe as they are today, and we would not be enjoying the 
beauty of public lands that we were able to protect under the laws he 
championed. We are certainly a long way away from perfection on those 
grounds, but we are a whole lot better off than we were when Gaylord 
started the movement. And we would not be holding Earth Day 
celebrations around the globe each April 22nd either.
  Today we honor Gaylord Nelson and celebrate the 40th anniversary of 
Earth Day. No wonder he was awarded the Nation's highest civilian 
honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Clinton in 1995. 
His leadership is still felt today.
  Mr. FLAKE. I continue to reserve my time.
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
  Mr. KIND. I thank my good friend from California for yielding me this 
time.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from California and my friend from 
Arizona for managing this resolution. I proudly rise in support of the 
resolution commemorating not only the 40th anniversary of an important 
day in all of our lives, Earth Day, but especially to pay tribute to 
the father of Earth Day, a political hero of mine as a kid growing up, 
a member of the greatest generation who fought and served during the 
Second World War, a political icon still in the State of Wisconsin and 
throughout the Nation and the rest of the world, former Senator Gaylord 
Nelson.
  I am sure that if young Gaylord was told as a kid growing up in Clear 
Lake, Wisconsin, which is close to my wife's hometown of Cumberland, a 
population of less than 400 people, that he would one day rise and 
become the father of the modern environmental movement and the creator 
of Earth Day, which is celebrated in over 167 Nations throughout the 
globe on April 22nd, he would have thought you were kidding. It's a 
true American success story. He lived the all-American story.
  And he left an important legacy and a reminder to all of us as 
inhabitants on this beautiful, yet very fragile planet of ours, that we 
are mere stewards of the precious resources that the good Lord has saw 
fit to bless us with. And as stewards of those resources, we have a 
special moral and personal responsibility to utilize those resources 
reasonably and sensibly, so we leave a legacy to future generations to 
also be good stewards of this planet.
  I am proud to represent a congressional district in western Wisconsin 
which was actually home to the very first watershed project throughout 
the United States in the Coon Valley area, which became the model of 
what is today the current conservation title of our farm bills. The 
title is based on voluntary and incentive-based land and water 
conservation programs that our farmers are able to utilize in order to 
set up sound land and water management practices on their farms. And it 
has spread nationwide.
  Gaylord Nelson and his wife were the subject of a chapter in Tom 
Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation. Like everyone in this Great 
Generation, he was an ordinary individual who did extraordinary things.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. SPEIER. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
  Mr. KIND. Today I still miss Senator Nelson greatly. As a young 
Member of Congress, I always made a point of calling him in his office 
in Washington at least once a week just to discuss the issues of the 
day, get his feedback on the policy proposals that we were working on 
and seek his guidance.
  I am still a proud member of the Natural Resources Committee. With 
the work I was doing there, I was able to work very closely with 
Gaylord Nelson, trying to enhance his legacy. But he knew, as I hope 
all of us realize, that Earth Day is not an event to be celebrated just 
one day a year, but a mission to practice each and every day throughout 
the year. It is that message especially to the younger generation that 
I think is his greatest legacy, where the Earth Day lessons are being 
taught in schools and school rooms throughout the Nation and throughout 
the world at least on April 22nd, if not more throughout the year.
  I commend the leadership and especially Representative Obey for 
bringing this resolution and encourage my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, in closing, I just want to urge my 
colleagues to support the resolution. It's a great cause. And certainly 
I think we all owe it to our constituents and to the country to 
recognize the stewardship that we have to ensure that we pass on the 
planet as good as we got it or better to future generations.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, today is the 40th 
anniversary of Earth Day, the annual global celebration of the bounty 
and natural wonders of our planet and a reminder of our individual and 
collective obligation to be good stewards of it.
  Managing our natural resources and minimizing the impact of human 
activity on the environment are both profound and fundamental 
responsibilities. The very survival of the human race depends upon our 
ability to effectively fulfill these responsibilities.
  Since April 22, 1970, people have gathered on this day to renew their 
commitment to making our planet greener and healthier, and to encourage 
their leaders to take action on critical environmental policy issues.
  We have made substantial progress since that first Earth Day, when 
twenty million eco-pioneers brought environmental protection to the 
forefront of the national consciousness. Their advocacy gave birth to 
the green movement and a green generation that has been critical in 
shaping our society. The green generation spearheaded community support 
for passage of the laws that we still rely on to improve the quality of 
the air we breathe, ensure the availability of clean drinking water, 
and protect endangered species and fragile ecosystems.
  But this struggle is not over. We continue to face significant 
environmental challenges, and as a nation, we must pursue policies that 
promote responsible stewardship here at home and provide leadership in 
the global arena as well.
  Perhaps our most acute challenge--and one we have ignored for far too 
long--is climate change. This is no idle threat: Scientists tell us 
that we must reduce emissions by roughly 80 percent by mid-century to 
avoid a dangerous climate tipping point. As the world's largest per 
capita emitter of greenhouse gases, our nation has a unique 
responsibility to work towards a comprehensive emissions solution that 
includes a 21st century energy policy. We must find the political will 
to do just that.
  We took a significant step forward in December, when President Obama 
played a critical role in establishing the international Copenhagen 
Accord. Although this is a nonbinding agreement, it represents a major 
departure from the prior Administration's abandonment of the Kyoto 
Protocol, and demonstrates our nation's commitment to being a partner 
and a leader in finding a global solution to climate change.
  I applaud the President's leadership on this issue and urge him to 
continue working with Congress to develop comprehensive, science-based 
legislation to provide climate and energy security for us and the 
generations to come. The House has approved robust legislation to 
address this issue, and today I call on my Senate colleagues to move 
forward as well.
  I also urge the President and my colleagues in Congress to continue 
to promote policies that safeguard the environment and facilitate sound 
management of our natural resources. And I encourage all Americans to 
renew their commitment to the environment and to take actions in their 
individual lives to reflect it.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
strong support of H. Con. Res. 255 to commemorate the 40th anniversary 
of Earth Day and to honor its founder, the late Senator Gaylord Nelson.
  Every year we celebrate Earth Day to raise awareness about 
environmental issues and recognize the importance of protecting our 
planet. As we become a more modern and developed society, it is 
becoming increasingly necessary to take steps to ensure a green future. 
In truth, we have come a long way in the last 40 years with regard to 
protecting our environment, but we still have a long way to go to make 
sustainable development a priority.
  Of particular importance is the need to protect two of our most 
precious resources--

[[Page H2752]]

clean water and clean air--which every person on this planet has an 
interest in protecting. In the United States, protections over waters 
and wetlands are essential to ensuring a long-term, sustainable water 
supply for the American people. When rivers and streams are placed at 
risk of pollution, many cities and communities which depend on these 
water bodies for sources of drinking water are equally placed at risk.
  Additionally, clean air is one of the most basic necessities of life, 
and pollutants in our air can have devastating effects on both our 
health and our environment. Numerous studies that have shown that air 
pollution an cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems as well as 
result in asthma and other long-term and chronic health conditions. We 
must work to ensure that our air is clean and not polluted for the 
betterment of all people.
  Madam Speaker, truly, the coming generations deserve to inherit a 
healthy planet with clean drinking water and clean air, and it is up to 
us to ensure that they do. I encourage all of our citizens to take a 
moment on this holiday to reflect on what they can do as individuals to 
help the environment, not just for us, but for people around the world 
as well. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting this 
resolution that recognizes Earth Day and will help raise awareness for 
the need to protect our environment.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 255, to 
commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and to honor its founder, 
Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin. I was in Congress in 1969 when 
Senator Nelson proposed a national teach-in so that people across the 
country could show their elected officials that they wanted 
environmental protections to be included in the national agenda. The 
following spring, it is estimated that nearly 20 million Americans 
participated in environmental awareness and education events in schools 
and communities across the country on the first Earth Day. Like the 
civil rights movement and antiwar movement earlier that decade, this 
grassroots movement brought this issue to the forefront, and impacted 
the national political agenda.
  Our country has made great strides in protecting our environment in 
the past 40 years. The Environmental Protection Agency was founded, and 
several historic bills including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act 
were passed to address pollution and environmental degradation. Since 
then, the Federal Government has instituted additional measures to 
protect our air, land, food, water and homes from chemicals, waste and 
pollution.
  The 111th Congress has continued this legacy to preserve and protect 
our resources by focusing on increasing energy efficiency. The American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act invested billions of dollars in clean 
energy, green jobs and the research and development of innovative 
equipment, including advanced battery technology. I was proud to 
support the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which would 
reduce pollution and ensure that our country becomes more energy 
independent by utilizing renewable energy and domestic alternatives to 
foreign oil.
  While much progress has been made, many of the environmental issues 
that worried Senator Nelson still exist and new ones have emerged. 
Additionally, it is common to see the devastating impacts of 
environmental degradation in low-income urban and rural communities, 
where residents face health issues related to industrialization and the 
mismanagement of waste.
  I encourage all Americans to take small steps to make their 
households, places of work and neighborhoods more environmentally 
friendly. I look forward to working with my colleagues on policy that 
echo Senator Nelson's mission of improving the health of environment so 
that our air, land and water are protected for future generations, 
regardless of where they live.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 40th 
anniversary of Earth Day and, in particular, to honor Earth Day's 
Founder, the late Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI), whom I am proud to say 
chose to spend the latter part of his career in my hometown of 
Kensington, MD.
  Senator Nelson's public service spanned more than three decades, 
including two terms as Governor and three terms as Senator from the 
state of Wisconsin. Although active on issues ranging from civil rights 
to consumer protection to the Vietnam War, Senator Nelson was perhaps 
best known for his pioneering advocacy on behalf of the environment. He 
cosponsored the 1964 Wilderness Act, and successfully fought for 
legislation protecting the Appalachian Trail, banning DDT and curbing 
phosphate detergent.
  In 1970, Senator Nelson's call for a day of education and action on 
behalf of the environment drew 20 million people from across the United 
States to participate in the very first Earth Day. Since then, Earth 
Day has grown to become an international event involving 500 million 
people from 175 countries around the world.
  After leaving the Senate in 1981, Senator Nelson joined the 
Wilderness Society as its first Chairman and continued to serve the 
organization until shortly before his passing in 2005. Senator Nelson 
received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton in 
1995 and was recognized along with President Teddy Roosevelt as one of 
the two most important political figures of the 20th Century by the 
Audubon Society. He was an extraordinary public servant, who was 
famously well liked by colleagues from across the political spectrum.
  As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day tomorrow, it is 
fitting that we pause to remember the vision of its remarkable founder 
Gaylord Nelson and recommit ourselves to the necessity of a healthy and 
sustainable environment that was his life's work.
  Mr. FLAKE. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I would just like to echo the words of the 
great leaders from Wisconsin who have spoken already on this. We are 
indeed stewards. Earth Day should be something we celebrate every day. 
And this, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, is a great time to start.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 255, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________