May 20, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 95 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Pages S2556-S2557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 593--TO RECOGNIZE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY 
       AND THE LEADERSHIP OF ITS FOUNDER, SENATOR GAYLORD NELSON

  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:

                              S. Res. 593

       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--

[[Page S2557]]

       (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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