Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier) for recognizing me out of order to speak to a previous resolution. Many years ago Gaylord Nelson, from my home State of Wisconsin, had a vision. He envisioned a world where our pristine oceans and lakes are protected, our air clean to breathe, and our planet preserved for future generations. Being the wise man that Senator Nelson was, he recognized the environmental degradation that everyone around him was acknowledging, everyone, that is, but the political establishment, which wasn't interested in action. He knew that if the environment was to have its place on the political agenda, it had to be brought there by the people. So he announced that there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment. He called it Earth Day. At the time it was a gamble, but worth the try. No one expected the turnout: 20 million people came out to participate. The sheer numbers gathered the attention of the Congress, and it was those voices that led to congressional action on some of our most treasured environmental laws: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. I commend my colleague from Wisconsin, Mr. Obey, for bringing the resolution to honor the late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to the floor. And the resolution also commemorates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.…”