AJR136,1,52 Whereas, Gaylord Nelson, a former United States Senator from Wisconsin, was
3born and raised in Clear Lake, Wisconsin, in Polk County and is recognized as one
4of the leading environmentalists of the 20th century who worked to create a new era
5of international awareness of the environment; and

AJR136,1,96 Whereas, Gaylord Nelson served in the Wisconsin state senate from 1949 to
71959, as governor of the state of Wisconsin from 1959 to 1963, and in the United
8States Senate from 1963 to 1981, truly representing the progressive values learned
9as a boy from Clear Lake; and

AJR136,1,1510 Whereas, Gaylord Nelson created and passed legislation to ban phosphates in
11household detergents and to ban the use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
12and legislation that created the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the St.
13Croix Wild and Scenic Riverway and protected other important Wisconsin and
14national treasures and worked tirelessly to ensure clean water and clean air for all
15Americans; and

AJR136,2,3

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1Whereas, Gaylord Nelson celebrated and founded the first Earth Day, on April
222, 1970, which was by far the largest celebration and environmental grassroots
3event in history at that time; and

AJR136,2,74 Whereas, Gaylord Nelson led an unparalleled period of legislative and
5grassroots activity in the country that spurred the passage of over 25 pieces of
6environmental legislation from 1970 to 1980, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean
7Water Act, and the National Environmental Education Act; and

AJR136,2,128 Whereas, environmental leadership was not Gaylord Nelson's only calling as
9he fought for civil rights, challenged drug companies and tire manufacturers to
10protect consumers, enlisted for the War on Poverty, and took a stand against Senator
11Joe McCarthy, the House Un-American Activities Committee, and the Nixon White
12House to defend and protect civil liberties; and

AJR136,2,1513 Whereas, in 1995, Gaylord Nelson was awarded the highest honor accorded
14civilians in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom; now, therefore, be
15it