On April 22, 1970, America celebrated its first-ever Earth Day. The day, which was created to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment, was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI).
The creation of this day had a wide impact on programs created thereafter by President Richard Nixon. That same year, Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And, by the end of 1974, the Clean Water Act, the Pesticide Control Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act had all became law.
While some Americans may see the environment as an issue that has been put on the backburner since that time, initiatives addressing energy use and the preservation of our planet have once again gained momentum in the past decade. These issues are a high priority for President Obama as the Administration, along with members of Congress, work to create a sustainable future for our nation using green technology and other initiatives.