Expressing support for honoring Earth Day, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1208
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-27T20:30:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1208) expresses support for honoring Earth Day, an annual event on April 22 first celebrated in 1970 to promote environmental awareness, activism, and stewardship. It highlights Earth Day's history in sparking environmental laws and ongoing global efforts to address climate change, pollution, and environmental injustices.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes extensive "Whereas" clauses providing historical and current context on Earth Day's impact, environmental challenges, and criticisms of recent policy actions (e.g., repeals of parts of prior laws, executive rollbacks, and U.S. withdrawal from international agreements). The core "Resolved" section urges:
- (1) The President to issue a proclamation recognizing Earth Day.
- (2) Americans to observe Earth Day by addressing environmental issues (e.g., climate change, litter), uplifting Indigenous knowledge, educating others, and honoring environmental stewardship.
- (3) Immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address environmental injustices for public health and wildlife protection.
- (4) The U.S. Government to rejoin the Paris Agreement and prioritize sustainability for future generations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
None. This is a non-binding resolution with no legal force, making no amendments or alterations to statutes, regulations, or executive actions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Symbolic urging for presidential proclamation and policy shifts (e.g., rejoining Paris Agreement), but no enforceable requirements.
- Citizens: Encourages public participation in environmental activities like tree planting and education, potentially boosting grassroots activism.
- International Relations: Advocates rejoining global climate pacts, signaling U.S. commitment but without binding effect.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- American public, especially communities facing environmental injustices.
- Indigenous communities, recognized for their environmental wisdom.
- President and Executive Branch, urged to act on proclamations and international agreements.
- Congress, via sponsors (over 50 House members) and committees (Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs).
- Environmental groups and activists, aligned with Earth Day's mission.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Purely expressive; lacks force of law, similar to other sense-of-Congress resolutions.
- Constitutional: Falls within Congress's speech and debate powers; no enforcement mechanisms.
- Political: Serves as a partisan statement critiquing recent executive and legislative actions on climate (e.g., "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" repeals, regulation rollbacks), reaffirming environmental priorities amid policy debates. Introduced on Earth Day 2026 by Democratic sponsors.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
Cosponsors (55)
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] and 5 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-22: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for honoring Earth Day, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-22 — PDF (6 pages)