Expressing support for honoring Earth Day, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 341
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-21: 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
- 2026-04-27T20:29:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 341) expresses support for honoring Earth Day, an annual event on April 22 that promotes environmental awareness, activism, and stewardship. It highlights Earth Day's history since 1970, its role in sparking the modern environmental movement, and its ongoing relevance in addressing issues like climate change, pollution, and environmental injustices.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses that provide historical and current context on Earth Day, followed by four main directives in the "Resolved" section:
- Urges the President to issue a formal proclamation recognizing Earth Day.
- Encourages the American people to observe Earth Day by:
- Tackling environmental issues, from large-scale problems like climate change to everyday ones like litter cleanup.
- Promoting the environmental knowledge and land stewardship practices of indigenous communities.
- Educating others, including friends, neighbors, and elected officials, about the need for ongoing environmental action.
- Honoring the legacy of Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day's founder, who emphasized accountability for protecting public health and the environment.
- Urges the U.S. Government to rejoin the Paris Agreement (an international pact to limit global warming) and prioritize efforts to ensure future generations inherit a sustainable planet.
- Reaffirms the need for immediate steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions (gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change) and address environmental injustices (unequal impacts of pollution and degradation on marginalized communities).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it does not create new laws or amend existing ones. It serves as an official statement of the House of Representatives' views rather than enforceable legislation. It references past laws like the Clean Air Act (regulates air pollution), Clean Water Act (protects water quality), Endangered Species Act (conserves threatened wildlife), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021, funds clean infrastructure), and Inflation Reduction Act (2022, invests in clean energy and climate resilience), but does not alter them.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Could encourage agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, which enforces environmental laws) to highlight Earth Day activities, though it has no legal force. It opposes recent efforts to dismantle programs or withhold funding, potentially influencing budget and policy debates.
- On Citizens: Promotes public participation in environmental projects (e.g., tree planting, litter removal, energy conservation), fostering education and community action. It emphasizes benefits like green jobs (employment in sustainable industries) and climate literacy (understanding climate issues).
- On International Relations: By calling for rejoining the Paris Agreement, it signals U.S. commitment to global climate efforts, potentially strengthening diplomatic ties with allies focused on environmental cooperation while critiquing isolationist policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- American Citizens and Communities: Especially those in areas hit hard by pollution or climate effects, including historically disadvantaged groups facing environmental injustices.
- Indigenous Communities: Highlighted for their traditional knowledge in land preservation and biodiversity (variety of plant and animal life).
- Environmental Advocates and Organizations: Groups involved in Earth Day events, citizen science (public-led research), and activism, such as the Earth Day Network.
- Government Officials and Agencies: The President, Congress, and federal bodies like the EPA, urged to take symbolic and policy actions.
- International Partners: Countries participating in global environmental initiatives, affected by U.S. leadership on climate issues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple resolution, it requires only House approval and has no force of law, similar to a sense-of-Congress statement expressing opinion without mandating action.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express views on policy under Article I, but it avoids binding the executive branch, respecting separation of powers.
- Political: Represents bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) for environmental protection, defends recent climate investments against repeal efforts, and underscores transgenerational justice (ensuring fairness for future generations). It could galvanize political debate on climate policy amid ongoing challenges like regulatory rollbacks and global withdrawal from agreements.
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 (51)
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], 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. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], 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], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] and 1 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-21: 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.
- 2025-04-21: 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.
- 2025-04-21: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-21: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for honoring Earth Day, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-04-21 — PDF (6 pages)