BILL NUMBER: ACR 56INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Huffman (Principal coauthor: Senator Pavley) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Bass, Block, Blumenfield, Brownley, Chesbro, De Leon, Feuer, Fong, Hernandez, Hill, Jones, Ma, Nava, Portantino, Ruskin, Saldana, and Skinner) (Coauthors: Senators Corbett, DeSaulnier, Hancock, Kehoe, Liu, Maldonado, Romero, Wiggins, and Wolk) APRIL 1, 2009 Relative to Earth Week 2009. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 56, as introduced, Huffman. Earth Week 2009. This measure would proclaim the week of April 20 to April 24, 2009, inclusive, as Earth Week 2009. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, Thirty-nine years ago, millions of Americans of all ages, walks of life, and political affiliations joined together on April 22, 1970, in a demonstration of concern and support for the environment; and WHEREAS, The spirit of the first Earth Day continues to increase public environmental awareness inspiring millions of Californians to make individual decisions that reduce environmental impacts; and WHEREAS, The California environment, including its rocky coasts, sandy beaches, redwood forests, deserts, and towering mountains, is among the most unique and beautiful in the world; and WHEREAS, The Legislature has helped safeguard the state's scenic beauty and natural resources, and the quality of its water, air, and land, through the enactment of various environmental laws; and WHEREAS, The work done by state government has protected public health and improved environmental preservation programs, policies, and activities in a manner that is designed to promote equality and afford fair treatment, full access, and full protection to all Californians, including low-income and minority populations; and WHEREAS, The protection of California's natural resources helps stimulate our economy, especially industries related to tourism, fishing, and new technologies, as well as enhance our quality of life; and WHEREAS, Sometimes our daily actions inadvertently pollute or degrade the fragile environment that all life depends on to survive, and we must continue to make each day an "Earth Day" if we want to ensure a healthy environment for future generations; and WHEREAS, Activities to celebrate April 20 to April 24, 2009, inclusive, commemorating the 39th anniversary of the first Earth Day, will focus public attention on and encourage personal and community participation in the environment through recycling, conserving energy and water, encouraging use of renewable resources, using efficient transportation such as alternative fueled vehicles, adopting sustainable building practices, and promoting other environmentally responsible personal actions; and WHEREAS, Earth Week 2009 will provide an impetus for additional protection of the environment and our public health, and inspire local, state, national, and international efforts required over the next decade in order to remedy the environmental problems that we face; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That April 20 to 24, 2009, inclusive, is hereby declared to be "Earth Week 2009"; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature reaffirms its commitment to the fundamental principles that underlie the state's environmental laws, including the protection of human health from environmental hazards; the continuance of programs to safeguard air and water quality; the recycling and reuse of materials; the effective cleanup of pollution of the state's land, air, and water resources; the preservation of natural ecosystems; and the maintenance of the fundamental right of the public to fully participate in public decisions regarding the environment; and be it further Resolved, That California recognizes the importance of the environment and encourages residents to include in their daily lives those activities that promote the goals of Earth Week 2009; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, and the Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, and to the Environmental Caucus for appropriate distribution.