Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Congressman John Sarbanes - "No Child Left Inside"

June 3, 2008

Dear Mr. McDonald:

At a time when the world is confronting issues such as the finite supply of fossil fuels, global warming, and many other important environmental problems, organizations such as yours have helped to raise public awareness and taken steps to improve the environment. Our nation's future relies on a well-educated public to be wise stewards of the environment that sustains us, our families and communities, and future generations. Environmental education in our schools can help us as individuals make the complex, conceptual connections between economic prosperity, benefits to society, environmental health, and our own well being. "No Child Left Inside" has become a national movement to establish environmental education programs that promote healthier children and communities and to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

In line with this movement, I am the author of H.R. 3036, the No Child Left Inside Bill, which would establish environmental education programs that promote healthier children and communities. I am deeply committed to both improving education in our nation's public schools and to protecting our environment. H.R. 3036 combines those goals by: creating a new environmental education grant program, providing teacher training for environmental education, and including environmental education as an authorized activity under the Fund for the Improvement of Education. H.R. 3036 also requires states that participate in the environmental education grant program to develop a K-12 plan to ensure high school graduates are environmentally literate. On April 22nd, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a field hearing at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge in order to showcase the importance of this legislation.

As an organization committed to improving the environment for future generations, I would like to invite you to join the No Child Left Inside Coalition [We joined]. For more information please visit our coalition website. I look forward to working with you and the other 270 member organizations to ensure our children are ready to address the environmental issues of the future.

Sincerely,
John Sarbanes
Member of Congress
(pictured above right)
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