Souder Supports Bipartisan Bill To Promote Environmental Education

Press Release

Committee Approves Two Souder-Sponsored Amendments

Citing Goshen College's Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center and Sweetwater Sound's newly-built headquarters in Fort Wayne as models of exemplary green building, U.S. Rep. Mark Souder today supported the No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 3036) which would improve environmental education for schoolchildren both inside and outside of the classroom.

Souder has long championed including the National Parks System as a resource for advancing environmental education. He, along with Democrat colleague Rush Holt of New Jersey, sponsored an amendment to include federal land agencies, including the National Parks system, in the program. He also fought to ensure the federal lands amendment incorporated not only environmental education but also other missions such as resource utilization.

Souder sponsored an additional amendment that would require federally funded environmental education curriculum to include a discussion about energy development.

"Promoting good environmental stewardship and developing American energy sources are not incompatible," Souder said. "These amendments will help to ensure that students learn about both conservation and energy. By working together, we were able to offer amendments that will strengthen and balance this bill."

Both amendments were approved by the committee and H.R. 3036 will be reported to the House Floor for further action.

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