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Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson was the driving force behind the establishment of Earth Day in 1970. Seeking to put the environment within the political mainstream, Nelson proposed a national environmental "teach-in" similar to those used by anti-Vietnam demonstrators, where students and teachers on college campuses would discuss environmental issues. Nelson also introduced a bill in November of 1969, the Environmental Quality Education Act, that mandated the development of environmental education programs in schools and provided educational grants to environmental organizations. The bill was passed in 1970.Citation
"Environmental Teach-Ins and the Environmental Quality Education Act." (Washington, D.C.: G. Nelson, 1969);