Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from 11:00 am to 12:50 pm

Location: Columbia University, Morningside Campus, International Affairs Building, Room 407

Contact: For further information regarding this event, please contact Hayley Martinez by sending email to hmartinez@ei.columbia.edu.

The Earth Institute presents Origins of Environmental Law Lecture Series Description: Introduction to Early Environmental Legislation, Pre-1969.

This seminar is part of a semester-long lecture series entitled The Origins of Environmental Law: Regulation and Evolution. Leon G. Billings and Thomas C. Jorling are the two senior staff members who led the Senate environment subcommittee which originated and developed major environmental legislation in the 1970s, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Superfund Act. Over the course of a single decade, Congress enacted a series of environmental laws that defined the direction and character of environmental policy in the US and globally. Learn about the process that led to these seminal laws from the writers of the legislation themselves.

The 1970s was a successful decade for major environmental legislation, ending with the passing of the Superfund Act in 1980. This talk will compare Congress during the 1970s to Congress today, including a comparison of the committees, the legislative process, and politics. Among others, they will discuss the role of the media, election processes, and the role of campaign finance and fundraising.

RSVP is required for this event. Please note this lecture is part of a regularly scheduled course. Guests will join registered students in the class for the lecture and discussion. Please register here: http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/events/view/73409