people involved

During the past half century, environmentalists and government officials have played important roles in developing and passing air pollution control and clean air legislation. Whether it was by authoring and supporting its principles or by strongly opposing facets of the law, these men and women were the creators of this important legislation.  

supporters and authors

(ordered chronologically by legislation)

OVETA CULP HOBBY (1905-1995)

Hobby was an integral part of the composition of this country's first clean air legislation, the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955.
biographical sketch

THOMAS HENRY KUCHEL (1910-1994)

Kuchel cosponsored the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955.
biographical sketch

JOHN HENRY RAY (1886-1975)

Ray played a significant role in the evolution of the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955.
biographical sketch

HOMER EARL CAPEHART (1897-1979)

Capehart cosponsored the significant Air Pollution Control Act of 1955.
biographical sketch

ABRAHAM ALEXANDER RIBICOFF (1910-1998)

Ribicoff introduced the bill which later became the Clean Air Act of 1963.
biographical sketch

RALPH NADER (1934- )

Nader has been very active in supporting environmental issues from the 1960s through today.
biographical sketch 1
biographical sketch 2

EDMUND SIXTUS MUSKIE (1914-1996)

Muskie was extremely active in developing air pollution control legislation throughout the 1960s and the 1970s including the Clean Air Act of 1970 and its amendments in 1977.
biographical sketch 1
biographical sketch 2 from the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.
biographical sketch 3 from the Edmund S. Muskie Archives at Bates College, Maine.

WILLIAM DOYLE RUCKLESHAUS (1932- )

Ruckleshaus played an important part in developing the Clean Air Act of 1970.
biographical sketch

RUSSELL ERROL TRAIN (1920- )

Train played an instrumental role in creating the Clean Air Act of 1970.
biographical sketch

PAUL GRANT ROGERS (1912- )

Rogers took an active role in passing the Clean Air Act of 1970.
biographical sketch

ALAN KOOI SIMPSON (1931- )

Simpson was critical of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 fearing that they favored the coal industry; therefore, he worked to strengthen clean air legislation.
biographical sketch

GEORGE JOHN MITCHELL (1933- )

Mitchell took an active role in passing the Clean Air Act of 1990.
biographical sketch

HENRY ARNOLD WAXMAN (1939- )

Waxman co-authored the Clean Air Act of 1990.
biographical sketch

opposition

(ordered chronologically by legislation)

ROBERT BYRD (1917- )

Byrd attempted to delay action during the debates of the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments.
biographical sketch

JOHN DAVID DINGELL, JR. (1926- )

Dingell attempted to delay action during the debates of the Clean Air Act in 1990.
biographical sketch