Environmental education serves as the cornerstone for conservation by sparking young people's interest in and respect for the natural world. Hands-on environmental education has a measurable positive impact on student achievement in science, reading, math, and social studies, and stimulates interest in science and math as future career pathways. Today's children spend half as much time outside as they did just 20 years ago, and, on average, spend six and a half hours every day plugged into electronic media. Hands-on environmental education is a solution to this growing trend of "nature deficit disorder."

The No Child Left Inside Act of 2008, H.R. 3036, sponsored by Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD), created a new federal environmental grant program for states to develop environmental literacy programs and support teacher training in environmental education. The bill also extended the authorization of the National Environmental Education Act.

On September 18, the House voted 293-109 in favor of H.R. 3036 (House roll call vote 614). YES IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.