1.5.1970

Dingell authors the National Environmental Policy Act, guides it through the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee as the Chair of the Fisheries Subcommittee and manages the bill on the floor.  NEPA establishes "as national policy that federal, state and local governments shall act to protect the environment,"requires the federal government to include the environment in decision-making and established the Council on Environmental Quality in the Office of the President.  (CQ Almanac 1969, p. 525)
The EPA describes NEPA as the "basic national charter for protection of the environment. It establishes policy, sets goals, and provides means for carrying out the policy."(http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm)
Rep. Edward Garmartz, Chair of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee called NEPA, "the most significant step yet taken to conserve and preserve our natural resources for future generations"and "a landmark piece of conservation legislation."(Trenton Times, 1.7.70) 

4.22.1970

First Earth Day

5.1970

Dingell opposes Nixon's invasion of Cambodia.  From the Detroit News:  "Rep. John D. Dingell, who said he has supported both Presidents Johnson and Nixon completely on their Vietnam policies, said he is 'outraged' by the Cambodian decision.  'If this is not an expansion of the war, then I don't know what is,' Dingell declared.  'The Viet Cong have been operating in Cambodia for a dozen years now.  If it's so right to go in there now, why didn't we last year, or the year before? By that logic, we should also clean out the sanctuaries in Laos.'"(Detroit News, 5.5.70) 

8.13.1970

Dingell is one of 15 Members of Congress to vote against the Equal Rights Amendment.  Vote passes 352-15.

In 1971, he also opposes the ERA in its original form.  (Detroit Free Press, 9.26.71)

By 1983, he has changed his mind and supports the amendment.  "Dingell's vote in favor of the ERA was something of a surprise, because the veteran Democrat opposed the amendment when Congress first passed it in 1972. 'While I continue to have some reservations about some of the consequences of the ERA, I ultimately thought it was the right thing to do,' Dingell said after the vote."(Daily Telegram, 11.16.83)

Dingell is currently a cosponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment with Carolyn Maloney. (http://www.house.gov/maloney/press/109th/20050315ERA.htm)

11.3.1970

Dingell elected to a 9th term with 79% of the vote over William E. Rostron.  Vote results: 90,540 – 23,867.