The realm of environmental education has generally lacked scholarly research tied to policy and collective-action strategies. This study examines the state- and federal-level roles in states' Environmental Literacy Plan (ELP) development and implementation by examining policy entrepreneur's actions using Paul Manna's Borrowing Strength Model (Manna, 2006). The warrants for argument provided by this study identify key actors in both ELP development and implementation as well as the connection to and promotion of the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) Act. Key policy entrepreneurs examined in this study include Congressman John Sarbanes, Senator Jack Reed and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This study contributes to informing environmental educators to increase involvement in state- and local-level politics toward collective organization promoting higher environmental literacy standards.