WASHINGTON—House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva and Representative Donald McEachin, introduced landmark environmental justice legislation, the Environmental Justice for All Act, today. This historic bill calls for a range of much needed actions to ensure environmental justice considerations and stakeholder engagement are firmly embedded in federal policies and agency actions. The bill also establishes an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Compliance and Enforcement to help identify and address the disproportionate burden federal actions have on communities of color, low-income communities, rural communities, and Tribal and indigenous communities.
Below is a statement by Dr. Adrienne Hollis, senior climate justice and health scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
“The importance of this historic and greatly needed Act cannot be overstated. Chairman Grijalva and Representative McEachin were intentional in working with environmental justice communities and advocates over the last year, gathering comments and insight from them. The bill recognizes the importance of science and research on public health issues and in supporting communities in their fight for environmental justice. It acknowledges the lack of and need for information and data on adverse environmental exposures and highlights the particularly harmful burden of exposure to multiple pollution sources on the health and well-being of communities. This legislation also underscores the need for a fair and just transition to a clean energy economy.
“UCS looks forward to working with environmental justice and labor advocates, as well as the committee, on moving forward legislation that elevates just and equitable solutions to address environmental pollution and the climate crisis.”
UCS is a signatory to both the Equitable and Just National Climate Action Platform, which recognizes the need to partner with environmental justice groups to address the climate crisis, and the Solidarity for Climate Action Platform, which acknowledges that working people must play a major role in shaping climate change solutions.
For more information about the historical context of why such legislation is needed, how environmental justice organizations have been fighting to safeguard their communities, these platforms, and the work of UCS in this space, check out this blog by Hollis.