Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA) introduced the “Commitment to Environmental Justice Act,” to lock-in a government-wide commitment to environmental justice by federal agencies. The bill is in response to several of President Donald Trump’s first day Executive Orders that aim to roll-back the federal government’s progress on environmental justice and equity. By codifying President Biden’s Executive Order 14096, “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All,” the bill ensures that prioritizing environmental justice remains a core responsibility of federal agencies.
“Every federal agency must have environmental justice as a guiding principle for their work,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “This legislation makes sure that the most vulnerable communities are not forgotten, and that our government will continue to protect clean air and clean water for communities of color and disadvantaged communities.”
The Commitment to Environmental Justice Act is cosponsored by Representatives Paul Tonko Pramila Jayapal, Mark Takano, André Carson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Melanie Stansbury, Yassamin Ansari, Raul Grijalva, Jared Huffman, and Jennifer McClellan.
