Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Act of 2017

To establish an Office of Environmental Justice in the Environmental Protection Agency and to authorize an environmental justice small grants program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Act of 2017 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Despite Executive Order 12898 (relating to Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (2) The Environmental Protection Agency formed the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program to support and empower frontline communities that are working on solutions to the disproportionate impacts of climate change. (3) Between 2000 and 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency, through the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, awarded more than 630 small grants to assist with the cost of conducting research and education, as well as developing community-based solutions. 3. Office of Environmental Justice There is established in the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Environmental Justice, which shall be headed by a Director. 4. Environmental justice small grants program (a) In general The Director of the Office of Environmental Justice shall establish an environmental justice grant program to make grants to eligible entities in accordance with this section. (b) Grants The Director may make a grant under this section, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, to an eligible entity to carry out an environmental justice project. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Affected community The term affected community (A) may be disproportionately affected by environmental harms and risks; and (B) is affected by a local environmental or public health issue that is identified in an application for a grant under this section. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) an entity that— (i) is an organization (including an environmental justice network, a faith-based organization, and an organization affiliated with a religious institution)— (I) described in section 501(c)(3) (II) recognized as a nonprofit organization by the government of the State, territory, commonwealth, or federally recognized Tribe with jurisdiction over the area in which it is located; (ii) demonstrates that it has worked directly with the affected community, as determined by the Director; and (iii) is located in the State, territory, or commonwealth, or area over which a federally recognized Tribe has jurisdiction, in which the proposed environmental justice project is located; (B) a federally recognized Tribal government with jurisdiction over the area in which the proposed environmental justice project is located; or (C) a Tribal organization that demonstrates that it has worked directly with the affected community, as determined by the Administrator. (3) Environmental justice project The term environmental justice project (A) understand environmental and public health issues; and (B) identify ways to address those issues at the local level. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $16,000,000 for each fiscal year.

Summary: Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Act of 2017 This bill establishes in the Environmental Protection Agency an Office of Environmental Justice. The office must create an environmental justice grant program that empowers and educates communities that are affected by local environmental or public health issues to understand those issues and identify ways to address them at the local level.