I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6692 
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
continue to carry out certain programs relating to environmental justice, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 1, 2020 
Mr. RUIZ (for himself and Mr. MCEACHIN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency to continue to carry out certain programs 
relating to environmental justice, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Communities of color, low-income commu-
nities, Tribal and indigenous communities, fossil 
fuel-dependent communities, and other vulnerable 
populations, such as persons with disabilities, chil-
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dren, and the elderly, are disproportionately bur-
dened by environmental hazards that include expo-
sure to polluted air, waterways, and landscapes. 
(2) Environmental justice disparities are also 
exhibited through a lack of equitable access to infor-
mation and data on potential exposure to environ-
mental hazards. 
(3) Communities experiencing environmental in-
justice have been subjected to systemic racial, social, 
and economic injustices and face a disproportionate 
burden of adverse human health or environmental 
effects, a higher risk of intentional, unconscious, and 
structural discrimination, and disproportionate en-
ergy burdens. 
(4) These disproportionate burdens are being 
exacerbated by the COVID–19 pandemic. 
(5) The Environmental Protection Agency has 
announced a nonenforcement policy under all envi-
ronmental laws during the COVID–19 pandemic for 
monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. 
(6) This policy is likely to increase the pollution 
burden in environmental justice communities and de-
crease access to monitoring data and information. 
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(7) Citizen science will be essential for environ-
mental justice communities to protect themselves 
during this pandemic. 
SEC. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANTS.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
continue to carry out— 
(1) the Environmental Justice Small Grants 
Program and the Environmental Justice Collabo-
rative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Pro-
gram, as those programs are in existence on the date 
of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) the Community Action for a Renewed Envi-
ronment grant programs I and II, as in existence on 
January 1, 2012. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANTS IN RESPONSE TO 
COVID–19 EMERGENCY.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
the 
programs 
described 
in 
subsection 
(a) 
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. 
(2) PRIORITY FOR FUNDS.—In awarding grants 
under the programs described in subsection (a) pur-
suant to this section, the Administrator shall 
prioritize projects that will— 
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(A) monitor pollution in or near environ-
mental justice communities; or 
(B) investigate or address the dispropor-
tionate impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic in 
environmental justice communities. 
(c) DISTRIBUTION.—Not later than 30 days after 
amounts are made available pursuant to subsection (b)(1), 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy shall make awards of grants under each of the pro-
grams described in subsection (a). 
Æ 
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