I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8527 
To provide for the establishment of a Climate Justice Working Group to 
help guide the Nation’s just and equitable transition towards a clean, 
climate-resilient, zero-emission economy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2024 
Ms. CLARKE of New York (for herself, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. MOORE of Wis-
consin, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. MENG, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. BLUNT 
ROCHESTER, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. MATSUI, and Mr. 
GOLDMAN of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for the establishment of a Climate Justice Work-
ing Group to help guide the Nation’s just and equitable 
transition towards a clean, climate-resilient, zero-emis-
sion economy, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Climate Justice Act 
of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. CLIMATE JUSTICE WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall es-
tablish an advisory committee, to be known as the Climate 
Justice Working Group, to advise on the Nation’s just and 
equitable transition towards a clean, climate-resilient, 
zero-emission economy. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) TOTAL
NUMBER.—The Working Group 
shall be comprised of no fewer than 22 members. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members of the 
Work Group shall have significant expertise or expe-
rience in matters relating to— 
(A) climate change and environmental pol-
lution; and 
(B) the impacts of climate change and en-
vironmental pollution on frontline and disadvan-
taged communities. 
(3) APPOINTMENT.—The members of the 
Working Group shall be appointed by the President 
and shall include at a minimum the following rep-
resentatives: 
(A) Eight representatives from frontline 
community-based organizations with experience 
with, and a history of, advocacy regarding envi-
ronmental justice or climate justice and equity 
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issues. The representatives appointed pursuant 
to this subparagraph shall include at least one 
from each of a coastal community, a rural com-
munity, an urban community, and a Tribal 
community. 
(B) One representative from the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(C) One representative from the Depart-
ment of Transportation. 
(D) One representative from the Depart-
ment of the Interior. 
(E) One representative from the Depart-
ment of Energy. 
(F) One representative from the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development. 
(G) One representative from the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
(H) One public health representative from 
the Department of Health and Human Services. 
(I) One representative from the Council on 
Environmental Quality. 
(J) Two representatives from local govern-
ment. 
(K) Two representatives from State gov-
ernment. 
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(L) Two representatives from Tribal gov-
ernment. 
(c) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Working Group shall 
advise and provide recommendations to the Presi-
dent and Federal agencies on or relating to the just 
and equitable creation and implementation of goals 
and initiatives to transition towards a clean, climate- 
resilient, zero-emission economy, including through 
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and copollut-
ants. 
(2) CORE FUNCTIONS.— 
(A) CRITERIA AND METRICS.—The Work-
ing Group, in consultation with relevant Fed-
eral agencies, interagency councils, White 
House offices, and advisory councils, shall es-
tablish a robust set of criteria and metrics to 
identify climate-burdened communities for the 
purposes of informing relevant Federal initia-
tives to geographically map the location of dis-
advantaged or vulnerable communities and of 
achieving a just and equitable transition to-
wards a clean, climate-resilient, zero-emission 
economy. Such criteria and metrics shall be es-
tablished based on geographic, public health, 
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environmental hazard, and socioeconomic con-
siderations, including such considerations as— 
(i) a disproportionate prevalence of 
negative health conditions; 
(ii) cumulative environmental pollu-
tion and other hazards that can lead to 
negative public health effects; 
(iii) proximity to existing environ-
mental pollution and degradation, polluting 
facilities, waste sites, or natural resource 
extraction sites; 
(iv) vulnerability to the impacts of cli-
mate change such as flooding, drought, 
storm surges, and urban heat island ef-
fects; 
(v) vulnerability to displacement due 
to the impacts of climate change or other 
socioeconomic forces; 
(vi) access to green space; 
(vii) historical and present-day dis-
crimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, 
gender, national origin, immigration sta-
tus, or other demographic factors; 
(viii) historical or present-day experi-
ence 
of 
economic 
transition, 
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deindustrialization, or chronic underinvest-
ment; 
(ix) income and wealth; 
(x) rent burden; 
(xi) home ownership; 
(xii) educational attainment; 
(xiii) linguistic isolation; and 
(xiv) such other considerations as the 
Working Group considers appropriate. 
(B) GUIDING PRINCIPLES.—The Working 
Group, in consultation with relevant Federal 
agencies, interagency councils, White House of-
fices, and advisory councils, shall establish guid-
ing principles and recommendations for ensur-
ing that, with respect to climate-burdened com-
munities, all Federal goals and initiatives in-
volving greenhouse gas emissions, copollutant 
reductions, and the allocation of Federal invest-
ments related to achieving a clean, climate-resil-
ient, zero-emission economy— 
(i) prioritize and directly benefit such 
communities; 
(ii) do not produce new or exacerbate 
existing disproportionate health, environ-
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mental, or socioeconomic burdens in such 
communities; and 
(iii) include meaningful public con-
sultation and engagement with members of 
such communities. 
(C) COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.—In car-
rying out subparagraphs (A) and (B), the 
Working Group shall initiate and carry out pub-
lic engagement, particularly with residents and 
stakeholders from disadvantaged and front-line 
communities, to ensure that the public has 
input into the criteria and metrics under sub-
paragraph (A) and the guiding principles and 
recommendations under subparagraph (B). 
(D) DRAFT REPORT.—Before finalizing the 
criteria and metrics under subparagraph (A) 
and the guiding principles and recommenda-
tions under subparagraph (B), the Working 
Group shall— 
(i) publish a draft report containing a 
list of the proposed criteria and metrics 
and guiding principles and recommenda-
tions; 
(ii) make such draft report available 
on an easily accessible public website; and 
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(iii) deliver such draft report to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate. 
(E) PUBLIC INPUT.— 
(i) COMMENT
PERIOD.—After pub-
lishing the draft report under subpara-
graph (D), the Working Group shall pro-
vide a period of at least 120 days for the 
submission of public comment on the draft 
report. 
(ii) PUBLIC HEARINGS.—During such 
120-day period, the Working Group shall 
hold at least four public hearings on the 
draft report in different geographic regions 
of the United States. 
(iii) MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES.— 
The Working Group shall ensure there are 
meaningful opportunities for public com-
ment on the draft report from all segments 
of the population that might be impacted 
by the criteria and metrics under subpara-
graph (A) and the guiding principles and 
recommendations under subparagraph (B), 
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including persons living in areas that may 
be identified as climate-burdened commu-
nities under such criteria and metrics. 
(F) OUTREACH.—During the 120-day pe-
riod for public comment under subparagraph 
(E)(i), and as soon as practicable, the Working 
Group, in coordination with relevant Federal 
entities, shall perform targeted outreach to all 
segments of the population that might be im-
pacted by the criteria and metrics under sub-
paragraph (A) and the guiding principles and 
recommendations under subparagraph (B) in 
order to inform such persons about the draft 
report and ways to provide meaningful input on 
the finalization of the report. 
(G) FINAL
REPORT.—Once public input 
has been sufficiently taken into account, and 
not later than 1 year after publication of the 
draft report under subparagraph (D), the 
Working Group shall— 
(i) publish a final report containing 
the criteria and metrics under subpara-
graph (A) and the guiding principles and 
recommendations under subparagraph (B), 
including in a downloadable report made 
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available on an easily accessible public 
website; and 
(ii) deliver such final report to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Environment and Public Works 
of the Senate, and the President. 
(d) FEDERAL EXPERTS.—In carrying out this Act, 
the Working Group may call upon experts at Federal 
agencies and White House offices to provide testimony and 
advice. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Working Group shall meet not 
less than annually to review and provide guidance on Fed-
eral goals and initiatives for the Nation’s just and equi-
table transition towards a clean, climate-resilient, zero- 
emission economy, including to review and modify as nec-
essary any of the criteria and metrics established pursuant 
to subsection (c)(2)(A), or the guiding principles and rec-
ommendations 
established 
pursuant 
to 
subsection 
(c)(2)(B). 
(f) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.—Any nonfeder-
ally employed member of the Working Group, when at-
tending meetings of the Working Group or when otherwise 
engaged in the business of the Working Group, shall re-
ceive— 
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(1) compensation at a rate fixed by the Sec-
retary, not exceeding the daily equivalent of the cur-
rent rate of basic pay in effect for GS–15 of the 
General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, 
United States Code, including travel time; and 
(2) travel or transportation expenses under sec-
tion 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(g) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
chapter 10 of part I of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the ‘‘Federal Advisory 
Committee Act’’) shall apply to the Working Group. 
(2) TERMINATION.—The termination require-
ments under section 1013 of title 5, United States 
Code, shall not apply to the Working Group. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘frontline community-based orga-
nization’’ means a local nonprofit advocacy organiza-
tion that represents frontline communities that are 
most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change or 
burdened by environmental pollution. 
(2) The term ‘‘Working Group’’ means the Cli-
mate Justice Working Group established pursuant to 
subsection (a). 
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