Environmental Justice for Coronavirus Affected Communities Act
Bill: H.R.1889 | Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul (D-CA)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Environmental Justice for Coronavirus Affected Communities Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2022 (1) the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program; (2) the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides financial assistance to address local environmental or public health issues; and (3) the Community Action for a Renewed Environment grant program, which assists communities address multiple sources of toxic pollutants.

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Environmental Justice for 
Coronavirus Affected Communities Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Communities of color, low-income communities, Tribal 
        and indigenous communities, fossil fuel-dependent communities, 
        and other vulnerable populations, such as persons with 
        disabilities, children, and the elderly, are disproportionately 
        burdened by environmental hazards that include exposure to 
        polluted air, waterways, and landscapes.
            (2) Environmental justice disparities are also exhibited 
        through a lack of equitable access to information and data on 
        potential exposure to environmental hazards.
            (3) Communities experiencing environmental injustice 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 energy burdens.
            (4) These disproportionate burdens are being exacerbated by 
        the COVID-19 pandemic.
            (5) Citizen science will be essential for environmental 
        justice communities to protect themselves during this pandemic.

SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Environmental Justice Grants.--The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall continue to carry out--
            (1) the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program and the 
        Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative 
        Agreement Program, as those programs are in existence on the 
        date of enactment of this Act; and
            (2) the Community Action for a Renewed Environment 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 for fiscal year 2022--
                    (A) $50,000,000 to carry out the programs described 
                in subsection (a); and
                    (B) $50,000,000 for grants and activities 
                authorized under subsections (a) through (c) of section 
                103 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7403) and grants 
                and activities authorized under section 105 of such Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 7405).
            (2) Priority for funds.--In awarding grants under the 
        programs described in subsection (a) pursuant to this section, 
        the Administrator shall prioritize projects that will--
                    (A) monitor pollution in or near environmental 
                justice communities;
                    (B) investigate or address the disproportionate 
                impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in environmental 
                justice communities; or
                    (C) address disproportionate environmental or 
                public health harms and risks in minority populations 
                or low-income populations under--
                            (i) section 103(b) of the Clean Air Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 7403(b));
                            (ii) section 1442 of the Safe Drinking 
                        Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-1);
                            (iii) section 104(k)(7)(A) of the 
                        Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
                        Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 
                        U.S.C. 9604(k)(7)(A)); and
                            (iv) sections 791 through 797 of the Energy 
                        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16131 through 
                        16137).
    (c) Distribution.--Not later than 30 days after amounts are made 
available pursuant to subsection (b)(1), the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall make awards of grants under each 
of the programs described in subsection (a).
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