Climate Justice Grants Act
Bill: H.R.2442 | Sponsor: Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz (D-CA)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Climate Justice Grants Act
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to assist tribal governments, local governments, nonprofits, or community-based organizations in addressing issues relating to climate justice and carrying out activities that address climate justice concerns of environmental justice communities. Environmental justice communities refers to any population of color, community of color, indigenous community, or low-income community that experiences a disproportionate burden of the negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or other environmental hazards.

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
   carry out a grant program for projects and activities to address 
climate justice concerns of environmental justice communities, 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 ``Climate Justice Grants Act''.

SEC. 2. CLIMATE JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a program 
under which the Administrator shall provide grants to eligible entities 
to assist the eligible entities in--
            (1) building capacity to address issues relating to climate 
        justice; and
            (2) carrying out any activity described in subsection (d).
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall be a Tribal government, local 
government, or nonprofit, community-based organization.
    (c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Administrator may require, including--
            (1) an outline describing the means by which the project 
        proposed by the eligible entity will--
                    (A) with respect to climate justice issues at the 
                local level, increase the understanding of the 
                environmental justice community at which the eligible 
                entity will conduct the project;
                    (B) improve the ability of the environmental 
                justice community to address each issue described in 
                subparagraph (A);
                    (C) facilitate collaboration and cooperation among 
                various stakeholders (including members of the 
                environmental justice community); and
                    (D) support the ability of the environmental 
                justice community to proactively plan and implement 
                climate justice initiatives;
            (2) a proposed budget for each activity of the project that 
        is the subject of the application;
            (3) a list of proposed outcomes with respect to the 
        proposed project;
            (4) a description of the ways by which the eligible entity 
        may leverage the funds of the eligible entity, or the funds 
        made available through a grant under this subsection, to 
        develop a project that is capable of being sustained beyond the 
        period of the grant; and
            (5) a description of the ways by which the eligible entity 
        is linked to, and representative of, the environmental justice 
        community at which the eligible entity will conduct the 
        project.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may only use a grant under 
this subsection to carry out culturally and linguistically appropriate 
projects and activities that are driven by the needs, opportunities, 
and priorities of the environmental justice community at which the 
eligible entity proposes to conduct the project or activity to address 
climate justice concerns of the environmental justice community, 
including activities--
            (1) to create or develop collaborative partnerships;
            (2) to educate and provide outreach services to the 
        environmental justice community on climate justice;
            (3) to identify and implement projects to address climate 
        justice concerns, including community solar and wind energy 
        projects, energy efficiency, home and building electrification, 
        home and building weatherization, energy storage, solar and 
        wind energy supported microgrids, battery electric vehicles, 
        electric vehicle charging infrastructure, natural 
        infrastructure, and climate resilient infrastructure.
    (e) Limitations on Amount.--The amount of a grant under this 
section may not exceed $2,000,000 for any grant recipient.
    (f) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
        Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Energy and 
        Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy 
        and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the 
        ways by which the grant program under this subsection has 
        helped eligible entities address issues relating to energy and 
        climate justice.
            (2) Public availability.--The Administrator shall make each 
        report required under paragraph (1) available to the public 
        (including by posting a copy of the report on the website of 
        the Environmental Protection Agency).
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2022 through 2031. The Administrator may not use more than 
2 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year for 
administrative expenses, including outreach and technical assistance to 
eligible entities.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Climate justice.--The term ``climate justice'' means 
        the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all 
        individuals, regardless of race, color, culture, national 
        origin, educational level, or income, with respect to the 
        development, implementation, and enforcement of policies and 
        projects that address climate change, a recognition of the 
        historical responsibilities for climate change, and a 
        commitment that the people and communities least responsible 
        for climate change, and most vulnerable to the impacts of 
        climate change, do not suffer disproportionately as a result of 
        historical injustice and disinvestment.
            (3) Environmental justice community.--The term 
        ``environmental justice community'' means any population of 
        color, community of color, indigenous community, or low-income 
        community that experiences a disproportionate burden of the 
        negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or 
        other environmental hazards.
            (4) Indigenous community.--The term ``indigenous 
        community'' means--
                    (A) a federally recognized Indian Tribe;
                    (B) a State-recognized Indian Tribe;
                    (C) an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community 
                or organization; and
                    (D) any other community of indigenous people, 
                including communities in other countries.
            (5) Low income.--The term ``low income'' means an annual 
        household income equal to, or less than, the greater of--
                    (A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median 
                income of the area in which the household is located, 
                as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development; and
                    (B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
            (6) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income 
        community'' means any census block group in which 30 percent or 
        more of the population are individuals with low income.
            (7) Natural infrastructure.--The term ``natural 
        infrastructure'' means infrastructure that uses, restores, or 
        emulates natural ecological processes and--
                    (A) is created through the action of natural 
                physical, geological, biological, and chemical 
                processes over time;
                    (B) is created by human design, engineering, and 
                construction to emulate or act in concert with natural 
                processes; or
                    (C) involves the use of plants, soils, and other 
                natural features, including through the creation, 
                restoration, or preservation of vegetated areas using 
                materials appropriate to the region to manage 
                stormwater and runoff, to attenuate flooding and storm 
                surges, and for other related purposes.
            (8) Population of color.--The term ``population of color'' 
        means a population of individuals who identify as--
                    (A) Black;
                    (B) African American;
                    (C) Asian;
                    (D) Pacific Islander;
                    (E) another non-White race;
                    (F) Hispanic;
                    (G) Latino; or
                    (H) linguistically isolated.
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