Environmental Justice for Communities Act of 2021
Bill: S.1347 | Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy (D-IL)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Environmental Justice for Communities Act of 2021
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 
Communities Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (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) a disproportionate burden of adverse human 
                health or environmental effects;
                    (B) a higher risk of intentional and structural 
                discrimination; and
                    (C) disproportionate pollution burdens;
            (4) the disproportionate burdens described in paragraph 
        (3)--
                    (A) are being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; 
                and
                    (B) will be addressed with resources provided to 
                environmental justice communities in the American 
                Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2); and
            (5) citizen involvement and empowerment will be essential 
        for environmental justice communities to protect themselves 
        during the COVID-19 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) Distribution.--Not later than 30 days after amounts are made 
available pursuant to subsection (c), the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall make awards of grants under each 
of the programs described in subsection (a).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the programs described in subsection (a) 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.
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