Environmental Justice Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2434
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2021-04-08 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Disaster relief and insurance
Due process and equal protection
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Government information and archives
Indian lands and resources rights
Infrastructure development
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Medical research
Mining
Minority health
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public participation and lobbying
Racial and ethnic relations
Research administration and funding
Soil pollution
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: 

Environmental Justice Act of 2021

 
This bill requires agencies to address and mitigate the disproportionate impact of environmental and human health hazards on communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income communities resulting from agencies' programs and policies. The bill also requires agencies to address cumulative impacts of pollution in permitting decisions and expands the types of legal actions available to individuals regarding charges of federal discriminatory practices.
 
Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for a variety of existing programs, executive orders, federal guidance, and committees concerning environmental justice, including
 
 
Executive Order 12898;
 
a guidance issued in 1997 by the Council on Environmental Quality titled 
Environmental Justice Guidance Under the National Environmental Policy Act
;
 
a guidance issued in 2016 by the Environmental Protection Agency titled 
EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes: Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights
;
 
the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; 
 
the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program; and 
 
the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program.
 
 
In addition, the bill requires agencies renewing or issuing specified permits under the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act to consider the cumulative impacts of pollution.
 
The bill also allows individuals to bring actions under the Civil Rights Act against entities that receive federal assistance and engage in discriminatory practices that have a disparate impact. Currently, individuals must request that federal agencies bring such actions on their behalf.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-04-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Introduced in House