To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to continue to carry out certain programs relating to environmental justice, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-6692
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2020-05-01
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Community life and organization

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Environmental regulatory procedures

Government studies and investigations

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Minority health

Racial and ethnic relations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2020 (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.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6692 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2020 Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Mr. McEachin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee 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 require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to continue to carry out certain programs relating to environmental justice, and for other purposes.

1. 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) The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a nonenforcement policy under all environmental laws during the COVID–19 pandemic for monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. (6) This policy is likely to increase the pollution burden in environmental justice communities and decrease access to monitoring data and information. (7) Citizen science will be essential for environmental justice communities to protect themselves during this pandemic. 2. 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 to carry out the programs described in subsection (a) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. (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; or (B) investigate or address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID–19 pandemic in environmental justice communities. (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).