• Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Environment Subcommittee• Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee• Highways and Transit Subcommittee• Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee• Aviation Subcommittee• Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
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.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
Advisory bodiesAir qualityCivil actions and liabilityClimate change and greenhouse gasesDisaster relief and insuranceDue process and equal protectionEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental regulatory proceduresExecutive agency funding and structureExecutive Office of the PresidentFood supply, safety, and labelingGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsInfrastructure developmentLand use and conservationLicensing and registrationsMedical researchMiningMinority healthPerformance measurementPoverty and welfare assistancePublic participation and lobbyingRacial and ethnic relationsResearch administration and fundingSoil pollutionSolid waste and recyclingWater quality
Environmental Justice Act of 2021
USA117th CongressHR-2434| House
| Updated: 10/19/2021
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.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
• Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee• Environment Subcommittee• Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee• Highways and Transit Subcommittee• Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee• Aviation Subcommittee• Natural Resources Committee
Advisory bodiesAir qualityCivil actions and liabilityClimate change and greenhouse gasesDisaster relief and insuranceDue process and equal protectionEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental regulatory proceduresExecutive agency funding and structureExecutive Office of the PresidentFood supply, safety, and labelingGovernment information and archivesIndian lands and resources rightsInfrastructure developmentLand use and conservationLicensing and registrationsMedical researchMiningMinority healthPerformance measurementPoverty and welfare assistancePublic participation and lobbyingRacial and ethnic relationsResearch administration and fundingSoil pollutionSolid waste and recyclingWater quality