Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Time: 09:30 AM
Location: Longworth House Office Building 1324
Presiding: The Honorable Raúl M. Grijalva, Chair

On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern in Room 1324 Longworth Hearing Room and via Webex, and livestreamed on the Committee’s YouTube page, the House Committee on Natural Resources will meet to consider the following bill:

• H.R.2021, the Environmental Justice For All Act. The bill addresses the impacts of environmental racism on people of color, low-income communities and tribal nations.

“The legislation is rooted in the moral principle that all people have the right to pure air, clean water, and an environment that enriches life,” supports of the Environmental Justice For All Act write in an explanation of H.R.2021. “It is informed by the belief that federal policy can and should seek to achieve environmental justice, health equity, and climate justice for all underserved communities.”

Today, we're going to take a historic step to ensure that families across this country have clean air to breathe, water to drink, and an environment in which they can live without fear of corporate polluters.@NRDems are going to pass #EJforAll. pic.twitter.com/osp49tV6le

— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) July 27, 2022

The bill requires federal agencies, when carrying out the National Environmental Policy Act, to ensure tribal governments are consulted on actions that affect them. According to H.R.2021, the actions include decisions affecting sacred sites and off-reservation lands.

The bill also requires most federal agencies to establish an environmental justice strategy. According to H.R.2021, the strategy must address disproportionate impacts of federal environmental policy on tribal and Indigenous communities.

Additionally, the bill requires the establishment of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. According to H.R.2021, membership shall include representatives of tribal and Indigenous communities, along with representatives of tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations.

Full Committee Markup Notice (naturalreosources.house.gov)
Markup of HR 2021, To restore, reaffirm, and reconcile environmental justice and civil rights, and for other purposes. “Environmental Justice For All Act” (docs.house.gov)