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119-hr-1553119th Congress
Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Introduced
Summary
Would create a new Office of Environmental Justice inside the Department of Justice to coordinate legal enforcement, training, community participation, and interagency work on pollution and other environmental justice matters. It would also establish a competitive grants program and a Senior Advisory Council to guide DOJ strategy and outreach.
Show full summary
- Low-income, minority, and Indigenous communities would get stronger routes to participate in enforcement decisions and file administrative complaints, plus access to technical and legal assistance funded through grants.
- State, local, and Tribal governments could win competitive grants of $50,000 to $1.0 million to hire enforcement staff, train agencies, or build collaborative programs; the Federal share may be up to 80% and no entity may get more than one grant.
- DOJ attorneys and U.S. Attorneys' offices would get a Director, regular guidance and training materials, and a system to track and assess environmental justice cases, plus quarterly council meetings to improve coordination with communities and regulated parties.
*Would authorize $50.0 million per year from 2026 through 2035 for the enforcement grants program, which would increase federal spending if appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Clear rules for environmental justice cases and communities
The bill would set who counts as a low‑income community. A census block group would qualify if at least 30% of people have household income at or below the larger of 80% of area median income or 200% of the federal poverty line. It would also define an environmental justice matter as a civil or criminal case with disproportionate harm to low‑income, minority, Tribal, or Indigenous communities. These definitions would guide DOJ work and who can benefit from help under the bill.
Grants to boost local environmental justice enforcement
Within 180 days, the Attorney General would set up a competitive grant program to help State, local, and Tribal governments enforce environmental justice laws. Each grant would be $50,000 to $1,000,000, and the federal share would cover up to 80% of costs unless waived. Money could train agencies, hire enforcement staff, or fund programs that give technical and legal help and engagement for affected communities. The bill would authorize $50 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035. No recipient could get more than one grant, and DOJ would report after 18 months and every two years.
New Justice Department environmental justice office
This bill would create an Office of Environmental Justice inside the Justice Department’s environment division. The Attorney General would provide the staff and funds needed and appoint a Director. The Director would set a department-wide plan every 5 years, track cases, and meet with affected communities at least every two months. A senior council would be convened within 90 days and meet at least four times a year. The council would issue guidance within 180 days and update it every 3 years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Sylvester Turner
TX • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov