Bill · S. 720· Senate(119-S-720)
Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/25/2025
- Last activity
- 2/25/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1350)
- Sponsored by
- Alex Padilla
- Cosponsors
- - 10 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 seeks to establish an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice. This Office would be led by a Director appointed by the Attorney General and would be tasked with developing environmental justice strategies and coordinating matters across the Department. Additionally, the bill creates a Senior Advisory Council to provide policy recommendations and guidance to Department personnel. The legislation also establishes a grant program aimed at helping State, local, and Tribal governments enforce environmental laws. These grants would focus on training, staffing, and community engagement efforts.
Yes· 3 of 11
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+7
The bill establishes an Office of Environmental Justice and a grant program to enhance the enforcement of environmental laws.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+6
The bill provides specific support for Tribal and Indigenous populations to enforce environmental laws and participate in decision-making.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+6
The bill addresses the legacy of racism by ensuring equitable environmental protection for marginalized communities.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill authorizes $500 million in new spending over ten years for the environmental justice grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection from Health Hazards: The bill defines environmental justice as ensuring all people are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects, including those related to climate change and the legacy of racism (Section 2(a)(3)).
-
Equitable Access to Environments: The legislation aims to ensure individuals have equitable access to healthy, sustainable, and resilient environments for living, working, and cultural practices (Section 2(a)(3)).
-
Increased Community Participation: The Office of Environmental Justice is tasked with promoting and protecting the public's right to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes and designing efforts to help communities understand how to participate (Section 2(b)(4)).
-
Support for Local Governments: The bill establishes a grant program to improve the capacity of State, local, and Tribal governments to enforce environmental laws through training, hiring staff, and establishing collaborative programs (Section 3(b) and Section 3(e)).
-
Empowerment of Indigenous and Low-Income Communities: The bill provides specific definitions and focuses on the needs of Indigenous populations and low-income communities to ensure they receive equal environmental protection (Section 2(b)(4)(E)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For African Americans+4Good For Hispanic Americans+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+6Improves Disability Rights+3Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+4
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Reduces Government Spending-2
- 2/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1350)
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island