FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 26, 2026
CONTACTS:
Climate Justice Alliance (CJA): kayla@unbendablemedia.com
EJLF/WE ACT for Environmental Justice: ashley.sullivan@weact.org
Platform for a Just Climate/CEED: press@ceed.org
Environmental Justice organizations are celebrating the formation of the House Environmental Justice Caucus as a historic step towards building the just climate future our communities deserve
WASHINGTON – Environmental justice organizations and coalitions from across the country stood in Washington, DC alongside Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), & Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) as they announced the formation of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The formation of the House EJ Caucus was announced at 10 am ET on March 26, 2026, and the conversation is available here. The briefing and panel was open to members of the press and environmental justice leaders.
The co-leads of the new House EJ Caucus have a strong record of championing justice for the pollution-burdened communities they represent in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Now, they are partnering with grassroots coalitions Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum (EJLF) hosted by WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Platform for a Just Climate (formerly known as the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform), together representing millions of people across the U.S., to ensure that frontline communities across the nation have a voice in Congress.
Communities on the frontlines of climate change and toxic pollution have long been neglected and underrepresented, while corporate polluters buy their way into Congress and lobby for policies that put polluter profits over human health and our lives. Today’s announcement is a significant step toward ensuring that frontline communities aren’t locked out of decisions in Congress, and that people — not polluters — are at the forefront of shaping the just and equitable climate and environmental policies that benefit everyone.
Environmental policies are too often written by and for corporate lobbyists; CJA, EJLF, and the Platform for a Just Climate are celebrating the House EJ Caucus’ commitment to ensuring that those on the frontlines are central to shaping policies that impact their lives. EJ organizations across the nation stand ready to support the next stage of a truly participatory community involvement process, building off the historic input tours that built earlier versions of the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act.
Despite the challenges of the current political climate, the grassroots coalitions supporting this effort are hopeful that, through the power of our solidarity and the support of the House EJ Caucus, we will build momentum to advance community-led, bold, and transformative environmental justice policies.
Quotes:
“Together, our coalition of environmental justice and national partners are organizing to ensure impacted communities have a voice in creating the healthy and just climate future we all deserve. We are fighting for a Congress and a government that will finally put people before polluters and bring an end to the environmental injustices our communities face. The formation of the House Environmental Justice Caucus is a critical step toward bringing frontline communities into policymaking and ensuring that public health is no longer secondary to corporate profits.” – Dalal Aboulhosn, Coalition Member of the Platform for a Just Climate & Senior Director of Program & Policy at Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED)
“There is an incredible legacy of environmental justice leadership in the House of Representatives. In the face of the administration’s relentless attacks on environmental justice and its rollbacks of nearly every environmental and public health regulation protecting our communities, the launch of this caucus demonstrates that the environmental justice movement in Congress is as strong as ever – and needs to be. We are proud to support Representatives Lee, Tlaib, and Grijalva’s leadership in the next chapter of federal environmental justice policies and look forward to working together to advance thoughtful, community-led legislation that supports a healthier and more equitable future for all.” – Denise Patel, National Organizing Director, Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, Hosted by WE ACT for Environmental Justice
“Climate Justice Alliance applauds the launch of the Environmental Justice Caucus in the House of Representatives today by Representatives Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Summer Lee (PA-12) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12). While late Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and A. Donald McEachin tirelessly worked to uplift environmental justice policy. This formation brings us hope for centering historically overburdened and underrepresented communities in climate, energy, and environmental policy at a time when big business and billionaires are gaining more power and control over all of us. As we approach the 35th anniversary of the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, the 17 principles of Environmental Justice that came out of it are more relevant than ever before. We appreciate the possibility and promise of this Caucus, alongside frontline communities, to enact just and fair legislation that will protect our kids, families, and communities by holding industry accountable, safeguarding our public health, and protecting our environment far into the future. Our federal policy should always aim to codify our inherent human rights to clean air, water, and land.” – Mar Zepeda Salazar, Legislative Director, Climate Justice Alliance
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About WE ACT
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan membership-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.
About EJLF
The Environmental Justice Leadership Forum (EJLF) is a national coalition of nearly 40 organizations in 22 states who work to ensure that a diverse grassroots perspective is reflected in federal, state, and local programming and policy decisions. Organizations are based in red, blue, and swing states, including those in Appalachia, the Deep South, Northwest, Midwest, Northeast and Southwest regions. EJLF members represent Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income communities in large cities to rural areas. These groups are actively working together to advance key climate justice and environmental policy to ensure the protection and advancement of communities of color and low-income communities throughout the U.S. The EJLF is hosted by WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
About Climate Justice Alliance
CJA is a growing member alliance of over 100 urban and rural frontline communities, organizations and supporting networks in the climate justice movement. CJA unites our membership to build a Just Transition away from our current extractive systems of production, consumption, and political oppression and towards resilient, regenerative, and equitable economies. We support our members to build local, community controlled alternatives that center traditional, ecological, and cultural knowledge and create pathways for a regenerative future.
About CEED + Platform for Just Climate
The Platform for a Just Climate, a project of the Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED), is a national coalition working to build power for environmental justice with frontline communities and the organizations supporting them. The Platform for a Just Climate (formerly known as the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform/EJNCP) works to ensure those most harmed by climate change and the fossil fuel economy can actively participate in developing, winning, and implementing environmental policies that address community needs. Together, we hold a commitment to advocate for: A healthy climate with clean air and water for all ; Access to affordable, pollution-free electricity, transportation and housing; A just and equitable clean energy economy with high-quality jobs.