FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2021
Contact: Anastasia Gordon, anastasia@weact.org, 646-341-2588
Washington, D.C. – Today, WE ACT for Environmental Justice responded to passage of HR.3684 Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and the status of the Build Back Better Act:
For too long, environmental racism has perpetuated environmental degradation and disproportionate health impacts in communities of color and areas of low income. The $1.2 trillion of infrastructure investments in HR.3684 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will bring overdue resources to support legacy pollution cleanups, upgrade water infrastructure, and begin the process of reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector. The infrastructure bill will also usher in a permanent weakening of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by shortening opportunities for public input, abbreviating permitting procedure for large infrastructure projects, and increasing state authority to exclude projects from the NEPA review process.
People who have suffered decades of neglect need the investments in both the infrastructure bill and Build Back Better Act in order to experience a just and equitable future. We urge the Senate to pass HR.5376 Build Back Better Act immediately, and to retain full funding for key priorities that will deliver on Justice40, climate and infrastructure investments such as:
- $3 billion for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants
- $280.5 million for Air Quality Monitoring
- $9 billion for Lead Remediation
- $5 billion for Energy Workers and Communities
- $47.6 billion for Affordable and Sustainable Housing
- $3 billion for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants
- $12.5 billion for Home Energy Efficiency and Electrification
- $8.56 billion for Zero-Emission Transportation and Goods Movement
- $30 billion for the Civilian Climate Corps Program with a specialized Frontline Climate Corps that prioritizes individuals living in environmental justice
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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, Twitter, and Instagram.