The Biden administration could soon fulfill its promise to create a Senate-confirmed position that coordinates environmental justice initiatives across EPA.
In his first budget blueprint, President Biden proposed that an EPA assistant administrator for environment justice be created. This would allow the agency to make more informed decisions on the issue.
Observers believe that the omnibus bill, which is an appropriations package for all federal agencies, will provide the money necessary to fund the new position at EPA. It is possible that this legislation could be adopted as early as next month.
The omnibus provides the best chance to obtain the funding you need, according to Mustafa Santiago Ali. He is a former EPA environmental justice officer and is now vice president at National Wildlife Federation.
The proposal, which is included in the EPA’s fiscal 2022 budget, is being implemented by EPA. Justification for Congress, and plans work with Capitol Hill for its implementation.
Administrators place environmental justice as a priority [Michael]Lindsay Hamilton, EPA spokesperson told E&E News that Regan and the Biden–Harris administration were discussed by Lindsay Hamilton.
Biden’s fiscal plan has an additional $287 million and at least another 171 full-time employees for environmental justice programs at EPA, according to budget documents.
Hamilton pointed out that Hamilton believes the proposed reorganization will improve environmental justice and be considered across all agencies’ regional offices, national program managers, and statutory authorities. She added that the proposed position would also include an assistant administrator, who would be nominated by President Obama and confirmed by Senate.
Hamilton stated that EPA would work with Congress and OMB as it designs the new national office for environmental justice. EPA will provide all information regarding the reorganization, including the structure, staffing, and budget.
The spokesperson for the agency said that EPA relied on the authority of Executive Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970The agency was established by the Housekeeping Authority.
The Trump administration was the last time this happened. The EPA created the assistant administrator position for the Office of Mission Support in 2018, which was merged from two existing offices.
The EPA already has an Office of Environmental Justice. It is located in the policy shop of the administrators office. Robin Morris Collin, the senior adviser to the administrator of environmental justice, was also hired by the agency last week. This is a job that is not part of the Bidens budget.
A Senate-confirmed assistant administrator could lead an environmental justice program office that is stocked with cash and be the most powerful advocate for environmental causes at EPA.
According to LaTricea Adams (member of Biden’s environmental justice advisory council, founder of Black Millennials for Flint), “I think it would be advantageous to bring in someone who has some teeth in this game.”
It was a positive that more talent would be allocated to this work due to its sheer size. It’s a daunting task.
Environmental justice activists are growing frustrated with the slow pace at which the administration is implementing early promises, such as Justice40, the Biden plan to direct 40% of energy-related investment benefits towards disadvantaged communities.
The details of how these benefits will be calculated are still unclear. To add to the frustration, White House delayed the release of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. This will help determine how federal money gets to communities that most need it. It is currently being released (Check out this related story).
Lawmakers push to ‘elevate’ environmental justice
Appropriators on Capitol Hill have already hinted they are in favor of EPA’s reorganization to emphasize environmental justice at the agency.
House lawmakers applauded the agency’s efforts, according to a Report of the committeeThe appropriations bill funding EPA is also included. They also plan to prioritize environmental justice.
“Given the significantly expanded role that environmental justice is to play in all other programs and media offices, the Committee is elevating Environmental Justice to its own Program Area,” the report said.
This includes $100 million to fund six new grant programs at EPA that will help environmental justice communities. The House appropriators recommended $247million overall for environmental justice at EPA. This represents a $235 million increase over the enacted funding.
The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee along with the report last July. The House later approved a minibus, which included EPA’s spending bill, by the end of that month.
Seneca counterparts have also praised EPA’s efforts to promote environmental justice.
Senate appropriators stated in Explanatory Statement paired with EPA’s spending bill that the committee notes with approval the Agencys interest in a strategic reorganization of its environmental justice efforts, including elevating the seniority of environmental justice leadership within the Agency.
The statement also stated that the Senate would, just like the House of Representatives, elevate environmental justice to its own program and provide $100 million for grants in environmental justice. The Senate committee recommended that the program be funded with less money, at $205 million.
The EPA spending bill was introduced in October last year but hasn’t moved further. Senators support the move.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.
According to Maya Krishna Rodgers, Sen. Cory Booker, a Democratic Senator from New Jersey, supports the creation and maintenance of the new position.
Sen. Booker believes that environmental justice should be the primary lens through which decisionmaking at EPA should take place. She stated to E&E News that creating an assistant administrator-level position would help us move towards this goal.
How environmental justice’s elevation is funded and shaped at EPA remains to be seen.
This week, senators are preparing to pass short-term financing, which the House has already approved. This will keep the government open until March 11. The lawmakers will then be able to pass an Omnibus Package to fund the government through the remainder of the year.
Last week, Democrats Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, of Connecticut, were the Congress appropriations chairmen, and announced a framework for the massive spending bill. Individual programs, such as environmental justice at EPA (Environmental Justice), are still being worked on.
“Negotiations are ongoing to finalize programmatic funding and policy provisions for fiscal year 2022 appropriations,” a House Democratic appropriations committee aide who asked not to be named, told E&E News. “The committee does not have updates on individual items.”
Even with a well-funded program office for environmental justice, confirming a new EPA nominee to lead it won’t be easy. Biden has four pending nominees to the agency, and they are still being held by Republican senators. This is more than a full year into his presidency.E&E News PM, Feb. 16).
EPA puts environmental justice first
Since his tenure as EPA Director, Regan has pushed environmental justice.
Regan stated in an interview that to succeed, we must incorporate equity and environmental justice principles into all EPA policies, programs, and practices. Email sent agencywide last April.
The administrator also visited communities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas that are suffering from pollution. Last month, he announced a series of steps that EPA would take to help these communities recover.Greenwire, Jan. 26).
EPA has also suggested a new Strategic planIt emphasizes environmental justice. The plan introduces a new founding principle, which is advance equity and justice.
A large influx of funds to fund a new program office led by a Senate-confirmed leader could have a greater impact on EPA’s environmental justice efforts than administrative actions.
Given that it is an election year, lawmakers may find themselves in a tight spot. After the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats could lose control in the House, Senate, or both.
Ali stated that if you don’t get anything done in the next eight month, and if Republicans win the House, a lot will be taken away.
He said, “They will be the chair of committees and the final votes on a bunch of things.” It can get really difficult politically unless there is a mindshift and they see value protecting vulnerable communities.