WASHINGTON – Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-94) and NanetteDiaz Barragn (44) today wrote a letter urging the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment leaders to include various environmental justice provisions within the 2022 Water Resources Development and Act (WRDA).
The letter begins with the following:
We appreciate the Committee’s dedication to effectively addressing the water resources issues facing the most vulnerable communities in the country. This commitment was clearly reflected by the Water Resources Development Act of 2019 (WRDA of 2020), which included important reforms that improved the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers consultation with disadvantaged communities. They also prioritized resilience planning in economically disadvantaged communities. A pilot program was established to facilitate flood risk management planning in underserved communities.
But, there is more to be done in order to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers has what it takes to support community-supported solutions to the water resources problems that plague many of the most vulnerable communities in the country.
You can read the entire letter here.
The letter outlines six policy changes that can be submitted as policy priorities to the WRDA portal 2022 portal.
To increase the agency’s expertise and capacity, a Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice was created within the Office of the Chief of Engineers.
A standing Federal Advisory Committee on Environmental Justice was established to provide meaningful public input on the issue of environmental justice.
Increasing assistance opportunities by expanding the ten community Pilot Program for Economically Disadvantaged Community;
Maximizing toxics mitigation in ecological restoration, navigation and flood resistance projects
Establishing an Environmental Justice Innovation Center to train Corps personnel to solve water resource problems at a community scale that is cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
To support minority-owned companies, the Corps should direct its collaboration, contracting, subcontracting with them to improve their gender-based as well as race-based outcomes.
Representatives Cohen, Barragn, and Adriano Espaillat signed the letter.
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