Bills Sec. 16 — Environmental justice grant programs

The Administrator shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide grants to eligible entities to assist the eligible entities in— building capacity to address issues relating to environmental justice; and carrying out any activity described in paragraph (4). To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall be a nonprofit, community-based organization that conducts activities, including providing medical and preventive health services, to reduce the disproportionate health impacts of environmental pollution in the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity proposes to conduct an activity that is the subject of the application described in paragraph (3).

To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including— an outline describing the means by which the project proposed by the eligible entity will— with respect to environmental and public health issues at the local level, increase the understanding of the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity will conduct the project; improve the ability of the environmental justice community to address each issue described in clause (i); facilitate collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders (including members of the environmental justice community); and support the ability of the environmental justice community to proactively plan and implement just sustainable community development and revitalization initiatives, including countering displacement and gentrification; a proposed budget for each activity of the project that is the subject of the application; a list of proposed outcomes with respect to the proposed project; a description of the ways by which the eligible entity may leverage the funds of the eligible entity, or the funds made available through a grant under this subsection, to develop a project that is capable of being sustained beyond the period of the grant; and a description of the ways by which the eligible entity is linked to, and representative of, the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity will conduct the project.

An eligible entity may only use a grant under this subsection to carry out culturally and linguistically appropriate projects and activities that are driven by the needs, opportunities, and priorities of the environmental justice community at which the eligible entity proposes to conduct the project or activity to address environmental justice concerns and improve the health or environment of the environmental justice community, including activities— to create or develop collaborative partnerships; to educate and provide outreach services to the environmental justice community; to identify and implement projects to address environmental or public health concerns; or to develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental or public health issues.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the ways by which the grant program under this subsection has helped community-based nonprofit organizations address issues relating to environmental justice.

The Administrator shall make each report required under subparagraph

(A)available to the public (including by posting a copy of the report on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency). There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. The Administrator shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide grants to States to enable the States— to establish culturally and linguistically appropriate protocols, activities, and mechanisms for addressing issues relating to environmental justice; and to carry out culturally and linguistically appropriate activities to reduce or eliminate disproportionately adverse human health or environmental effects on environmental justice communities in the State, including reducing economic vulnerabilities that result in the environmental justice communities being disproportionately affected. To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a State shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including— a plan that contains a description of the means by which the funds provided through a grant under paragraph

(1)will be used to address issues relating to environmental justice at the State level; and assurances that the funds provided through a grant under paragraph

(1)will be used only to supplement the amount of funds that the State allocates for initiatives relating to environmental justice. To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a State shall demonstrate to the Administrator that the State has the ability to continue each program that is the subject of funds provided through a grant under paragraph

(1)after receipt of the funds. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing— the implementation of the grant program established under paragraph (1); the impact of the grant program on improving the ability of each participating State to address environmental justice issues; and the activities carried out by each State to reduce or eliminate disproportionately adverse human health or environmental effects on environmental justice communities in the State. The Administrator shall make each report required under subparagraph

(A)available to the public (including by posting a copy of the report on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency). There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. The Administrator shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide grants to Tribal Governments to enable the Indian Tribes— to establish culturally and linguistically appropriate protocols, activities, and mechanisms for addressing issues relating to environmental justice; and to carry out culturally and linguistically appropriate activities to reduce or eliminate disproportionately adverse human health or environmental effects on environmental justice communities in Tribal and Indigenous communities, including reducing economic vulnerabilities that result in the Tribal and Indigenous communities being disproportionately affected. To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a Tribal Government shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including— a plan that contains a description of the means by which the funds provided through a grant under paragraph

(1)will be used to address issues relating to environmental justice in Tribal and Indigenous communities; and assurances that the funds provided through a grant under paragraph

(1)will be used only to supplement the amount of funds that the Tribal Government allocates for initiatives relating to environmental justice. To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a Tribal Government shall demonstrate to the Administrator that the Tribal Government has the ability to continue each program that is the subject of funds provided through a grant under paragraph

(1)after receipt of the funds. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing— the implementation of the grant program established under paragraph (1); the impact of the grant program on improving the ability of each participating Indian Tribe to address environmental justice issues; and the activities carried out by each Tribal Government to reduce or eliminate disproportionately adverse human health or environmental effects on applicable environmental justice communities in Tribal and Indigenous communities. The Administrator shall make each report required under subparagraph

(A)available to the public (including by posting a copy of the report on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency). There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. The Administrator, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide not more than 25 multiyear grants to eligible entities to carry out community-based participatory research— to address issues relating to environmental justice; to improve the environment of residents and workers in environmental justice communities; and to improve the health outcomes of residents and workers in environmental justice communities. To be eligible to receive a multiyear grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall be a partnership composed of— an accredited institution of higher education; and a community-based organization. To be eligible to receive a multiyear grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including— a detailed description of the partnership of the eligible entity that, as determined by the Administrator, demonstrates the participation of members of the community at which the eligible entity proposes to conduct the research; and a description of— the project proposed by the eligible entity; and the ways by which the project will— address issues relating to environmental justice; assist in the improvement of health outcomes of residents and workers in environmental justice communities; and assist in the improvement of the environment of residents and workers in environmental justice communities. The Administrator shall make the results of the grants provided under this subsection available to the public, including by posting on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency a copy of the grant awards and an annual report at the beginning of each fiscal year describing the research findings associated with each grant provided under this subsection. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

Sec. 16. Environmental justice grant programs