Nanette Barragán (D-CA)
Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 18 Democratic cosponsors · See all 18 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025 seeks to establish an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice. This Office will be led by a Director who is responsible for developing an environmental justice strategy and coordinating various Department matters. To support this, a Senior Advisory Council will be created to advise the Assistant Attorney General on policy and initiatives. The bill also establishes a grant program to help State, local, and Tribal governments improve their ability to enforce environmental laws. These grants are intended to fund training, staffing, and community outreach efforts. The Act aims to protect all people from disproportionate environmental and health risks regardless of their background or income.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides specific support and agency to Tribal and Indigenous populations for environmental justice.
- Scored +8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes an Office of Environmental Justice to better enforce environmental laws and protect communities.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets low-income communities for enhanced environmental protection and enforcement support.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection from Health Risks: The bill aims to ensure people are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects and hazards, including those related to climate change and the legacy of racism (Section 2(a)(3)(A)).
-
Equitable Environmental Access: It seeks to provide individuals with equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment for living, working, and engaging in cultural practices (Section 2(a)(3)(B)).
-
Increased Community Participation: The Office is tasked with promoting and protecting the public's right to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes regarding environmental justice (Section 2(b)(4)(D)).
-
Support for Local Governments: Through a grant program, State, local, and Tribal governments can receive funding to train agencies, hire staff for investigations, and establish collaborative programs for community outreach (Section 3(e)).
-
Enhanced Communication: The Office will design communications to help communities understand how to participate in environmental justice matters and how to file administrative complaints (Section 2(b)(4)(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated within the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides specific support and agency to Tribal and Indigenous populations for environmental justice. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets low-income communities for enhanced environmental protection and enforcement support. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses the legacy of racism and its impact on environmental health risks. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill protects communities of color from disproportionate environmental and health hazards. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill explicitly includes people with disabilities in its definition of environmental justice protections. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions for tribal and indigenous communities often found in rural areas. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill focuses on community engagement and environmental protection that often benefits high-density areas.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill seeks to address the legacy of racism and structural barriers through environmental justice oversight. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill includes disability as a protected characteristic in the definition of environmental justice. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill targets low-income communities to ensure they are protected from disproportionate environmental hazards.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes an Office of Environmental Justice to better enforce environmental laws and protect communities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill creates systems for tracking environmental justice matters and requires regular reporting to Congress.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill focuses on environmental health protections rather than pandemic preparedness.
- 11/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/29/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/3/2025
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 2/25/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Shontel BrownDemocrat · Ohio
Jasmine CrockettDemocrat · Texas
Diana DeGetteDemocrat · Colorado
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Timothy KennedyDemocrat · New York
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Doris MatsuiDemocrat · California
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Sylvester TurnerDemocrat · Texas
Maxine WatersDemocrat · California