Luz Rivas (D-CA)
Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 15 Democratic cosponsors · See all 15 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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
This legislation is known as the Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025. It requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and publish a geospatial mapping tool called the Environmental Justice Screening Tool within one year. This tool will identify disproportionately burdened communities based on specific environmental, climate change, human health, economic, and social factors. The Administrator must also gather feedback from various organizations and government officials regarding the tool's thresholds and categories. Furthermore, the Administrator is required to conduct annual reviews, update the tool as appropriate, and submit annual reports to the appropriate congressional committees. Finally, the legislation directs the head of each Federal department or agency to adopt the tool to help prioritize funding and resources to the identified communities.
Yes· 3 of 22
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Directs federal funding and resources toward low-income and disproportionately burdened communities.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Establishes an environmental justice mapping tool to identify and assist heavily burdened communities.
- Scored +5
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The screening tool identifies disproportionately burdened communities, helping address environmental and racial inequities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a): The creation and publication of a publicly available Environmental Justice Screening Tool is a positive step because it allows everyday people to clearly see which communities are disproportionately burdened.
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Section 2(b)(3): The requirement for the Administrator to solicit feedback and data from higher education institutions, nonprofits, community-based organizations, and local and tribal officials is a benefit because it helps ensure that the people most affected have a voice in shaping the tool.
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Section 2(d): The directive for Federal departments and agencies to adopt the tool and prioritize funding or resources to the identified communities is a positive provision that could directly benefit struggling areas by bringing much-needed federal help where it is most needed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the explicit text provided in the bill, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — Directs federal funding and resources toward low-income and disproportionately burdened communities. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Addresses environmental justice concerns that frequently impact minority and African American neighborhoods. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Helps identify and provide relief to Hispanic communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Engages tribal officials and considers tribal areas in identifying burdened communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban areas with high pollution and density will benefit from targeted environmental screening and resources. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural communities facing environmental hazards or natural disasters are included in the tool's scope. Would children be better off under this? — Identifies burdened communities, helping protect children from environmental hazards. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Assists low-income immigrant communities often residing near environmental hazards. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves overall community health and environmental standards. Would retired people be better off under this? — Improves health outcomes and living conditions in burdened communities where retirees live. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Health factors in the tool help direct resources to vulnerable older populations. Would women be better off under this? — Includes maternal mortality and health factors in the screening tool criteria.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Establishes an environmental justice mapping tool to identify and assist heavily burdened communities. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Integrates climate change factors and natural disaster frequency into federal resource prioritization. Does this invest in rural communities? — Includes tribal and local government officials in feedback, supporting rural and local community development.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The screening tool identifies disproportionately burdened communities, helping address environmental and racial inequities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Targeting federal resources to burdened communities aids in addressing poverty and economic disparities. Does this make housing cost less? — Economic factors such as affordable housing access are included in the screening tool's criteria.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Mandates the creation of a publicly available geospatial mapping tool and annual reporting to Congress. Does this give the federal government more power? — Requires federal agencies to adopt the tool and prioritize funding based on its metrics.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The screening tool incorporates health factors and helps target resources to underserved communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Directing federal resources to disadvantaged areas may provide targeted economic support.
- 1/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 12/17/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 12 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Nanette BarragánDemocrat · California
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Pablo HernándezDemocrat · Puerto Rico
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Stacey PlaskettDemocrat · Virgin Islands
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan