Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 10 Democratic cosponsors · See all 11 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1350)
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 would be led by a Director appointed by the Attorney General and would be tasked with developing environmental justice strategies and coordinating matters across the Department. Additionally, the bill creates a Senior Advisory Council to provide policy recommendations and guidance to Department personnel. The legislation also establishes a grant program aimed at helping State, local, and Tribal governments enforce environmental laws. These grants would focus on training, staffing, and community engagement efforts.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes an Office of Environmental Justice and a grant program to enhance the enforcement of environmental laws.
- Scored +6
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides specific support for Tribal and Indigenous populations to enforce environmental laws and participate in decision-making.
- Scored +6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill addresses the legacy of racism by ensuring equitable environmental protection for marginalized communities.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $500 million in new spending over ten years for the environmental justice grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection from Health Hazards: The bill defines environmental justice as ensuring all people are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects, including those related to climate change and the legacy of racism (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Equitable Access to Environments: The legislation aims to ensure individuals have equitable access to healthy, sustainable, and resilient environments for living, working, and cultural practices (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Increased Community Participation: The Office of Environmental Justice is tasked with promoting and protecting the public's right to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes and designing efforts to help communities understand how to participate (Section 2(b)(4)).
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Support for Local Governments: The bill establishes a grant program to improve the capacity of State, local, and Tribal governments to enforce environmental laws through training, hiring staff, and establishing collaborative programs (Section 3(b) and Section 3(e)).
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Empowerment of Indigenous and Low-Income Communities: The bill provides specific definitions and focuses on the needs of Indigenous populations and low-income communities to ensure they receive equal environmental protection (Section 2(b)(4)(E)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the text provided.
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 for Tribal and Indigenous populations to enforce environmental laws and participate in decision-making. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill targets low-income communities for enhanced environmental protection and enforcement support. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill aims to mitigate the legacy of racism and its disproportionate environmental impacts on minority communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill aims to mitigate the legacy of racism and its disproportionate environmental impacts on minority communities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill addresses the legacy of racism by ensuring equitable environmental protection for marginalized communities. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill includes disability as a protected category in its definition of environmental justice. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill focuses on protecting low-income communities from disproportionate environmental burdens.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes an Office of Environmental Justice and a grant program to enhance the enforcement of environmental laws.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires regular reporting to Congressional committees regarding the implementation of the environmental justice strategy and grant usage.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill seeks to protect communities from disproportionate adverse health effects caused by environmental hazards.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds the hiring of staff for State, local, and Tribal governments to assist in environmental law enforcement. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $500 million in new spending over ten years for the environmental justice grant program.
- 2/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1350)
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island