Washington, D.C. – The Sunrise Movement and other progressive groups are joining with environmental justice advocates and national environmental groups in calling for the Build Back Better Act to include critical funding that will allow the Biden Administration to meet the president’s commitment to deliver 40% of the benefits of his historic climate and infrastructure package to communities that have historically suffered from a lack of investments and opportunities.
“Right now, we’re at a pivotal moment, where Democrats have three branches of government and the opportunity to deliver life saving climate legislation for the country,” said Varshini Prakash, Executive Director of Sunrise Movement. “We’re fighting right now to ensure Biden and Congress do not backtrack or water down their commitments to deliver bold investments in environmental justice and good jobs to tackle the climate crisis. This means delivering full funding towards environmental justice priorities and a Civilian Climate Corps — anything less fails to meet the moment of the climate crisis.”
Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden have a critical opportunity to join forces to turn the tide against environmental injustice, economic inequality and climate change, the leaders wrote in a letter to Congress and the Biden Administration. Congress must pass a Build Back Better package that delivers economic, public health and environmental benefits and puts us on an ambitious emission reduction path to avert a climate catastrophe. Additionally, the Build Back Better Act must create pathways for environmental justice communities to access high quality and family sustaining jobs and enter a new green economy.
“Thirty years have passed since grassroots environmental justice leaders came to the Capitol to make the voices of communities devastated by environmental contamination heard,” said Dr. Mildred McClain of The Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice. “President Biden and the Democratic majority ran on a promise of taking action. It is time for them to deliver.”
The letter urges Congress to ensure that certain programs remain fully funded in the Build Back Better Act in order to ensure a rapid transition towards a pollution-free, inclusive, and just economy, including:
- Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants
- Healthy Ports
- Pollution Clean-up
- Equitable and Sustainable Community Development
- Investments in the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) for community engagement
- Civilian Climate Corps (CCC)
“The industrial facilities disproportionately pumping billions of pounds of pollution into the air and water in communities of color lead to higher rates of cancer, asthma, heart disease, and other life-threatening health problems,” said Michele Roberts of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform. “Until we address that poisonous legacy, these communities lack the freedom to participate equally in the economy and enjoy the opportunities guaranteed to all Americans.”
“Addressing injustice and training a new generation of workers to thrive in a clean economy is the core promise of Build Back Better,” said John Podesta, founder of the Center for American Progress. “Every worker deserves fair opportunities and good-paying jobs with benefits like healthcare, childcare, and the right to collective bargaining. We stand united in the need to get this done.”
“Climate change is an existential threat, and for too long, our low-wealth communities and communities of color have borne the brunt of environmental injustices.” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “It is critical that the Build Back Better Act invests in environmental justice priorities that not only correct these historical injustices, but create new economic opportunities—priorities like the Healthy Ports provision, which would give ports the resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create good jobs in our environmental justice communities. These priorities are an important step toward advancing economic and environmental equity.”
A full list of critical environmental justice investments that must be included in the Build Back Better Act can be found here.
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Ari Drennen at adrennen@americanprogress.org, Eden Alem at eden@sunrisemovement.org, or Jake Thompson at jthompson@nrdc.org.
