FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán released the below statement on the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s new implementation guidance for the Justice40 Initiative.
“As chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Climate Change Task Force, I applaud the White House Council for Environmental Quality for taking an important step in implementing President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative. In May, the CHC wrote a letter to Chair Mallory with six recommendations on how to effectively implement Justice40 to address public health and environmental disparities in the Latino community, communities of color, and low-income communities historically overburdened by pollution.
“It’s clear from this Interim Guidance that the White House has included many of our recommendations in their implementation approach, particularly around developing a mapping tool, tracking benefits and investments, and modifying existing programs to maximize benefits.
“I look forward to working with the White House Council for Environmental Quality on additional guidance and implementation steps in the months to come.”
In President Biden’s January 27 Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, the Justice40 Initiative was created with the goal of delivering 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal climate investments to disadvantaged communities.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.