FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 July 2023
Contact: Kevin McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)
Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) re-introduced a resolution with 17 of her House colleagues that would support the designation of the third week in July as “Latino Conservation Week.” The designation recognizes the important contributions of the Latino community to the outdoor economy and outdoor recreation, and the need for equal access to green spaces.
“Many Latino communities lack access to green spaces and urban parks. It is critical that Latino communities have access to outdoor recreation and green spaces, while at the same time we want to recognize many Latino leaders who work every day to make broad access a reality for our communities,” said Rep. Barragán. “In my district, children share their backyards with oil refineries and major highways that threaten our environmental and public health. In fact, Latino children are 40% more likely to die from asthma than their white counterparts, in part due to the disproportionate amount of pollution they are exposed to. Urban parks and green spaces help cool neighborhoods, clean our water, and actively filter air pollution. This resolution continues to build on our never-ending work to reduce pollution in low-income communities and communities of color and improve accessibility to green spaces for all.”
“Latino Conservation Week helps break down barriers for Latino communities to access public lands and waters, encourages new opportunities for engagement and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “We are grateful for Representative Barragán’s championship of this special time of year, in which thousands of Latinos participate nationwide, and for supporting equitable access to nature for our communities.”
The resolution raises concerns about the unequal access to urban parks, greenspaces, and wildlands that Latino communities across the country experience, and the large environmental and health disparities that disproportionately impact Latino communities. Two-thirds of Latinos say the health of themselves and their families have been harmed due to the high levels of air pollution and water contamination they are exposed to in their communities. The proximity of natural spaces to Latino communities can help mitigate air pollution and extreme heat that exacerbates the pollution.
Congresswoman Barragán was joined in reintroducing the resolution by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Daren Soto (FL-09), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), Rep. Tony Cárdenas, (CA-29), Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).
The resolution is supported by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition Central Coast Climate Justice Network, IDEAS For Us, Healthy Ocean Coalition, Afuera Outdoors, Nuevo Empezar Church Of God, Defensores de la Cuenca, Inland Ocean Coalition, HG Conservation Solutions, Public Land Solutions, Appalachian Voices, Wyoming Outdoor Council, Iglesia cristiana fuente de vida eterna, IGLESIA HISPANA DE LA COMUNIDAD, Surfrider Foundation, Iglesia cristiana Fuente de Vida Eterna, Colorado State University Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI@CSU), Friends of the Earth, Protegete, Saved By Nature, Environmental Center of San Diego, Western Watersheds Project, Piers Park Sailing Center, Mojave Desert Land Trust, The Frontera Land Alliance, Treesources, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), Los Padres ForestWatch, Latino Outdoors, American Hiking Society, Vet Voice Foundation , Transformados En Cristo FMC, Nature for All, Migrant Journey, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Endangered, Habitats League, Valley Eco, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, The Ocean Project , Children & Nature Network, Corazón Latino, Chesapeake Conservancy, Hope Center , Huellas Latinas, López-Wagner Strategies , Amigos for Monarchs , Raw Figs Pop-Up, National Ocean Protection Coalition, Trust for Public Land, American Rivers, Great River Greening, Justice Outside, Oasis of Restoration Church, Monterey Bay Aquarium , Black Millennials 4 Flint, Creation Justice Ministries, Friends of the Desert Mountains, San Diego Audubon Society, Azul, Brown Girl Surf, California Environmental Voters, Patagonia, Greenfield Community Science Workshop, Idaho Latino Conservation Week Committee, CEAS Amigos en Cristo, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Azul, KABOOM!, Peques Nature Club (Idaho), Azul, Community Climate Collaborative (C3), Appalachian Mountain Club, Friends of the Dunes, Tykee James, EcoMadres, National Wildlife Refuge Association, GreenLatinos, YIMBY Latinx, and Next 100 Coalition.
For the resolution text, click here.
For a list of quotes from the sponsoring organizations, click here.
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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, and on the House Energy and Commerce Health, Energy, and Environment & Climate Change Subcommittees.