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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6615 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6615
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a grant program for projects and activities to address
climate justice concerns of environmental justice communities, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2025
Ms. Barragan introduced the following bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a grant program for projects and activities to address
climate justice concerns of environmental justice communities, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Justice Grants Act''.
SEC. 2. CLIMATE JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a program
under which the Administrator shall provide grants to eligible entities
to assist the eligible entities in--
(1) building capacity to address issues relating to climate
justice; and
(2) carrying out any activity described in subsection (d).
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall be a Tribal government, local
government, or nonprofit, community-based organization.
(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Administrator may require, including--
(1) an outline describing the means by which the project
proposed by the eligible entity will--
(A) with respect to climate justice issues at the
local level, increase the understanding of the
environmental justice community at which the eligible
entity will conduct the project;
(B) improve the ability of the environmental
justice community to address each issue described in
subparagraph (A);
(C) facilitate collaboration and cooperation among
various stakeholders (including members of the
environmental justice community); and
(D) support the ability of the environmental
justice community to proactively plan and implement
climate justice initiatives;
(2) a proposed budget for each activity of the project that
is the subject of the application;
(3) a list of proposed outcomes with respect to the
proposed project;
(4) a description of the ways by which the eligible entity
may leverage the funds of the eligible entity, or the funds
made available through a grant under this subsection, to
develop a project that is capable of being sustained beyond the
period of the grant; and
(5) a description of the ways by which the eligible entity
is linked to, and representative of, the environmental justice
community at which the eligible entity will conduct the
project.
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may only use a grant under
this subsection to carry out culturally and linguistically appropriate
projects and activities that are driven by the needs, opportunities,
and priorities of the environmental justice community at which the
eligible entity proposes to conduct the project or activity to address
climate justice concerns of the environmental justice community,
including activities--
(1) to create or develop collaborative partnerships;
(2) to educate and provide outreach services to the
environmental justice community on climate justice; and
(3) to identify and implement projects to address climate
justice concerns, including community solar and wind energy
projects, energy efficiency, home and building electrification,
home and building weatherization, energy storage, solar and
wind energy supported microgrids, battery electric vehicles,
electric vehicle charging infrastructure, natural
infrastructure, and climate resilient infrastructure.
(e) Limitations on Amount.--The amount of a grant under this
section may not exceed $2,000,000 for any grant recipient.
(f) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Administrator shall submit to the Committees on Energy and
Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the
ways by which the grant program under this subsection has
helped eligible entities address issues relating to energy and
climate justice.
(2) Public availability.--The Administrator shall make each
report required under paragraph (1) available to the public
(including by posting a copy of the report on the website of
the Environmental Protection Agency).
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2026 through 2035. The Administrator may not use more than
2 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year for
administrative expenses, including outreach and technical assistance to
eligible entities.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Climate justice.--The term ``climate justice'' means
the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
individuals, regardless of race, color, culture, national
origin, educational level, or income, with respect to the
development, implementation, and enforcement of policies and
projects that address climate change, a recognition of the
historical responsibilities for climate change, and a
commitment that the people and communities least responsible
for climate change, and most vulnerable to the impacts of
climate change, do not suffer disproportionately as a result of
historical injustice and disinvestment.
(3) Environmental justice community.--The term
``environmental justice community'' means any population of
color, community of color, indigenous community, or low-income
community that experiences a disproportionate burden of the
negative human health and environmental impacts of pollution or
other environmental hazards.
(4) Indigenous community.--The term ``indigenous
community'' means--
(A) a federally recognized Indian Tribe;
(B) a State-recognized Indian Tribe;
(C) an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community
or organization; and
(D) any other community of indigenous people,
including communities in other countries.
(5) Low income.--The term ``low income'' means an annual
household income equal to, or less than, the greater of--
(A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median
income of the area in which the household is located,
as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and
(B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
(6) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income
community'' means any census block group in which 30 percent or
more of the population are individuals with low income.
(7) Natural infrastructure.--The term ``natural
infrastructure'' means infrastructure that uses, restores, or
emulates natural ecological processes and--
(A) is created through the action of natural
physical, geological, biological, and chemical
processes over time;
(B) is created by human design, engineering, and
construction to emulate or act in concert with natural
processes; or
(C) involves the use of plants, soils, and other
natural features, including through the creation,
restoration, or preservation of vegetated areas using
materials appropriate to the region to manage
stormwater and runoff, to attenuate flooding and storm
surges, and for other related purposes.
(8) Population of color.--The term ``population of color''
means a population of individuals who identify as--
(A) Black;
(B) African American;
(C) Asian;
(D) Pacific Islander;
(E) another non-White race;
(F) Hispanic;
(G) Latino; or
(H) linguistically isolated.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
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