January 27, 2021

Duckworth, Booker, Carper Applaud Environmental Justice Efforts in President Biden’s Climate Action Plan

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – After President Biden took historic action to prioritize environmental justice as part of his administration’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis, the three co-founders of the U.S. Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following joint statement:

“For too long, low-income communities, indigenous communities and communities of color have been exposed to toxic pollutants and borne the brunt of the climate crisis while those in power have looked away or failed to act. As co-founders of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, we’ve long known that every American has the right to breathe safe air, drink clean water and live on uncontaminated land—regardless of their zip code, the size of their wallet or the color of their skin. We’re pleased to see President Biden take bold action so quickly to recognize this reality and prioritize environmental justice communities in his sweeping plan to tackle the climate crisis. President Biden’s Climate Action Plan brings our nation closer to achieving true environmental justice for all Americans.”

Today’s executive action establishes a government-wide Justice40 initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of President Biden’s investments to environmental justice communities, including low-income communities, communities of color as well as tribal and indigenous communities. It also establishes the first-ever White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council.

In 2019, Duckworth, Carper and Booker co-founded the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus to raise awareness of the many environmental and pollution issues that have created public health challenges, which disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. The caucus seeks to help those communities advocate for themselves with the federal government by providing expertise and assistance, generating legislation and organizing hearings and events.

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