In a collaborative effort to combat environmental injustice and uphold civil rights laws, five federal departments have joined the Justice Department in reasserting their dedication to these critical issues.
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stood in unison Monday to reaffirm their shared commitment.
“The Justice Department is committed to fully enforcing federal civil rights laws to address our nation’s legacy of environmental racism and underinvestment in communities of color,” said Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s civil rights division.
Clarke noted that the efforts mark a significant step forward in addressing historical disparities and injustices prevalent in marginalized communities.
The EPA, represented by Deputy Assistant Administrator Marianne Engelman-Lado, echoed this sentiment, stressing the agency’s dedication to integrating justice, equity, and civil rights into its mission. Engelman-Lado highlighted the EPA’s ongoing efforts to enforce civil rights laws and address environmental injustice nationwide.
“The Environmental Protection Agency continues to center our mission on integrating justice, equity, and civil rights for communities across the country that have not received the full benefits from EPA’s decades of progress,” Engelman-Lado stated. “We are committed to the enforcement of civil rights to address environmental injustice. From integrating civil rights into the fabric of our strategic plan and daily operations to increased funding and staffing for this critical work, EPA will continue to strengthen our civil rights enforcement program.’
Director Melanie Fontes Rainer of the HHS Office for Civil Rights emphasized the public health implications of environmental justice.
“Environmental justice is a public health issue, and our civil rights laws should ensure that all communities — no matter your race or zip code — are safe and free from environmental hazards,” Rainer said.
Director Irene Marion of the DOT Departmental Office of Civil Rights addressed transportation, another crucial aspect of community well-being. Marion emphasized the need for accessible transportation systems that benefit all communities equally, aiming to rectify historical disparities in transportation infrastructure.
Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia of the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties highlighted the importance of education, technical assistance, and enforcement in advancing environmental justice. Wadhia said such a multifaceted approach underscores the complexity of the issue and the necessity for comprehensive solutions.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria McCain of HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity added that fair housing and civil rights laws must be enforced to advance environmental justice. McCain stressed the importance of ensuring that all neighborhoods and communities are healthy, safe, and resilient places where residents can thrive.
The agencies reaffirmed their commitment to utilizing all applicable civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to advance environmental justice. They pledged to actively collaborate with state, territorial, and local governments and other entities receiving federal funding to ensure compliance with these vital laws.
“Protected classes must not bear the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards, though they have for too long,” McCain concluded.