[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 189 (Wednesday, November 29, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH EQUITY ACT

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I will introduce the Health Equity 
Act legislation that will address the problem of environmental 
discrimination.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a growing recognition that people in poor and 
working class communities, and particularly people of color, are forced 
to live and work in areas contaminated by opportunistic polluters that 
target these communities. Whether it is in the form of incinerators, 
industrial production facilities, pesticides, or radiation--exposure to 
such contamination represents a death sentence for black and Latino 
Americans throughout this country.
  My legislation, which applies title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act 
to the Federal environmental regulatory process, will allow minority 
communities to halt potentially dangerous action, before harm comes to 
them. Our society has slowly taken steps to end the burden of 
discrimination in areas ranging from employment to housing. This will 
give communities of color a chance to fight against this form of 
discrimination.
  I would encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and 
help end one of the most neglected forms of discrimination in America.

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