[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 79 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 2, 2003

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleague Congressman Mark 
Udall in introducing the Environmental Justice Act and commend my 
colleague, Congressman Mark Udall for his work on this issue.
  The Environmental Justice Act will make permanent an environmental 
justice Executive Order 12898 issued by President Bill Clinton in 1994.
  It attempts to address environmental injustice within existing 
federal laws and regulations by prohibiting discrimination in programs 
that receive federal funds.
  This issue has been one of my priorities as a public servant because 
I have seen the damage--first hand--that environmental injustice can 
bring to poor and minority communities.
  I grew up in the shadow of one of the largest landfills in the 
country. As the landfill grew, so did other regional pollution. Today, 
the area, which is 63 percent Latino and where 15 percent of families 
live in poverty, suffers from water pollution from Superfund sites and 
the gravel pit industry.
  In the Los Angeles area, it is estimated that over 71 percent of 
African Americans and 50 percent of Latinos reside in areas with the 
most polluted air, while only 34 percent of whites live in highly 
polluted areas.
  But we are not alone. Environmental injustices are happening 
nationwide.
  Consider the plight of the people of South Omaha, Nebraska where 
descendants of immigrants who labored in the city's meatpacking plants 
are fighting to restore city parks and stop the health risks posed by 
unsanitary conditions at the plants.
  Or consider the people who live in Livermore, California near one of 
the nation's principal nuclear weapons research labs, and who are 
fighting radioactive contamination that has caused many cancer cases.
  In the past we might have accepted our fate but today we chose to 
fight back.
  Hardly a day passes without the media informing us about a 
neighborhood that is fighting a landfill, incinerator, chemical plant 
or some other polluting industry.
  This was not always the case. Just three decades ago, the concept of 
environmental justice had not registered on the radar screens of most 
environmental, civil rights or social justice groups.
  In 1996, I had the honor of introducing the first piece of 
environmental justice legislation in the country. Since that time, 30 
other States have adopted similar laws, policies or other statues that 
protect and recognize the importance of environmental justice 
communities.
  Today, we enjoy a greater ability to connect with the public through 
grassroots organization and the media but our laws still offer few 
protections to disadvantaged communities.
  I am committed to changing this and look forward to working with 
Congressman Udall and others to make sure that environmental protection 
starts with environmental equality.
  This bill is one step in that fight.

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