April Thomas, april.thomas@sierraclub.org, 206.321.3850
Washington, D.C., -- Today, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) introduced their landmark Environmental Justice for All Act.
This landmark environmental justice bill was created by the environmental justice community and represents the culmination of over a year of outreach. The bill makes major strides on environmental justice including an update of the National Environmental Policy Act to promote environmental justice, and the Outdoors for All Act, a key legislative priority that Sierra Club Outdoors for All has worked to advance since 2016.
“At a moment when the Trump administration is attempting to roll back key environmental protections like NEPA, it takes courage and vision to seek to expand these safeguards” said Sharonda Williams-Tack, Associate Director for Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships at Sierra Club. “I am so appreciative of environmental justice leaders who have pushed to make public health a priority in this incredibly challenging time. The introduction of this bill is a testament to the power and tenacity of environmental justice communities across the country.”
“We applaud Chairman Grijalva and Rep. McEachin for introducing this significant legislation to address some of the barriers to getting outdoors many Americans face,” said Joel Pannell, Associate Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. “One in three people in the U.S. do not live within a 10 minute walk of a local park, and this is especially true for low-income families. As the effects of climate change become more and more apparent, the importance of environmental justice — including the human right to access nature — has never been more clear. The benefits to health and wellness provided by getting outdoors are proven, but many of our children are growing up without being able to experience nature. By providing a dedicated funding source for outdoor recreation projects in underserved communities, the Environmental Justice for All Act will help close the equity gap in outdoor access.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.