Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. McEachin), a member of the Natural Resources Committee, and ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Mr. McEACHIN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to rise in support of this amendment to restore funding to the Environmental Justice program within the EPA. This program enables the agency to better assist frontline communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution. Low-income and minority communities face disproportionate levels of hazardous pollution and environmental contaminants due to where their members live and where they work. The harms are real. For instance, higher levels of air pollution result in members of minority groups having higher death rates and higher numbers of emergency room visits and hospital stays. As the cofounder and co-chair of the United for Climate and Environmental Justice Task Force, it is my mission to combat these environmental injustices and ensure frontline communities no longer bear the unequal burden of environmental, economic, and health harms. That is why, Mr. Chairman, this amendment is so important. The Environmental Justice program leverages Federal funds to greatly improve health and quality of life in our most vulnerable communities.…”