Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6815

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-17: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-01-13T09:05:53Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025 aims to address environmental injustices by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a public online mapping tool. This tool will help identify communities that face a disproportionate share of environmental, health, economic, and social burdens, enabling better targeting of federal resources to support these areas.

Key Provisions

• Development of the Tool: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the EPA Administrator must develop and publish the "Environmental Justice Screening Tool" on a public EPA website. The tool uses geospatial mapping (digital maps based on location data) to flag "disproportionately burdened communities" at the census tract level (small geographic areas used for U.S. population statistics).
• Thresholds and Categories: The EPA must set specific thresholds (cutoff levels) for identifying burdened communities across six main categories of factors:
• Environmental factors: Includes air quality, access to safe drinking water, and proximity to hazards like Superfund sites (contaminated areas prioritized for cleanup under federal law), brownfields (abandoned industrial sites with potential pollution), oil/gas facilities, or landfills.
• Climate change factors: Covers frequency of natural disasters (e.g., wildfires, floods) and extreme droughts.
• Human health factors: Includes rates of conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, low birth weight, and maternal deaths.
• Economic factors: Encompasses poverty and unemployment rates, plus access to affordable housing and healthcare facilities.
• Social factors: Involves demographics such as race/ethnicity, education levels, population density, age, and gender.
• Other factors: The EPA may add additional categories as needed.
• Feedback Process: The EPA must gather input and data on thresholds and factors from universities, nonprofits, community groups, and state, local, or tribal officials.
• Ongoing Maintenance: Starting one year after publication, the EPA must review and update the tool annually based on new data, and submit a report to Congress detailing changes and any shifts in identified communities.
• Federal Adoption: Within one year of the tool's release, all federal departments and agencies must incorporate it into their processes for identifying burdened communities and prioritizing funding or resources to help them.
• Definitions: Key terms are clarified, such as "brownfield site" (polluted former industrial land) and "state" (including U.S. territories).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new mandatory tool and process, building on existing EPA efforts in environmental justice but requiring a standardized, nationwide mapping system for the first time. It expands federal obligations by mandating that all agencies use the tool for resource allocation, which was not previously required by law. It also formalizes annual updates and congressional reporting, enhancing transparency over voluntary or ad-hoc EPA initiatives.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The EPA will need to invest in tool development, data collection, and maintenance, potentially straining resources initially but streamlining equity assessments long-term. Other federal agencies (e.g., Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development) must integrate the tool, which could shift funding priorities toward underserved areas and improve coordination on environmental protection.
• On Citizens: Communities identified as disproportionately burdened—often low-income, minority, or rural groups—may gain better access to federal aid for cleanup, health services, and disaster resilience, reducing health risks and economic disparities. However, it does not guarantee new funding, only better targeting of existing resources.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though the inclusion of U.S. territories (e.g., Puerto Rico) could indirectly affect aid to areas vulnerable to climate events, potentially influencing U.S. commitments under international environmental agreements.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Primarily the EPA (leads development), but all executive departments must adopt the tool.
• Communities and Citizens: Disproportionately burdened populations, including racial/ethnic minorities, low-income households, and those near pollution sources, who stand to benefit from prioritized support.
• State, Local, Tribal Governments: Involved in feedback and may use the tool for local planning.
• Nonprofits and Community Groups: Provide input on factors and thresholds, and advocate for affected areas.
• Congress: Receives annual reports from committees like Energy and Commerce (House) and Environment and Public Works (Senate), influencing oversight and future funding.
• Institutions like Universities: Contribute data and expertise during development.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens enforcement of environmental justice principles under laws like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, which handles hazardous waste cleanups). It promotes data-driven decision-making without creating new enforceable rights for individuals, focusing instead on agency guidance.
• Constitutional: Aligns with equal protection under the 14th Amendment by addressing disparities without discriminating based on protected classes; no apparent conflicts with federalism, as states and tribes are consulted rather than overridden.
• Political: Advances equity goals in environmental policy, potentially bridging partisan divides on climate and health but raising debates over resource allocation and the accuracy of thresholds. It could set a precedent for using technology in federal equity assessments, influencing future legislation on social justice.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-17: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-12-17: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-12-17: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-17 — PDF (7 pages)