Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, environmental injustices disproportionately impact underserved communities and communities of color around the country.

We have experienced this firsthand in the Eastern Coachella Valley in my district--environmental hazards that worsen quality of life and harm the public's health; children struggling to breathe on their way to school; residents with undrinkable water from high levels of arsenic.

Let me be clear. Having clean water to drink and clean air to breathe is not a privilege just for the affluent few. It is a right and a common good for everyone. That is why I am glad my bill, H.R. 3923, the Environmental Justice Act of 2019, is passing the House this week as part of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act.

My bill will strengthen protections for vulnerable populations, give impacted communities the ability to hold big corporations and government accountable, and provide needed funds to mitigate and prevent future instances of environmental injustice.

I would like to thank Chairman Pallone and Subcommittee Chairman Tonko for working with me on this important legislation.

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