At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., the chairwoman of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, introduced a proposal to “help address pollution in environmental justice communities by expanding access to local air quality data.”

Castor brought out the “Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act” with more than 25 co-sponsors including U.S. Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Ritchie Torres, D-NY. All of the co-sponsors come from the Democratic ranks.

“The legislation would establish a five-year pilot program for hyperlocal air quality monitoring projects in communities of color, low-income communities, and other underserved neighborhoods. Under a $100 million annual budget, the program would enable state, local, and Tribal air agencies to partner with local nonprofit organizations or air quality data providers to identify block-level hotspots for multiple pollutants, empowering them to use this data to build online mapping tools, inform local communities and air pollution managers about where poor air quality exists, and recommend a course of action to reduce pollution in identified hotspots,” Castor’s office noted.

“Environmental justice is at the center of our plan to solve the climate crisis, and that begins with ensuring clean air for vulnerable Americans,” said Castor when she introduced the bill. “Communities of color and low-income Americans have long been disproportionately harmed by legacy pollution, and we must prioritize these communities as we transition to cleaner energy sources and electric vehicles. By improving access to air quality data, we can address widespread disparities and ensure our clean energy future improves the lives of all Americans, especially those whose communities are burdened by the air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels.”

“Communities in Delaware and across the country have seen the harmful impacts of air pollution for decades. We know that air pollution leads to respiratory illnesses and negative health outcomes for those communities – ultimately diminishing their quality of life,” said Blunt Rochester. “And while our country has made great strides in cutting down on unchecked air pollution – the reality is that the pollution that is still most prevalent is pollution that impacts our Environmental Justice communities. In order to help alleviate those unfair burdens and cut down on dangerous pollution, we need accurate and complete data. That’s why I’m proud to join Chairwoman Castor and Representative Torres in Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act. All Americans, regardless of race, income or zip code, deserve to breathe clean air.”

“Communities of color have long been exposed to elevated levels of air pollution that gravely impact all aspects of our health: physical, mental, and emotional. Our current infrastructure cannot measure block-level variation in air pollution, which is why I am proud to introduce the Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act to create a pilot program to facilitate local-level air pollution monitoring. Identifying block-level hot spots will inform communities and spur action to reduce air pollution in high-risk areas. I am proud to partner with Reps. Castor and Blunt Rochester to advance environmental justice for all communities and I look forward to supporting this legislation,” said Torres.

The bill was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on which Castor sits.

Over in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. introduced the bill with the backing of eight senators including U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-NJ, Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Originally from Jacksonville, Kevin Derby is the editor of Florida Daily and covers politics across Florida. Reach Kevin at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com

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