HR 576119th CongressIn Committee

To codify Executive Order 14096 relating to revitalizing our Nation's commitment to environmental justice for all.

Introduced: Jan 21, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-California)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, H.R. 576, would codify Executive Order 14096, titled “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All,” so that it has the force and effect of law. In practical terms, the bill seeks to embed the environmental justice (EJ) goals and directives of the executive order into statute, making them statutory obligations for federal agencies rather than purely executive directives. The current text provided for the bill is limited to stating that EO 14096 shall have the force of law; it does not add new substantive EJ provisions beyond what the EO already directs. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to several committees; the exact duties, agencies involved, metrics, funding, and enforcement mechanisms would derive from EO 14096 and any implementing regulations or future statutory amendments.

Key Points

1Codifies EO 14096: The bill provides that Executive Order 14096 shall have the force and effect of law.
2Elevates EJ to statutory status: By making the EO a law, its environmental justice objectives are intended to endure beyond the life of a particular administration.
3Focus on federal agency action: The underlying objective is to have federal agencies consider and address environmental justice in policies, programs, and regulatory decisions (as directed by the EO).
4No new details in the text: The bill itself does not specify duties, agencies, funding, or enforcement mechanisms; those come from EO 14096 and any implementing regulations or future changes.
5Legislative process: Introduced in the House by Ms. Barragán and others, then referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and other committees for consideration.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Environmental justice communities—especially populations disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental hazards—along with federal agencies responsible for implementing environmental, health, and infrastructure policy (e.g., EPA, DOE, DOT, and related agencies).Secondary group/area affected: Local governments, communities seeking equitable environmental protections, workers and residents in vulnerable communities, and civil rights stakeholders concerned with equitable enforcement of environmental laws.Additional impacts: The codification could promote greater policy stability across administrations, potentially influence environmental permitting and infrastructure decisions, and create a statutory framework that may require new reporting, oversight, and coordination across multiple agencies. The exact scope, funding needs, and accountability measures would hinge on the content of EO 14096 and any forthcoming implementing rules or amendments to the statute.

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