119-HR-6815 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HR 6815 Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025
A House bill would require the EPA to publish a nationwide environmental justice screening map within one year, set data thresholds for when a community is considered disproportionately burdened, update it annually, and have federal agencies use it to prioritize funding; it was introduced on December 17, 2025 and sent to the House Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources committees.
Headline Summary
A new House bill would have the EPA launch a national environmental justice map to flag communities facing the heaviest environmental and health burdens and guide how federal agencies target resources.
What It Does
The Environmental Justice Screening Tool Act of 2025 directs the EPA to create, within one year of enactment, a public, nationwide map that identifies “disproportionately burdened” communities. The EPA must set clear thresholds across factors like air and water quality, proximity to hazards (such as Superfund sites, refineries, and landfills), climate risks (wildfires, floods, drought), health conditions (asthma, diabetes, maternal health), and economic and social indicators (poverty, jobs, housing, education). The tool must be reviewed and updated annually, and—starting one year after it is published—federal departments and agencies are instructed to adopt it to help prioritize funding and other resources for the communities identified.
Who’s For It
- Sponsors: Introduced by Rep. Luz Rivas (D‑CA) on December 17, 2025, with 12 Democratic co‑sponsors: Reps. Ansari, Barragan, Carson, Carter (LA), Fields, Garcia (IL), Goldman (NY), Hernandez, Norton, Lee (PA), Plaskett, and Soto.
- Supporters’ stated aim: Provide a consistent, data‑driven way to find communities carrying the heaviest environmental and health burdens so federal help can be better targeted.
Who’s Against It
No formal opposition is listed at introduction. However, debates over similar mapping and screening efforts often raise concerns such as:
- Data choices and thresholds: whether the factors and cutoff points fairly capture local realities.
- Use of the map in funding: fears that it could shift grants or projects away from some areas or constrain agency discretion.
- Privacy and labeling: worries about stigmatizing neighborhoods or using sensitive demographic data.
What’s Next
- Status as of December 17, 2025: Introduced and referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and additionally to the Natural Resources Committee.
- If it advances: It would need committee consideration, a House vote, Senate passage, and the President’s signature to become law.
Key Details at a Glance
- EPA must solicit input on thresholds and factors from universities, nonprofits, community groups, and state, local, and tribal officials.
- Agencies would use the tool to identify communities and prioritize funding or other resources.
Discussion