City: Washington DC
Group: Beyond Pesticides
Bill Number H.R. 110 and S.1619
School Environment Protection Act

SEPA provides basic levels of protection for children and school staff from the use of pesticides in public school buildings and on school grounds. The legislation requires public schools to implement safer approaches to pest management that rely on a range of non-chemical and least toxic chemical alternatives and requires that notice be provided to parents and school staff when pesticides are used.

Significant Action — The bill was introduced in the 109th Congress in the House of Representatives by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) and in the Senate by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).

  
 
City: Washington DC
Group: Earthjustice (www.earthjustice.org)
Federal Legislation on Environmental Justice issues

1. Environmental Justice Amendment to EPA Appropriations
   Representatives Alcee Hastings (FL), Grijalva (AZ), Solis (CA) and others, and Senators Durbin (IL) and Kerry (MA) have been working to ensure that the U.S. EPA begins to implement and enforce the 1994 Executive Order on Environment Justice by adding a requirement to the agency's budget forbidding EPA from spending any funds appropriated by Congress on actions that conflict with, or delay the implementation of, the Executive Order. (You can read the E.O. here).
   Status: This measure passed both the U.S. House and Senate in 2005 and was signed into law by President Bush. It is current law until the agency’s current budget year expires on October 1, 2006. The EPA’s FY 2007 budget that passed the House contains this provision again; the Senate has yet to take up this spending bill this year.
2. Environmental Justice Act of 2005 (H.R. 427)
   To require Federal agencies to develop and implement policies and practices that promote environmental justice.
   Status: Introduced by Representatives Udall (CO), Solis (CA), and Andrews (NJ) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Resources.
3. A Bill to Require Executive Order 12898 to remain in force and to Create a Federal Definition of “Environmental Justice” (H.R. 1648)
   To require Executive Order 12898 to remain in force until changed by law, to expand the definition of environmental justice, to direct each Federal agency to establish an environmental justice office.