Environmental Justice Matters Enforcement Grants

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Certain congressional committees The term certain congressional committees means— (A) the Committees on Environment and Public Works and the Judiciary of the Senate; and (B) the Committees on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (2) Environmental justice The term environmental justice means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that individuals— (A) are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and (B) have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices. (3) Environmental justice matter The term environmental justice matter includes any civil or criminal matter where the conduct or action at issue may involve a disproportionate and adverse environmental or human health effect on an identifiable low-income, minority, Tribal, or Indigenous population or community in the United States. (4) Indigenous population or community The term Indigenous population or community includes populations or communities of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. (5) Low-income community The term low-income community means any census block group in which 30 percent or more of the population are individuals with an annual household income equal to, or less than, the greater of— (A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (B) 200 percent of the Federal poverty line. (6) State The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (b) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall establish a grant program (in this section referred to as the Program) within the Office of Environmental Justice to improve the capacity of State, local, and Tribal governments to enforce environmental laws involving environmental justice matters. (c) Grant authority In carrying out the Program, the Assistant Attorney General may award grants on a competitive basis to eligible recipients, except that no eligible recipient may be awarded more than 1 grant. (d) Eligible recipients The Assistant Attorney General may award a grant under the Program to a State, local, or Tribal government determined by the Assistant Attorney General to be capable of carrying out a project pursuant to subsection (e). (e) Grant funds Grant funds awarded under the Program, shall only be used to— (1) train State, local, and Tribal agencies responsible for prosecuting and enforcing laws involving environmental justice matters; (2) hire staff to assist in the investigation, prosecution, and enforcement of laws involving environmental justice matters; or (3) establish collaborative programs to provide technical and legal assistance, outreach, and engagement to help communities with environmental justice concerns participate in decisions impacting the environment, health, and safety of those communities with environmental justice concerns. (f) Applications To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Assistant Attorney General an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Assistant Attorney General determines to be appropriate. (g) Limitations on grant amounts Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (j), each grant made under this section shall be for an amount not less than $50,000 and not greater than $1,000,000. (h) Federal share The Federal share of a project under the Program shall not exceed 80 percent, unless the Attorney General waives, wholly or in part, this requirement. (i) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a report to certain congressional committees on the grant program established under this section, including a description of the grantees and activities for which grantees used grants awarded under this section. (j) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2035.