Reps. Summer Lee, Tlaib, Grijalva Launch People’s Environmental Justice Caucus

Photos| Livestream

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26, 2026 - Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) officially launched the People's Environmental Justice Caucus, a new congressional caucus focused on advancing policies that center community leadership and address environmental harms disproportionately impacting frontline communities across the United States.

The newly launched caucus will serve as a platform for members of Congress to collaborate with community leaders, advocates, and policy experts to advance environmental justice legislation and ensure that federal policies reflect the needs and priorities of the communities most impacted by environmental harm. The caucus will also serve to strengthen federal environmental justice protections and develop a community input process to help shape the next iteration of the Environmental Justice for All Act, now called the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act.

"Environmental justice has always been driven by the leadership of communities who have been forced to live with pollution, disinvestment, and the consequences of climate change. The People's Environmental Justice Caucus is about ensuring those communities are not only heard but centered in federal policymaking," said Rep. Lee. "At a time when environmental protections have been rolled back significantly by the Trump administration, we must double down on advancing policies that protect our communities, hold polluters accountable, and build a healthier, more just future for everyone. I am proud to be a co-founder of this caucus with Reps. Tlaib and Grijalva and am grateful for the partnership of grassroots coalitions that make this work possible. I look forward to the progress our collective communities can make together."

"I'm proud to be launching the People's Environmental Justice Caucus alongside Congresswomen Lee and Grijalva and amazing advocates and frontline community members from across our country. Growing up in Southwest Detroit, I thought the smell of pollution was normal, but through years of organizing with our incredible EJ community in Detroit, I've come to understand how our government has intentionally sacrificed our families for the profits of corporate polluters. This caucus will help bring my neighbors' voices into the halls of Congress as we fight for Environmental Justice for All," said Rep. Tlaib.

"The launch of the People's Environmental Justice Caucus comes at a critical moment, when communities across the country are already dealing with the real impacts of pollution and climate change. My dad, Congressman Raúl Grijalva, spent his career fighting for those communities, and I'm proud to carry that work forward with Representatives Lee and Tlaib. This caucus is about making sure the people most affected aren't left out-but are leading the way in the decisions that shape their lives," said Rep. Grijalva.

The lawmakers hosted a panel on Capitol Hill earlier today environmental justice advocates and grassroots organizers who have helped advance policy solutions, including earlier versions of the Environmental Justice for All Actand community-driven engagement processes that informed those efforts. The panel was moderated by Vernice Miller-Travis, co-founder and board member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Executive VP at Metropolitan Group. Panelists included Mar Zepeda Salazar, Legislative Director, Climate Justice Alliance and Dr. Ana Baptista, Ph.D., Director of the Tishman Environment and Design Center. Grassroots coalitions supporting this effort also include Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum (EJLF) hosted by WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Platform for a Just Climate (formerly known as the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform).

"Together, our coalition of environmental justice and national partners are organizing to ensure impacted communities have a voice in creating the healthy and just climate future we all deserve. We are fighting for a Congress and a government that will finally put people before polluters and bring an end to the environmental injustices our communities face. The formation of the House Environmental Justice Caucus is a critical step toward bringing frontline communities into policymaking and ensuring that public health is no longer secondary to corporate profits," said Dalal Aboulhosn, Coalition Member of the Platform for a Just Climate & Senior Director of Program & Policy at Center for Earth, Energy & Democracy (CEED).

"There is an incredible legacy of environmental justice leadership in the House of Representatives. In the face of the administration's relentless attacks on environmental justice and its rollbacks of nearly every environmental and public health regulation protecting our communities, the launch of this caucus demonstrates that the environmental justice movement in Congress is as strong as ever - and needs to be. We are proud to support Representatives Lee, Tlaib, and Grijalva's leadership in the next chapter of federal environmental justice policies and look forward to working together to advance thoughtful, community-led legislation that supports a healthier and more equitable future for all," said Denise Patel, National Organizing Director, Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, Hosted by WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

"Climate Justice Alliance applauds the launch of the Environmental Justice Caucus in the House of Representatives today by Representatives Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Summer Lee (PA-12) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12). While late Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and A. Donald McEachin tirelessly worked to uplift environmental justice policy. This formation brings us hope for centering historically overburdened and underrepresented communities in climate, energy, and environmental policy at a time when big business and billionaires are gaining more power and control over all of us. As we approach the 35th anniversary of the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, the 17 principles of Environmental Justice that came out of it are more relevant than ever before. We appreciate the possibility and promise of this Caucus, alongside frontline communities, to enact just and fair legislation that will protect our kids, families, and communities by holding industry accountable, safeguarding our public health, and protecting our environment far into the future. Our federal policy should always aim to codify our inherent human rights to clean air, water, and land," said Mar Zepeda Salazar, Legislative Director, Climate Justice Alliance.

Rep. Lee has been a consistent advocate for environmental justice. She recently authored an op-edin The Nation outlining the harm the Trump administration has done for environmental regulations, public health, and the planet. Before it was repealed, Rep. Lee ledthe Democratic Pennsylvania congressional delegation in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw its proposal to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding. She denouncedthe move when it was finalized.

To see photos from the launch event, click here. To watch the livestream, click here.

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, shehas delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billionbrought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania's infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.