The Insular Area Climate Change Act (H.R.2780/S.2613) aims to address the unique environmental issues of U.S. affiliated insular areas by providing technical and financial support to advance climate resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation. It is an undeniable fact that Insular Areas, more specifically US-Affiliated Pacific Islands, such as American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Islands are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. Yet, Pacific Islanders continue to be vastly underrepresented in government, accounting for less than 1% of the most crucial politically-appointed positions (ex. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency). See our analysis here.
H.R.2780/S.2613, among many other efforts, establishes a Federal Interagency Task Force to provide Insular Areas greater access to climate change-related federal programs, and launches an Insular Area National Program Office within the Environmental Protection Agency. Linked is a factsheet that further explains their effort. Inclusive America commends Rep. Raul Grijalva and Sen. Mazie Hirono, along with the other 20 co-sponsors for spearheading the advancement of this bill, yet the bill still lacks in promoting meaningful participation of Insular Areas within this effort. In response, Inclusive America has drafted an amendment to this bill, clearly outlining ways to include Insular Area leaders within the planned Task Force, and assembling a sub-committee of more local Insular Area leaders to assess ways we can advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within federal environmental affairs.
Proposed Amendment
To amend the Insular Area Climate Change Act (H.R.2780/S.2613) to promote inclusion and meaningful participation of Insular Areas within federal environmental affairs
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July ____, 2022
Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Mr. Sablan, Mr. San Nicolas, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Soto, and Ms. Velázquez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Insular Area Climate Change Act (H.R.2780/S.2613) to promote inclusion and meaningful participation of Insular Areas within federal environmental affairs
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Insular Area Climate Change Act of 2022”
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
- The Insular Areas are topographically and environmentally diverse and treasured by millions of individuals who call them home.
- The territories in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the United States) and the territories in the Pacific (American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam) face many of the same climate change-related challenges. Freely Associated States face similar climate change-related vulnerabilities.
- Insular Areas are experiencing sea level rise, coastal erosion, and increasing storm impacts that threaten lives, critical infrastructure, ecosystems, and livelihood security.
- Individuals from the Insular Areas, many of which have populations that are predominantly Pacific Islanders, are traditionally underrepresented in politically appointed positions, especially in federal environmental affairs.
- According to Inclusive America, a non-profit working on diversity, equity, and inclusion in government, there have been 0 Pacific Islander-identifying people who have held a federal senior level position at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.
- According to the “Biden-Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities Across the Country,” it is the goal of the Biden-Harris Administration advance equity by, “Advancing climate and environmental justice for AA and NHPI communities who are particularly impacted by the climate crisis and are overburdened by environmental degradation;”
- On July 12, 2022 at the Pacific Islands Forum, Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed a commitment to “deepen U.S. partnership with the region and to deliver concrete results for Pacific people.”
SEC. 3. REPRESENTATION IN INSULAR AREA CLIMATE CHANGE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.
Sec. 101 of the Insular Area Climate Change Act is amended—
- in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by adding at the end the following:
- “(9) The Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs.
(10) The Administrators or Directors of the Environmental Protection Agency branches in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.”
- In subparagraph (d)—
- strike “and” from subsection (2)
- by redesignating subsection (3) as (4); and by inserting before subsection (3) the following:
- “(3) promote meaningful participation of local actors from Insular Areas to strengthen inclusion of local knowledge; and”; and
- In subparagraph (e)—
- strike “and” from subsection (2)
- by redesignating subsection (3) as (4); and by inserting before subsection (3) the following:
- “(3) publicized through local engagements through coordination with local Insular Area governments and organizations; and”.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSULAR AREA CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND EQUITY COUNCIL.
- Sec. 502.(b) of the Insular Area Climate Change Act is amended by adding “establish and appoint members to the Insular Area Climate Resiliency and Equity Council, and”
- In General.—The Insular Area Climate Change Act is amended by inserting after Sec. 502, the following new section and redesignating the order of Sec. 503-602.:
“SEC. 503. Insular Area Climate Resiliency and Equity Council
- Establishment Of Task Force.—Not later than 90 days after the appointment of the Director of the Insular Area National Program Office, the following shall jointly establish the “Insular Area Climate Resiliency and Equity Council” (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Council”):
- Co-Chairs.—The Task Force shall be co-chaired by the Director of the Insular Area National Program Office and Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs.
- Composition.—In addition to the co-chairs (established in Sec. 503, b), the Council shall include at least 1 local governmental representative from each Insular Area.
- Duties. The Insular Area Climate Resiliency and Equity Council shall—
(a) identify statutory barriers to lack of inclusion and participation of Insular Areas within federal environmental affairs;
(b) evaluate opportunities, consistent with applicable law, to increase coordination, communication, and engagement with community-based organizations focusing on climate change resiliency and equity;
(c) review Federal Departments & Agencies environmental justice strategies (as requested under the National Environmental Policy Act) through close collaboration with the Council of Environmental Quality; and
(d) provide recommendations to strengthen participation of Insular Areas within federal environmental affairs to supplement Insular Area National Program’s annual report as outlined in Sec. 502 (c).
- Term. Members of the Council shall be appointed in accordance with this subsection for a period of time as determined by the Director of the Insular Area National Program Office.”
Coalition of Supporters
Along Inclusive America, the following organizations have shared support for our amendment to the Insular Area Climate Change Act.
News
Menendez, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Tackle Impacts of Climate Change in U.S. Territories, Freely Associated States — August 04, 2021
Chair Grijalva Introduces Insular Area Climate Change Act With Vice Chair Sablan, Democratic Lawmakers – Seeks Broad Financial and Technical Support — March 22, 2021