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We’re celebrating, and I hope you will join us. In late July, by a unanimous vote in the State House of Representatives, we helped get environmental justice (EJ) protections past a key hurdle and very close to becoming law. (Now, it has to get through a conference committee and the governor, but unanimous approval means we have a very good chance.)

This is a huge win for environmental justice. Will you click here to help us celebrate by sending your state rep a thank-you message?

The amendment that the House of Representatives ended up passing wasn’t perfect, but here’s what it will do once passed:

• Gives stronger protections against pollution for communities of color, low-income communities, and communities with limited English.
  
• Establishes a statewide environmental justice council
  
• Mandates developers give more opportunities for community involvement in projects that affect these communities

We fought to have the law go even farther in a few places -- requiring projects to look at cumulative impacts on EJ communities, as well as climate change; also requiring developers to pay for translation; among other things. But all told, this bill is pretty good.

This is a historic win for Black people, other people of color, low income people, and those with limited English -- and it’s thanks to a long, collaborative effort. With this law passed, the Black, Brown, immigrant, and low-income communities will have a stronger voice -- and will be able to stand up against trash burning, highway construction, and power plants that we’ve been overburdened with in the past.

If (and when!) this becomes law, it’ll be a huge step forward in the fight for environmental justice, and we want to stop and celebrate before our next fight.

Let’s show the state house how important this is. Click here to thank your State Rep for their “yes” vote.

We wouldn’t have gotten there without the legislative champions -- State Reps Michelle Dubois (Brockton), Adrian Madaro (East Boston), and Liz Miranda (Roxbury and Dorchester). Or without our many organizational partners in this fight: Neighbor to Neighbor, GreenRoots, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Community Action Works, Groundwork Lawrence, Coalition for Social Justice, Clean Water Action, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Better Future Project, Sierra Club, North American Indian Center of Boston, and 350 Mass. 

If you want to learn more, you can read more about this historic bill in WBUR’s coverage, and see the full text of Amendment #52 as filed here.

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