John,

Your zip code, your income, and your race should not determine your health, safety, and air quality. Yet today in Washington State, as the Health Disparities Map illustrates, communities of color and low income communities are disproportionately affected by pollution – people’s health suffers and their lives are cut short.

The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act (SB 5141) would define “environmental justice” in state law, outline how state agencies will solicit community input and center their needs, and establishes an Environmental Justice Council to help agencies implement environmental justice.

The HEAL Act also invests money in the most pollution-burdened areas, expands equitable community participation, and ensures that tribal sovereignty and rights are respected in this process.

This bill is scheduled to have a vote in the Senate Energy, Environment, and Technology committee this Thursday, February 4! Take this quick action and let committee members know you want them to pass SB 5141 out of committee.

Did you recognize the name “HEAL Act”?

This HEAL Act is an updated version of the original environmental justice bill that was introduced in 2019. Instead of passing it in full, the legislature opted to establish an Environmental Justice Task Force to develop policy recommendations. These recommendations were delivered to our Governor and legislature in a report last fall and later translated into the HEAL Act of 2021. Front and Centered co-chaired this Task Force, and led community conversations across the state that shaped the recommendations. Thank you to Front and Centered and all BIPOC organizations that have led environmental justice work for years.

Passing the HEAL Act will move us one step closer to clean water, clean air, and healthy communities for all. Thank you for joining this effort by taking action, and for being involved in this push for environmental justice in our state.

Sincerely,

Dre Say
Field Organizer