Rep. Barragán and Democrats are Making History

Rep. Barragán Closes Out Busy Month in Congress With Big Climate & Environmental Justice Wins in the Historic Inflation Reduction Act

August 16th, 2022

Dear Friends,

On Friday, my Democratic House colleagues and I voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest single investment to address climate change in American history. Soon, President Biden will sign into law a $369 billion investment to clean up pollution in impacted communities, reduce our emissions and accelerate our transition to clean energy.

The bill includes $3 billion to reduce air pollution at ports with zero-emissions equipment and technology, based on my Climate Smart Ports Act . Almost 40 percent of Americans live within three miles of a port, and they are disproportionately communities of color. The investments from the Climate Smart Ports Act will accelerate the transition to zero emissions at ports across the country, including the Port of Los Angeles, and help port communities breathe easier.

The bill also includes $3 billion in climate and environmental justice grants, based on my Climate Justice Grants Act. This investment will drive thousands of community-led clean energy and climate resiliency projects in disadvantaged communities, such as community solar and tree plantings.

I've fought against polluters since my time on the Hermosa Beach City Council-and it is such a big deal to see this massive federal investment to tackle the climate crisis and pollution. Community groups and advocates across the 44th Congressional District have fought so long for this day. For my constituents near the Port of Los Angeles who have advocated for zero-emissions solutions for decades, we just got a step closer to a future free of truck pollution. For environmental justice communities, you will now have the resources to fight pollution and climate change locally, on your terms. I will work to ensure the resources from the Inflation Reduction Act are distributed equitably to communities that need them the most, and continue to advocate for stronger environmental laws and regulations to transition off fossil fuels. The health of our communities and our planet is worth fighting for, and it’s going to take continued work for a sustainable future.

While I'm disappointed that certain provisions like universal childcare and pre-K, affordable housing, and justice for immigrants did not make it into the final bill, this bill takes on climate change, provides resources to address environmental justice challenges, and provides health care relief in our communities.

Just two weeks ago, we passed and President Biden signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act, another piece of historic legislation that invests in innovation at home to create good-paying American jobs and support high-tech manufacturing. America should be a leader in science and technology, and this bill helps fund new research and development for the clean energy, vehicle, and computer technologies of tomorrow. Read more about the CHIPS and Science Act here.

And finally, to cap off an unprecedented session, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the Honoring our PACT Act. This legislation finally makes good on the promise to our veterans to honor and care for them for protecting our country, ensuring that veterans exposed to toxic burn pits are able to access the highest quality medical care.

Democrats are getting things done. We got funds to Americans in need during the pandemic and created the environment for a fast recovery with the American Rescue Plan. We passed the biggest investment in American Infrastructure in recent history. Now, we just finished a historic month where we delivered for our veterans, provided the tools to make America the leader in science and technology, and passed a transformative climate and health bill. This is one of the most productive sessions of Congress in modern history as Democrats delivered on long-held promises to the American people.

My Work in CA-44

Earlier this week, I was so excited to present a copy of my first stand-alone bill ever passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Biden, to Charles Drew University President David Carlisle! The bill, The John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act, helps Historically Black Graduate Institutes like CDU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country fund research into disparities in healthcare experienced by communities of color. It passed the Senate in February of this year and was signed into law by President Biden in March.

You can watch the presentation here.

Friends, we must keep this momentum. These past two years, we've been faced with some of the most difficult times in our country's modern history, but each time the American people have stepped up to overcome the challenges and forge ahead. My Democratic colleagues and I in Congress have worked alongside President Biden and his Administration every step of the way to make sure that we address these challenges and deliver for the American people.

Best,