Today, Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, announced on behalf of the EPA the awardees for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $20 billion program that will direct funding to projects that will reduce pollution, lower energy costs for families across the United States, and create good-quality jobs — all while catalyzing an unprecedented wave of private sector investment. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is part of the Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal of 40% of federal climate benefits going to disadvantaged communities.
In response, Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement:
“Addressing air quality is a matter of public health and economic strength. Recent decades have seen a rise in pollutants, affecting all Americans, with profound impacts on Latino communities facing socioeconomic challenges. The deterioration of air quality over the last century presents undeniable challenges, impacting public health, and economic stability. These issues hit hardest in vulnerable communities, including many where industry and agriculture, vital sectors of our economy, are integral. In terms of health, children, seniors and people with chronic illnesses are suffering from health conditions, such as heart disease, aggravated asthma and decreased lung function exacerbated by polluted air. Economically, Latinos are often faced with financial strain as they try to address these health conditions at clinics and hospitals.
Emphasizing local solutions to global challenges, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund supports projects that build resilient communities capable of withstanding environmental and economic challenges. By reducing pollution, we are also investing in the health of our citizens, preventing illnesses related to air quality, and decreasing healthcare costs over time. It is important to support climate projects focused on reducing pollution as this builds resilient communities, strengthens local economies and addresses health concerns that Latinos face in their day-to-day lives.
Creating the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the awards provided is a decisive step toward protecting our collective health and ensuring a prosperous future for every American. We applaud the administration on this historic action.
