On Thursday April 23rd, 2020 at 3:30 pm EST Chair Raúl M. Grijalva and Rep. Donald McEachin of the House Committee on Natural Resources will host a virtual roundtable to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental justice communities. You may view the virtual roundtable on Facebook live and YouTube.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to many communities across the country, environmental justice communities have been particularly hard-hit. A widely noted study, published earlier this month, has highlighted the connection between air pollution and higher Coronavirus mortality rates by using data from the counties that have accounted for 90 percent of all U.S. Coronavirus deaths. As such, this virtual roundtable will focus on the nexus between increased public health risks from environmental injustice, disparities in the resources available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in and around environmental justice communities, and the ongoing efforts in Congress to address these concerns. 

Panelists:

·       Michele Roberts: Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform

·       Dr. Francesca Dominici: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

·       Sylvia Betancourt: Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma

·       Matt Bruenig: People’s Policy Project

·       Reverend F. Wayne Henley: Cedar Grove Baptist Church Charles City, VA

 If you have any questions or concerns about this roundtable, please reach out to Chris Espinosa, Director of Public Engagement, at Chris.Espinosa@mail.house.gov.