This is an interview with Representative Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District. It was conducted by Moms Clean Air Force Pennsylvania Coordinator Brooke Petry.
Studies have found that communities of color are disproportionately affected by the impacts of air pollution and climate change. What can Congress can do to address environmental justice and equity issues so everyone can breathe clean air?
The environmental provisions of the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are largely based on supporting communities of color and frontline communities. It includes programs like the Healthy Streets Act, cleaning up Superfund and brownfield sites, and Pennsylvania receiving about $1.4 billion over five years to improve drinking water infrastructure and replace lead pipes.
I also worked successfully to include an environmental justice tax credit, previously introduced by the late Rep. John Lewis, in the House-passed version of the Build Back Better Act, and I’m a co-sponsor of the Environmental Justice for All Act.
You are one of the original co-sponsors of the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, which is currently included in the Build Back Better Act. Why is it so important for this legislation to pass?
The Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act is part of the larger Black Maternal Health “Momnibus” plan. Climate change leads to an increase in pollution, extreme heat, and other environmental changes that disproportionately threaten the health of pregnant mothers of color and their children. The bill is necessary to provide our health care workforce with the tools necessary to protect current mothers and future generations from the harmful health effects of ongoing climate change. Health reform and environmental justice often go hand-in-hand for many low-income communities and communities of color, and this bill would help address the maternal mortality gap in the US.
You have said that you’ll always fight for your constituents to have access to clean air and clean water. Can you tell us about one or two of your proudest moments of advocating for environmental protections?
I’m proud of the pro-environment provisions we were able to include in the new infrastructure law and in the House-passed version of the Build Back Better Act. I’m also grateful that PennEnvironment presented me with an environmental leadership award in 2017, and that the League of Conservation Voters awarded me a 100% score for 2020.
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Congressman Dwight Evans represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South and Center City Philadelphia. He made history in 1990 when he became the first African American chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, a position he held for two decades.
Throughout his public service career, Congressman Evans has worked tirelessly to expand and broaden access to economic and educational opportunities for all Philadelphians. He currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee and the Small Business Committee.
A longtime resident of the West Oak Lane neighborhood, he is a graduate of Germantown High School, the Community College of Philadelphia, and LaSalle University. Congressman Evans will keep working to rebuild Philadelphia, and America, block by block!