AB 2419 would have directed at least 40% of federal climate and infrastructure funding to low-income, Indigenous, rural communities and communities of color at the frontlines of the climate crisis; addressing decades of underinvestment and discriminatory policies.
Sacramento, CA — Environmental justice advocates, community leaders, environmental groups, union representatives and allies across California expressed deep disappointment with the Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision to hold AB 2419 — a bill introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (CA-54) that would have created an equity framework for federal climate and infrastructure funds, mandating that 40% of those federal funds directly benefit communities facing the greatest environmental burdens, with an additional 10% to benefit low-income communities. The California Justice40 Act would have aligned California with the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, and served as a model for the rest of the country for how to equitably invest federal funds.
As California prepares for a wave of federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), it is more important now than ever that we put equity at the center of our investments. Justice cannot be an afterthought. Despite strong and diverse support for AB 2419, the decision to kill this legislation comes as a bitter failure to deliver on environmental and economic justice.
The California Green New Deal Coalition members and supporters put out statements in response.
“California had the opportunity to serve as a national leader and take an overdue step toward equitable infrastructure investments through AB 2419, but unfortunately our state’s most impacted and under-resourced communities were failed by our senate,” said Irene Kao, Courage California’s Executive Director. “We at Courage California are deeply disappointed that our state’s most vulnerable communities will continue to face deadly conditions caused by climate change due to the inaction of our elected leaders. Californians want and deserve an equitable California and legislators who govern in-line with our values – and we value climate justice, for all.”
View the entire press release and a few list of GND member statements: