05.04.22

MEDIA ADVISORY: Chair Grijalva, Reps. Tlaib and Dingell to Hold Press Conference on Advancing Environmental Justice in Detroit

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, May 6, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern in Detroit, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) of the House Natural Resources Committee will hold an in-person press conference to hear from community leaders about environmental justice issues in the area. The press conference will also highlight federal legislative efforts to advance environmental justice, namely the Environmental Justice For All Act, led by Chair Grijalva and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.).  

Prior to the press conference, Rep. Tlaib and community leaders will host a tour of various sites in the 13thCongressional District, including the communities within 48217, Michigan’s most polluted zip code. The site visit tour will offer a firsthand look at ongoing environmental injustices in the area, initiatives that community leaders have successfully put in place to address those injustices, and opportunities for federal policy and legislation. 

Chair Grijalva’s two-day visit to the Detroit area is part of his community input tour for the Environmental Justice For All Act. The legislation was originally drafted and continues to be shaped by a historic years-long, community-led process. Chair Grijalva kicked off this year’s community input tour by visiting New York Citywith Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in March. 

Media planning to attend the press conference should RSVP to Lindsay.Gressard@mail.house.gov by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022. Media may also request to join the community site visit tour, as capacity allows. 

WHAT:  

 

Chair Grijalva, Rep. Tlaib, and Rep. Dingell to Hold Press Conference on Advancing Environmental Justice 

 

WHERE:

Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 South Fort Street, Detroit, Michigan 48217

Livestream link: https://fb.me/e/2zm6qUvx3

 

WHEN: 

Friday, May 6, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. EDT

 

WHO:    

 

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva

3rd District of Arizona

Rep. Rashida Tlaib

13th District of Michigan 

Rep. Debbie Dingell

12th District of Michigan

State Rep. Abraham Aiyash

Michigan House District 4 

Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero

Detroit City Council District 6 

Sylvia Orduño

Organizer

Michigan Welfare Rights Organization 

People’s Water Board Coalition 

Nicholas Leonard

Executive Director

Great Lakes Environmental Law Center

Jamesa Johnson-Greer

Executive Director 

Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition

Theresa Landrum

Resident of 48217 and Community Organizer

Youth Organizer to be announced

Other attendees to be announced

The full agenda for Chair Grijalva’s two-day visit to Detroit includes:  

Friday, May 6, 2022 

  • 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT:  Community-led Environmental Justice Site Tour with Rep. Tlaib (limited press due to space restrictions)
  • 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT: Debriefing of Community-led Environmental Justice Site Tour at Kemeny Recreation Center (closed press)
  • 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT: Press Conference on Environmental Justice at Kemeny Recreation Center (open press)

 

Saturday, May 7, 2022

  • 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT: Virtual Public Input Forum on the Environmental Justice For All Act(closed press)
  • 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT: Editorial Board Conversation with Chair Grijalva and Rep. Tlaib (invited press only)

Press Contact

Media Contact: Lindsay Gressard

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 740-4715 mobile