WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program (Corps) released today a list of the programs included as part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. There are 11 covered programs within the Corps, each of which will help to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to environmental justice. In total, hundreds of Federal programs, representing billions of dollars in annual investment, are being utilized to maximize benefits to disadvantaged communities through the Justice40 Initiative.
“Investments in our water resources should benefit all communities, particularly underserved communities, which are often burdened with the most significant impacts from climate change,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor. “I am committed to furthering the administration’s goals under the Justice40 Initiative to ensure that marginalized communities are supported by the Corps of Engineers with critical infrastructure that provides healthy ecosystems and helps them to reduce their flood risks.”
To help meet the goals of the Justice40 Initiative, the Corps will seek to deliver the investment benefits of certain programs to disadvantaged communities, such as Planning Assistance to States, Floodplain Management Services, and the Tribal Partnership Program, as well as for areas such as its studies and construction projects for flood and coastal storm risk management, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. The full list of covered programs can be found here [PDF - 167.4 KB].
The Army recently completed a 60-day public comment period and 10 virtual sessions to receive written and oral comments on an initiative to modernize several of its policies, including environmental justice. Interim guidance has been issued by Assistant Secretary Connor on environmental justice and Justice40, and further guidance will be developed following the analysis of the input received.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works establishes policy direction and provides supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the Civil Works Program of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
For more information, please contact Ms. Stacey Jensen at stacey.m.jensen.civ@army.mil or 703-695-6791.
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