Protection from Cumulative Emissions and Underenforcement of Environmental Law Act of 2025 (H.R. 2995)

Introduced: April 25, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-1)

Purpose: To address environmental justice by focusing on cumulative emissions (pollution) and underenforcement, or the failure to enforce environmental laws adequately locally.

This bill has been introduced in Congress, but has not yet become law. It is being reviewed, debated, and possibly amended by committees and lawmakers.

This bill highlights the concept of cumulative emissions, when multiple pollution sources (factories, highways, power plants, etc.) in the same area add up to create significant health and environmental risks. This bill also addresses the underenforcement of environmental laws in communities, which is when the laws are not enforced adequately.

The most recent update of this bill is that on April 24, 2025, the bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. Since then, no hearings, amendments, or votes have been recorded. The bill is still in committee review. Recent EPA budget cuts threaten the agency’s capacity to enforce environmental laws, conduct pollution research, and implement community protection programs. Without adequate funding, the Act cannot reach its intended goals. The reduction of EPA resources directly lowers the efforts to monitor and regulate cumulative protection and to support environmental justice. 

If passed, the bill would lead to improved monitoring of emissions, stricter enforcement of existing environmental standards, and stronger protections for disadvantaged and disproportionately impacted communities.

Historical Context

The United States of America has long had environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, but critics argue that these laws are often underenforced, leaving low-income, underprivileged, and minority communities exposed to higher risks. This bill’s purpose is to close those acts by requiring stronger action where pollution harms are the highest.

The Specifics of This Bill

• Within 100 days of the bill becoming law, the EPA must propose a protocol to assess and address cumulative public health risks from multiple places that could potentially stress the environment. 

• The multiple sources also include places regulated under major laws (Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, etc.), climate effects, chemical exposures, etc. 

• The EPA must identify at least 100 communities that are “environmental justice communities” where the number of environmental law violations over the past 5 years is greater than the national average.

• For each of these identified communities, within 1 year of the bill becoming law, the EPA must analyze the causes of violations and identify root causes.

• Then, the bill requires EPA to prescribe measures to reduce violations in those communities to significantly below the national average. And, implementation of these measures must be done within two years after the bill becomes law.

Time Sensitivity

Its urgency lies in growing health disparities! The longer the action is delayed, the more people continue to be exposed to harmful pollutants that could be prevented with stronger oversight.

Specific Benefits of the Bill

Public Health: Reduces risks of asthma, cancer, and other pollution-related diseases by limiting cumulative exposure.

Environmental Justice: Provides stronger protections for underprivileged and underenforced minority communities that are historically overburdened by pollution.

Accountability: Ensures polluters comply with existing laws.

Risks if Delayed

• Vulnerable communities will remain exposed to unsafe air and water, worsening health inequities. 

• Industries may continue exploiting weak enforcement, leading to more pollution.

• Disadvantaged communities will keep bearing cumulative emissions.

Why You Should Care Right Now

Pollution builds up over time. Many neighborhoods are surrounded by multiple pollution sites, creating toxic environments for people to live in, worsening their health. Without stronger enforcement, this cycle continues.

Every day without this legislation means more people exposed to unsafe air and water, more children developing lung-related diseases, and more families living in unhealthy environments. Acting now ensures cleaner air, safer water, and healthier futures for millions of people, strengthening underprivileged communities who suffer the most from the underenforcement of environmental laws for pollution.

Who Supports This Bill

• Environmental justice organizations

• Public health advocates

• Community groups in urban and industrial regions are affected by pollution.

Who Opposes This Bill

Potential opposition could come from…

• Industry groups may argue that stricter enforcement of environmental laws increases compliance costs.

• Fiscal Conservatives may resist funding increases for oversight and enforcement agencies

• Lawmakers from less affected areas may see the bill as overly targeted.

Potential Economic Impact

• Stronger enforcement of environmental laws may encourage industries to adopt cleaner technologies, potentially creating green jobs.

• Reducing pollution also lowers healthcare costs associated with pollution-related diseases.

Public Engagement/What People Can Do

• Contact local representatives and urge them of the importance of protecting overburdened communities from cumulative pollution.

• Join advocacy groups or organizations that focus on environmental justice, clean air, and public health.

• Raise awareness online by sharing information about the bill on social media using hashtags like #EnvironmentalJustice #CleanAirNow #H2995

• Engage locally by attending town halls or community meetings to speak up about local pollution issues.

• Organize community cleanups or educational events to highlight environmental risks in overburdened neighborhoods.

• Encourage or participate in local monitoring programs that track pollution levels.

• Support initiatives that document impacts on minority and low-income communities

• Call your state representatives and urge them to oppose EPA budget cuts and support full funding for pollution monitoring and community health programs.

• Back the Cumulative Pollution Protection Act to ensure environmental protection for all!