This week, as Black History Month comes to a close, we at VAIPL wish to honor an environmental hero close to home: Congressman A. Donald McEachin. McEachin is a U.S. representative for Virginia’s 4th congressional district. On October 10, 1961, he was born in Nuremberg, Germany. In 1986, McEachin graduated with a J.D from University of Virginia School of Law, and in 2008, he went on to receive a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Virginia Union University.
Since graduating with his law degree, Congressman McEachin has been involved in political advocacy. Beginning in 1996, he first took office in the Virginia House of Delegates, has previously worked in the Virginia Senate, and currently resides in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has spearheaded numerous bills that have elevated the health of Virginia’s environment and its people. Since taking office, McEachin has been a stalwart advocate for protecting our communities from the adverse impact of climate change, fighting for environmental justice and Virginia’s natural resources.
Congressman McEachin is currently leading on a landmark bill, the Environmental Justice for All Act. Among several benefits, HR 2021 would require government agencies to consider community health impacts during permitting decisions, establish a federal energy fund to transition away from greenhouse gas, strengthen the Civil Rights Act, and provide millions of dollars in funding for research aimed at improving public health in EJ communities.
We will be honoring Congressman McEachin by choosing him as our first inductee in VAIPL’s Environmental Hall of Fame. Kept up with our weekly news letter, and be the first to be notified when this event will take place.
REFERENCES
McEachin, A. Donald. “McEachin and Chair Grijalva Unveil Landmark Environmental Justice Bill Following Year-Long Collaborative Effort.” Congressman A. Donald McEachin, 27 Feb. 2020, https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-and-chair-grijalva-unveil-landmark-environmental-justice-bill.
“Text – H.R.6686 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): STOP CCP Act …” Edited by Congress.gov, H.R.2021 – Environmental Justice For All Act, 15 Feb. 2022, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6686/text?r=1&s=1.