(Chris Parker, Headline USA) Millions of the dollars allocated for President Joe Biden’s COVID relief plan have been redirected by the Environmental Protection Agency to environmental justice initiatives unrelated to the virus.
According to the EPA‘s website, “Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
While the site does promote special treatment based on race, it is not a strategy for the treatment or prevention of COVID. Some of the specific programs included tree pruning, car-sharing programs and climate change indoctrination, reported the Washington Examiner.
In Knoxville, Tennessee, SEED received enough funds to weatherize private homes and improve their energy efficiency. Some of the funds will also be used to set up 70 curbside charging stations in minority neighborhoods in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The EPA’s environmental justice initiatives follow the UN’s claims that climate change is inherently racist.
According to the UN, “these impacts of the planetary crisis are disproportional. Developing and least developed countries are most affected, despite contributing the least. In addition, disadvantaged and marginalized groups are hit the hardest with less ability to adapt to the consequences.”
Its recommendations include “strong national legal frameworks” designed to force citizens of participating nations into compliance. It also calls for special treatment of specified communities.
The EPA directed a total of $100 million towards its programs. Half is being use to fund air quality projects, while the rest is funding its environmental justice initiatives.
Organizations that receive EPA funding will also use their share to teach people how to test their water quality. Some will also use the funds to monitor air quality and complete home clean-up projects.
Republicans initially tried to stop the massive spending bill. It was delayed by several hours of confusion on the part of Democrats. Despite this, they still passed the bill with their majority votes.
