For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Contacts: Betsy López-Wagner, López-Wagner Strategies, blopezwagner@gmail.com (English, Español)
Alfredo Ramirez, ALRAS Digital, alfredo@alrasdigital.com (English, Español)
Green 2.0 Calls for Congressional Committees to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Hearing Witnesses
Washington, D.C.— Today, Green 2.0 sent a letter to 15 Congressional committees with jurisdiction over environmental and climate-related policy issues, urging them to increase racial and ethnic representation among outside witnesses and experts testifying before them.
Hearings are an integral part of the policy making process, and the inclusion of experts and witnesses of color is key to ensuring that all voices are heard, especially communities of color when it comes to environmental injustices and inequities and the solutions to address them.
Earlier this year, the House Rules Committee approved an initiative that requires the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to develop a system to track the diversity of witnesses. Spearheaded by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, this initiative was a positive step towards increasing diversity. Green 2.0 applauds the Congressional committees that have worked to increase diversity among witnesses. While we are inspired by those who dedicate themselves to including diverse voices and inclusive practices, we also acknowledge there is work to be done across all committees.
“In 2021, there should never be a committee hearing in Congress on any environmental or climate-related issue that doesn’t include a person of color as a witness to testify,” said Green 2.0 Executive Director Andrés Jimenez. “Communities of color are the most affected by environmental injustices, yet some Congressional hearings occur with very little or no voices from the communities on the frontlines of the injustices. Intentionality in the selection of hearing witnesses will bring communities of color to the mic to tell their own stories and share their knowledge, further providing committees with essential and irreplaceable expertise.”
Green 2.0 will continue to urge Congressional committees to increase diversity among witnesses and to work directly with environmental justice partners and organizations led by people of color, drawing upon their expertise for hearings throughout the year.
To view the letter sent to Congressional committees, click here.
To view the list of committees that received our letter, click here.
Green 2.0 is a 501(c)3 independent advocacy campaign working to increase racial diversity among environmental organizations. Green 2.0 believes in a powerful, winning environmental movement grounded in equity and inclusion. Follow Green 2.0. on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.