CEEJH INC plays a leading role in shaping environmental and climate justice policy through strategic partnerships with community leaders, government agencies, and the Mid-Atlantic Justice Coalition.
We collaborate closely with legislators—offering expert testimony, policy guidance, and environmental justice resources—to help craft and advance impactful legislation. Our work supports the development of new bills and ensures frontline communities are represented in decision-making processes.
Located in the heart of the DMV region, we are uniquely positioned to engage directly with federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to influence national policy. We contribute to federal campaigns, support congressional engagement, and advocate for strong environmental and climate justice protections.
As part of our commitment to equity, we also advise on the implementation of the Justice40 Initiative, especially critical as this landmark program is under attack by the Trump Administration. Our work ensures that the communities most affected by environmental injustice continue to be prioritized in climate funding and policy.
We lead a strong regional advocacy and policy strategy to center community voices, advance environmental justice legislation, and hold policymakers accountable across the Mid-Atlantic, with plans to expand into New Jersey. Through the Mid-Atlantic Justice Coalition, we collaborate with grassroots partners and legislators to co-create evidence-based policy solutions that benefit historically overburdened communities. Our work includes organizing virtual lobby days, policy briefings, and community learning sessions to build civic engagement and educate residents and lawmakers. We integrate community science mapping to apply equity metrics and cumulative impact data to state climate policies. Additionally, we are developing a regional policy impact evaluator and produce tailored reports, bill trackers, and community forums to ensure grassroots participation and legislative accountability.
An Environmental Justice (EJ) Scorecard is a tool used to track, assess, and promote progress on environmental justice goals. It typically evaluates how well government agencies, organizations, or projects are advancing environmental equity—especially for communities that have been historically overburdened by pollution and underrepresented in environmental decision-making.
League of Conservation Voters (LCV): Since 1970, LCV has published the National Environmental Scorecard, which tracks and scores the voting records of members of Congress on key environmental, climate, and democracy-related legislation. This scorecard serves as a vital tool for constituents to assess how their representatives prioritize environmental protection. The 2024 Scorecard underscores significant contrasts between the environmental voting behaviors of the House and Senate: The House saw numerous votes aimed at weakening environmental protections. Specifically, there were 12 votes to cut clean energy incentives, 16 votes to strip away environmental safeguards, and 5 votes that undermined democracy and racial justice. In contrast, the Senate maintained a focus on environmental progress, including the confirmation of over 235 federal judges who bring expertise and diversity to the judiciary, which can influence future environmental rulings. The Scorecard also highlights the leadership of members from the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)—collectively known as the Tri-Caucus—in advancing climate, environmental justice, and equitable democracy initiatives.
California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA): CEJA released its most recent 2024 Environmental Justice Legislative Scorecard. Out of the eight bills CEJA supported in 2024, seven were signed into law, marking a significant advancement in environmental justice policies. Seven legislators achieved scores of 100% or higher, demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental justice. These include Assemblymembers Isaac Bryan and Laura Friedman, and Senators Lena Gonzalez, John Laird, Monique Limón, Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Henry. CEJA’s scoring methodology incorporates “Community Points,” rewarding legislators who actively engage with environmental justice communities through actions like participating in community tours and collaborating on policy development. Despite legislative wins, CEJA expressed disappointment over budget cuts to critical programs such as Transformative Climate Communities and Community Resilience Centers, emphasizing the need for sustained investment in frontline communities.
University of Maryland Scorecard: Following the methodology of LCV and CEJA, UMD developed and implemented Legislative and Agency EJ Scorecards, respectively. Through these scorecards, the team aimed to hold legislators and state agencies accountable to the needs of frontline and fenceline communities who experience environmental justice issues. To date, this scorecard found that the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Natural Resources, respectively, scored the highest from 2019-present, while the Legislative Scorecard found that EJ ratings followed partisan lines.
Collaborate with residents, advocates, and policymakers driving justice.
Since 2011, CEEJH has partnered with frontline and fenceline communities to address environmental, climate, and energy injustices through grassroots action and policy co-creation. We center those most impacted by harm to lead action and social change.
