Environmental Justice, Commission on
Board and Commission Details
Contact Name
Bridget Drea
Contact Title
Assistant to the Director, Illinois EPA
Contact Phone
Bridget.Drea@Illinois.gov
Function
The principle of environmental justice requires that no segment of the population, regardless of race, national origin, age, or income, should bear disproportionately high or adverse effects of environmental pollution. The Commission shall: (1) advise State entities on environmental justice and related community issues (2) review and analyze the impact of current State laws and policies on the issue of environmental justice and sustainable communities (3) assess the adequacy of State and local laws to address the issue of environmental justice and sustainable communities (4) develop criteria to assess whether communities in the State may be experiencing environmental justice issues (5) recommend options to the Governor for addressing issues, concerns, or problems related to environmental justice that surface after reviewing State laws and policies, including prioritizing areas of the State that need immediate attention. The Environmental Protection Agency shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission.
Term
Of the initial members of the Commission appointed by the Governor, 5 shall serve for a 2-year term and 5 shall serve for a 1-year term, as designated by the Governor at the time of appointment.The members appointed by the Governor for terms beginning before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly shall serve 2-year terms. Members appointed by the Governor for terms beginning on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly shall serve 4-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as appointments.
Senate Confirmation
No
Party Affiliation
N/A
Qualifications
(please see composition)
Compensation
None
Composition
The Commission on Environmental Justice is established and consists of the following 24 voting members: - 2 members of the Senate, one appointed by the President of the Senate and the other by the Minority Leader of the Senate, each to serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer - 2 members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the other by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, each to serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer - The following ex officio members: a representative of the housing office of the Department of Human Services, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee, the Director of Natural Resources or his or her designee, the Director of Public Health or his or her designee, and the Director of Transportation or his or her designee - 14 members appointed by the Governor who represent the following interests: (i) 4 members of affected communities concerned with environmental justice (ii) at least 2 members business organizations (including one member representing a statewide organization representing manufacturers and one member representing an organization representing the energy sector); (iii) environmental organizations (iv) experts on environmental health and environmental justice (v) units of local government (vi) members of the general public who have an interest or expertise in environmental justice. (vi) at least 2 members of labor organizations (including one member from a statewide labor federation representing more than one international union and one member from an organization representing workers in the energy sector).
Chair
Designated by the Governor
Authority
415 ILCS 155/10
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osman, Omer | Statute | Ex-Officio, Director of Transportation | |||||
| Vohra, Sameer | Statute | Ex-Officio, Director, Public Health | |||||
| Phelps Finnie, Natalie | Statute | Ex-Officio, Director, DNR | |||||
| Richards, Kristin | Statute | Ex-Officio, Director, DCEO | |||||
| Harris, Tonyisha | 09/25/2026 | 02/26/2021 | Governor | Member, environmental organization | Cook | ||
| VACANT | House Minority Leader | ||||||
| Johnson, Cheryl | 09/25/2023 | 10/12/2012 | Governor | Member, affected communities concerned with environmental justice | Cook | ||
| Vacant | 09/25/2020 | Governor | Member, environmental organizations | Cook | |||
| du Buclet, Kimberly | 10/16/2023 | Speaker of the House | Member | ||||
| Sharma, Ashish | 09/25/2026 | 03/15/2024 | Governor | Member, experts on environmental health and environmental justice | DuPage | ||
| Norris, Gregory | 09/25/2019 | 04/20/2018 | Governor | Member, public | Cook | ||
| Kim, John | Statute | Ex-Officio, Director of EPA | |||||
| Armstrong, Andrew | 09/25/2027 | 02/09/2024 | Governor | Member, expert on environmental justice | Sangamon | ||
| Villanueva, Sen. Celina | 01/08/2025 | 04/22/2022 | Senate President | Member | |||
| Wasserman, Kimberly | 09/25/2023 | 10/12/2012 | Governor | Chair, affected communities concerned with environmental justice | Cook | ||
| Vacant | 09/25/2019 | Governor | Member, business organization | ||||
| Vacant | Senate Minority Leader | Member | |||||
| Favela, Rolando | 09/25/2027 | 03/29/2024 | Governor | Member, public | Cook | ||
| Jordan, Marcus Anthony | 09/25/2026 | 02/16/2024 | Governor | Member, labor organization | Lake | ||
| Griffith, Donovan | 09/25/2026 | 03/20/2018 | Governor | Member, business organization | Sangamon | ||
| Quintero, Dulce | Secretary, Department of Human Services | ||||||
| Ortiz, Dulce | 09/25/2026 | 11/30/2020 | Governor | Member, of affected communities concerned with environmental justice | Lake | ||
| Young-Wilson, Victoria | 09/25/2026 | 06/30/2021 | Governor | Member, of affected communities concerned with environmental justice | Cook | ||
| Hampton, Chynna S. | 09/25/2028 | 03/22/2024 | Governor | Member, labor organization | Cook |