Skip to content
LexBuild

42 USC § 7438 - Environmental and climate justice block grants 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s7438"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 7438 - Environmental and climate justice block grants"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "7438"
section_name: "Environmental and climate justice block grants"
chapter_number: 85
chapter_name: "AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Air Quality and Emission Limitations"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title I, § 138, as added Pub. L. 117–169, title VI, § 60201, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2078.)"
---

# § 7438. Environmental and climate justice block grants

**(a)** **Appropriation** In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Administrator for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated—

**(1)** $2,800,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2026, to award grants for the activities described in subsection (b); and

**(2)** $200,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2026, to provide technical assistance to eligible entities related to grants awarded under this section.

**(b)** **Grants**

**(1)** **In general** The Administrator shall use amounts made available under subsection (a)(1) to award grants for periods of up to 3 years to eligible entities to carry out activities described in paragraph (2) that benefit disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Administrator.

**(2)** **Eligible activities** An eligible entity may use a grant awarded under this subsection for—

**(A)** community-led air and other pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation, and investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure and workforce development that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants;

**(B)** mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events;

**(C)** climate resiliency and adaptation;

**(D)** reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution; or

**(E)** facilitating engagement of disadvantaged communities in State and Federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.

**(3)** **Eligible entities** In this subsection, the term “eligible entity” means—

**(A)** a partnership between—

**(i)** an Indian tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education; and

**(ii)** a community-based nonprofit organization;

**(B)** a community-based nonprofit organization; or

**(C)** a partnership of community-based nonprofit organizations.

**(c)** **Administrative costs** The Administrator shall reserve 7 percent of the amounts made available under subsection (a) for administrative costs to carry out this section.

**(d)** **Definition of greenhouse gas** In this section, the term “greenhouse gas” means the air pollutants carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title I, § 138, as added Pub. L. 117–169, title VI, § 60201, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2078.)