Unequal Response, Unequal Protection Campaign
Federal Response to Area-Wide Chemical Exposure
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice created the Unequal Response, Unequal Protection campaign to address the federal government’s ongoing failure to protect communities exposed to toxic chemicals. This shortcoming stems from the lack of a structured federal response capacity and inadequate scientific methods for investigating chemically-associated health outcomes. Health investigations typically take years to complete and rarely generate meaningful action for communities. Additionally, the current response has a disparate impact on low-wealth populations and communities of color who disproportionately endure environmental hazards.
Through virtual meetings, CHEJ has brought together experts from around the country to discuss the structure for an improved response. We first met with community organizers to discuss flaws in the government’s current approach to evaluating chemically-associated health conditions. We brainstormed 
The next step is to build grassroots support for our framework through community outreach and public presentations. We hope to eventually implement our vision into national legislation and establish an agency for effectively combating chemical contamination. 