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  • Senior Legislative Representative Jessica Ennis, second from left, with community solar partners in Maryland.
    Office

    Policy & Legislation

    With community solar partners in Maryland. (Matt Roth for Earthjustice)
  • VP of Policy & Legislation Martin Hayden, right, with Clean Air Ambassadors.
    Office

    Policy & Legislation

    With citizen Clean Air Ambassadors, who came from all 50 states. (Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)
  • Senior Legislative Representative Andrea Delgado, right, with young scientists who are working to clean up lead pollution.
    Office

    Policy & Legislation

    With young scientists, who are working to clean up lead pollution. (Matt Roth for Earthjustice)
  • With moms, doctors and faith leaders who were on Capitol Hill to fight for clean air protections.
    Office

    Policy & Legislation

    With moms, doctors and faith leaders who were on Capitol Hill to fight for clean air protections.
Earthjustice’s hard-won legal victories are often targeted by industry for legislative rollback. The Policy & Legislation team works on Capitol Hill to strengthen environmental laws and uphold our legal accomplishments.

Signature Work

When Earthjustice wins big environmental victories in court, anti-environmental interests in Washington, D.C., often try to have Congress to overturn those court decisions through legislation.

Legislative Counsel Raul Garcia and LCLAA (Labor Council For Latin American Advancement) Chapter Presidents from 15 states, following a day of legislative advocacy in Congress to advance the National Environmental Policy Act and Latino workers' priorities, on June 5, 2017.
Photo courtesy of Hector E Sanchez Barba
Legislative Counsel Raul Garcia and LCLAA (Labor Council For Latin American Advancement) Chapter Presidents from 15 states, following a day of legislative advocacy in Congress to advance the National Environmental Policy Act and Latino workers' priorities, on June 5, 2017.

To solidify the enduring impact of our legal victories, the Policy & Legislation team in Washington, D.C., works with champions in Congress to craft legislation that supports and extends our gains.

The Policy & Legislation team works to protect and strengthen federal environmental laws and to prevent legislative attempts to undermine environmental progress.

Earthjustice promotes citizen enforcement of environmental laws and fights for new safeguards that go beyond current standards.

The Policy & Legislation team advocates for stronger laws safeguarding children from toxic chemicals, protecting clean water standards, and tackling climate change, among many other things.

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September 16, 2019 | Video

We Were Born Here, We’re Going to Die Here: A Family’s Fight Against the Border Wall

Dr. Ramiro Ramirez, a plaintiff in a lawsuit to halt construction of the border wall, shares the story of the Hidalgo County, Texas-based Jackson Ranch Church and Cemetery and Eli Jackson Cemetery, which are considered historic landmarks. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol awarded contracts for 11 miles of border wall that could threaten the chapel and cemeteries in August. Sarah Burt, the Earthjustice litigator working the case, discusses the legal implications.

September 16, 2019 | Video

Nacimos y Moriremos Aquí: La Lucha Contra el Muro Fronterizo

El Dr. Ramiro Ramírez, quien se ha unido a una demanda para detener la construcción del muro fronterizo, comparte la historia del Cementerio y la Iglesia Jackson Ranch y el Cementerio Eli Jackson, con sede en el Condado de Hidalgo en Texas, y que se consideran lugares históricos. La Aduana y la Patrulla Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos adjudicaron contratos por 11 millas de muro fronterizo que podrían amenazar la capilla y los cementerios en agosto.

August 12, 2019 | Feature

The Endangered Species Act Is Under Political Attack

Politicians backed by extractive industry interests are now undertaking some of the most serious threats ever seen in the four decades of the Endangered Species Act, our nation's landmark conservation law.

June 14, 2019 | Video

Real Justice Is Under Threat

Wealthy corporations and powerful special interests are pushing Congress and the Trump administration to limit access to the courts.

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Map of Earthjustice offices.

Contact Policy & Legislation Office

500 New Jersey Ave., NW, Ste. 700
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 667-4500
eajuspal@earthjustice.org

Staff

Marty Hayden Vice President, Policy & Legislation

Phone: (202) 745-5218

Coby Dolan Senior Legislative Counsel

Issue Areas: Access to Courts; Regulatory (APA) issues; Judicial nominations

Phone: (202) 745-5207

Jessica Ennis Legislative Director, Climate and Energy

Issue Areas: State renewable energy (MD, CO, NM); Oil and gas development; Arctic Ocean

Phone: (202) 745-5202

Andrea Folds Associate Legislative Counsel, Lands, Wildlife, Oceans

Issue Areas: Oceans and fisheries; National marine monuments

Phone: (202) 745-5249

Raul Garcia Legislative Director, Healthy Communities

Issue Areas: Pesticides, Toxic Chemicals, Clean Air, Clean Water

Phone: (202) 797-5251

Julian Gonzalez Legislative Counsel

Issue Area: Clean Water

Phone: (202) 745-5217

Brielle Green Legislative Counsel

Issue Areas: Access to Courts; Regulatory (APA) issues; Judicial nominations

Phone: (202) 745-5205

Talia Harris Lobbying and Office Manager

Phone: (202) 797-4306

Marissa Knodel Legislative Counsel

Issue Areas: Arctic Refuge; “Keep It in the Ground”; Clean energy

Phone: (202) 745-5235

Phil LaRue Communications Strategist

Phone: (202) 797-4317

Terry McGuire Senior Legislative Representative

Issue Areas: Clean air

Phone: (202) 745-5210

Michell McIntyre Campaign Director, Access to Justice

Issue Areas: Access to Justice coalition building & area expansion — courts, legislation, nomination, and regulations

Phone: (202) 745-5226

Blaine Miller-McFeeley Senior Legislative Representative

Issue Areas: Public lands; National forests; National monuments; Hardrock mining

Phone: (202) 745-5225

Tierra Mimms Office Assistant

Athena Motavvef Associate Legislative Representative

Phone: (202) 797-5255

Marjorie Mulhall Legislative Director, Lands, Wildlife, Oceans

Issue Areas: Endangered Species Act; California water; Pesticides in waterways

Phone: (202) 745-5204

Christine Santillana Associate Legislative Counsel

Issue Areas: Healthy Communities: PFAS, coal ash, financial assurance for high risk industries (CERCLA)

Phone: (202) 797-4315

Stephen Schima Senior Legislative Counsel

Issue Areas: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) defense/NEPA issues

Phone: (202) 745-4500

Luis Nasvytis Torres Senior Legislative Representative

Issue Areas: Clean energy

Phone: (202) 797-4308

Samantha Vega Legislative Assistant

View All Earthjustice StaffView Bar Admissions

“Clean air is not for sale.”
– Lakeesha EureClean Air Ambassador, on the message she brought to her elected officials in Washington, D.C.
The Stories to Read On Congress

Rep. Vela to Call on Congress to Protect Historic Cemeteries, Sacred Cultural Sites from Trump’s Border Wall

Earthjustice Statement on House Bills Banning Offshore Drilling

Introduce yourself to your U.S. representative

What You Need To Know This Week