Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WASHINGTON — President Biden announced his intent Thursday to appoint 12 additional members to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, which is a federal advisory committee Biden established under Executive Order 14008 of January 27, 2021, on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.

The Council provides advice and recommendations to the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality on how to address current and historic environmental injustice.

The establishment of the Council marked the first time that a presidential advisory body had been tasked with providing recommendations to the federal government on environmental justice.

Igalious “Ike” Mills of Port Arthur was one of the dozen named.

Mills is a third-generation farmer and the executive director of the International Farmers and Ranchers, an organization that promotes sustainable farming practices and renewable energy efforts in underserved communities.

Previously, Mills served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Minority Farmers Advisory Committee and Civil Rights Sub-Committee. Mills serves as the chairman of the Port Arthur NAACP Community Development Committee, a critical organization in the fight against toxic pollution in Port Arthur.

Mills’ experience in agriculture, sustainable farming and economic development will bring a valuable perspective to the Council.