“Today VCN joins the countless environmental and climate justice advocates in mourning the passing of Congressman Donald McEachin. Throughout his career he was an advocate for those most impacted by climate change and pollution. Today we will remember his tireless advocacy, tomorrow we will continue his fight for environmental justice for all.” – Mary Rafferty, Executive Director

Rep. Donald McEachin joins advocates at a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management hearing on off-shore drilling. 

“Congressman McEachin’s life of public service will always be a tremendous source of inspiration for so many of us. His kindness and generosity were always apparent, and he combined his deep humility and commitment to lifelong learning with his dedication to the practical work of making the world a better place — making him an incredible example of impactful, moral leadership. Working with him in the Virginia General Assembly was a privilege, and his service in Congress was a great gift to the country. What I’ve learned from seeing him in action will always be with me.” – Tom Cormons, Executive Director

Parker Agelasto and Donald McEachin at the 2017 Land Trust Alliance Lobby Day

“Congressman Donald McEachin was our representative for the 4th District in the Richmond region so he naturally upheld the interest of the same constituents that Capital Region Land Conservancy serves. Yet he truly was a champion of environmental issues and land conservation for all Americans. He would attend CRLC events, step up to speak about the importance of doing more to conserve 30% of our earth by 2030, and was always available for discussions about federal, state and local policy. McEachin, and the dedicated staff he assembled, was a valued partner as CRLC worked to protect Malvern Hill Farm, to acquire 40 acres along the Appomattox River in Petersburg for public access, and most recently to preserve New Market Heights Battlefield. We are saddened that he couldn’t live to see much of his work bear fruit and will miss his leadership. Rest assured, Donald McEachin’s passion, his strong stature, his unwavering voice, and his stalwart commitment to a healthy planet for all people will continue to inspire the work of so many conservationists.” – Parker C. Agelasto, Executive Director

“From his years as a state legislator through his time in Congress, Donald McEachin was a visionary leader for environmental justice and a stalwart champion for cleaner waterways and healthier communities.

Congressman McEachin was committed to his role as the voice of the people in his Richmond home and beyond. From his listening sessions around the country on environmental justice and his efforts to reduce pollution in the James River and the Chesapeake Bay, he understood the close connection between the health of our environment and the wellbeing of communities. He was committed to working with others to achieve workable solutions.

While we mourn his passing, we celebrate his remarkable legacy.” – Peggy Sanner, Virginia Executive Director

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a great man and true champion for environmental justice, Congressman McEachin. Throughout his career in both state and federal government, he embodied democratic principles by insisting upon the meaningful involvement of all people in lawmaking. He repeatedly introduced the Environmental Justice for All Act, and stood up against powerful fossil fuel interests at every turn. We are proud to have been represented by him in Richmond, and are motivated to continue the fight for environmental justice by his memory.” – Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director

“Of the many leaders working to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams, Congressman McEachin was second to none. Both during his time in Virginia’s General Assembly and serving as a Member of Congress, he was a stalwart ally in securing critical investments for clean water programs and leading legislation that supported environmental justice and healthy communities. Just this past May, the Coalition was thrilled to honor Congressman McEachin with our ‘Congressional Clean Water Champion’ award for his lifetime of service at our Choose Clean Water Conference in Richmond.

As the Coalition and its more than 275 member organizations continues the fight for clean water, we will look to Congressman McEachin’s legacy for inspiration and strength.” – Kristin Reilly, Director

“Today we mourn the passing of Representative Donald McEachin and celebrate a leader who took the climate crisis head-on to make a better world a reality.

Rep. McEachin urged us every day to act on climate. He championed ambitious legislation to put the United States on the path to a clean energy future. And he worked tirelessly to build healthy, thriving communities, free of pollution, and to ensure equal environmental protections for everyone in his Virginia district and beyond.

As an Eagle Scout, Rep. McEachin often said he was fighting to protect our planet for generations to come, to leave it better than he found it. I am awed by his commitment and grateful for his dedicated leadership. He will be missed.” – Fred Krupp, President

“Congressman Donald McEachin’s career was one of tireless service to his constituents, to his community, and to our shared environment. At the state capital and within the halls of Congress, he fought for a better future for Virginians, free of the legacy of environmental injustice and prepared for the climate challenges of tomorrow. As a strong supporter of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Congressman McEachin championed federal grants that protect treasured natural resources like the James River and make them more accessible to residents, visitors, and students alike. We will be forever grateful to Congressman McEachin for his faithful leadership, his honest friendship, and his devotion to a healthy and more equitable future for all.”

Rep. McEachin was a champion for addressing the egregious and enduring environmental injustices facing communities in Virginia and across the nation. He also fought for solutions on climate and clean energy that would bring jobs and prosperity to all,” said Mustafa Santiago Ali, executive vice president of the National Wildlife Federation. “His passing is a loss for our nation and a clarion call for his colleagues, constituents, and our broader community to carry forward his work on environmental justice, public health, clean water, and wildlife.

“We have lost a towering leader of conscience, a climate champion who put environmental justice at the center of his mission to create a more promising, more equitable and more sustainable future – for the people of Virginia and of the nation. What will endure are the lasting fruits of his labors and their daily impact on the lives of the public he so proudly and honorably served.

Donald McEachin worked tirelessly, and effectively, to invest in our cities and rural areas. He had a gift for gathering diverse groups to stake out common ground. And he brought the power of a clear and courageous voice to his advocacy in partnership with communities too long underserved.

His legacy is a tribute to his belief that government must be a force for progress, that it must be a force for good, and to his unyielding insistence on making it so. We will remember how he did just that and the lasting ways it will serve us all.”- Manish Bapna, President

“Early on in his career as an elected representative to the General Assembly, Congressman McEachin let the Virginia Conservation Network community know that he understood the importance of environmental health and the broader environmental protection to the well-being of his constituents and to all Virginians.  His leadership in the General Assembly and in Congress has had a lasting impact on all of us.  His speeches about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay at Choose Clean Water Lobby Day on Capitol Hill were always a highlight, delivered with the passion of a pastor and the knowledge of a seasoned legislator.” – Chris Miller, President

Hope Cupit and Congressman McEachin

“SERCAP, Inc.’s mission is to improve the quality of life for low-income individuals by promoting affordable water and wastewater facilities, community development, environmental health, and economic self-sufficiency. SERCAP, Inc. wants to send condolences to the late Congressman McEachin’s family. SERCAP is grateful for the Congressman’s continuous fight for our planet, his tireless efforts for the citizens living in VA that he gave his voice to, and ensuring Virginians had indoor plumbing. We have worked alongside the Congressman when he served as a member of the Virginia General Assembly and a representative for the 4th Congressional District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives. He has been a long-time supporter and advocate for our work in rural Virginia. We have enjoyed meeting with him and his staff on various issues. He not only spoke about what he would do, but he also acted. He was a champion for the people of Virginia, especially those in need and without a voice. He called upon SERCAP, Inc. to join him in getting out information about how to apply for federal grants via webinars. As a matter of fact, he was planning a webinar, which included SERCAP presenting, about the Justice40 better built out, and was looking to give folks in Virginia, and of course in VA-04, a bit more information on how to navigate the current grants environment to their benefit. We appreciate him having SERCAP at the table, as this was not taken for granted. He made sure everyone had the information needed to gain access to resources to help those often left unserved. Congressman McEachin was a friend in the environmental movement and he will be greatly missed but not forgotten.” – Hope Cupit, President & CEO

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Congressman Donald McEachin. Rep. McEachin championed social and environmental justice policies that benefited the lives of countless Virginians. His record should serve as an inspiration for all people who believe in serving others. His legacy will live on in those who believe in a just world. Rep. McEachin was an invaluable leader for Virginia and the people of the Fourth Congressional District. 

Our thoughts are with his wife, Colette, and his three children in this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Congressman. Thank you for your kindness and for your service.”

“The impact Mr. McEachin had on bringing environmental justice and climate issues to the forefront in D.C. is remarkable and inspiring. I remember riding in a car, listening to one of his early speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives, and being struck with the realization that there was a strong new voice in town for people that need protection from polluters. We have lost a champion, but his legacy will live on through the many people he has mentored and fought alongside throughout his lifetime.” – Nat Mund, Director of Federal Affairs

“Environmental work is really preserving life for our children’s children and our future…that is so critical — tackling climate change, making sure that our neighborhoods are walkable and bikeable. Making sure that we have a longevity and that our urban heat island effect is dwindling down with a tree canopy coverage. He understood the impact of those things,” – Amy Wentz, Co-Founder

Rev. Dr. Harris awards McEachin their first Environmental Justice Hall of Fame award.

“He was a personal friend. I met him in the early 2000s when he became one of my students at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. He attended every class, aced all the work, and demonstrated profound respect and generosity to the other students and me. I knew then that he was serious about his faith in humanity and the good we could accomplish with the right motives. He was a brilliant, competent, and compassionate leader.” – Rev. Dr. Faith Harris, Executive Director