Sponsors (31)
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Creates a competitive HUD grant program to fund local projects that reduce excess urban heat—such as tree planting, cool roofs and pavements, shade structures, cooling centers, and urban forestry planning—prioritizing low-income and underserved census tracts. The program is to be set up within one year, gives priority and at least 75% of grant dollars to high-poverty tracts, generally funds up to 80% of project costs, and is authorized at $30 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2033. Grants are open to states, local governments, tribal and territorial governments, metropolitan planning organizations, nonprofits, and consortia; funding may include up to 3% for technical assistance and up to 5% to form an oversight board. HUD must issue application guidance within 180 days, report annually to Congress on recipients, and coordinate with EPA, US Forest Service, and NOAA on program design and implementation.
The bill directs federal funds and technical support to reduce urban heat—bringing measurable health, environmental, and energy benefits to high-poverty neighborhoods—but increases federal spending and creates targeting and administrative rules that may leave some vulnerable areas excluded and impose burdens on small implementers.
Low-income residents and other people living in high-poverty urban tracts gain direct access to federal grants for heat-mitigation projects (trees, cool roofs, cooling centers) that lower barriers to implementation.
Urban residents—especially those in underserved neighborhoods—would likely see improved health and fewer heat-related illnesses and deaths if grant-funded mitigation (tree planting, cooling centers, cool roofs) is implemented.
Communities that receive funding should see long-term environmental and livability benefits—expanded tree canopy, better shade, improved air quality, and stormwater management—from prioritized urban greening projects.
Taxpayers and the federal budget face increased costs because the bill authorizes recurring federal grant funding (annual authorization and program administration), which could add to deficits or crowd out other priorities.
Many vulnerable neighborhoods could be excluded or receive less support because eligibility and fund-allocation rules (poverty thresholds, 75% allocation to covered tracts) and targeting priorities leave out areas that are vulnerable but fall outside the defined tracts.
Small nonprofits, local governments, and other applicants may face significant administrative burdens—complex application requirements, preference criteria, and statutory references—that increase costs, slow projects, and disadvantage less-resourced applicants.
Introduced June 4, 2025 by Yassamin Ansari · Last progress June 4, 2025