Bill > HR3703

This bill establishes a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help communities mitigate and manage urban heat effects. The program will provide grants to eligible entities like states, local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to implement heat-reduction projects in urban areas, with a focus on communities experiencing higher temperatures and socioeconomic challenges. Specifically, at least 75% of grants must be awarded to projects in census tracts with poverty rates of 20% or higher. Eligible projects include tree planting, creating cool pavements and roofs, building shade structures and cooling centers, developing urban forestry plans, and conducting community education about heat mitigation. The bill recognizes that urban heat disproportionately impacts low-income and minority communities and contributes to public health risks, with heat stress causing over 600 deaths annually in the United States. The grant program is authorized $30 million annually from 2026 to 2033 and will include an oversight board to evaluate project effectiveness. Grants will cover up to 80% of project costs, with the possibility of 100% federal funding for entities demonstrating economic hardship. The program aims to help communities build resilience to rising temperatures and reduce the urban heat island effect through strategic, community-engaged interventions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3703/all-info