[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2786 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2786
To amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to prioritize
urban and community forestry assistance for areas with low tree equity
scores, to establish a grant program to enhance public elementary and
secondary school rooftop gardens, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 20, 2023
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Brown,
Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Evans, Mr. Gomez, Mr.
Grijalva, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Ms. Meng, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Sanchez, Ms.
Scanlon, Mr. Takano, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in
addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
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A BILL
To amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to prioritize
urban and community forestry assistance for areas with low tree equity
scores, to establish a grant program to enhance public elementary and
secondary school rooftop gardens, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Change Relief for Urban
Areas Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. PRIORITIZATION OF URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY ASSISTANCE TO
AREAS WITH LOW TREE EQUITY SCORES.
Section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2105) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give
priority to providing assistance to State foresters or
equivalent State officials serving areas with the lowest tree
equity scores, as determined by the Secretary'';
(2) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and
adding ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) the term `tree equity score' means a tree equity
score, as determined by the Secretary, that is--
``(A) either--
``(i) substantially similar to the tree
equity score established by American Forests
(or a successor tree equity score developed by
such conservation organization or other similar
organization); or
``(ii) a tree equity tool that the
Secretary determines is most appropriate for
the communities served by such tool; and
``(B) based on how the tree canopy and surface
temperature of an area align with income, employment,
race, age, and health factors of that area as
determined by consulting with community representatives
or community-based organizations.''; and
(3) in subsection (i), by striking ``fiscal years 1991
through 1995'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through
2028''.
SEC. 3. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
ROOFTOP GARDENS.
(a) Pilot Program Established.--The Secretary shall establish a
competitive grant program under which the Secretary shall make grants
to eligible entities to establish or expand rooftop gardens.
(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including the square feet of
the proposed rooftop garden (or expansion of such rooftop garden).
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to the eligible entities that have the lowest
garden equity score, as determined by the Secretary based on, with
respect to the area in which the eligible entity is located, the
population density, racial composition, incidence of respiratory
illness, number of urban gardens, food sovereignty, and average surface
temperature.
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use the grant funds to carry out each of the
following:
(1) Assessing (including through architectural analysis) if
the area identified for purposes of establishing or expanding a
rooftop garden can support such garden or expansion and the
construction thereof.
(2) Applying for permits with respect to such rooftop
garden.
(3) Establishing a financial plan with respect to the
establishment or expansion of such rooftop garden.
(4) Designing a rooftop garden--
(A) of which at least 20 percent is comprised of
native plants, fruits, or vegetables;
(B) that does not include plants identified by the
State in which such garden is located as invasive
species;
(C) using best practices to reduce risk of
contaminants (such as using cleaning soil in raised
garden beds); and
(D) either--
(i) a strategy for increasing energy
efficiency and increasing the surface ability
of a building to reflect sunlight and absorb
less solar energy; or
(ii) if the strategy in clause (i) is not
feasible, a strategy to increase habitat and
food availability for pollinators, manage
rainwater, or provide other benefits to the
community.
(5) Incorporating into the science curriculum of the
entity--
(A) an urban agriculture lesson plan; or
(B) a lesson plan on pollinator habitat, green
infrastructure for heat or stormwater management, or
remediation of soil and water contaminants by plants.
(e) Organic Requirement.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section may only use organic farming methods with respect to
a rooftop garden established or expanded by such grant.
(f) Routine Inspections.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall inspect each rooftop
garden for which a grant is awarded under this section once
each year.
(2) Contract authority.--The Secretary may enter into
contracts with appropriate entities to carry out the
inspections required under paragraph (1).
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
public elementary school or secondary school.
(2) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'' and
``secondary school'' have the meanings given the terms in
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2028.
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