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Title IV — Urban Development

H.R. 9021 · 119th Congress · May 22, 2026 · Lineage

IV Urban Development

Sec. 401 Grants for construction of usable public water features

(a)
Authority— The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall carry out a program under this section to make grants to eligible entities for the construction of eligible water features.
(b)
Eligible entities— Grants under the program under this section may be made only to a State, an Indian Tribe, a unit of general local government, or a nonprofit organization.
(c)
Eligible water features— Amounts from a grant under the program under this section may be used only for costs of constructing water features that—
(1)
provide recreation or cooling for users, such as splash parks, wading pools, swimming pools, misting systems, and fountains;
(2)
can be used to provide relief to users from extreme heat conditions; and
(3)
are available for use by anyone without charge.
(d)
Applications— The Secretary shall provide for eligible entities to apply for grants under the program under this section and shall require eligible entities to include in an application for a grant under this section a public participation plan to ensure that residents of the area in which a project is to be implemented are involved in the project, which plan—
(1)
shall provide opportunities for employment for minorities and low- and moderate-income residents in the neighborhood of the project; and
(2)
may—
(A)
provide opportunities for local nonprofit organizations to be involved in the project;
(B)
provide opportunities for public input regarding the project; and
(C)
include demonstrated support from the community.
(e)
Selection—
(1)
In general— The Secretary shall select applicant eligible entities to receive grants under the program under this section based on a competition, in accordance with such criteria as the Secretary shall establish.
(2)
Preference— The criteria under paragraph (1) shall provide preference for selection of eligible entities proposing to construct eligible water features in areas without access, or with limited access, to cooling centers.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.

Sec. 402 Grant program to develop and improve high-quality urban green spaces

(a)
Establishment— The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”), in coordination with the Director of the National Park Service, shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities under subsection (c) to improve or develop high-quality urban green spaces to lower surface temperatures through increased urban vegetation.
(b)
Use of amounts— An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use amounts provided to cover costs associated with—
(1)
projects and activities that provide environmental and cooling benefits, including—
(A)
planting vegetation, including maintaining and monitoring planted vegetation for a period of up to 5 years to ensure successful establishment;
(B)
improving stormwater management;
(C)
increasing green infrastructure;
(D)
employing water conservation measures; and
(E)
rebuilding, remodeling, expanding, integrating, developing existing, or building new green spaces, including improvements in park landscapes, infrastructure, buildings, and support facilities;
(2)
preparing the project site and conducting construction, including the costs of labor and costs associated with use of machinery;
(3)
training activities associated with the construction; and
(4)
other relevant costs, as determined by the Secretary.
(c)
Eligible entities— A grant under this section may only be made to—
(1)
a State;
(2)
an Indian Tribe;
(3)
a unit of general local government; and
(4)
a nonprofit organization.
(d)
Applications—
(1)
In general— An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2)
Contents— An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
describe how the projects and activities to be funded with grant amounts will comply with the requirement under subsection (b); and
(B)
include a 5-year timeline and budget for the development and improvement of urban green space.
(3)
Community involvement— The Secretary shall require eligible entities to include in an application for a grant under this section a public participation plan to ensure that residents of the area in which a project is to be implemented are involved in the project, which plan—
(A)
shall provide opportunities for employment for minorities and low- and moderate-income residents in the neighborhood of the project; and
(B)
may—
(i)
provide opportunities for local nonprofit organizations to be involved in the project;
(ii)
provide opportunities for public input regarding the project; and
(iii)
include demonstrated support from the community.
(e)
Priority— In awarding grants under the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority in selection to eligible entities based on—
(1)
the extent to which the eligible entity will contribute matching funds for activities conducted with amounts from a grant under this section; and
(2)
based on the extent to which the project funded with grant amounts would—
(A)
address demonstrated deficiencies in the condition of, and access to, projects and activities described in subsection (b) in the project neighborhood;
(B)
build green spaces located within half of a mile of public housing, or covered federally assisted rental dwelling units, that are not within half of a mile of any green space;
(C)
use environmentally beneficial components, such as sustainable landscape features, upcycled and recycled materials, and materials with a low-carbon footprint; and
(D)
where applicable, contain safe trails or routes, such as bikeways, and sidewalks, that connect to neighborhoods and enhance access to green spaces.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.

Sec. 403 Tree planting grant program

(a)
Establishment— The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to plant qualifying trees for the purpose of mitigating and reducing high-surface temperatures and cooling the surrounding area.
(b)
Applications—
(1)
In general— An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2)
Contents— An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a 5-year timeline and budget for the planting and maintenance associated with qualifying trees.
(3)
Community involvement— The Secretary shall require eligible entities to include in an application for a grant under this section a public participation plan to ensure that residents of the area in which a project is to be implemented are involved in decision-making about the project and such public participation plan may include—
(A)
opportunities for local nonprofit organizations to be involved;
(B)
opportunities for public input; and
(C)
demonstrated support from the community.
(c)
Priority— In awarding grants under the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants proposing to utilize tree species that are proven to be more resilient to climate change and extreme weather events common in the area in which a project is to be implemented.
(d)
Use of amounts— An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use amounts provided through the grant to cover costs associated with—
(1)
implementing the tree planting project, including—
(A)
planning and designing the planting activity;
(B)
purchasing qualifying trees; and
(C)
preparing the site and conducting planting, including the labor and cost associated with the use of machinery;
(2)
maintaining and monitoring planted trees for a period of up to 5 years to ensure successful establishment of the qualifying trees;
(3)
training activities associated with the project; and
(4)
other relevant costs, as determined by the Secretary.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2034.
(f)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Eligible entity— The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a State, Territory, or Tribal agency;
(B)
a local governmental entity;
(C)
an Indian Tribe; or
(D)
a nonprofit organization.
(2)
Limited English proficiency household— The term limited English proficiency household means that a household does not have an adult that speaks English “very well” as determined by the United States Census Bureau.
(3)
Local governmental entity— The term local governmental entity means any municipal government or county government with jurisdiction over local land use decisions.
(4)
Qualifying tree— The term qualifying tree means a tree that—
(A)
is a species that is not an invasive species in the eligible area in which such tree is to be planted; and
(B)
is not a species that is, in the eligible area at the time of planting, being attacked by an invasive species, unless the eligible entity has a plan to limit the risk of death of the tree to be planted.
(5)
Secretary— In this section, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.