Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3703
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025 aims to address the growing threat of extreme heat in urban areas by establishing a federal grant program. It focuses on reducing heat-related deaths, illnesses, and economic costs, particularly in underserved communities, through projects that cool urban environments and build resilience to climate change.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The bill outlines Congress's recognition of urban heat as a major public health and economic issue, disproportionately affecting low-income and communities of color. It notes causes like low tree cover and high building density, and solutions such as tree planting, which could offset future heat-related mortality.
- Definitions: Key terms include "covered census tract" (areas with at least 20% poverty rate, based on 2019-2023 data, including historically redlined areas); "eligible entity" (states, local governments, tribes, nonprofits, etc.); "eligible project" (initiatives like tree planting, cool roofs, cooling centers, community education, and urban forestry plans); and "environmental justice" (fair treatment in environmental policies regardless of race, income, or background).
- Grant Program: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through its Office of Community Planning and Development, must create the program within one year of enactment. It awards grants for eligible projects in urban areas (defined as densely populated zones under federal transportation law), in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- At least 75% of grants must target covered census tracts.
- Up to 3% of funds can support technical assistance (e.g., application help, budgeting) with priority for high-need areas.
- Applications require details on project use, community engagement, and health-environment links; guidance must be issued within 180 days.
- Federal funding covers up to 80% of costs, waivable to 100% for economically hard-hit entities.
- Priority goes to projects in high-poverty or hotter areas with low tree cover.
- Annual reports to Congress on grant recipients and distribution.
- Up to 5% of funds for an oversight board (with members from federal agencies, nonprofits, and academia) to select grantees, evaluate progress, and ensure no conflicts of interest.
- Funding: Authorizes $30 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2033.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new standalone grant program under HUD, creating fresh authority for urban heat mitigation without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing frameworks like the Housing and Community Development Act (for definitions of states and local governments) and incorporates environmental justice principles, but primarily adds novel federal support for heat-specific projects, such as cool pavements and renewable-powered cooling centers, which were not previously centralized in this way.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HUD gains new responsibilities for program administration, coordination with EPA, Forest Service, and NOAA, and oversight, potentially increasing workload and inter-agency collaboration. Annual reporting and board establishment add administrative burdens but promote accountability.
- Citizens: Urban residents, especially in low-income and minority communities, could benefit from cooler environments, reduced health risks (e.g., fewer heat-related illnesses), lower energy costs, and improved access to shade and cooling resources. It may enhance community resilience to longer, more frequent heat waves projected by century's end.
- International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; the bill focuses on domestic urban areas.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible Entities: States, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, Indian tribes, territorial governments, nonprofits, and consortia, who can apply for and implement grants.
- Underserved Communities: Residents in covered census tracts (high-poverty, historically disadvantaged areas) and urban zones with low tree cover or high heat, including low-income households and people of color facing disproportionate heat exposure.
- Federal Agencies: HUD (lead), EPA, Forest Service, NOAA, and others (e.g., Health and Human Services, Energy, Agriculture) involved in coordination, technical assistance, or oversight.
- Nonprofits and Academia: Organizations focused on environmental justice, urban forestry, and heat research, eligible for grants or board roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes environmental justice by prioritizing underserved areas, aligning with executive orders on equity in federal programs. The waiver for 100% federal funding in hardship cases provides flexibility but requires HUD to define "economic hardship," potentially inviting legal challenges if criteria are seen as arbitrary. Oversight board ensures transparency and conflict-free decisions.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection by targeting disparities in heat exposure tied to race and income, without raising federalism concerns as it involves voluntary grants to states and locals.
- Political: Authorizes significant funding ($240 million total) amid climate debates, promoting bipartisan environmental action (introduced by a diverse group of representatives). It could influence urban policy by integrating heat mitigation into housing and community development, potentially setting precedents for addressing climate inequities in future legislation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
Cosponsors (30)
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-04 — PDF (15 pages)