[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4420 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4420
To reauthorize and amend the Healthy Streets program to enhance the
resilience, accessibility, and safety of the Nation's transportation
corridors by supporting strategic investments in tree canopy, shade
infrastructure, and other nature-based cooling strategies along
pedestrian, bicycle, and transit routes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 15, 2025
Ms. Strickland (for herself, Mr. Lawler, Ms. Norton, Ms. Adams, Mr.
Thanedar, Ms. Titus, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Stanton,
Ms. Ansari, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Kennedy of
New York, and Mr. Harder of California) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and amend the Healthy Streets program to enhance the
resilience, accessibility, and safety of the Nation's transportation
corridors by supporting strategic investments in tree canopy, shade
infrastructure, and other nature-based cooling strategies along
pedestrian, bicycle, and transit routes.
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 ``Cool Corridors Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Extreme heat is a growing public health and
infrastructure challenge.
(2) Tree canopy and green infrastructure reduce surface and
air temperatures, improve safety and usability along
transportation corridors, and protect infrastructure from heat-
related degradation.
(3) Communities with limited infrastructure investment
often lack sufficient tree cover and face increased exposure to
extreme heat and limited transportation access.
(4) Federal programs such as the Healthy Streets program
and the Urban and Community Forestry Program have demonstrated
both high demand and the effectiveness of locally driven,
community-scale interventions.
(5) Locally driven efforts to plant and maintain trees
along key walking, biking, and transit corridors are under-
resourced, despite proven benefits to heat mitigation, public
safety, and community health.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to--
(1) promote the deployment of cooling infrastructure along
transportation corridors;
(2) enhance resilience and safety of transportation systems
in the face of extreme heat and improve air quality;
(3) improve safety, accessibility, and usability for
pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users;
(4) extend the useful life of infrastructure; and
(5) prioritize investment in communities facing
disproportionate heat and access challenges.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM.
Section 11101(b)(2)(C) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (23 U.S.C. 101 note(b)(2)(C)) is amended by striking ``through
2026'' and inserting ``through 2030''.
SEC. 4. HEALTHY STREETS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 11406 of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 101 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``and''
at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (E) by striking the
period and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) State and local transit agencies;
``(G) State departments of transportation;
``(H) local educational agencies; and
``(I) tree and greenspace stewardship
organizations, environmental asset management groups,
or infrastructure resilience partners with experience
in protecting and sustaining green infrastructure and
shade assets.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Cool corridor.--The term `cool corridor' means--
``(A) a designated transportation route enhanced
through linear greening strategies, including tree
canopy, shade infrastructure, and other nature-based
solutions designed to reduce surface and ambient
temperatures; and
``(B) incorporates planning and stewardship
measures to ensure the long-term functionality,
protection, and climate resilience of the activities
described in subparagraph (A).
``(9) Heat mitigation strategies.--The term `heat
mitigation strategies' means activities that result in the
mitigation of heat in public spaces, including tree planting,
vegetative infrastructure, cool or reflective surfaces, shade
structures, and other evidence-based practices, including the
maintenance and preservation of already existing green
infrastructure, roadside vegetations and trees.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by inserting ``for demonstration projects in
geographically and climatically diverse regions,
including both urban and rural communities with
historically low tree canopy or high heat
vulnerability'' before ``to eligible entities'';
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (2) by striking the period and
inserting ``, including the integration of shade
structures, bus stop shelters, and climate-resilient
streetscape elements, which may include the strategic
planting of trees for shade;''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) to plan, design, construction, and maintain tree
canopy and green infrastructure along public transportation
corridors, including alongside transportation right of ways, at
bus stops, near transit hubs, and within designated public-
school zones and properties;
``(4) to deploy smart sensors and data tools to monitor
heat exposure and performance;
``(5) for community engagement, planning, and workforce
development activities relating to heat mitigation, tree
planting and maintenance; and
``(6) to integrate cooling infrastructure into existing or
planned multimodal corridors or new and existing transportation
projects; particularly school zones, and neighborhood-scale
corridors where pedestrian mobility is high to create cool
corridors'';
(3) in subsection (d)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) plans to undergo review and seek approval
from the State or local agency of jurisdiction prior to
project implementation to ensure projects do not
interfere or hinder any ongoing or future
developments.'';
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``that is
impacted by high heat or low tree canopy coverage''
after ``disadvantaged community'';
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``or'' at the end;
(C) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) that improves access to transit, schools, jobs, or
essential services;
``(5) that incorporates maintenance and long-term
sustainability plans;
``(6) that leverages additional funding through public
private or interagency coordination;
``(7) that aims to preserve and maintain existing green
infrastructure and vegetation alongside transportation
corridors and transit routes;
``(8) that incorporates the use of vegetation or tree
species that require minimal maintenance; or
``(9) that integrates workforce training and urban forestry
job creation strategies.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Interagency Coordination.--In carrying out the program under
this section, the Secretary shall coordinate with the following, as
appropriate:
``(1) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency.
``(2) The Secretary of Energy.
``(3) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
``(4) The Secretary of Agriculture, particularly the Chief
of the Forest Service.
``(5) The Director of the United States Climate Resilience
Toolkit and United States Global Change Research Program.
``(j) Technical Assistance and Guidance.--The Secretary, in
coordination with relevant Federal agencies, shall provide--
``(1) technical assistance, model project templates, and
guidance to grantees to promote cost-effective and evidence-
based project delivery under this section; and
``(2) guidance on tree species selection, short and long
term stewardship plans, and integration with local forestry
plans.
``(k) Specifications for Tree Planting.--If the recipient of a
grant under this section uses grant funding for tree planting--
``(1) such planting shall be done in a manner that does not
obstruct traffic views or hinder public safety, as determined
by the Secretary; and
``(2) the recipient shall be responsible for tree
maintenance, including watering and upkeep, as needed.
``(l) Reporting.--A recipient of a grant under this section shall
submit to the Secretary an annual report on--
``(1) temperature reduction and environmental performance
metrics;
``(2) infrastructure resilience improvements;
``(3) public health and equity outcomes;
``(4) cost-benefit analyses; and
``(5) community engagement practices.''.
(b) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to Congress a
report evaluating the outcomes of the program under section 11406 of
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 101 note) and
making recommendations for permanent authorization and integration of
the program into the surface transportation block grant program under
section 133 of title 23, United States Code.
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