This bill adds a new Neighborhood Tree Fund to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act. The U.S. Forest Service (the Secretary) would set up the Fund to give money to States, Indian Tribes, local governments, approved organizations, and local tree volunteer groups. The money must be used to increase and improve tree cover in communities. The Secretary will set rules for projects, including community engagement, tree canopy assessments, using climate science, site preparation and species selection, and monitoring and maintenance. The bill gives priority to projects in high-poverty census tracts, areas with low tree canopy and higher daytime summer temperatures, projects that help climate mitigation and public health, and community-led urban agroforestry or tree-based local food production. The bill limits community tree assessment spending to 10% of Fund amounts in a year. It also changes the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council membership, increasing members and adding specific non-government resident members.
If you are part of a State forestry office, an Indian Tribe, a city or town, an approved nonprofit, or a local tree volunteer group, you could apply for funding to plant and maintain trees. Projects that serve neighborhoods with high poverty, lower tree cover, or higher summer temperatures would get priority. Projects must follow rules set by the Secretary, like involving community members, doing tree canopy assessments, using climate science, choosing proper species, and planning for long-term maintenance. The bill also supports community-led urban agroforestry and local food production tied to trees.
The bill authorizes the following amounts to be deposited into the Neighborhood Tree Fund for the Secretary to use: $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2029. Not more than 10% of each year’s amount may be used for community tree assessments. No publicly available information on other federal costs or long-term budget impacts is included in the bill text.
The bill text states that healthy urban trees can support physical and mental health, improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, lower energy demand, and help manage stormwater. It cites a Forest Service estimate that these benefits exceed $18 billion. The text also notes that tree cover is unevenly distributed, with lower canopy in many low-income and majority-minority neighborhoods and in formerly redlined areas. Proponents in the bill say federal investment should accelerate actions to improve urban forests and focus on priority communities.
No publicly available information on opponents' views is included in the bill text or metadata.