,i  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #gfic  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,july #bj1 #bjbj ,ms4
 ,velzquez 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1  
,mrs4 ,hayes1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,carson
 of ,indiana1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 and ,mr4  
,san ,nicolas7 introduced the following 
bill2 which was referred to the         
,committee on ,education and ,labor  ,a 
,,bill  ,to establish a grant program to
 fund the installation of green roof    
systems on public school buildings1 and 
for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title   
,this ,act may be cited as the ,public  
,school ,green ,rooftop ,program4  #b4  
,findings ,congress finds the following3
  7#a7 ,green roofs on educational      
facilities can provide an easily        
accessible site to teach students and   
visitors about biology1 math1 ,,stem1   
art1 sustainability1 green roof         
technology1 and the benefits of green   
roofs4  7#b7 ,the ,environmental        
,protection ,agency recognizes the      
installation of green roofs throughout a

 city can help reduce surface urban heat
 islands and cool the air4  7#c7 ,the   
,general ,services ,administration      
recognizes a typical green roof lasts   
more than #dj years before requiring    
replacement1 whereas the life of an     
unvegetated conventional roof could be  
#aj to #ae years4 ,by making the roof   
membranes last longer1 green roofs can  
save taxpayer money and reduce the      
amount of waste that is diverted into   
landfills4  7#d7 ,the ,national ,park   
,service recognizes green roofs can     
improve the energy performance of       
buildings1 help manage stormwater1      
reduce airborne emissions1 and mitigate 
the effects of urban heat islands4  7#e7
 ,the ,food and ,agriculture            
,organization of the ,united ,nations   
encourages and supports countries to    
promote school gardens with educational 
goals to help students1 school staff1   
and families make the connection between
 growing food and good diets1 develop   
life skills1 and increase environmental 

awareness4  7#f7 ,greater weatherization
 and insulation offered by green roof   
assemblies reduce the amount of energy  
needed to moderate the temperature of a 
building1 as roofs can be the source of 
the greatest heat loss in the winter and
 the hottest temperatures in the summer4
  7#g7 ,a green roof can protect        
waterproofing membranes from exposure to
 ultraviolet radiation and wide         
temperature fluctuations4 ,this         
protection feature can greatly extend   
the lifespan and cost effectiveness of  
waterproofing membranes4  7#h7 ,green   
roofs can contribute to landfill        
diversion by prolonging the life cycle  
of waterproofing membranes and          
insulation materials4 ,by increasing the
 life cycle and reducing roof           
replacement costs1 less roofing         
materials over the life of the building 
need to be disposed of4 ,green roofs    
generate the need for recycled          
components in growing media4 ,green     
roofs can prolong the service life of   

heating1 ventilation1 and ,,hvac systems
 through decreased use4  7#i7 ,green    
roofs can reduce the amount of          
stormwater runoff and also delay the    
time at which runoff occurs1 resulting  
in decreased stress on sewer systems and
 streams at peak flow periods and       
decreased pollution in ,united ,states  
waterways4  7#aj7 ,the plants on green  
roofs can capture airborne pollutants1  
atmospheric deposition1 and can filter  
noxious gases1 as well as provide       
habitat for and habitat connectivity for
 local species of pollinators4  7#aa7   
,green roofs can provide much needed    
additional greenspaces to urban centers4
 ,these greenspaces can create new      
habitats for a wide variety of plants1  
animals1 and insects needed for healthy 
biosystems4  7#ab7 ,green roofs can     
provide much needed greenspaces for     
healthy human habitation of dense urban 
spaces4 ,green roofs can be used for    
passive and active recreation and       
relaxation spaces for humans4  7#ac7    

,green roofs can generate potential     
employment for green roof installation  
and maintenance personnel4 ,specialized 
green roof installations can generate   
income and employment for urban farm    
operations4  7#ad7 ,the temperature     
moderating effects of green roofs can   
reduce demand for electrical power and  
other energy and fuel sources1 and      
potentially decrease the amount of      
,,co#b and other polluting by-products  
being released into the air4  7#ae7     
,through natural transpiration1 plants  
on vertical and horizontal surfaces are 
able to cool cities during hot summer   
months and reduce the urban heat island 
effect4  7#af7 ,green roofs plants can  
capture dust and particulate matter     
throughout cities1 as well as the       
production of smog4 ,this can play a    
role in reducing greenhouse gas         
emissions and adapting urban areas to a 
future climate with warmer summers4     
7#ag7 ,green roofs improve human health 
and wellbeing through improvement of    

local air quality1 regulation of        
temperature1 and sequestration of       
harmful airborne substances1            
particularly among children and other   
vulnerable or at-risk communities4      
7#ah7 ,green roofs on public            
infrastructure provide cost-savings for 
the life of the project1 through        
defraying future replacement and energy 
costs4  7#ai7 ,green roofs contribute to
 the stabilization of neighborhoods as a
 result of improved health1 scenic      
qualities1 and elevated nearby property 
valuation4  7#bj7 ,green roofs provide  
habitat for wildlife such as pollinators
 and migratory birds4  #c4 ,grants for  
planning assistance  7a7 ,grant program 
authorized ,the ,secretary1 taking into 
account recommendations from the        
,director of the ,weatherization and    
,intergovernmental ,programs ,office of 
the ,department of ,energy1 shall make  
grants to eligible entities to pay the  
costs of planning assistance for a green
 roof system described in subsection    

7b74  7b7 ,allowable use of funds for   
grants for planning assistance ,an      
eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall use the grant for the
 following purposes3  7#a7              
,identification of opportunities to use 
green roofs4  7#b7 ,assessment of       
vertical structures1 or possible        
vertical structures1 to support         
vegetation and ground-level areas that  
support vegetation in the same school   
building4  7#c7 ,permitting and siting  
issues1 including potential synergy of  
the green roof with green roofs1 green  
walls1 and rain gardens in neighboring  
buildings4  7#d7 ,business planning and 
financial analysis4  7#e7 ,architectural
 and engineering analysis1 including    
analysis of-- 7,a7 a site to determine  
required structural loading capacity2   
7,b7 plans for material transportation  
to roof2  7,c7 the distribution of      
material and equipment during           
construction2  7,d7 plans for           
reinforcement of roof2  7,e7 plans for  

structural safety2  7,f7 plans to       
increase available loading2  7,g7 plans 
to determine need and location of       
vegetation-free zones for access to     
mechanical equipment1 roof parapets1 and
 other common roof structures2  7,h7    
plans for need for permanent or         
semi-permanent irrigation systems to    
provide supplemental water during times 
of drought2 and  7,i7 plans to determine
 need for a leak detection system4  7#f7
 ,cost estimation1 including-- 7,a7     
technical information on the cost of    
construction 7market prices1 labor1     
materials1 and transportation72  7,b7 a 
life cycle cost analysis2  7,c7 an      
estimate of operational costs2 and  7,d7
 an estimate of costs to include        
recreational space in order to meet the 
requirements of title ,,iii of the      
,americans with ,disabilities ,act of   
#aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq474   
7#g7 ,grant writing services1 including 
reimbursement for grant writing services
 used to obtain a grant under this      

section4  7c7 ,application ,to receive a
 grant under this section1 an eligible  
entity shall submit to the ,secretary an
 application at such time1 in such      
manner1 and containing such information 
as the ,secretary may require4  #d4     
,public school green roof installation  
grant program  7a7 ,public school green 
roof installation program ,not later    
than #a year after the date of the      
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
shall award grants1 on a competitive    
basis1 to eligible entities to install  
an extensive or intensive green roof    
system4  7b7 ,application ,to receive a 
grant under subsection 7a71 an eligible 
entity shall submit to the ,secretary an
 application at such time1 in such      
manner1 and containing such information 
as the ,secretary may require1 which    
shall include-- 7#a7 a letter of        
compliance from local regulatory bodies 
to--  7,a7 certify a complete review of 
proposed design to ensure that it meets 
municipal requirements2  7,b7 ensure    

that installation is carried out in     
accordance with local standards and     
incentive program performance           
requirements 7if available72  7,c7      
determine requirements for issuing      
permits2  7,d7 determine occupancy      
requirements for fire codes2 and  7,e7  
ensure projects meet the minimum        
performance standard specified within   
the ,living ,architecture ,performance  
,tool 7,,lapt7 rating system for green  
roofs and walls2 and  7#b7 a complete   
description of the eligible entity's    
plan for the installation and operation 
of a green roof system1 including       
descriptions of--  7,a7 the hiring      
criteria and qualifications for green   
roof installation and maintenance       
personnel with the inclusion of local   
workforce trainees1 including at least  
one ,green ,roof ,professional 7,,grp7  
as accredited by the ,green ,roof       
,industry ,association2  7,b7 the       
methods for the green roof installation 
and maintenance2  7,c7 a plan for       

utilization of the green roof1 including
 weatherization1 recreational space1    
education1 food production1 or whether  
access and utilization will be extended 
to members of the neighborhood2  7,d7 a 
plan for intensive green roof           
applications that include recreational  
space use to meet the requirements of   
title ,,iii of the ,americans with      
,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq472  7,e7 a      
strategy for increasing energy          
efficiency and reducing heat reflection2
 and  7,f7 a plan for hiring low-income 
individuals or individuals registered   
with a one-stop career center for       
installation and maintenance positions4 
7#c7 the eligible entity's maintenance  
plan4  7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants
 under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary   
shall give priority to eligible entities
 in which not fewer than #cj percent of 
students served by such entities are    
from families with incomes below the    
poverty line4  7d7 ,installation ,not   

later than #d years after receiving a   
grant under subsection 7a71 an eligible 
entity shall complete installation of a 
green roof system4  7e7 ,maintenance of 
infrastructure ,in addition to receiving
 a grant under subsection 7a71 each     
eligible entity that meets the          
installation requirements of subsection 
7d7 shall receive additional funding for
 an additional #d-year period for       
maintenance activities1 which may       
include the following3  7#a7 ,conducting
 routine inspections throughout the year
 to monitor the condition of the green  
roof and surrounding roof areas and     
structures1 especially after storm      
events4  7#b7 ,monitoring plant health  
and replacing any plants1 as necessary4 
7#c7 ,noting any areas impacted by      
rooftop microclimates 7including wind   
erosion1 shady spots1 exhaust vents1    
drip edges1 and intense reflected light7
 where replanting may not be successful1
 and alternate planting types1 planting 
techniques1 or an alternate approach may

 be necessary4  7#d7 ,watering          
nonirrigated systems during prolonged   
drought periods and maintenance of any  
irrigation system for the green roof4   
7#e7 ,addressing weeds and pests when   
needed using organic1 essential-oils    
based products4  7#f7 ,for intensive    
green roofs where more highly diverse   
plant groups and types are used1        
ensuring plant maintenance and care is  
generally consistent with the           
requirements of ground-level            
landscaping1 including consultation with
 a horticulturalist1 agronomist1 or     
landscape professional4  7#g7 ,engaging 
local workforce trainees4  #e4 ,report  
to the ,congress ,not later than #a year
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit a    
report to the ,committee on ,energy and 
,commerce of the ,house of              
,representatives and the ,committee on  
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions of the ,senate1 and make      
publically available on the internet    

website of the ,department of ,energy1 a
 report describing--  7#a7 each grant   
application received under this ,act2   
and  7#b7 any grants awarded under this 
,act1 including--  7,a7 the name and    
location of the eligible entity2  7,b7  
the total amount of the grant2  7,c7 the
 date on which the grant was awarded2   
and  7,d7 any other data the ,secretary 
determines to be necessary for an       
evaluation of the benefits of a public  
school green roof4  #f4 ,definitions ,in
 this ,act3 7#a7 ,elementary school ,the
 term elementary school has the meaning 
given the term in section #haja of the  
,elementary and ,secondary ,education   
,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja71    
except that such section shall be       
applied as if the term ,state1 as it    
appears in such section1 had the meaning
 given such term in this section4  7#b7 
,eligible entity ,the term eligible     
entity means-- 7,a7 a public elementary 
school or secondary school2  7,b7 a     
local educational agency2 or  7,c7 a    

partnership between a nonprofit         
organization and an entity described in 
paragraphs 7#a7 or 7#b74  7#c7 ,green   
roof ,the term green roof means a layer 
of vegetation planted over a            
waterproofing system or waterproof      
management practice that is installed on
 top of a flat or slightly sloped roof  
that may support plant growth1          
including-- 7,a7 an extensive green roof
 with a growing media layer that is up  
to #f inches thick2 or  7,b7 an         
intensive green roof with a growing     
media layer that is #f4j to #dh inches  
thick4  7#d7 ,indian tribe ,the term    
,indian tribe has the meaning given the 
term in section #d of the ,indian       
,self-,determination and ,education     
,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 
7#e7 ,local educational agency ,the term
 local educational agency has the       
meaning given the term in section #haja 
of the ,elementary and ,secondary       
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ghja71 except that such section shall  

be applied as if the term ,state1 as it 
appears in such section1 had the meaning
 given such term in this section4  7#f7 
,low-income individual ,the term        
low-income individual means1 with       
respect to any calendar year1 any       
individual who lives in a household that
 has a gross income that does not exceed
 #cjj percent of the poverty line4  7#g7
 ,nonprofit organization ,the term      
nonprofit organization means an         
organization described in section       
#eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue  
,code of #aihf which is exempt from     
taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such 
,code4  7#h7 ,one-stop career center    
,the term one-stop career center means a
 comprehensive one-stop center described
 in section #cfa4cje of title #cd1 ,code
 of ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect 
on the date of the enactment of this    
,act74  7#i7 ,poverty line ,the term    
poverty line has the meaning given the  
term in section #haja of the ,elementary
 and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife

 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74  7#aj7          
,secondary school ,the term secondary   
school has the meaning given the term in
 section #haja of the ,elementary and   
,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj
 ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja71 except that such     
section shall be applied as if the term 
,state1 as it appears in such section1  
had the meaning given such term in this 
section4  7#aa7 ,secretary ,the term    
,secretary means the ,secretary of      
,energy4  7#ab7 ,state ,the term ,state 
means each of the #ej ,states and the   
,district of ,columbia1 each of         
territories1 and each of the ,indian    
tribes4  7#ac7 ,territory ,the term     
territory means the ,united ,states     
,virgin ,islands1 ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 
,american ,samoa1 and the ,commonwealth 
of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4     
7#ad7 ,weatherization ,the term         
weatherization means the practice of    
protecting a building and its interior  
from the elements1 particularly from    
sunlight1 precipitation1 and wind1 and  

of modifying a building to reduce energy
 consumption and optimize energy        
efficiency4  #g4 ,authorization of      
appropriations  7a7 ,appropriation for  
grants for planning assistance ,there is
 authorized to be appropriated          
#ajj1jjj1jjj to carry out section #c for
 each of fiscal years #bjba through     
#bjbe4  7b7 ,appropriation for green    
roof installation ,there is authorized  
to be appropriated #cjj1jjj1jjj to award
 grants under section #d7;a7 for each of
 fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbe4  7c7 
,appropriation for maintenance of       
infrastructure ,there is authorized to  
be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj to provide 
funds under section #d7;e7 for each of  
fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4