,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hbia ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ag1 #bjbj,mr4 ,cleaver 7for himself and ,mr4 ,mc,kinley7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a grant program for tree planting to reduce residential energy consumption4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tackling ,residential ,energy burdens ,efficiently ,act of #bjbj or the ,,tree ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,tree planting grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible cost ,the term eligible cost means1 with respect to a project-- 7,a7 the cost of implementing the project1 including-- 7i7 planning and designing the planting activity2 7ii7 purchasing trees2 and 7iii7 preparing the site and conducting planting1 including the labor and cost associated with the use of machinery2 7,b7 the cost of maintaining and monitoring planted trees for a period of up to #c years to ensure successful establishment of the trees2 7,c7 the cost of training activities associated with the project2 and 7,d7 any other relevant cost1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state agency2 7,b7 a local governmental entity2 7,c7 an ,indian ,tribe2 7,d7 a nonprofit organization2 and 7,e7 a retail power provider4 7#c7 ,energy burden ,the term energy burden means the percentage of household income spent on home energy bills4 7#d7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term ,indian tribe in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#e7 ,local governmental entity ,the term local governmental entity means any municipal government or county government with jurisdiction over local land use decisions4 7#f7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means an organization that-- 7,a7 is described in section #agj7;h77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7,b7 operates in accordance with one or more of the purposes described in section #agj7;h77#d77;,a7 of that ,code4 7#g7 ,program ,the term ,program means the grant program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#h7 ,project ,the term project means a tree planting project carried out by an eligible entity using grant funds awarded under the ,program4 7#i7 ,retail power provider ,the term retail power provider means any entity authorized under applicable ,state or ,federal law to generate1 distribute1 or provide retail electricity1 natural gas1 or fuel oil service4 7#aj7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 shall establish a program under which the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to conduct tree planting projects in accordance with this section4 7#b7 ,tree planting ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 award sufficient grants each year to plant not less than #cjj1jjj trees each year4 7c7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under the ,program shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including the information described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,contents ,an application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a description of how the project will reduce residential energy consumption2 7,b7 an estimate of the expected reduction in residential energy consumption2 7,c7 a description of the total eligible costs of the project and sources of funding for the project2 7,d7 a description of the anticipated community and stakeholder engagement in the project2 7,e7 a description of the tree species to be planted and how that species is suitable for the local environmental conditions and climate2 and 7,f7 any other relevant information required by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to projects that-- 7#a7 provide the largest potential reduction in residential energy consumption for households with a high energy burden2 7#b7 are located in a neighborhood with lower tree canopy cover and higher maximum daytime summer temperatures2 7#c7 are located in a neighborhood with high amounts of senior citizens or children2 7#d7 will collaboratively engage neighbors and community members that will be closely affected by the tree planting2 and 7#e7 will employ a substantial percentage of the workforce locally1 with a focus on engaging unemployed and underemployed persons4 7e7 ,costs 7#a7 ,federal share ,the ,secretary shall award a grant to an eligible entity under the ,program in an amount equal to not more than #ge percent of the eligible costs of the project1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,matching requirement ,as a condition of receiving a grant under the ,program1 an eligible entity shall provide1 in cash or through in-kind contributions from non-,federal sources1 matching funds in an amount equal to not less than #be percent of the eligible costs of the project1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the ,program #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4