Bill comes after record-breaking spring temperatures in Phoenix and across the West this week

Washington (March 28, 2025) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act which would create a competitive grant program to provide funding to combat the causes and consequences of urban heat islands. Heat islands occur when urban areas experience higher temperatures due to factors such as increased population density; a lack of shading; and pavement infrastructure such as parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways. 34 million Americans currently live in areas where manmade factors are pushing up temperatures by 8 degrees Fahrenheit or more.   

“Extreme heat has become a near universal experience for families across the country, and its effects are particularly dangerous for marginalized communities who often lack proper cooling infrastructure,” said Senator Markey. “The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act would address years of underinvestment in these communities by directing federal resources toward life-saving solutions – such as increased tree canopy, shaded bus stops, and community cooling centers. As record-breaking heat strikes year after year, neighborhoods in every corner of America deserve to stay healthy and cool while commuting, working, and playing outside.” 

“As summers in Arizona and across the country get longer and hotter, they also get deadlier – especially in cities where a lack of shade and miles of concrete push temperatures even higher,” said Senator Gallego. “I’ve long been a champion of doing more to address extreme heat, and I am proud to continue that effort by introducing this bill in the Senate.”

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act would create a $30 million grant program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for entities such as local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, Tribal governments, and nonprofits to implement efforts that prevent and offset the effects of excess urban heat including: cool pavements, cool roofs, tree planting and maintenance, green roofs, bus stop covers, cooling centers, and local heat mitigation education efforts.

“This week, Phoenix broke our own record when Sky Harbor hit 99 degrees on March 25. The climate crisis is the most pressing issue for our generation,” said Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), the House sponsor of the bill. “I came to Congress to take bold action and secure federal investments because lives are at stake. I’m proud to stand with Senator Ruben Gallego in introducing the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act—Arizonans can’t afford to wait.”

“With extreme heat driven by the climate crisis a growing threat to the well-being of Oregonians and everybody in our country, it’s a must for federal investment to help local communities respond to this life-and-death risk,” Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said. “This bill would provide those resources for locally driven responses that could provide relief for farmworkers, construction workers and everybody working outdoors as well as for people living indoors and lacking affordable cooling options.”

“In places like East Portland, where a lack of tree canopy already leaves neighborhoods dangerously exposed to extreme heat, the Trump Administration’s illegal funding freeze and grant contract cancellations will only deepen this heat crisis,” said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore). “The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act provides much-needed resources for tree planting, cooling centers, and other solutions to fight climate chaos and keep our communities safe.” 

“New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the nation, and in Newark where I live, residents experience temperatures that are 8 degrees higher because of the urban heat island effect,” said Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). “I am proud to cosponsor this legislation that will empower our communities to combat the rise in urban heat due to climate change, both by tackling the underlying causes and by enabling communities to adapt.”

“Extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense in the face of the climate crisis, threatening the health and safety of communities in California and across the country,” said Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). “These health impacts are even more severe in lower-income, urban areas, where residents struggle to find shaded spaces in higher temperatures. Our legislation would help groups on the ground lead urban heat reduction efforts in their communities, while addressing both the long-term causes and consequences of excess urban heat.” 

“Extreme heat is a growing public health emergency that kills more Americans every year than any other weather-related causes—and breaks down American infrastructure. Senator Ruben Gallego’s Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act offers a smart, scalable response by supporting proven landscape-based strategies like tree planting, bus and transit shelters, green roofs, and park development. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) strongly supports this legislation, which affirms the vital role of landscape architects in building healthier, cooler, and fairer communities through design that works with nature,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen.

“Extreme heat is the deadliest natural disaster, killing more people than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Trees decrease this threat, reducing street temperatures by up to 20°F compared to neighborhoods without trees,” said Joel Pannell, American Forests Vice President of Urban Forests Policy. “Trees are life-saving infrastructure. This urgently needed legislation will give HUD a prominent role in protecting communities from the increasing threats of extreme heat while empowering local decision-making and creating jobs.”

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act is also supported by Climate Mayors, Smart Surfaces Coalition, Federation of American Scientists, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Union of Concerned Scientists, GreenLatinos, Center for Biological Diversity, National Coalition for the Homeless, American Lung Association, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Climate Resolve, and TreePeople.

The bill text is available HERE.

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