I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1863 
To establish a grant program to fund the installation of green roof systems 
on public school buildings, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2021 
Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 
THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. JONES, Ms. BARRAGA´N, and Ms. JACKSON 
LEE) introduced the following bill; 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 buildings, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public School Green 
Rooftop Program’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Green roofs on educational facilities can 
provide an easily accessible site to teach students 
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and visitors about biology, math, STEM, art, sus-
tainability, green roof technology, and the benefits of 
green roofs. 
(2) The Environmental Protection Agency rec-
ognizes the installation of green roofs throughout a 
city can help reduce surface urban heat islands and 
cool the air. 
(3) The General Services Administration recog-
nizes a typical green roof lasts more than 40 years 
before requiring replacement, whereas the life of an 
unvegetated conventional roof could be 10 to 15 
years. By making the roof membranes last longer, 
green roofs can save taxpayer money and reduce the 
amount of waste that is diverted into landfills. 
(4) The National Park Service recognizes green 
roofs can improve the energy performance of build-
ings, help manage stormwater, reduce airborne emis-
sions, and mitigate the effects of urban heat islands. 
(5) The Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations encourages and supports coun-
tries to promote school gardens with educational 
goals to help students, school staff, and families 
make the connection between growing food and good 
diets, develop life skills, and increase environmental 
awareness. 
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(6) Greater weatherization and insulation of-
fered by green roof assemblies reduce the amount of 
energy needed to moderate the temperature of a 
building, as roofs can be the source of the greatest 
heat loss in the winter and the hottest temperatures 
in the summer. 
(7) A green roof can protect waterproofing 
membranes from exposure to ultraviolet radiation 
and wide temperature fluctuations. This protection 
feature can greatly extend the lifespan and cost ef-
fectiveness of waterproofing membranes. 
(8) Green roofs can contribute to landfill diver-
sion by prolonging the life cycle of waterproofing 
membranes and insulation materials. By increasing 
the life cycle and reducing roof replacement costs, 
less roofing materials over the life of the building 
need to be disposed of. Green roofs generate the 
need for recycled components in growing media. 
Green roofs can prolong the service life of heating, 
ventilation, and HVAC systems through decreased 
use. 
(9) Green roofs can reduce the amount of 
stormwater runoff and also delay the time at which 
runoff occurs, resulting in decreased stress on sewer 
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systems and streams at peak flow periods and de-
creased pollution in United States waterways. 
(10) The plants on green roofs can capture air-
borne pollutants, atmospheric deposition, and can 
filter noxious gases, as well as provide habitat for 
and habitat connectivity for local species of polli-
nators. 
(11) Green roofs can provide much needed ad-
ditional greenspaces to urban centers. These 
greenspaces can create new habitats for a wide vari-
ety of plants, animals, and insects needed for 
healthy biosystems. 
(12) Green roofs can provide much needed 
greenspaces for healthy human habitation of dense 
urban spaces. Green roofs can be used for passive 
and active recreation and relaxation spaces for hu-
mans. 
(13) Green roofs can generate potential employ-
ment for green roof installation and maintenance 
personnel. Specialized green roof installations can 
generate income and employment for urban farm op-
erations. 
(14) The temperature moderating effects of 
green roofs can reduce demand for electrical power 
and other energy and fuel sources, and potentially 
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decrease the amount of CO2 and other polluting by- 
products being released into the air. 
(15) Through natural transpiration, plants on 
vertical and horizontal surfaces are able to cool cities 
during hot summer months and reduce the urban 
heat island effect. 
(16) Green roofs plants can capture dust and 
particulate matter throughout cities, as well as the 
production of smog. This can play a role in reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions and adapting urban areas 
to a future climate with warmer summers. 
(17) Green roofs improve human health and 
wellbeing through improvement of local air quality, 
regulation of temperature, and sequestration of 
harmful airborne substances, particularly among 
children and other vulnerable or at-risk commu-
nities. 
(18) Green roofs on public infrastructure pro-
vide cost-savings for the life of the project, through 
defraying future replacement and energy costs. 
(19) Green roofs contribute to the stabilization 
of neighborhoods as a result of improved health, sce-
nic qualities, and elevated nearby property valuation. 
(20) Green roofs provide habitat for wildlife 
such as pollinators and migratory birds. 
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SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR PLANNING ASSISTANCE. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary, 
taking into account recommendations from the Director 
of the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs 
Office of the Department of Energy, shall make grants 
to eligible entities to pay the costs of planning assistance 
for a green roof system described in subsection (b). 
(b) ALLOWABLE USE OF FUNDS FOR GRANTS FOR 
PLANNING ASSISTANCE.—An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the grant for the fol-
lowing purposes: 
(1) Identification of opportunities to use green 
roofs. 
(2) Assessment of vertical structures, or pos-
sible vertical structures, to support vegetation and 
ground-level areas that support vegetation in the 
same school building. 
(3) Permitting and siting issues, including po-
tential synergy of the green roof with green roofs, 
green walls, and rain gardens in neighboring build-
ings. 
(4) Business planning and financial analysis. 
(5) Architectural and engineering analysis, in-
cluding analysis of— 
(A) a site to determine required structural 
loading capacity; 
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(B) plans for material transportation to 
roof; 
(C) the distribution of material and equip-
ment during construction; 
(D) plans for reinforcement of roof; 
(E) plans for structural safety; 
(F) plans to increase available loading; 
(G) plans to determine need and location 
of vegetation-free zones for access to mechan-
ical equipment, roof parapets, and other com-
mon roof structures; 
(H) plans for need for permanent or semi- 
permanent irrigation systems to provide supple-
mental water during times of drought; and 
(I) plans to determine need for a leak de-
tection system. 
(6) Cost estimation, including— 
(A) technical information on the cost of 
construction (market prices, labor, materials, 
and transportation); 
(B) a life cycle cost analysis; 
(C) an estimate of operational costs; and 
(D) an estimate of costs to include rec-
reational space in order to meet the require-
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ments of title III of the Americans with Disabil-
ities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq). 
(7) Grant writing services, including reimburse-
ment for grant writing services used to obtain a 
grant under this section. 
(c) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under this sec-
tion, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require. 
SEC. 4. PUBLIC SCHOOL GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) PUBLIC SCHOOL GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION 
PROGRAM.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall award grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to install an ex-
tensive or intensive green roof system. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under sub-
section (a), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
an application at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require, 
which shall include— 
(1) a letter of compliance from local regulatory 
bodies to— 
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(A) certify a complete review of proposed 
design to ensure that it meets municipal re-
quirements; 
(B) ensure that installation is carried out 
in accordance with local standards and incentive 
program performance requirements (if avail-
able); 
(C) determine requirements for issuing 
permits; 
(D) determine occupancy requirements for 
fire codes; and 
(E) ensure projects meet the minimum 
performance standard specified within the Liv-
ing Architecture Performance Tool (LAPT) rat-
ing system for green roofs and walls; 
(2) a complete description of the eligible enti-
ty’s plans for reinforcement of its roof to withstand 
a green roof, if needed; 
(3) a complete description of the eligible enti-
ty’s plan for the installation and operation of a 
green roof system, including descriptions of— 
(A) the square footage of the proposed 
vegetated area and anticipated soil depth; 
(B) the hiring criteria and qualifications 
for green roof installation and maintenance per-
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sonnel with the inclusion of local workforce 
trainees, including at least one Green Roof Pro-
fessional (GRP) as accredited by the Green 
Roof Industry Association; 
(C) the methods for the green roof installa-
tion and maintenance; 
(D) a plan for utilization of the green roof, 
including weatherization, recreational space, 
education, food production, or whether access 
and utilization will be extended to members of 
the neighborhood; 
(E) a plan for intensive green roof applica-
tions that include recreational space use to 
meet the requirements of title III of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12101 et seq); 
(F) a strategy for increasing energy effi-
ciency and reducing heat reflection; and 
(G) a plan for hiring low-income individ-
uals or individuals registered with a one-stop 
center for installation and maintenance posi-
tions; and 
(4) the eligible entity’s maintenance plan; and 
(c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities in 
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which not fewer than 30 percent of students served by 
such entities are from families with incomes below the pov-
erty line. 
(d) INSTALLATION.—Not later than 4 years after re-
ceiving a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity 
shall complete installation of a green roof system. 
(e) MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.—In addi-
tion to receiving a grant under subsection (a), each eligible 
entity that meets the installation requirements of sub-
section (d) shall receive additional funding for an addi-
tional 4-year period for maintenance activities, which may 
include the following: 
(1) Conducting routine inspections throughout 
the year to monitor the condition of the green roof 
and surrounding roof areas and structures, espe-
cially after storm events. 
(2) Monitoring plant health and replacing any 
plants, as necessary. 
(3) Noting any areas impacted by rooftop 
microclimates (including wind erosion, shady spots, 
exhaust vents, drip edges, and intense reflected 
light) where replanting may not be successful, and 
alternate planting types, planting techniques, or an 
alternate approach may be necessary. 
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(4) Watering nonirrigated systems during pro-
longed drought periods and maintenance of any irri-
gation system for the green roof. 
(5) Addressing weeds and pests when needed 
using organic, essential-oils based products. 
(6) For intensive green roofs where more highly 
diverse plant groups and types are used, ensuring 
plant maintenance and care is generally consistent 
with the requirements of ground-level landscaping, 
including consultation with a horticulturalist, agron-
omist, or landscape professional. 
(7) Engaging local workforce trainees. 
SEC. 5. REPORT TO THE CONGRESS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Education and Labor 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, 
and make publically available on the Internet website of 
the Department of Energy, a report describing— 
(1) each grant application received under this 
Act; and 
(2) any grants awarded under this Act, includ-
ing— 
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(A) the name and location of the eligible 
entity; 
(B) the total amount of the grant; 
(C) the date on which the grant was 
awarded; 
(D) the square footage of vegetated area, 
soil depth, and soil porosity of media of each 
public school green roof funded with the grant; 
and 
(E) any other data the Secretary deter-
mines to be necessary for an evaluation of the 
benefits of a public school green roof. 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘elemen-
tary school’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801), except that 
such section shall be applied as if the term ‘‘State’’, 
as it appears in such section, had the meaning given 
such term in this section. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a public elementary school or sec-
ondary school; 
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