I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7693 
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 
JULY 20, 2020 
Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. SUOZZI, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 
CARSON of Indiana, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. SAN NICOLAS) 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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