˿����Ƶ has worked with U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) to reintroduce the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act (S. 1166), a bill taking aim at one of the nation’s fastest-growing threats: extreme heat.  The measure is designed to help communities reduce the health and infrastructure risks tied to rising temperatures. The bill would create a grant program supporting local projects that use landscape architecture techniques, including tree planting, shaded transit shelters, green roofs, and park development — all proven strategies for cooling urban areas. 

“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. ˿����Ƶ (˿����Ƶ) 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 ˿����Ƶ CEO Torey Carter-Conneen. 

Recently, ˿����Ƶ released a report Landscape Architecture Solutions to Extreme Heat, which found that four key landscape architecture strategies reduce heat impacts: 

• Increase tree percentage in parks and green spaces 
• Provide shade on sites 
• Use plant materials and water instead of hardscape 
• Use green ground cover, including grasses and shrubs 

The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for further consideration. ˿����Ƶ advocates may take action on this measure using the to urge their legislators to support this measure.