Booker, Brown, Matsui Announce Bill to Accelerate Tree Planting in Underserved Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the heels of Earth Day and ahead of Arbor Day, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, along with U.S. Representatives Shontel M. Brown (D-OH-11) and Doris Matsui (D-CA-7), announce the Neighborhood Tree Act, legislation to provide federal funds for tree-planting programs in urban and underserved communities.

The Neighborhood Tree Act would establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, authorizing $2 billion in federal grants for tree-planting programs nationwide. According to the EPA, trees and vegetation in urban areas can offset heat island effects, reduce energy use, improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and enhance quality of life, and 73% of Americans wish their neighborhood had more trees.

Senator Booker will file the Neighborhood Tree Act in the Senate when the chamber returns next week. The bill is endorsed by American Forests, Holden Forests & Gardens, the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, the Trust for Public Land, and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

"During my years as Mayor of Newark, I witnessed how trees can change the trajectory of a neighborhood. Trees clean the air families breathe, reduce flooding on streets, lower energy bills, cool overheated blocks, and support the mental well-being of entire communities," said Senator Booker. "The Neighborhood Tree Acthighlights these benefits shouldn't be a privilege. They should reach the neighborhoods that have been overlooked for far too long, helping build healthier, stronger, and more resilient urban communities across the country."

"In cities like Cleveland, where you live often determines how much tree cover you have, and too many of our neighborhoods are being left behind. Trees do real work: they keep our air clean, lower energy costs, reduce summer heat, and even improve mental well-being. But for too long, people in low-income and Black and Brown neighborhoods haven't had the same tree cover as the suburbs," said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. "It's time to take a big swing at this big challenge, and that's why I'm so excited to introduce the Neighborhood Tree Act with Senator Booker and Congresswoman Matsui. This legislation would create a new grant program to close the tree equity gap and invest in healthier, cooler, and more livable neighborhoods."

"Sacramento is the City of Trees, and our communities know how much trees can enhance quality of life. They improve air quality, lower temperatures, and make our neighborhoods healthier and more welcoming," said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. "This is especially important as climate change drives longer and more intense heatwaves, while too many communities are left without vital shade trees. The Neighborhood Tree Act will address this gap by giving local governments the federal support they need to plant and care for trees. It's a simple idea with real impact: when the federal government partners with local communities, we can build healthier neighborhoods and a stronger future for all Americans."

The Neighborhood Tree Act:

• Establishes the Neighborhood Tree Fund and authorizes $2 billion in federal grants
• The Neighborhood Tree Fund will be administered by the USDA.
  • Eligible grantees are: states, tribal governments, local governments, and local community tree and volunteer organizations
• The Secretary of Agriculture is to give priority to entities that propose projects that:
  • serve low-income areas or communities with a lower tree canopy percentage and higher temperatures than surrounding areas;
  • support climate mitigation and resilience;
  • advance community-led urban forestry, tree-based local food production, reduce urban heat, and improve public health and environmental outcomes.
• The bill also expands the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council from 15 to 16 members and requires that one member of the council be a resident of a low-income community.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) originally introduced this legislation in the 117th and 118th Congresses. The Senate legislation is cosponsored by Senators Gillibrand and Kim, as well as Senator Booker's Environmental Justice Caucus Co-chairs Duckworth and Markey. In addition to Representatives Shontel Brown and Doris Matsui, the Neighborhood Tree Act is cosponsored in the House by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and Representatives Mike Thompson, Emilia Sykes, and Dina Titus.

Quotes from Endorsing Organizations

"We're grateful to Rep. Shontel Brown and Rep. Doris Matsui along with Senator Cory Booker for their leadership in reintroducing the Neighborhood Trees Act and continuing to elevate the importance of urban and community forestry at the federal level. Recent historic investments have shown what's possible when we treat trees as essential infrastructure, reducing extreme heat, improving public health, and strengthening community resilience. The challenge now is sustaining that momentum. This bill helps reinforce a long-term vision for healthy, well-maintained urban tree canopy by supporting not just planting, but the ongoing care, workforce development, and community partnerships required for trees to deliver their full benefits. While more work remains, the Neighborhood Tree Act is an important step toward ensuring every neighborhood can access the economic, environmental, and health benefits that trees provide," said Joel Pannell, Vice President of Urban Forests Policy at American Forests.

"Birds have long shown us that healthy communities depend on well-planned green spaces and vibrant tree canopies, whether in quiet residential neighborhoods or busy city streets. The Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026 offers a much-needed investment for our communities to improve the health and natural beauty of our neighborhoods. As we know, healthy tree canopies help cool neighborhoods, improve air and water quality and create vital habitat for birds, providing health and quality of life benefits for all of us. We thank Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11) for her leadership in advancing practical, community-driven solutions, and making our neighborhoods more resilient by better integrating nature into our communities," said Felice Stadler, Vice President of the National Audubon Society.

"Healthy urban forests provide invaluable benefits to city dwellers as they cool our streets and sidewalks, lower our energy bills, intercept stormwater, and give wildlife space to thrive. The Neighborhood Tree Act makes smart investments to help close gaps in tree canopy coverage in communities across the country. The National Wildlife Federation applauds Senator Booker and Congresswoman Brown for reintroducing this important legislation," said Ross Griffin, Associate Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Wildlife Federation.

"Planting trees in urban areas can help offset the effects of climate change, heat islands, and the nature equity gap in our most underserved communities. TheNeighborhood Tree Act is essential to keep our communities cool, healthy, and resilient to extreme weather, while providing more opportunities for residents to experience green space. Sierra Club applauds the reintroduction of this important bill and the investments in communities it represents," said Anna Medema, Associate Director for Legislative and Administrative Advocacy, Forests and Public Lands at Sierra Club.

"Trust for Public Land applauds Representative Shontel Brown and Senator Cory Booker for their leadership in introducing the Neighborhood Tree Act. This legislation would represent a critical in the health and resilience of communities that have long faced the impacts of extreme heat, poor air quality and underinvestment. By prioritizing tree canopy in historically underserved neighborhoods, this bill will help cool our cities, improve public health, and bolster community resilience. We're proud to support this effort to bring the benefits of trees to the people and places that need them most," said Jessica Montoya, Senior Director for Park Federal Relations, Trust for Public Land.

"Western Reserve Land Conservancy is proud to endorse The Neighborhood Tree Act as a meaningful investment in our communities. Trees are essential infrastructure - they improve air quality, reduce urban heat, manage stormwater, and enhance the quality of life for residents. This legislation recognizes the critical role that equitable tree canopy plays in strengthening neighborhoods across our nation. We commend the leadership behind this effort and stand ready to support its implementation for the benefit of current and future generations," said Matt Zone, Chief Advocacy Officer, Western Reserve Land Conservancy.