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ASLA 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. �Թ����� (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. 

Recently, ASLA 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. ASLA advocates may take action on this measure using the to urge their legislators to support this measure.