Revitalization & Jobs

By Ben Jacklet

Portland, OR (June 8, 2010)- Congressman David Wu has been working behind the scenes for more than a year with utility executives, green building experts, and university leaders to boost federal support for green building innovations in Oregon. The $129 million proposal that has emerged from that work could build a sustainable foundation for an industry that stands out as one of the state's few bright spots.

Reauthorization recognizes that trees and green space are good for business

College Park, Md. (April 30, 2010)- The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) today commended Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) for introducing S. 3279, A bill to reauthorize the national small business tree planting program. This legislation recognizes the critical role that the built environment- including green infrastructure- plays in order for small businesses to be able to create jobs, promote energy efficiency, and provide positive customer experiences.

Washington, DC (April 22, 2010)- Today, to mark Earth Day, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 2336, the GREEN Act (Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods), by a voice vote. The bipartisan legislation, authored by Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Judy Biggert (R-IL), provides incentives to lenders and financial institutions which will help move our housing and building stock towards greater energy efficiency, create jobs and make places to live and work more sustainable and affordable.

Pennsylvania delegation promotes healthy and livable communities

Washington, DC (March 2, 2009)- Yesterday, Sen. Bob Casey introduced the companion bill to Rep. Allyson Schwartz's Green Communities Act (H.R. 2222). As cities across the United States are looking for new effective, low cost strategies that will grow their economies, the implementation of green infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to improve quality of life, attract new business, and improve the general environment.

Reauthorization recognizes that trees and green space are good for business

College Park, Md. (January 27, 2010)- The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) today commended Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) for introducing H.R. 4509, the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Assistance Act of 2010. This legislation recognizes the critical role that the built environment- including green infrastructure- plays in order for small businesses to be able to create jobs, promote energy efficiency, and provide positive customer experiences. By reauthorizing the Small Business Administration's (SBA) National Small Business Tree Planting Program, this legislation would provide timely assistance to beautify retail storefronts and rental housing and parks, turn Main Streets into Green Streets, and jump-start many municipal tree canopy initiatives.

Washington, DC (December 1, 2009)- Public Law 101-515 directed the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create the National Small Business Tree Planting Program (Title 15, Chapter 14A, section 651 of the U.S. Code) and authorized $15 million in appropriations for FY1991, and $30 million in annual appropriations for FY1992 through FY1997. While the program was a valuable tool for small businesses, who worked in collaboration with state and local governments on development plans to utilize the funding, SBA did not have the appropriate resources necessary to administer the program.

Washington, DC (June 26, 2009)- U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter's (D-CO) G.R.E.E.N. Act (Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods), which includes a key financing provision by Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), passed the House of Representatives as Section 295 of H.R. 2454. The reintroduced G.R.E.E.N. Act gives real savings, real investment by promoting energy efficiency in homes. In addition, H.R. 2336 continues to advance as a stand-alone bill in the House.

Washington, DC (June 11, 2008)- Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter's (CO-07) G.R.E.E.N. Act (Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) was heard in the House Financial Services Committee. H.R. 6078 provides incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers, who build, buy, or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency. This timely legislation reflects foresight and the considered input of a broad coalition of housing advocates, financial institutions, government leaders, developers, and the environmental community.

Washington, DC (May 15, 2008)- Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) introduced H.R.6078, Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2008 (GREEN Act). This act encourages energy efficiency and conservation and the development of renewable energy sources for housing, commercial structures, and other buildings to create sustainable communities. The Alliance for Community Trees has worked closely with Congressman Perlmutter (D-CO) to advocate for the inclusion of best practices in urban forestry and planned green development.

Washington, DC (April 18, 2008)- The Alliance for Community Trees is pleased to announce that U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, will unveil his G.R.E.E.N. (Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) Act for affordable mortgages while delivering a keynote address during a forum at the Center for American Progress on Tues., April 22. ACT has worked closely with Rep. Perlmutter and his staff to craft a bill that provides incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers, who build, buy or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency, including with trees. This timely legislation reflects foresight and the considered input of a broad coalition of housing advocates, financial institutions, government leaders, developers, and the environmental community.

Washington, DC (January 2008)- The House of Representatives passed a landmark green affordable housing bill by a wide bipartisan margin. The "HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007" (H.R. 3524) provides $800 million annually from 2008-2013 for mixed-income communities that incorporate Green Communities Criteria. This is the first time the House has passed a bill authorizing holistic environmental principles in a major housing program. View segments of the floor debate.

Washington, DC (December 19, 2007)- President Bush signed the Green Jobs Act of 2007, authorizing $125 million for green job training programs across the country. The Green Jobs Act is part of the Energy Bill. For the first time in history, we have a U.S. law that addresses both the climate crisis and the poverty crisis by investing in green-collar job training.

Washington, DC (September 17, 2007)- Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) introduced S. 2054 to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to assist cities with a vacant housing problem, and for other purposes.

Washington, DC (June 28, 2007)- This week Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (CA-32), introduced the Green Jobs Act of 2007 (H.R. 2847). The Green Jobs Act represents a smart, far-sighted effort to fight poverty at the same time by creating federally-funded job training within the green economy. On Wednesday, the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee passed her bill by a bipartisan vote of 26 to 18. This is the first step in the House toward providing job training every year for about 35,000 U.S. workers (and would-be workers) in green and clean industries.

Washington, DC (June 28, 2007)- H.R. 2895, introduced by Barney Frank (D-MA), would establish the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United States to provide for the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income families. Such assistance would include grants, loans, and interest rate buy-downs. Budgetary resources for the new trust fund would be provided by other legislation.

Washington, DC (June 27, 2007)- By a vote of 26 to 18, the House Education and Labor Committee passed legislation today to help train American workers for jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries, industries that are key to U.S. and world efforts to combat global warming.

Washington, DC (June 19, 2007)- Senators Snow (R-ME) and Kerry (D-MA) introduced S. 1656 to authorize loans for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency projects under the Express Loan Program of the Small Business Administration, and S. 1657 to establish a small business energy efficiency program which will provide grants for newly established Small Business Development Centers and a small business telecommuting support program.

Washington, DC (September 26, 2007)- U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-7), lead the charge to include more energy efficiency standards in a bill reauthorizing the HOPE VI public housing program (H.R. 3524). In the September 26, 2007, House Financial Services Committee markup, Perlmutter, as chair of the Financial Services Committee Energy Efficiency Task Force, spearheaded the inclusion of provisions requiring public housing authorities to institute Green Communities, LEED, or other similarly approved energy efficiency building standards, in all new public housing developments built in accordance with the HOPE VI public housing program. This ACT sponsored legislation is the first time federal legislation has referenced Green Communities.

Washington, DC (June 11, 2007)- A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives (H.R. 1427) that strengthens the federal financial oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac includes a provision giving the companies extra credit toward meeting their affordable housing goals for purchasing mortgages on properties that are energy efficient or otherwise environmentally sustainable.