announce the Neighborhood Tree Act, legislation that would establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund at the United States Department of Agriculture and authorize $2 billion in federal grants for tree-planting programs nationwide
Establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and authorize $2 billion in federal grants for tree-planting programs nationwide.
Occurrences
announced the Neighborhood Tree Act, creating a Neighborhood Tree Fund at USDA and authorizing $2 billion for tree-planting grants nationwide
announced the Neighborhood Tree Act, legislation that would establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund at the United States Department of Agriculture and authorize $2 billion in federal grants for tree-planting programs nationwide
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (Introduced 04/24/2025). Latest Action: House - 04/24/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill's official title is: "To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to facilitate tree planting that reduces residential energy consumption, and for other purposes."
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
SEC. 3. Neighborhood Tree Fund. The Secretary shall establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund. The bill's authorization of appropriations is not less than $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Congress.gov shows Rep. Doris O. Matsui as sponsor, with the latest action on 2025-04-24: introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The official title is to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for tree planting that reduces residential energy consumption; the record shows no Neighborhood Tree Fund, no USDA lead, and no $2 billion authorization.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists H.R. 8474 as the Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026. It shows Rep. Shontel Brown introduced the bill on April 23, 2026 with Rep. Doris O. Matsui among the cosponsors, and that it was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. The page lists the last action date as April 23, 2026.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The introduced text of H.R. 8474 directs the Secretary to establish the Neighborhood Tree Fund and authorizes appropriations of $100 million for FY2025, $200 million for FY2026, $400 million for FY2027, $600 million for FY2028, and $700 million for FY2029, totaling $2 billion. The bill text is introduced legislation, not enacted law.
Assessments
The record shows legislative effort but not delivery. Matsui cosponsored H.R. 8474, the Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026, which matches the promised USDA Neighborhood Tree Fund and $2 billion authorization structure, and she separately introduced a related 2025 tree-planting bill. However, the matching bill was only introduced and referred to committee, with no evidence it was enacted or that the USDA fund and grant authorization were established. Because the promised outcome has not been delivered despite a serious congressional attempt, this should be scored as never with an effort badge.
Rep. Matsui did introduce a related tree-planting bill in the House in 2025, but the official record shows only introduction and referral. The evidence does not show enactment, and the bill’s substance does not match the claim’s specifics: it is a DOE grant program, not a USDA Neighborhood Tree Fund, and it does not establish the claimed $2 billion nationwide federal-grants program. This is a serious legislative effort, but the promised outcome was not delivered.