Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 3

ON THE ROOF WITH...

CONGRESSWOMAN
NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ
INTERVIEW BY STEVEN W. PECK, GRP, HONORARY ASLA

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez is currently serving her fourteenth term as Representative
for New York's 7th Congressional District. In the 116th Congress, she is the Chairwoman of the
House Small Business Committee, a senior member of the Financial Services Committee and
a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.

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Photo courtesy S. Peck

he has made history several times during her tenure in
Congress. In 1992, she was the first Puerto Rican woman
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In February
1998, she was named Ranking Democratic Member of the
House Small Business Committee, making her the first Hispanic
woman to serve as Ranking Member of a full House committee.
Most recently, in 2006, she was named Chairwoman of the House
Small Business Committee, making her the first Latina to chair a
full Congressional committee.
Congresswoman Velázquez will soon introduce legislation in
the House of Representatives entitled, the Public School Green
Rooftop Program, that would direct the Department of Energy
to create a Public-School Green Roof block grant to schools
in states, territories and Indian tribes for green roofs on public
schools. The Public School Green Rooftop Program would
give priority funding to public elementary or secondary schools
that serve a geographic area in which not fewer than 30 percent
of students are from families with incomes below the poverty
line. The proposed legislation would provide funding for a
technical assessment of the potential for a green roof, its installation and four years of maintenance. The proposed legislation
calls for $100 million for technical assistance, $300 million for
installation and $100 million for maintenance for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025. The legislation also recognizes the
Green Roof Professional (GRP) accreditation, requiring that at
least one GRP be on technical advisory team. I caught up with
congresswoman Velázquez to ask her a few questions about
her proposed bill, which Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has
formally endorsed.
Steven W. Peck (SWP): Congratulations on your proposed legislation
Congresswoman Velázquez! The Green Roof Industry is excited about
this legislation and has commented upon it and endorsed it. I was wondering what your primary motivation is for developing this legislation.
Nydia Velázquez (NV): Thank you very much. I look forward to
providing students with an outlet to learn that is simultaneously

beneficial to our environment. This legislation will make a significant and positive impact on combatting climate change, while also
providing students tools to solve the complex environmental challenges and make a positive contribution in their own community.
SWP: The Program is focused on green roofs on schools, particularly
schools from poorer neighborhoods! Why have you chosen this focus in
the bill?
NV: I've always felt that as we transition to a green economy,
economic justice will need to be central to our strategy. This
legislation fits that paradigm by focusing resources on communities that too often are left out of the conversation. Grants in this
bill would alleviate the financial barriers for majority low-income
schools, while also providing these students with valuable lessons.
This legislation would promote the educational immersion of
math, STEM, art, sustainability, green roof technology, and the
benefits of a green roof.
SWP: How does this proposal relate, if at all, to the idea of a Green New
Deal?
NV: Green infrastructure in our schools can provide water quality
benefits, create wildlife habitat, and acquaint future generations
with the importance of responsible stormwater management. It
also improves air filtration and reduces energy costs. We must
commit to sustainability and create healthy learning and living
environments for our students, teachers, public education staff,
and community.
SWP: What can our readers do to support the passage of this legislation?
NV: Everyone can ask their own Member of Congress to cosponsor and vote for this bill. The benefits are clear-- lower energy
prices, cleaner air, and an environmentally friendlier community.
By supporting this legislation, you are supporting a brighter
future for public schools. This should be a bipartisan goal and I
hope Members of Congress from both parties hear support for
this legislation from their constituents.
For more information please visit: https://velazquez.house.gov/
LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / SPRING 2020 / 3

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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020

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