Grants for construction of usable public water features

(a) Authority The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall carry out a program under this section to make grants to eligible entities for the construction of eligible water features. (b) Eligible entities Grants under the program under this section may be made only to a State, an Indian Tribe, a unit of general local government, or a nonprofit organization. (c) Eligible water features Amounts from a grant under the program under this section may be used only for costs of constructing water features that— (1) provide recreation or cooling for users, such as splash parks, wading pools, swimming pools, misting systems, and fountains; (2) can be used to provide relief to users from extreme heat conditions; and (3) are available for use by anyone without charge. (d) Applications The Secretary shall provide for eligible entities to apply for grants under the program under this section and shall require eligible entities to include in an application for a grant under this section a public participation plan to ensure that residents of the area in which a project is to be implemented are involved in the project, which plan— (1) shall provide opportunities for employment for minorities and low- and moderate-income residents in the neighborhood of the project; and (2) may— (A) provide opportunities for local nonprofit organizations to be involved in the project; (B) provide opportunities for public input regarding the project; and (C) include demonstrated support from the community. (e) Selection (1) In general The Secretary shall select applicant eligible entities to receive grants under the program under this section based on a competition, in accordance with such criteria as the Secretary shall establish. (2) Preference The criteria under paragraph (1) shall provide preference for selection of eligible entities proposing to construct eligible water features in areas without access, or with limited access, to cooling centers. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2035.