PRIA Logo™
119-s-2374119th CongressWALLET

Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a federal Climate Change Resiliency Fund to pay for infrastructure upgrades and an 11-member Climate Change Advisory Commission to guide where money goes. It focuses federal support on communities hit hardest by climate impacts while setting rules for projects and repayment.

Show full summary
  • Disproportionately impacted communities: At least 40% of Fund dollars would be reserved for projects that benefit environmental justice, frontline, and low-income communities. Between 10% and 40% of funds could be awarded without local matching and those non-matching awards would get priority for the hardest-hit places.
  • Local governments and eligible entities: States, localities, tribes, and other eligible recipients could apply for grants to adapt energy, transportation, water, and other infrastructure. Most awards would require a 25% non-Federal match but waivers and technical assistance are available when matching is not feasible.
  • Workers: Funded construction would follow Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rules for laborers and mechanics, with the Department of Labor overseeing enforcement.
  • Program design and finance: An 11-member Commission would set investment guidelines and limit administrative costs to 3% of project funds. The Treasury would issue "climate change obligations" with a $200 million baseline annual face amount and up to $800 million more if needed, and proceeds would flow into the Fund.

*This bill would authorize Treasury-issued obligations repaid from the general fund, thereby adding federal repayment obligations and increasing federal debt exposure.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Climate bonds and resiliency fund

If enacted, the Treasury would create a Climate Change Resiliency Fund to hold proceeds from new "climate change obligations" (bonds). The Secretary must offer $200 million in baseline bonds each year and could issue up to $800 million more in a year if the baseline sells, for up to $1 billion per year. Interest and principal would be paid from the Treasury general fund and backed by the U.S. government. The bonds and interest would be exempt from State and local tax. The Secretary could spend up to $10 million per year to promote sales in FY2026–FY2030.

Resilience grants with equity rules

If enacted, the Secretary would run a grant program that uses Fund money to pay for climate adaptation projects for states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, utilities, and others. At least 40% of Fund money would go to communities with disproportionate climate impacts. The normal non-Federal match would be 25%, but the Secretary could waive part or all of the match and 10%–40% of total funds could be awarded with no match, with priority for high-need communities. Projects funded by the program would have to pay Davis-Bacon prevailing wages. The bill would define "community of color" (local share above a national average) and "low-income community" (a census block group with 30% or more under the higher of 80% of area median income or 200% of the federal poverty line) for prioritization.

New climate advisory commission

If enacted, the bill would create an 11-member Climate Change Advisory Commission. Members would be appointed by the President and congressional leaders and serve five-year terms. The Commission could hire staff and set pay within a cap and must hold an initial meeting after appointments. The Commission would terminate 20 years after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

IL • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation