To establish the Climate Change Advisory Commission to develop recommendations, frameworks, and guidelines for projects to respond to the impacts of climate change, to issue Federal obligations, the proceeds of which shall be used to fund projects that aid in adaptation to climate change, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill creates a new federal program to help communities prepare for and adapt to climate change impacts. It establishes an 11-member Climate Change Advisory Commission to develop investment guidelines, creates a Climate Change Resiliency Fund, and authorizes the Treasury to issue up to $1 billion annually in special climate bonds to finance the program.
Who Benefits and How
Environmental justice communities, frontline communities, and low-income areas benefit significantly as at least 40% of fund resources must go to projects serving these populations. Infrastructure contractors and construction workers benefit from new project funding, with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements ensuring union-level pay. States, local governments, tribal governments, utilities, and nonprofits can apply for grants to fund climate adaptation projects.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Taxpayers ultimately bear the cost through federal debt service on the climate bonds, though payments come from the general Treasury backed by full faith and credit. The Treasury Department faces new administrative responsibilities for bond issuance and promotion, with up to $10 million annually authorized for marketing.
Key Provisions
- Creates Climate Change Advisory Commission with 11 members appointed by President and Congressional leaders
- Establishes Climate Change Resiliency Fund with 40% minimum allocation to environmental justice communities
- Authorizes $200 million base plus up to $800 million additional in climate bonds annually
- Requires Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for all funded construction projects
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Establishes a Climate Change Advisory Commission and creates a federal investment fund financed by government-issued climate bonds to support infrastructure adaptation projects, with priority for environmental justice communities.
Key Policy Areas
Climate, Infrastructure, Environmental Justice, Finance, Labor
Primary Purpose
Establishes a Climate Change Advisory Commission and creates a federal investment fund financed by government-issued climate bonds to support infrastructure adaptation projects, with priority for environmental justice communities.
Policy Domains
Title I - Climate Change Advisory Commission
Identified Gains
- Climate policy experts
- Academic researchers
- Public/private sector climate professionals
Identified Costs
- Federal budget (administrative costs)
Title II - Climate Change Resiliency Fund
Identified Gains
- Environmental justice communities
- Frontline communities
- Low-income communities
- Infrastructure contractors
- Construction workers
- State and local governments
- Tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations
Identified Costs
- Federal taxpayers
Title III - Climate Change Obligations
Identified Gains
- Bond investors
- Financial institutions
Identified Costs
- Federal taxpayers
- Treasury Department
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Durbin introduced the following bill; which was read twice …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Climate Change Advisory Commission, Commission members (non-federal), Commission staff
Positive-direction: Commission members (non-federal), Commission staff, State and local governments, Tribal governments
Negative-direction: Climate Change Advisory Commission, Department of the Treasury, State and local tax authorities
Climate adaptation project recipients, Construction contractors, Construction workers and laborers
Positive-direction: Climate adaptation project recipients, Construction workers and laborers, Infrastructure construction companies, Infrastructure contractors, Union construction workers
Negative-direction: Construction contractors, Non-union contractors
Environmental justice communities, Frontline communities, Frontline communities impacted by climate change
Utility districts, Water infrastructure and utilities
Climate policy experts and researchers, Engineering and consulting firms
Bond investors and financial institutions, Institutional investors
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_commission"
- → Climate Change Advisory Commission
- "the_chairperson"
- → Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Commission
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Treasury
- "the_commission"
- → Climate Change Advisory Commission
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Treasury
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The Climate Change Advisory Commission established by section 101(a)
A geographically distinct area in which the population of Black, African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, other non-White race, Hispanic, Latino, Native American, or linguistically isolated individuals is higher than the national average
Includes Federal agencies, States, local governments, utility districts, Tribal governments, transit agencies, nonprofits, special purpose districts, port authorities, and other entities as determined by the Secretary
A community with significant representation of communities of color or low-income communities that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects
A low-income community or community of color disproportionately impacted or burdened by climate change, industrial pollution (including historic pollution), or phenomena associated with climate change
The Climate Change Resiliency Fund established by section 201(a)(1)
Any census block group in which 30 percent or more of the population are individuals with annual household income equal to or less than 80 percent of the median household income
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology