Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2021
A BILL
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.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Commission— The term Commission means the Climate Change Advisory Commission established by section 101(a).
Community of color— The term community of color means a geographically distinct area in which the population of any of the following categories of individuals is higher than the average populations of that category for the State in which the community is located:
Black.
African American.
Asian.
Pacific Islander.
Other non-White race.
Hispanic.
Latino.
Linguistically isolated.
Eligible entity— The term eligible entity includes—
a Federal agency;
a State or group of States;
a unit of local government or a group of local governments;
a utility district;
a Tribal government or a consortium of Tribal governments;
a State or regional transit agency or a group of State or regional transit agencies;
a nonprofit organization;
a special purpose district or public authority, including a port authority; and
any other entity, as determined by the Secretary.
Environmental justice community— The term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and indigenous communities that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects.
Frontline community— The term frontline community means a low-income community, a community of color, or a Tribal community that is disproportionately impacted or burdened by climate change or a phenomenon associated with climate change, including such a community that was or is at risk of being disproportionately impacted or burdened by climate change or a phenomenon associated with climate change earlier than other such communities.
Fund— The term Fund means the Climate Change Resiliency Fund established by section 201(a)(1).
Low-income community— The term low-income community means any census block group in which 30 percent or more of the population are individuals with an annual household income equal to, or less than, the greater of—
an amount equal to 80 percent of the median household income of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
Project— The term project means a project for a qualified climate change adaptation purpose performed by an eligible entity under section 201(b).
Qualified climate change adaptation purpose—
In general— The term qualified climate change adaptation purpose means an objective with a demonstrated intent to reduce the economic, social, and environmental impact of the adverse effects of climate change.
Inclusions— The term qualified climate change adaptation purpose includes infrastructure resiliency and mitigation, improved disaster response, and ecosystem protection, which may be accomplished through activities or projects with objectives such as—
reducing risks or enhancing resilience to sea level rise, extreme weather events, fires, drought, flooding, heat island impacts, or worsened indoor or outdoor air quality;
protecting farms and the food supply from climate impacts;
reducing risks of food insecurity that would otherwise result from climate change;
ensuring that disaster and public health plans account for more severe weather;
reducing risks from geographical change to disease vectors, pathogens, invasive species, and the distribution of pests; and
other projects or activities, as determined to be appropriate by the Commission.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.
State— The term State means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.