Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2019

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. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2019 (b) Table of contents Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Definitions. TITLE I—Climate Change Advisory Commission Sec. 101. Establishment of Climate Change Advisory Commission. Sec. 102. Duties. Sec. 103. Commission personnel matters. Sec. 104. Funding. Sec. 105. Termination. TITLE II—Climate Change Resiliency Fund Sec. 201. Climate Change Resiliency Fund. Sec. 202. Compliance with Davis-Bacon Act. Sec. 203. Funding. TITLE III—Revenue Sec. 301. Climate change obligations. Sec. 302. Promotion. 2. Definitions Except as otherwise provided, in this Act: (1) Commission The term Commission (2) Fund The term Fund (3) Qualified climate change adaptation purpose (A) In general The term qualified climate change adaptation purpose (B) Inclusions The term qualified climate change adaptation purpose (i) infrastructure resiliency and mitigation; (ii) improved disaster response; and (iii) ecosystem protection. (4) Secretary The term Secretary I Climate Change Advisory Commission 101. Establishment of Climate Change Advisory Commission (a) In general There is established a commission to be known as the Climate Change Advisory Commission (b) Membership The Commission shall be composed of 11 members— (1) who shall be selected from the public and private sectors and institutions of higher education; and (2) of whom— (A) 3 shall be appointed by the President, in consultation with the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force; (B) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (C) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (D) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; and (E) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (c) Terms Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. (d) Initial appointments Each member of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Vacancies A vacancy on the Commission— (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and (2) shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (f) Initial meeting Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission. (g) Meetings The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (h) Quorum A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (i) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Commission. 102. Duties The Commission shall— (1) establish recommendations, frameworks, and guidelines for a Federal investment program funded by revenue from climate change obligations issued under section 301 for States, municipalities, and other public entities, including utility districts, transit authorities, and multistate regulatory bodies that— (A) improves and adapts energy, transportation, water, and general infrastructure impacted or expected to be impacted due to climate variability; and (B) integrates best available science, data, standards, models, and trends that improve the resiliency of infrastructure systems described in subparagraph (A); and (2) identify categories of the most cost-effective investments and projects that emphasize multiple benefits to commerce, human health, and ecosystems. 103. Commission personnel matters (a) Compensation of members (1) Non-federal employees A member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. (2) Federal employees A member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. (b) Travel expenses A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 (c) Staff (1) In general The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate such personnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. (2) Compensation (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 (B) Maximum rate of pay The rate of pay for personnel shall not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 104. Funding The Commission shall use amounts in the Fund to pay for all administrative expenses of the Commission. 105. Termination The Commission shall terminate on such date as the Commission determines after the Commission carries out the duties of the Commission under section 102. II Climate Change Resiliency Fund 201. Climate Change Resiliency Fund (a) Establishment (1) In general There is established within the Department of Commerce the Climate Change Resiliency Fund (2) Responsibility of the Secretary The Secretary shall take such action as the Secretary determines to be necessary to assist in implementing the establishment of the Fund in accordance with this Act. (b) Climate change adaptation projects The Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, shall carry out a program to provide funds to eligible applicants to carry out projects for a qualified climate change adaptation purpose. (c) Eligible entities An entity eligible to participate in the program under subsection (b) shall include— (1) a Federal agency; (2) a State or a group of States; (3) a unit of local government or a group of local governments; (4) a utility district; (5) a tribal government or a consortium of tribal governments; (6) a State or regional transit agency or a group of State or regional transit agencies; (7) a nonprofit organization; (8) a special purpose district or public authority, including a port authority; and (9) any other entity, as determined by the Secretary. (d) Application An eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application for a project for a qualified climate change adaptation purpose at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including data relating to any benefits, such as economic impact or improvements to public health, that the project is expected to provide. (e) Selection The Secretary shall select projects from eligible entities to receive funds under this section based on criteria and guidelines determined and published by the Commission. (f) Non-Federal funding requirement In order to receive funds under this section, an eligible entity shall provide funds for the project in an amount that is equal to not less than 25 percent of the amount of funds provided under this section. (g) Maintenance of effort All amounts deposited in the Fund in accordance with section 301(a) shall be used only to fund new projects in accordance with this Act. (h) Applicability of Federal law Nothing in this Act waives the requirements of any Federal law (including regulations) that would otherwise apply to a qualified climate change project that receives funds under this section. 202. Compliance with Davis-Bacon Act (a) In general All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors on projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part by and through the Fund pursuant to this title shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of part A of title 40, United States Code. (b) Labor standards With respect to the labor standards specified in this section, the Secretary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code. 203. Funding The Secretary shall use funds made available to the Secretary and not otherwise obligated to carry out the program under section 201(b). III Revenue 301. Climate change obligations (a) In general Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate (referred to in this title as the Secretary chapter 31 climate change obligations (b) Full faith and credit Payment of interest and principal with respect to any climate change obligation issued under this section shall be made from the general fund of the Treasury of the United States and shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. (c) Exemption from local taxation All climate change obligations issued by the Secretary, and the interest on or credits with respect to such obligations, shall not be subject to taxation by any State, county, municipality, or local taxing authority. (d) Amount of Climate Change Obligations (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the aggregate face amount of the climate change obligations issued annually under this section shall be $200,000,000. (2) Additional obligations For any calendar year in which all of the obligations issued pursuant to paragraph (1) have been purchased, the Secretary may issue additional climate change obligations during such calendar year, provided that the aggregate face amount of such additional obligations does not exceed $800,000,000. (e) Funding The Secretary shall use funds made available to the Secretary and not otherwise obligated to carry out the purposes of this section. 302. Promotion (a) In general The Secretary shall promote the purchase of climate change obligations through such means as are determined appropriate by the Secretary, with the amount expended for such promotion not to exceed $10,000,000 for any fiscal year during the period of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. (b) Donated advertising In addition to any advertising paid for with funds made available under subsection (c), the Secretary shall solicit and may accept the donation of advertising relating to the sale of climate change obligations. (c) Authorization of appropriations For each fiscal year during the period of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this section.

Summary: Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2019 This bill provides support to address the impacts of climate change. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to issue up to $1 billion in climate change obligations (e.g., bonds) in a fiscal year, with bond proceeds going into the Climate Change Resiliency Fund established by this bill. The fund must be used for a program that finances projects that reduce the economic, social, and environmental impact of the adverse effects of climate change. The Climate Change Advisory Commission, established by this bill, must provide recommendations and guidelines for the program and identify categories of the most cost-effective investments and projects that emphasize multiple benefits to commerce, human health, and ecosystems.