I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1689 
To establish the Climate Change Advisory Commission to develop rec-
ommendations, 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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 12, 2019 
Mr. DEUTCH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 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. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
Except as otherwise provided, in this Act: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Climate Change Advisory Commission es-
tablished by section 101(a). 
(2) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Cli-
mate Change Resiliency Fund established by section 
201(a)(1). 
(3) QUALIFIED CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION 
PURPOSE.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘qualified cli-
mate change adaptation purpose’’ means an ob-
jective with a demonstrated intent to reduce the 
economic, social, and environmental impact of 
the adverse effects of climate change. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘qualified cli-
mate change adaptation purpose’’ includes— 
(i) infrastructure resiliency and miti-
gation; 
(ii) improved disaster response; and 
(iii) ecosystem protection. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
TITLE I—CLIMATE CHANGE 
ADVISORY COMMISSION 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORY 
COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission 
to be known as the ‘‘Climate Change Advisory Commis-
sion’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 11 members— 
(1) who shall be selected from the public and 
private sectors and institutions of higher education; 
and 
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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 num-
ber of members may hold hearings. 
(i) CHAIRPERSON
AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among the members of the Commission. 
SEC. 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, transpor-
tation, water, and general infrastructure im-
pacted or expected to be impacted due to cli-
mate variability; and 
(B) integrates best available science, data, 
standards, models, and trends that improve the 
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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 eco-
systems. 
SEC. 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 perform-
ance 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 compensa-
tion 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 Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
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in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee 
of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code, while away from the home or reg-
ular place of business of the member in the performance 
of the duties of the Commission. 
(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 Com-
mission to perform the duties of the Commission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com-
mission may fix the compensation of personnel 
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
United States Code, relating to classification of 
positions and General Schedule pay rates. 
(B) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—The rate of 
pay for personnel shall not exceed the rate pay-
able for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
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SEC. 104. FUNDING. 
The Commission shall use amounts in the Fund to 
pay for all administrative expenses of the Commission. 
SEC. 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. 
TITLE II—CLIMATE CHANGE 
RESILIENCY FUND 
SEC. 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 de-
termines 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 adapta-
tion purpose. 
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(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to par-
ticipate in the program under subsection (b) shall in-
clude— 
(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 trib-
al 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 author-
ity, including a port authority; and 
(9) any other entity, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(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. 
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