S. 2374 — Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2025

This section establishes the Climate Change Advisory Commission composed of 11 members selected from the public and private sectors and institutions of higher education with expertise in climate mitigation solutions. Of the members, 3 are appointed by the President in consultation with the National Climate Task Force, 2 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 2 by the House minority leader, 2 by the Senate majority leader, and 2 by the Senate minority leader; members serve 5-year terms, with initial appointments required within 90 days of enactment. The commission must hold an initial virtual meeting within 30 days of all appointments to select a chairperson and vice chairperson and determine a regular meeting location; thereafter, it meets at the call of the chairperson or a simple majority of members, with a majority constituting a quorum.

This section directs the Commission to (1) establish and, as necessary, update recommendations, frameworks, and guidelines for a Federal investment program—funded by revenue from climate change obligations issued under section 301—for eligible entities to improve and adapt energy, transportation, water, and general infrastructure impacted or expected to be impacted by climate variability, while integrating best available science, data, standards, models, and trends to enhance resiliency; and (2) identify and, as necessary, update categories of the most cost-effective investments and projects that emphasize multiple benefits to human health, commerce, and ecosystems, ensuring early, meaningful, and culturally and linguistically appropriate community stakeholder involvement in developing such recommendations, frameworks, and guidelines.

This section establishes compensation and staffing authorities for the Commission. It provides that non-federal members receive daily pay equivalent to Level IV of the Executive Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5315, while federal employee members serve without additional compensation; authorizes standard federal travel expenses; and allows the chairperson or majority of members to appoint and set pay for staff without regard to civil service laws or General Schedule pay rates, capped at Level V of the Executive Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5316.

This section authorizes the Commission to pay all administrative expenses from amounts in the Fund, not to exceed 3% of amounts made available from the Fund for qualified climate change adaptation projects during the applicable calendar year.

This section establishes the Climate Change Resiliency Fund in the Treasury of the United States and directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, to carry out a program providing funds to eligible entities for qualified climate change adaptation projects. At least 40% of fund amounts must support projects benefiting communities disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution (i.e., environmental justice communities, frontline communities, and low-income communities), with applications required to demonstrate community benefits such as economic impact, public health improvements, or environmental restoration; selection based on Commission criteria under section 102, prioritizing areas of greatest need; and a 25% non-Federal match requirement that is waivable (especially for low-income, frontline, or environmental justice communities) with 10-40% of total funds awarded as no-match projects prioritizing such communities. All projects remain subject to applicable Federal laws.

This section requires contractors and subcontractors on projects funded directly by, or assisted in whole or in part by and through, the Fund to pay laborers and mechanics not less than prevailing wage rates in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor under the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. ch. 31, subch. IV). The section assigns to the Secretary of Labor the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 and 40 U.S.C. §3145 (i.e., prescribing regulations requiring weekly statements of wages paid) with respect to these labor standards.

This section directs the Secretary of the Treasury, not later than six months after enactment, to issue climate change obligations under 31 U.S.C. chapter 31, with proceeds deposited in the Fund. The obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, exempt from state and local taxation, limited to an annual aggregate face amount of $200 million, and eligible for up to an additional $800 million in a calendar year if all initial obligations are purchased.

This section requires the Secretary to promote the purchase of climate change obligations through appropriate means, with expenditures not to exceed $10 million for any fiscal year during FY2026 through FY2030; authorizes $10 million annually for such fiscal years to carry out this promotion; and directs the Secretary to solicit and accept donated advertising relating to the sale of such obligations.