Sec. 204. Climate Justice Resiliency Grant Program
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The Administrator, in consultation with the Council, shall establish a Climate Justice Resiliency Grant Program to provide block grants to eligible entities with the goal of promoting climate justice resiliency projects described in subsection (f). To facilitate administration of grants under this section, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council shall conduct a county-by-county or equivalent regional or tribal environmental justice study to identify climate resiliency hotspot communities.
The study described in paragraph (1)— shall be conducted in consultation with— climate resiliency hotspot communities; and communities that are likely to receive a high score in the report described in subsection (h); shall identify localities based on geographical proximity to climate impacts, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazard criteria; and may include an area— that is disproportionately affected by climate impacts or other hazards that lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation; with a concentration of individuals who have— a low income; high unemployment; a low level of homeownership; a high rent burden; a low level of educational attainment; or a disproportionate health burden; or with a climate-sensitive population.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Council a plan for a climate justice resiliency investment for not less than 5 years that describes climate justice resiliency projects to be prioritized based on the study carried out under subsection (b). The multi-year plan described in subparagraph
(A)shall include— a description of— the proposed climate justice resiliency project; and the climate resiliency hotspot communities intended to benefit from the proposed climate justice resiliency project; the expected climate resiliency improvement benefits; and a funding level request. The Council shall establish application requirements for participation in the Climate Justice Resiliency Grant Program. The Administrator, in consultation with the Council, shall award to eligible entities grant funds commensurate with the duration and scope of the proposed climate justice resiliency project. An eligible entity may use grant funds made available in accordance with subsection
(a)for a climate justice resiliency project, including— a project relating to— climate impact disaster adaptation and planning; wetland restoration; mine reclamation; a seawall, levee, or other coastal flood mitigation effort; the development of— a community evacuation plan; resources for safe and complete evacuation; a community plan for returning after an evacuation; or a plan and funding for the relocation of Indian tribes in the event of a climate impact disaster; brownfields redevelopment; rural water and waste disposal; lead and asbestos hazard reduction in homes with high flood, hurricane, or sea level rise exposure risk; flood mapping, planning, and adaptation; public transportation; vehicle traffic emissions exposure reduction; a road or bridge that facilitates disaster evacuation; a local food cooperative or market; public sewage; broadband Internet; a microgrid; air conditioning units for low-income housing; or emergency communication infrastructure; a fund established to assist evacuees to return home after an evacuation; or a disaster loan. An eligible entity shall not use funds made available in accordance with subsection
(a)for an activity relating to— the generation of electricity; carbon capture or sequestration; or a highway. The Council— shall require eligible entities that receive funds under this section to enter into a cost-sharing agreement for, at a minimum, 20 percent of the total cost of the proposed climate justice resiliency project; and may, at the discretion of the Council, waive the cost-sharing requirement described in paragraph (1). Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes— in detail the manner in which this section has been carried out; and the results of the study carried out under subsection (b), including a score for each locality studied based on the level of climate impacts experienced by the locality. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on October 1, 2016, and on each October 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Administrator for the cost of grants to carry out this section $20,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.