Sec. 4. Partners Council on Climate Adaptation and Resilience

698 words·~3 min read·/bill/117/s/3531/rs/section-4

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There is established a council, to be known as the Partners Council on Climate Adaptation and Resilience . The Council shall work to improve the climate adaptation and resilience operations of the Federal Government by providing recommendations through the Chief Resilience Officer, including those recommendations contained in the report required under subsection (c), that identify how the Federal Government can better support non-Federal partners with equitable resources, technical assistance, improved policies, and other assistance to help frontline communities build resilience to climate change.

Not later than 16 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the Council, acting through the Chief Resilience Officer, shall submit to the President and the Working Groups a report that includes— an analysis of the deficiencies or gaps in the climate resilience operations of the Federal Government that reduce or fail to increase the capacity of non-Federal partners to adapt to climate change; an identification of the resources, including Federal funding, necessary for non-Federal partners to adequately adapt to climate change; and recommendations with respect to how the Federal Government could better support efforts by non-Federal partners to expeditiously address vulnerabilities associated with climate change and build climate resilience.

The Chief Resilience Officer shall serve as chairperson of the Council and shall appoint a vice-chairperson from among the members of the Council appointed pursuant to subsection (e). In addition to the Chief Resilience Officer, the Council shall consist of 20 non-Federal partner members appointed by the Chief Resilience Officer. The Chief Resilience Officer shall appoint members of the Council who can support the Working Groups by articulating how the Federal Government can better support State, local, and territorial governments, the governments of Indian Tribes, the governments of Freely Associated States, nonprofit organizations, or private sector entities to build resilience to climate change.

In appointing members of the Council, the Chief Resilience Officer shall appoint— 12 members who are employees of State, local, or territorial governments, the governments of Indian Tribes, or the governments of Freely Associated States, of which— not fewer than 2 shall be employees of a State government; not fewer than 2 shall be employees of a unit of local government; not fewer than 2 shall be employees of the government of an Indian Tribe; and not fewer than 2 shall be employees of a territorial government or the government of a Freely Associated State; and 8 members who represent nongovernmental organizations and the private sector, of which— 3 shall represent nongovernmental organizations; 3 shall represent the private sector; and 2 shall represent academic institutions.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Chief Resilience Officer shall seek to select members of the Council who— possess firsthand, lived experience of climate vulnerability in the United States, including direct experience working with, or as members of, frontline communities; and represent a diversity of— perspectives; demographics; geographies; political affiliations; and institution sizes, including representatives of both small and large units of government and businesses.

Members appointed to the Council shall serve a single term of not more than 3 years, except that— of the initial members appointed to the Council, the Chief Resilience Officer shall appoint— 1/2 of the members to serve for a term of 18 months; and 1/2 of the members to serve a term of 3 years; and the Chief Resilience Officer may extend the term of any member of the Council by a period of not more than 1 year on a one-time basis, if the Chief Resilience Officer determines it necessary to support the work of the Council.

A vacancy in the Council shall be filled in the same manner in which the original selection was made. After the expiration of the term for which a member of the Council is appointed, the member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed. The Council shall meet not less frequently than once every 180 days. 3/4 of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum of the Council. A member of the Council may participate in a meeting of the Council through teleconference or similar means.

Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.