U.S. Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced legislation that would accelerate projects that protect critical infrastructure from natural disasters.
The bill, the ADAPT Assets Act, would establish a national framework for disaster preparedness and would provide $2 billion every year to support the development of 10 large-scale critical infrastructure projects, like flood protection on California’s Highway 37.
“Natural disasters and sea level rise put critical infrastructure at risk every day and will only intensify over time. We cannot allow the cost and complexity of repairing and safeguarding our roads, bridges, and pathways to cause further delays or deterioration,” Garamendi said. “The ADAPT Assets Act is designed to reduce costs while accelerating essential infrastructure repairs that our local economies and communities depend on. This legislation will strengthen our infrastructure, create good-paying union jobs, lower long-term costs, and expedite progress while employing workers across our community.”
Lawmakers said the legislation would advance critical initiatives that are needed to mitigate the risk of catastrophic damage, prolonged disruptions and recurring emergency repairs for essential surface transportation assets. The bill would also clear the way for coordination between FEMA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as serve as a model for the delivery of large-scale disaster resilience infrastructure projects.
“The Bay Area economy depends on our ability to move people and goods around the region, but our transportation infrastructure is increasingly threatened by rising seas and extreme weather events,” Emily Loper, senior vice president of Public Policy at the Bay Area Council said. “The ADAPT Act will help us fund and deliver the resilience improvements we need to strengthen our transportation infrastructure for generations to come.”