ADAPT Assets Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8653
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-19T08:06:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The ADAPT Assets Act (H.R. 8653) directs the Secretary of Transportation to create a competitive grant program for up to 10 demonstration projects. These projects aim to make critical transportation infrastructure—like highways, public transit, and ports—more resilient to natural hazards such as floods, storms, and extreme weather.
Key Provisions
- Eligible Applicants: Metropolitan planning organizations (regional groups that plan transportation), states, local governments, public transit agencies, ports/toll authorities, Tribal governments, or consortia of these groups with a clear partnership structure.
- Project Selection Criteria:
- Targets high-risk areas with recurring damage.
- Provides benefits like improved mobility, economy, safety, and emergency access.
- Offers extra advantages for communities, environment, and other infrastructure.
- Aligns with resilience plans; shows readiness (e.g., partnerships, planning milestones); promotes scalable innovations.
- Eligible Uses:
- Predevelopment (e.g., data collection, design, environmental reviews).
- Construction to protect or adapt assets (e.g., barriers, levees including natural ones, system upgrades).
- Multiyear Grants: For large projects (minimum $500 million total cost, waivable for Tribes/rural/insular areas) tackling complex barriers like multi-owner coordination or nature-based solutions.
- Federal Funding Share: Up to 80%; other federal funds can cover non-federal share if allowed by law.
- Administration:
- Annual funding notices starting 180 days after enactment.
- Coordination with agencies like EPA, FEMA, and Army Corps of Engineers.
- Public online dashboard tracking project details, permits, and funding status (updated monthly).
- Interagency reports every 2 years on outcomes, best practices, and scaling recommendations.
- Funding: $2 billion authorized annually for fiscal years 2027–2031 (up to 2% for admin/tech support).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new dedicated grant program focused on large-scale, innovative demonstration projects for transportation resilience.
- Builds on but expands existing laws (e.g., title 23 U.S. Code for highways) by allowing multiyear funding, nature-based infrastructure, and off-right-of-way investments not typically covered.
- Adds requirements for transparency (dashboard) and interagency benefit-cost analyses.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Department of Transportation (DOT) gains new program to administer; requires coordination across federal agencies, streamlining resilience efforts and reducing siloed funding.
- Citizens and Economy: Enhances safety, mobility, and goods movement in hazard-prone areas; protects jobs and communities from disruptions; promotes replicable models for nationwide resilience.
- No direct international relations impacts noted.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries/Applicants: States, local governments, Tribes, transit/port authorities, and regional planning groups.
- Federal Agencies: DOT (lead), EPA, FEMA, Department of Interior, Commerce, Army Corps.
- Broader Groups: Communities in high-risk areas, transportation users, businesses relying on infrastructure, environmental interests (via nature-based solutions).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes compliance with environmental reviews (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act) while streamlining via coordination; allows stacking with other DOT funds.
- Constitutional: Standard federal spending power for infrastructure; no novel delegations or mandates.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan resilience focus amid climate risks; promotes innovation (e.g., natural infrastructure) and transparency to build public trust; reports to Congress could influence future funding expansions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-05-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Accelerating Demonstration Approaches for Protecting Transportation Assets Act — issued 2026-05-04 — PDF (13 pages)