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Bill

HR 8653

ADAPT Assets Act

119th Congress Introduced by John Garamendi and 3 co-sponsors

The bill would create a DOT-administered grant program to fund demonstration projects that improve resilience of critical transportation infrastructure to natural hazards.

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HR 8653

Summary of HR 8653 (119th Congress)

Title

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program for demonstration projects that make critical transportation infrastructure resilient to natural hazards, and for other purposes.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill authorizes the creation of a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund demonstration projects aimed at improving the resilience of critical transportation infrastructure to natural hazards.
  • The overarching goal is to reduce vulnerability to events such as floods, hurricanes, extreme weather, earthquakes, and other natural hazards, thereby improving safety, reliability, and continuity of transportation networks.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of a Demonstration Grant Program:
    • The Secretary of Transportation would establish a grant program specifically targeting demonstration projects.
    • Projects must focus on making critical transportation infrastructure more resilient to natural hazards.
  • Eligible Projects and Activities (typical elements likely to be included, based on program design in similar bills):
    • Demonstration projects that implement resilience-enhancing measures on roadways, bridges, rail, ports, airports, or other critical transportation assets.
    • Incorporation of innovative design, materials, retrofits, or adaptation strategies.
    • Consideration of lifecycle cost-effectiveness, performance under hazard scenarios, and potential for replication or scaling.
  • Funding and Administration:
    • Creation of federal grants to support eligible projects.
    • Criteria for selecting projects, including potential benefits, readiness, and capability of applicants to implement and monitor outcomes.
  • Evaluation and Reporting:
    • Potential requirements for reporting on project performance, resilience gains, and lessons learned to inform broader policy.
  • Related “for other purposes” provisions:
    • The bill may authorize related measures or ancillary authorities necessary to implement the program or align with existing DOT resilience initiatives.

Who would be affected

  • Primary Beneficiaries:
    • Federal grant recipients, including state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, municipal and regional governments, transportation agencies, and possibly public-private partnerships.
  • Impacted Sectors:
    • Critical transportation infrastructure sectors—highways, bridges, rail systems, ports, airports, and other essential networks—likely to benefit from demonstrated resilience improvements.
  • General Public:
    • Indirect beneficiaries through improved safety, reliability, and continuity of transportation services during and after natural hazard events.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introductions and referrals:
    • Introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (May 4, 2026).
  • Legislative process steps (typical for a bill of this nature):
    • Committee consideration and potential amendment.
    • Subcommittee hearings and markups.
    • House floor consideration and passage (if advanced).
    • Senate action (not specified in current text).
    • Presidential signature or veto (standard final-step process for enacted legislation).
  • Implementation timeline (not specified in the provided text):
    • Details such as funding levels, program duration, application window, and milestones would be established in the authorizing language and accompanying appropriations, if enacted.

Notable details

  • Sponsorship:
    • Co-sponsors include Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. John Garamendi.
  • Status:
    • As of the provided action history, the bill has been introduced and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (May 4, 2026).

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to highlight potential cost ranges, compare to existing resilience programs, or draft a one-page briefing for policymakers or the public.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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