Sponsors (4)
The bill directs targeted R&D to make DHS, state/local/Tribal preparedness, critical infrastructure, and public health more resilient to climate-driven disasters — but those benefits depend on future appropriations and may prioritize DHS mission needs over broader community research while adding coordination and political challenges.
State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments — and the hospitals, utilities, and communities they serve — gain targeted R&D and tools to reduce climate-driven harms to preparedness, disaster response, public health, and critical infrastructure.
DHS operations and federal employees benefit because R&D must prioritize effects that impair the Department’s ability to carry out missions, potentially making homeland security activities more resilient to climate impacts.
Congress gains regular oversight information through required reports (initial report within one year and annual reports for three years), improving transparency about priorities and progress.
Promised research and tools are contingent on future appropriations, so projects may be delayed, scaled back, or require reallocation of DHS funds — creating uncertainty and potential tradeoffs for taxpayers and other homeland security priorities.
Prioritizing research that focuses on impacts to DHS operations risks crowding out research aimed at broader community vulnerabilities and social-service needs, leaving some rural and urban populations less served.
Coordination requirements with multiple stakeholders (state, local, Tribal, territorial governments, utilities, and others) could slow project timelines and complicate implementation of research and tools.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DHS S&T to evaluate federal research on climate impacts to homeland security and, if funded, to carry out prioritized R&D with partner consultation and annual reporting.
Introduced April 7, 2025 by Yvette Diane Clarke · Last progress April 7, 2025
Requires the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology office to evaluate federal research on ways to reduce or mitigate climate change effects that could harm homeland security and, subject to available appropriations, to carry out prioritized research and development. It directs the agency to consult with other federal agencies, state/local/tribal/territorial governments and critical infrastructure operators, defines "climate change" for the purpose of the law, and mandates an initial congressional report within one year and annual reports for three years on R&D activities. The bill prioritizes research that would reduce effects that impair DHS operations, ties any R&D spending to future appropriations (not automatic funding), and includes a short reporting timeline so Congress can track what R&D is started and how it is being coordinated with partners.