House bill proposed to launch $2 billion grant program for resilient transport

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. John Garamendi seeks to provide federal grants for projects designed to bolster transportation infrastructure against natural hazards, according to the U.S. Congress.

The bill, designated H.R.8653, was brought forward on May 4, 2026 as part of the 119th Congress’s regular session. Below is a detailed summary based on the official language of the bill, along with clarifying explanations.

If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program known as the “Accelerating Demonstration Approaches for Protecting Transportation Assets Program.” This competitive initiative would offer up to 10 grants for projects that seek to better protect critical transportation systems from natural hazards. Eligible entities include state and local governments, public transit organizations, and tribal authorities. Funding can be applied to both predevelopment and construction activities, with an emphasis on addressing high-risk scenarios and broad community benefits. The measure would authorize $2 billion between fiscal years 2027 and 2031, with federal funds covering as much as 80% of project expenses. The approach further encourages interagency cooperation and the incorporation of natural resilience features into relevant infrastructure.

Rep. John Garamendi (Democrat-CA-8th District) introduced the measure, which is jointly sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson (Democrat-CA-4th District).

In the current congressional session, Garamendi has submitted nine additional bills.

Legislation in Congress can be introduced in either the U.S. House or Senate, but revenue bills must start in the House. After introduction, measures move to relevant committees for consideration, hearings, amendments, and debate before coming up for votes in both chambers. If the House and Senate approve the same version, the proposal proceeds to the president for signing or veto. Each term of Congress lasts two years, numbered sequentially and split into two sessions. Official legislative workflows and documentation are managed by the U.S. Congress and published at Congress.gov.

John Garamendi, representing California, was born on January 24, 1945, in Camp Blanding, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

He previously served in the California state assembly (1974–1976) and senate (1976–1990), was the state insurance commissioner (1991–1994, 2002–2006), and was deputy secretary at the United States Department of the Interior (1995–1998). He also served as California’s lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2009 before being elected as a Democrat to the 111th Congress by special election on Nov. 3, 2009; he has since won eight more terms.

Details in this article are drawn from U.S. Congress records. Source materials are available here.