CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratBill · H.R. 2996· House(119-HR-2996)

CAP Act of 2025

Rep. Escobar
Age: 57 years
Texas
Introduced
4/24/2025
Last activity
4/24/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Sponsored by
Veronica Escobar
Cosponsors
None
Environmental Protection
  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill, the Climate Adaptation Plan Act of 2025, directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to establish a grant program. The program aims to help eligible entities develop climate adaptation plans. The grants are awarded competitively to facilitate the development of these plans.

Potential Positive Impacts for People:

  • Climate Adaptation Planning (Sec. 2): Facilitates the development of climate adaptation plans by eligible entities, potentially benefiting communities by preparing them for climate change impacts.

  • Stakeholder Consultation (Sec. 2(b)): Requires the Administrator to consult with stakeholders, including youth, farmers, and Indigenous communities, in implementing the grant program, which can lead to more inclusive and effective adaptation plans.

  • Environmental Justice Priority (Sec. 2(f)): Prioritizes applications from eligible entities that include an environmental justice community, aiming to address disproportionate climate change impacts on vulnerable populations.

  • No Matching Requirement (Sec. 2(g)): Eliminates the need for matching funds, making it easier for eligible entities, particularly those with limited resources, to access grant funding.

  • Consideration of Demographic and Social Factors (Sec. 2(e)(1)): Requires climate adaptation plans to consider demographic and social factors, including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health, and historic/ongoing systemic racism when assessing climate change risks, leading to more equitable and targeted solutions.

Potential Negative Impacts for People:

  • Application Burden (Sec. 2(c)): The application process requires eligible entities to provide detailed information, including demographic data and experience with risk assessments, which could be burdensome for smaller entities with limited administrative capacity.

  • Broad Definition of Eligible Entity: The definition of an "eligible entity" is very broad, this may make it more difficult for an entity to be awarded a grant due to increased competition. (Sec. 2(h)(3))

Yes· 3 of 46

  • Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8

    Prioritizes environmental justice and low-income communities for funding.

  • Would Native Americans be better off under this?+8

    Explicitly includes Tribal governments and Indigenous communities as eligible entities.

  • Would Black Americans be better off under this?+7

    Directly addresses systemic racism and prioritizes communities of color.

The opposite

  • Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2

    Directs the EPA to spend funds on a new competitive grant program.

  • Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1

    The establishment of a new federal grant program increases government spending.