H.R. 6654 would authorize National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which are maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. The centers provide expertise on extreme weather and climate trends to federal and nonfederal groups that manage natural and cultural resources. The bill also would require the department to establish a committee to advise the centers on research priorities. The centers received $41 million in funding for fiscal year 2022.
H.R. 6654 would authorize the appropriation of $84 million for fiscal year 2023 for the centers’ operations. That amount would increase by $10 million annually through 2027. Using historical spending patterns for USGS programs, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6654 would cost $471 million over the 2023-2027 period and $509 million over the 2023-2032 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts.
