Biden

Aug 13, 2023

A photo collage highlighting some of the initiatives from NOAA's Inflation Reduction Act investments. (Image credit: NOAA)

NOAA's Inflation Reduction Act portal page

Tribal Input on Inflation Reduction Act

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce unveiled a $2.6 billion framework to invest in coastal resilience through President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As part of the President's Investing in America Agenda this initiative will support communities and people on the frontlines of climate change, dedicating nearly $400 million specifically for Tribal priorities and benefiting coastal and Great Lakes communities nationwide with an emphasis on environmental justice. Additional investments from the IRA will improve weather and climate data and services, support the Biden-Harris Administration's America the Beautiful conservation initiative and strengthen NOAA's fleet of research airplanes and ships that are used to study and collect data about the ocean and atmosphere.

"Under President Biden's leadership, we are making the most significant direct investment in climate resilience in the nation's history," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "As part of our more than $2.6 billion investment in regional coastal resiliency and conservation projects, we will be dedicating $390 million directly to Tribal priorities for habitat restoration and bolstering fish populations, and supplying crucial funding to ensure our coastal communities are better prepared for the effects of climate change."

The historic $2.6 billion investment in climate resilience and coastal communities will help ensure communities, especially Tribes and vulnerable populations, have the resources and support needed to prepare, adapt and build resilience to weather and climate events as well as strengthen workforce development, marine resources, nature-based solutions, conservation, regional partnerships and Tribal priorities. The IRA funds will complement the investments already outlined in the nearly $3 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding, including the $562 million in Climate-Ready Coasts awards announced in April.

"This massive investment will go a long way in helping NOAA prepare communities for natural disasters and more effectively address the environmental and economic impacts to help millions recover from these events," said U.S. Deputy Secretary Don Graves. "It's no mistake that NOAA finds its home in the Commerce Department, where we remain fully committed to its mission."

The $2.6 billion in climate investments will support coastal communities’ resilience to changing climate conditions through funding and technical assistance for capacity building, transformational projects that help protect communities from storms and flooding, the creation of quality climate-related jobs and improved delivery of climate services to communities and businesses. These programs include:

The framework for the $2.6 billion also includes additional funding for high-quality project applications received through BIL competitions, non-competitive funding for the Integrated Ocean Observing System, support for marine and Great Lakes sanctuary designations, Technical Assistance to states, localities, tribes, and other partners and funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The second round of BIL Climate-Ready Coasts Notices of Funding Opportunities are expected this summer.

"We are investing in America and empowering communities to understand and take action to address their risks to climate change and ensure they continue to thrive now and in the future," said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. "We can't do it alone and look forward to engaging partners, building resilience and supporting conservation with this funding."

The IRA allocated $3.3 billion to NOAA, including the initiatives described above and $200 million that will support improvements in NOAA's climate and data services, including:

NOAA's remaining IRA funding will also support critical infrastructure improvements for NOAA facilities that are essential to NOAA's mission, including:

Media contacts

NOAA Communications: Lori Arguelles, [email protected], (571) 439-4084

Commerce Department Public Affairs: [email protected]

NOAA's Inflation Reduction Act portal page

Tribal Input on Inflation Reduction Act