hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Adds municipal piers to a federal grant program for resilience upgrades.
Rep. Garcia (D-CA), with cosponsors Peters and Lieu.
Introduced in House, referred to Transportation Committee.
This bill makes municipal piers eligible for existing federal grants under the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program. Currently, grants can fund projects like flood barriers or road elevation, but not piers. The bill also increases total program funding from $300 million to $500 million. Sponsor Rep. Garcia represents a California coastal district; the bill is in the House Transportation Committee, meaning no floor vote yet.
Introduced Apr 27, 2026
This bill has been introduced in its chamber of Congress. It has been assigned a bill number and referred to a committee for review. Most bills never advance past this stage. The committee may hold hearings, gather expert testimony, and amend the bill before deciding whether to send it to the full chamber for a vote.
Municipal piers, which are often public spaces for recreation or transit, could receive funding for structural improvements, like reinforcing against erosion or storm surge. The increased authorization from $300 to $500 million means more projects overall may be funded, but the actual amount depends on annual appropriations. Only projects under the PROTECT program's resilience grants would be affected; it does not create a new standalone program.
Supporters Say
Supporters say piers are vital public infrastructure that need protection from climate change, and this bill fills a gap in existing law.
Critics Say
Critics argue the bill expands federal spending without requiring local matching funds, potentially increasing the national debt.
Supporters, often from coastal districts, emphasize that piers serve as transportation hubs and community assets, and that resilience grants should cover them just like roads and bridges. Critics might question why piers, which can be seen as local amenities, deserve federal dollars, especially when the bill raises the program's funding cap. Some may also prefer to prioritize other infrastructure.