A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Global Climate Resilience Act of 2025. It sets up a system to reduce or swap the debt of developing countries so they can build resilience against extreme weather and slow-onset climate disasters. To qualify, a country must be democratically elected, respect human rights, and have a plan to use the benefits for climate resilience or recovery. The legislation also directs United States representatives at international financial institutions to support debt reduction policies for vulnerable countries. Finally, it requires the United States to push for an international climate insurance program at the World Bank to provide immediate financial help after natural disasters.
Yes· 3 of 19
- Scored +5
Does this send more money or help to other countries?
The legislation increases international assistance through targeted debt reduction and climate resilience programs.
- Scored +4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The legislation mandates support for nature-based solutions and climate disaster adaptation planning.
- Scored +4
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
Advocating for a parametric international climate insurance program helps provide rapid financial relief following natural disasters.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary for debt reduction and swaps, potentially increasing federal expenditures.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Authorizing unspecified appropriations for foreign debt relief increases potential government spending.
- Scored -1
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Providing open-ended authorization for debt relief could be seen as fiscally unconstrained.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 (Section 901(b)(3)(A) and (B)): This provision gives preference to countries whose resilience plans involve local communities and Indigenous peoples, and which aim to reduce gender, income, and social inequalities. This is a positive step because it ensures that everyday people and marginalized groups are directly included in planning and benefit from the solutions.
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Section 2 (Section 901(d)(1)(A)(ii)): The President is allowed to purchase privately owned debt of an eligible country for not more than sixty-five percent of its face value to facilitate debt-for-resilience swaps. This is beneficial because it can lower the overall debt burden of struggling nations more cheaply.
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Section 4 (Section 4(a)): This part directs United States representatives at the World Bank to advocate for a parametric international climate insurance program that gives immediate financial assistance to eligible countries following natural disasters. This is a positive outcome because it gets recovery money to disaster-stricken areas quickly.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2 (Section 901(c)(1)(B) and Section 901(d)(1)(D)): The bill authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the debt reduction and debt-for-resilience swap provisions. This could be viewed as a negative outcome or burden for United States taxpayers, as it leaves the door open for an unspecified amount of government spending.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Advocating for a parametric international climate insurance program helps provide rapid financial relief following natural disasters. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The legislation mandates support for nature-based solutions and climate disaster adaptation planning. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Facilitating debt-for-resilience and debt-for-nature swaps encourages sustainable environmental practices in developing nations. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Encouraging nature-based solutions promotes improved ecological and land management practices abroad. Does this invest in rural communities? — Assisting vulnerable nations with extreme weather planning supports sustainable rural and agricultural ecosystems. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Supporting climate resilience planning helps encourage sustainable infrastructure investments in vulnerable countries.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this send more money or help to other countries? — The legislation increases international assistance through targeted debt reduction and climate resilience programs. Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — The bill encourages active U.S. participation and advocacy within global financial bodies regarding climate resilience. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Collaborating with international financial institutions and developing nations strengthens diplomatic and environmental partnerships. Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Stabilizing developing economies against climate shocks helps support more reliable international trade partners.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Provisions supporting extreme weather and disaster resilience benefit agricultural sectors in vulnerable countries. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Resilience activities and nature-based solutions help protect rural and vulnerable communities from climate disasters. Would women be better off under this? — The bill explicitly prioritizes plans that aim to reduce gender inequalities in developing nations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Preference is given to countries whose resilience plans specifically aim to reduce gender disparities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By reducing debt loads, developing countries can better direct resources toward community resilience and poverty reduction. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes plans that aim to reduce gender, income, and social inequalities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Promoting climate resilience and stability in developing nations can indirectly benefit global trade. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Authorizing unspecified appropriations for foreign debt relief increases potential government spending. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary for debt reduction and swaps, potentially increasing federal expenditures. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Providing open-ended authorization for debt relief could be seen as fiscally unconstrained.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires annual reports to Congress regarding debt reduction operations and agreements. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the President additional authorities regarding foreign debt reduction and international financial advocacy.
- 12/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey