BUILT Act

This bill amends the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support research on how extreme weather affects the subsurface environment and to improve engineering standards and building codes for resilient infrastructure. It adds two new sections and updates an existing section.

Sec. 2, Subsurface environment research and development: The Director of a specified agency must support measurement research and testing to inform engineering standards and building codes for the subsurface environment related to the built environment. Research may include measuring and modeling soil, rock, and groundwater properties under changing climate; monitoring subsurface infrastructure and land subsidence; assessing risks to subsurface infrastructure from climate-related changes; and enhancing building design standards for below-ground infrastructure. The Director must consult with academia, private sector, nonprofits, professional associations, and government entities.

Sec. 2, Climate resilience research and development: The Director must support measurement research and testing for engineering standards and building codes for climate-resilient infrastructure, including future climate effects, multihazard risk modeling, design standards, sensing technology, and infrastructure capacity over its life cycle. Within two years, the Director must convene a workshop on a multihazard resilient design framework, covering risk assessments, functional recovery, climate-resilient design, retrofitting existing buildings, and financial tools. Within one year after the workshop, the Director must report to Congress and the public on findings and recommendations. The Director must consult with academia, private sector, nonprofits, professional associations, and federal agencies. Definitions for 'climate resilience' and 'lifeline infrastructure' are provided.

Sec. 2, Risk and resilience research: The bill adds a new paragraph to an existing section to include multidisciplinary research on subsurface geological phenomena related to climate variations and their impact on infrastructure design and operations, to manage risk and improve resiliency of the built environment.

Sec. 2, Clerical amendment: The table of contents is updated to include the new sections.