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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10150 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10150

   To establish a low-income water assistance program, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 15, 2024

   Ms. Tlaib (for herself, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Bush, Mr. 
 Carson, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Huffman, 
   Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Velazquez, and 
Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
 Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Oversight and 
   Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To establish a low-income water assistance program, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Half-Century Update for Water Access 
and Affordability Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Safe, accessible, and affordable drinking water is 
        essential to the protection of public health.
            (2) After 50 years, the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
        300f et seq.) has demonstrably improved drinking water quality 
        across the nation. However, millions of Americans are unable to 
        afford their water bills and many water utilities have been 
        unable to fund and maintain infrastructure critical to 
        providing high quality, reliable, and affordable drinking 
        water. Therefore, the Federal Government needs to increase 
        water assistance to households and communities.
            (3) The Federal Government provides low-income household 
        assistance for basic necessities, including food, housing, and 
        energy. Water is also a basic necessity and requires assistance 
        from the Federal Government.
            (4) Every low-income household should be able to access 
        water assistance.
            (5) Other programs that provide financial and technical 
        assistance for safe drinking water should incorporate water 
        affordability as a goal.
            (6) More effective protection of public health requires--
                    (A) a Federal commitment to ensuring the collection 
                and transparency of data on water safety, access, and 
                affordability at a national level;
                    (B) a Federal commitment to water access for all 
                Native American Tribes; and
                    (C) a Federal commitment to having water utilities 
                capable of serving safe and affordable drinking water 
                to all households, including support for and oversight 
                of State drinking water programs in the areas of 
                financial and technical assistance, equitable utility 
                consolidations, workforce development and training, 
                community engagement, and enforcement.
            (7) Consumers served by public water systems should be 
        provided with easy-to-understand information on the cost of 
        their water, opportunities to reduce their bill, and bill 
        payment assistance programs.

SEC. 3. LOW-INCOME WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Area median income.--The term ``area median income'' 
        means the unadjusted median income for an area determined by 
        the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under section 
        16(a) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
        1437n(a)).
            (3) Community water system.--The term ``community water 
        system'' has the meaning given that term in section 1401 of the 
        Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
            (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
        eligible water system, a State, or an Indian Tribe.
            (5) Eligible water system.--The term ``eligible water 
        system'' means--
                    (A) a community water system that serves a 
                population of 100,000 or more; or
                    (B) a treatment works that serves a population of 
                100,000 or more.
            (6) Household.--The term ``household'' means any individual 
        or group of individuals who are living together as 1 economic 
        unit.
            (7) Low-income household.--The term ``low-income 
        household'' means a household--
                    (A) in which 1 or more individuals are receiving--
                            (i) assistance under a State program funded 
                        under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                            (ii) supplemental security income payments 
                        under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
                            (iii) supplemental nutrition assistance 
                        program benefits under the Food and Nutrition 
                        Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
                            (iv) payments under--
                                    (I) section 1315, 1521, 1541, or 
                                1542 of title 38, United States Code; 
                                or
                                    (II) section 306 of the Veterans' 
                                and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act 
                                of 1978 (38 U.S.C. 1521 note; Public 
                                Law 95-588);
                            (v) assistance under the Low-Income Home 
                        Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 
                        et seq.); or
                            (vi) assistance under the special 
                        supplemental nutrition program for women, 
                        infants, and children under section 17 of the 
                        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); 
                        or
                    (B) that has an income that, as determined by the 
                entity that is implementing a water service access 
                program in the area in which the household is located, 
                does not exceed the greater of--
                            (i) an amount equal to 200 percent of the 
                        poverty level; and
                            (ii) an amount equal to 80 percent of the 
                        area median income.
            (8) Poverty level.--The term ``poverty level'' means, with 
        respect to a household in a State, the income described in the 
        poverty guidelines issued by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services pursuant to section 673 of the Community Services 
        Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902), as applicable to the 
        household.
            (9) Small and mid-size water systems.--The term ``small and 
        mid-size water systems'' means--
                    (A) community water systems that serve a population 
                of less than 100,000; and
                    (B) treatment works that serve a population of less 
                than 100,000.
            (10) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, the District 
        of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
        Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands.
            (11) Technical assistance provider.--The term ``technical 
        assistance provider'' means a community-based organization, 
        environmental justice organization, university, rural 
        assistance corporation, energy utility, business, or other 
        organization identified by the Administrator as having relevant 
        expertise in community outreach, assistance program enrollment 
        processes and administration, utility data and billing systems, 
        developing applications for funding, or other areas determined 
        appropriate by the Administrator.
            (12) Treatment works.--The term ``treatment works'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 212 of the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292).
            (13) Water crisis.--The term ``water crisis'' means a 
        weather-related or supply shortage emergency or other household 
        water-related emergency, including disconnection of water 
        service for nonpayment, imminent disconnection of water service 
        for nonpayment, or other emergency threatening a household's 
        access to safe water services.
            (14) Water service.--The term ``water service'' means--
                    (A) drinking water service provided by a community 
                water system; or
                    (B) sanitary sewer service provided by a treatment 
                works.
            (15) Water service access program.--The term ``water 
        service access program'' means a program to provide low-income 
        households the ability to maintain access to water services 
        through the receipt of Federal financial assistance.
    (b) Federal Low-Income Water Assistance Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish 
        a Federal low-income water assistance program to assist low-
        income households in maintaining access to affordable water 
        services, which program shall include--
                    (A) development and implementation of water service 
                access programs that include funding to assist low-
                income households;
                    (B) technical assistance for the implementation of 
                such water service access programs; and
                    (C) data collection and reporting.
            (2) Community advisory committees.--
                    (A) Establishment.--The Administrator shall 
                establish a community advisory committee for each 
                region of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
                provide advice and recommendations to each entity 
                implementing a water service access program under 
                subsection (c) within the region.
                    (B) Membership.--The Administrator shall include in 
                each community advisory committee established under 
                this paragraph members from low-income communities, 
                non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders 
                determined relevant by the Administrator.
    (c) Water Service Access Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                    (A) develop a water service access program; and
                    (B) implement such water service access program in 
                each State.
            (2) Delegation of implementation.--
                    (A) Authority to delegate.--
                            (i) Delegation of areas.--Except as 
                        provided in clause (ii), upon application by an 
                        eligible entity under subparagraph (B), the 
                        Administrator may delegate to the eligible 
                        entity the implementation of a water service 
                        access program for--
                                    (I) with respect to an eligible 
                                entity that is an eligible water 
                                system, the service area of such 
                                eligible water system;
                                    (II) with respect to an eligible 
                                entity that is an Indian Tribe, the 
                                geographic area under the jurisdiction 
                                of the Indian Tribe; and
                                    (III) with respect to an eligible 
                                entity that is a State, the area within 
                                the geographic boundaries of the State.
                            (ii) Non-overlapping programs.--If the 
                        Administrator delegates the implementation of a 
                        water service access program for an area to an 
                        eligible entity that is an eligible water 
                        system or an Indian Tribe, the Administrator 
                        shall withhold or withdraw, as applicable, 
                        delegation for such area from the State in 
                        which such area is located.
                    (B) Application.--To implement a water service 
                access program under this subsection, an eligible 
                entity shall submit to the Administrator an application 
                that demonstrates that--
                            (i) the water service access program 
                        proposed to be implemented by the eligible 
                        entity--
                                    (I) meets the requirements 
                                established under paragraph (3); and
                                    (II) was developed in accordance 
                                with paragraph (4); and
                            (ii) the eligible entity has the capacity 
                        to--
                                    (I) make assistance under the water 
                                service access program available to all 
                                low-income households in its 
                                jurisdiction or service area, without 
                                regard to where that household resides 
                                within the jurisdiction or service 
                                area;
                                    (II) fulfill the data collection 
                                and management requirements set forth 
                                in subsection (e); and
                                    (III) develop and implement, in 
                                coordination with technical assistance 
                                providers, an effective community 
                                outreach plan to inform low-income 
                                households of the water service access 
                                program and assist with enrollment.
                    (C) Grants.--
                            (i) Award.--If the Administrator delegates 
                        implementation of a water service access 
                        program to an eligible entity under this 
                        paragraph, the Administrator shall award a 
                        grant to the eligible entity to implement such 
                        program.
                            (ii) Limitations.--A grant awarded under 
                        this paragraph--
                                    (I) shall not be used to replace 
                                funds for any existing similar program 
                                of a State, community water system, or 
                                treatment works to assist low-income 
                                households in maintaining access to 
                                affordable water services in the area 
                                for which the water service access 
                                program will be implemented; but
                                    (II) may be used to supplement or 
                                enhance such a program.
                    (D) Revocation.--
                            (i) Notification and opportunity to 
                        remedy.--If the Administrator determines, based 
                        on information required to be submitted to the 
                        Administrator under this section by an eligible 
                        entity implementing a water service access 
                        program under this subsection, that the water 
                        service access program is not being implemented 
                        in compliance with all requirements of this 
                        section, the Administrator shall promptly 
                        notify the eligible entity of such 
                        noncompliance, the necessary remedial actions, 
                        and a deadline for promptly implementing such 
                        remedial actions.
                            (ii) Failure to remedy.--The Administrator 
                        shall revoke delegation under this subsection 
                        to an eligible entity if the eligible entity 
                        fails to take the necessary remedial actions by 
                        the deadline set by the Administrator under 
                        clause (i).
                            (iii) Effect.--If the Administrator revokes 
                        delegation under this subsection to an eligible 
                        entity, implementation of a water service 
                        access program under this subsection for the 
                        previously delegated area shall revert to the 
                        Administrator, who may delegate such 
                        implementation to the State in which such area 
                        is located if such State is implementing a 
                        water service access program pursuant to 
                        subparagraph (A).
            (3) Minimum water service access program requirements.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the 
                date of enactment of this section, the Administrator 
                shall establish minimum requirements for water service 
                access programs developed and implemented under this 
                subsection.
                    (B) Consultation.--In carrying out subparagraph 
                (A), the Administrator shall--
                            (i) consult with relevant stakeholders, 
                        including frontline community groups, Tribal 
                        communities, and technical assistance 
                        providers; and
                            (ii) provide an opportunity for public 
                        comment on the proposed requirements.
                    (C) Inclusions.--The minimum requirements 
                established under subparagraph (A) for a water service 
                access program shall include--
                            (i) provisions to promote universal access 
                        for low-income households to assistance under 
                        the water service access program (including 
                        low-income households in which none of the 
                        individual members is a named account holder of 
                        the applicable community water system or 
                        treatment works), including provisions for--
                                    (I) sharing of data from other 
                                administrators of Federal, State, or 
                                local income-qualified assistance 
                                programs to facilitate automatic 
                                enrollment in the water service access 
                                program of all households participating 
                                in those other programs that are 
                                eligible to receive assistance under 
                                the water service access program, 
                                without the need for those households 
                                to apply separately for the water 
                                service access program;
                                    (II) allowance for community water 
                                systems and treatment works to receive 
                                program funds for low-income household 
                                debt reduction and directly apply such 
                                funds to customer accounts;
                                    (III) allowance for self-
                                attestation by households served by 
                                community water systems or treatment 
                                works of eligibility, including self-
                                attestation of income qualification or 
                                enrollment in an existing Federal, 
                                State, or local assistance program on 
                                the basis of income;
                                    (IV) with respect to any portion of 
                                the process for enrollment in the water 
                                service access program for which a 
                                signature of a member of a low-income 
                                household is required, allowance for 
                                the use of an electronic signature; and
                                    (V) prohibitions on--
                                            (aa) asset tests and in-
                                        person enrollment appointments 
                                        as requirements to receive 
                                        assistance under the water 
                                        service access program; and
                                            (bb) citizenship or legal 
                                        residency requirements for 
                                        members of a low-income 
                                        household in order for the 
                                        household to receive assistance 
                                        under the water service access 
                                        program; and
                            (ii) assistance to low-income households 
                        served by community water systems or treatment 
                        works (including low-income households in which 
                        none of the individual members is a named 
                        account holder of the applicable community 
                        water system or treatment works), with greater 
                        assistance amounts provided to households with 
                        higher water service costs and lower incomes, 
                        taking into account household size, in the form 
                        of--
                                    (I) direct financial assistance, 
                                including bill discounting, percentage-
                                of-income payment plan, a lifeline 
                                rate, or any other form of direct 
                                assistance identified by the 
                                Administrator;
                                    (II) debt relief;
                                    (III) water crisis assistance; and
                                    (IV) water efficiency assistance, 
                                including providing or subsidizing the 
                                cost of installation of water-efficient 
                                appliances and fixtures or leak 
                                detection and plumbing repair work;
                            (iii) provisions prohibiting the inclusion 
                        of eligibility restrictions or enrollment 
                        requirements not specifically required by this 
                        section;
                            (iv) provisions, including penalties on 
                        community water systems and treatment works for 
                        violations, as established by the 
                        Administrator, to ensure that no household 
                        receiving assistance under the program--
                                    (I) is disconnected from water 
                                service, loses access to or ownership 
                                of its current housing, or is otherwise 
                                denied access to an amount and flow of 
                                water sufficient to meet its essential 
                                needs because of the household's 
                                inability to pay bills owed to a 
                                community water system or treatment 
                                works, or, where the water service 
                                account-holder for the household's 
                                dwelling is not a member of the 
                                household, due to the failure of the 
                                account-holder to pay bills owed to the 
                                community water system or treatment 
                                works; or
                                    (II) is required to pay any fees, 
                                charges, or deposits associated with 
                                late payments, unpaid bills, service 
                                initiation, or service reconnection;
                            (v) procedures that minimize burdens on 
                        low-income households of filing a complete 
                        application for assistance under the program, 
                        including allowing for alternative forms of 
                        identification;
                            (vi) provisions that require equal access 
                        to assistance to households that pay bills for 
                        water services directly and households the 
                        water services of which are included in rent or 
                        other payments, including by providing for 
                        households that cannot receive assistance 
                        through a bill for water services other types 
                        of assistance, such as cash assistance, credits 
                        on a different utility bill, and receipt of 
                        water quality and efficiency upgrades and 
                        devices; and
                            (vii) coordination of development and 
                        implementation of the water service access 
                        program with other existing water assistance 
                        programs, energy assistance programs, and other 
                        relevant Federal, State, and local programs 
                        that provide financial or other assistance to 
                        low-income households.
            (4) Public process.--Each entity developing or implementing 
        a water service access program under this subsection shall, 
        each fiscal year--
                    (A) consult with the applicable community advisory 
                committee established under subsection (b)(2), Tribal 
                communities, and other community representatives, as 
                applicable; and
                    (B) provide an opportunity for a public hearing and 
                public comment on the water service access program.
    (d) Technical Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall provide funding to 
        technical assistance providers to--
                    (A) facilitate enrollment by low-income households 
                in water service access programs implemented under this 
                section; and
                    (B) assist small and mid-size water systems in 
                participating in water service access programs 
                implemented under this section.
            (2) Minimum requirements.--The Administrator shall 
        establish minimum requirements for technical assistance 
        provided under paragraph (1), which shall include requirements 
        for--
                    (A) outreach to low-income households in 
                communities with high incidence of disconnections of 
                water service or that may face difficulty enrolling in 
                or accessing assistance through a water service access 
                program, including households in geographically remote 
                locations, households lacking access to 
                telecommunications networks (including home broadband 
                internet service), households with limited English 
                proficiency, and households in which an individual with 
                a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans 
                with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) 
                resides; and
                    (B) developing the capacity of small and mid-size 
                water systems to--
                            (i) carry out any applicable activities 
                        necessary for assistance to be provided 
                        pursuant to a water service access program 
                        implemented under this section; and
                            (ii) provide complete and accurate 
                        information to the entity implementing an 
                        applicable water service access program as 
                        necessary for such entity to comply with the 
                        reporting requirements of this section.
            (3) Set-asides.--
                    (A) Data management systems.--Of the funds made 
                available to carry out this subsection, the 
                Administrator shall ensure that a minimum of 20 percent 
                is used for--
                            (i) the improvement of data management 
                        systems, including billing systems, websites, 
                        and electronic customer communications, for 
                        small and mid-size water systems; and
                            (ii) implementation of easily accessible 
                        enrollment and data transmission technologies, 
                        such as smartphone applications.
                    (B) Under-resourced communities.--Of the funds made 
                available to carry out this subsection, the 
                Administrator shall ensure that a minimum of 20 percent 
                is provided to technical service providers that are 
                environmental justice organizations and community-based 
                organizations to build capacity and provide assistance 
                for under-resourced communities to fully access a water 
                service access program.
            (4) Community engagement.--The Administrator shall engage 
        with environmental justice organizations and community-based 
        organizations--
                    (A) in establishing the minimum requirements under 
                paragraph (2); and
                    (B) to encourage their participation in the 
                provision of technical assistance under this 
                subsection, including by making them aware of the funds 
                set aside under paragraph (3)(B).
    (e) Data Collection and Reporting.--
            (1) Reporting to the administrator.--
                    (A) In general.--Each eligible entity implementing 
                a water service access program under this section shall 
                annually submit to the Administrator, in a manner 
                determined by the Administrator, information regarding 
                the applicable water service access program, 
                including--
                            (i) the demonstrable impacts of the program 
                        on bill debt and timely bill payments for low-
                        income households that receive assistance under 
                        the program, based on data from before and 
                        after the implementation of the program, 
                        including, for each county and ZIP code within 
                        the geographic area served by the program--
                                    (I) the number of households that 
                                experienced a disconnection of water 
                                service for nonpayment and the number 
                                of households for which disconnection 
                                was avoided directly due to the 
                                provision of assistance under the 
                                program;
                                    (II) the number of households and 
                                amount of debt subject to sale or 
                                enforcement of property liens and the 
                                number of households for which sale or 
                                enforcement of property liens was 
                                avoided directly due to the provision 
                                of assistance under the program;
                                    (III) the number of households 
                                enrolled in the program;
                                    (IV) the benefit levels, amount of 
                                debt reduction, and total amount of 
                                assistance provided to enrolled 
                                households; and
                                    (V) the number of enrolled 
                                households reconnected to water service 
                                and a summary of the fees and charges 
                                waived for enrolled households, 
                                including disconnection and 
                                reconnection charges, late payment 
                                fees, and interest charges;
                            (ii) revenue collection information from 
                        each community water system and treatment works 
                        within the geographic area served by the 
                        program, including--
                                    (I) rate design for residential 
                                customers;
                                    (II) billing frequency;
                                    (III) fees, taxes, and other 
                                charges that are included on every 
                                residential bill or that are billed to 
                                a residential customer under specific 
                                circumstances but are not included on 
                                every residential bill; and
                                    (IV) projected rate increases 
                                during the 5-year period following 
                                submission of the information under 
                                this subsection;
                            (iii) information regarding any other water 
                        service customer assistance programs within the 
                        geographic area served by the program, 
                        including information about such other programs 
                        relating to rate structures, rebates, 
                        discounts, billing methods that average rates 
                        over the course of a year (known as ``budget 
                        billing''), and procedures that ensure that 
                        households receive notice and an opportunity to 
                        dispute charges before service is disconnected 
                        or interrupted due to non-payment; and
                            (iv) other relevant information required by 
                        the Administrator.
                    (B) Additional time for completion of certain 
                reporting requirements.--The Administrator may postpone 
                a requirement to include in an annual submission data 
                required under subparagraph (A), taking into 
                consideration the availability of technical assistance 
                pursuant to subsection (d) related to data reporting.
                    (C) Publication.--The Administrator shall 
                annually--
                            (i) make information on water service 
                        access programs implemented under this section 
                        available in an easily accessible format on the 
                        website of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
                        including--
                                    (I) a list of all such water 
                                service access programs and contact 
                                information for the entities 
                                implementing such programs; and
                                    (II) the information submitted 
                                under subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) publish a report that compiles and 
                        summarizes the information submitted under this 
                        paragraph.
            (2) Reporting to states.--An eligible water system that is 
        implementing a water service access program pursuant to this 
        section shall report to each agency or office of the State in 
        which the water service access program is implemented that 
        funds or regulates water systems--
                    (A) the amount of all grants it receives under this 
                section; and
                    (B) all information it submits to the Administrator 
                under paragraph (1) and subsection (c)(2)(B).
    (f) Administrative Provisions.--
            (1) Assistance exempt from inclusion as income.--
                    (A) Individual assistance.--In the case of any 
                individual who is a member of a low-income household 
                receiving assistance under a water service access 
                program implemented under this section--
                            (i) for purposes of the Internal Revenue 
                        Code of 1986, gross income shall not include 
                        any such assistance provided to such 
                        individual; and
                            (ii) notwithstanding any other provision of 
                        law, any such assistance provided to such 
                        individual shall not be considered income or 
                        resources of such household (or any member 
                        thereof) for any purpose under any other 
                        Federal or State law, including any law 
                        relating to taxation or governmental assistance 
                        programs.
                    (B) Assistance to eligible water systems.--A grant 
                received under this section by an eligible water system 
                that is subject to Federal or State income tax shall 
                not be considered income for purposes of any Federal or 
                State income tax law if the Administrator determines 
                that the eligible water system complied with the 
                requirements established under subsection (c)(3)(C)(iv) 
                during the year in which the grant was received.
            (2) Assistance not a federal public benefit.--
        Notwithstanding section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility 
        and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
        1611(c)), assistance provided to a low-income household under a 
        water service access program implemented under this section 
        shall not be considered a Federal public benefit for purposes 
        of title IV of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
            (3) Financial terms for private utilities.--A community 
        water system or treatment works that is not wholly-owned by a 
        governmental entity may not use any funds received under or 
        pursuant to this section to provide any financial benefits to 
        the owners of the community water system or treatment works, 
        including increased rates of return on capital investments, 
        dividends, and interest.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date on which grant 
funds are first disbursed to an eligible entity under this section, and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on the results of the Federal low-income water assistance 
program established under this section, which report shall include--
            (1) an assessment of the remaining need and obstacles to 
        achieving universal water service access and affordability; and
            (2) relevant findings and information from other programs 
        and assessments, including--
                    (A) State revolving fund programs under the Safe 
                Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act;
                    (B) State drinking water program plans, as 
                applicable;
                    (C) the national drinking water infrastructure 
                needs survey and assessment conducted under section 
                1452(h) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
                12(h)); and
                    (D) the National Climate Assessment carried out 
                pursuant to the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 
                U.S.C. 2921 et seq.).
    (h) Use of National Surveys.--
            (1) Questions.--The Director of the United States Census 
        Bureau shall, in coordination with the Administrator, add one 
        or more questions into the American Community Survey to 
        ascertain whether households have faced difficulty paying for 
        water services.
            (2) Use.--The Administrator shall use information from the 
        American Community Survey to inform the reports submitted under 
        subsection (g).
    (i) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2035.
            (2) Allocation of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
                a formula to annually allocate funds made available to 
                carry out this section among entities implementing 
                water service access programs, based on--
                            (i) number of low-income persons and 
                        households served by each such program;
                            (ii) technical assistance needs of eligible 
                        entities implementing such programs, including 
                        needs for enrollment support, community 
                        outreach, and data collection and reporting;
                            (iii) administrative costs of implementing 
                        such programs;
                            (iv) water service costs in the area served 
                        by each such program;
                            (v) exceptional community needs owing to 
                        water quality and water scarcity; and
                            (vi) any other criteria determined relevant 
                        by the Administrator.
                    (B) Requirements.--In establishing the allocation 
                formula under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
                shall--
                            (i) ensure that equal amounts of funds are 
                        made available with respect to drinking water 
                        services and sanitary sewer services; and
                            (ii) determine appropriate allotments for 
                        the provision of technical assistance through 
                        each water service access program.
                    (C) Reservation of funds.--The Administrator may 
                reserve up to 10 percent of funds made available to 
                carry out this section for each fiscal year to provide 
                supplementary funds for water service access programs 
                that serve--
                            (i) territories, or areas under the 
                        jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe, that have 
                        historically lacked equitable access to Federal 
                        and State financial assistance for drinking 
                        water and wastewater infrastructure; and
                            (ii) communities experiencing lack of 
                        access to safe public drinking water services 
                        to meet essential household needs.

SEC. 4. STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.

    (a) Safe Drinking Water Act.--
            (1) Intended use plans.--Section 1452(b) of the Safe 
        Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``in accordance 
                with paragraph (4)'' after ``public review and 
                comment''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Public review and comment.--In preparing an intended 
        use plan under paragraph (1), a State shall--
                    ``(A) before adopting a final plan--
                            ``(i) make a draft of the plan, and 
                        instructions for how to provide comments on the 
                        draft, available on a publicly accessible 
                        website;
                            ``(ii) provide a minimum of 30 days for 
                        public comment on the draft;
                            ``(iii) provide written responses to timely 
                        submitted written public comments on the draft; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) after providing such written 
                        responses, hold at least one public hearing on 
                        the draft;
                    ``(B) make the final plan available on a publicly 
                accessible website; and
                    ``(C) allow for submission of applications for 
                financial and technical assistance at any time.
            ``(5) Transparency and evaluation.--
                    ``(A) Regulations.--
                            ``(i) Promulgation.--Not later than one 
                        year after the date of enactment of this 
                        paragraph, the Administrator shall promulgate 
                        regulations to increase transparency and 
                        promote evaluation of--
                                    ``(I) the distribution by States of 
                                the amounts available to the State loan 
                                fund among the intended uses identified 
                                in a plan under this subsection; and
                                    ``(II) the criteria and methods 
                                established by States under paragraph 
                                (2)(B) for the distribution of funds.
                            ``(ii) Inclusions.--The Administrator shall 
                        include in the regulations promulgated under 
                        clause (i)--
                                    ``(I) a requirement that States 
                                provide to the Administrator data 
                                about--
                                            ``(aa) funded and unfunded 
                                        projects that are eligible for 
                                        assistance from the State loan 
                                        fund; and
                                            ``(bb) the geographic and 
                                        socioeconomic distribution of 
                                        such funded projects, including 
                                        the amount and percentage of 
                                        assistance allocated to 
                                        projects that serve 
                                        disadvantaged communities;
                                    ``(II) creation of a central online 
                                repository for intended use plans and 
                                data provided pursuant to subclause 
                                (I); and
                                    ``(III) creation of an advisory 
                                group within each State to provide 
                                advice and recommendations on intended 
                                use plans, State loan fund policies, 
                                and implementation of such plans and 
                                policies.
                    ``(B) Annual report.--The Administrator shall make 
                available on a publicly accessible website an annual 
                report, prepared based on the data provided pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) and feedback from State 
                advisory groups created under subparagraph 
                (A)(ii)(III), which shall include--
                            ``(i) information on and analysis of the 
                        use by each State of the amounts available to 
                        the State loan fund of the State, including, 
                        for each State, the amount of assistance 
                        provided under this section, and the number of 
                        public water systems receiving such assistance;
                            ``(ii) data and metrics on disadvantaged 
                        communities served and technical assistance and 
                        outreach efforts; and
                            ``(iii) ongoing challenges at the national 
                        and State level.''.
            (2) Assistance for disadvantaged communities.--Section 
        1452(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(d)) 
        is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the 
                following: ``Each State shall, during calendar year 
                2026 and every three years thereafter, conduct a review 
                of, and if appropriate revise, the affordability 
                criteria established by the State under this 
                subsection.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Additional requirements.--Not later than one year 
        after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
        Administrator shall promulgate regulations to expedite the 
        provision of assistance to, and provide flexible repayment 
        options for, disadvantaged communities receiving assistance 
        under this section.''.
            (3) Administration of state loan funds.--Section 
        1452(g)(2)(A)(i) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
        300j-12(g)(2)(A)(i)) is amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by 
                striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; and
                    (B) in subclause (I), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting ``, except that a State may not use more than 
                30 percent of such amount to cover costs under this 
                subclause; and''.
    (b) Federal Water Pollution Control Act.--
            (1) Water pollution control revolving loan funds.--
                    (A) Additional subsidization.--Section 603(i)(2) of 
                the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
                1383(i)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(D) Review and revision.--Each State shall, 
                during calendar year 2026 and every three years 
                thereafter, conduct a review of, and if appropriate 
                revise, the affordability criteria established by the 
                State under this paragraph.
                    ``(E) Additional requirements.--Not later than one 
                year after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, 
                the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to 
                expedite the provision by a State of assistance to, and 
                flexible repayment options for, municipalities that 
                meet the affordability criteria established by the 
                State under this paragraph.''.
                    (B) Additional use of funds.--Section 603(k) of the 
                Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(k)) 
                is amended by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.
            (2) Audits, reports, and fiscal controls; intended use 
        plan.--Section 606 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
        (33 U.S.C. 1386) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by inserting ``in accordance with 
                subsection (g)'' after ``public comment and review''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Public Comment and Review.--In preparing an intended use plan 
under subsection (c), a State shall--
            ``(1) before adopting a final plan--
                    ``(A) make a draft of the plan, and instructions 
                for how to provide comments on the draft, available on 
                a publicly accessible website;
                    ``(B) provide a minimum of 30 days for public 
                comment on the draft;
                    ``(C) provide written responses to timely submitted 
                written public comments on the draft; and
                    ``(D) after providing such written responses, hold 
                at least one public hearing on the draft;
            ``(2) make the final plan available on a publicly 
        accessible website; and
            ``(3) allow for submission of applications for financial 
        and technical assistance at any time.
    ``(h) Transparency and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Regulations.--
                    ``(A) Promulgation.--Not later than one year after 
                the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
                Administrator shall promulgate regulations to increase 
                transparency and promote evaluation of--
                            ``(i) the distribution by States of the 
                        amounts available to the State water pollution 
                        control revolving fund among the intended uses 
                        identified in a plan under subsection (c); and
                            ``(ii) the criteria and methods established 
                        by States under subsection (c)(5) for the 
                        distribution of funds.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The Administrator shall include 
                in the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) a requirement that States provide to 
                        the Administrator, in each annual report 
                        provided under subsection (d), data about--
                                    ``(I) funded and unfunded projects 
                                that are eligible for assistance from 
                                the State water pollution control 
                                revolving fund; and
                                    ``(II) the geographic and 
                                socioeconomic distribution of such 
                                funded projects, including the amount 
                                and percentage of assistance allocated 
                                to projects that serve municipalities 
                                that meet the affordability criteria 
                                established by the State under section 
                                603(i)(2);
                            ``(ii) creation of a central online 
                        repository for intended use plans and data 
                        provided pursuant to clause (i); and
                            ``(iii) creation of an advisory group 
                        within each State to provide advice and 
                        recommendations on intended use plans, State 
                        water pollution control revolving fund 
                        policies, and implementation of such plans and 
                        policies.
            ``(2) Annual report.--The Administrator shall make 
        available on a publicly accessible website an annual report, 
        prepared based on the data provided pursuant to paragraph 
        (1)(B)(i) and feedback from State advisory groups created under 
        paragraph (1)(B(iii), which shall include--
                    ``(A) information on and analysis of the use by 
                each State of the amounts available to the State water 
                pollution control revolving fund of the State, 
                including, for each State, the amount of assistance 
                provided under this title, and the number of treatment 
                works with respect to which such assistance was 
                provided;
                    ``(B) data and metrics on disadvantaged communities 
                served and technical assistance and outreach efforts; 
                and
                    ``(C) ongoing challenges at the national and State 
                level.''.
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