I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7258 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

Act to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides 

access to potable water for individuals during a public health emergency. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 18, 2020 

Mr. LEVIN of Michigan (for himself, Ms. TLAIB, Ms. STEVENS, Mr. KILDEE, 

Ms. SLOTKIN, Mrs. LAWRENCE, and Mrs. DINGELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides access to potable 

water for individuals during a public health emergency. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Water for Public 

5 Health Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ACCESS TO WATER. 

2 The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer3 gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.) is amended: 

4 (1) in section 403 by adding at the end the fol5 lowing: 

6 ‘‘(e) ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION IN A PUB7 LIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para9 graph (2), during an emergency period (as defined 

10 in section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 

11 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1))), the President, acting 

12 through the Administrator of the Federal Emer13 gency Management Agency, may— 

14 ‘‘(A) through the use of Federal depart15 ments, agencies, and instrumentalities provide 

16 every individual access to potable water and 

17 basic sanitation; and 

18 ‘‘(B) make grants to States, local govern19 ments, Indian tribal governments, and owners 

20 or operators of private nonprofit facilities to as21 sist in carrying out subparagraph (A), which 

22 may include— 

23 ‘‘(i) installation of mobile water sta24 tions; 

25 ‘‘(ii) installation of handwashing fa26 cilities; 


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1 ‘‘(iii) distribution or delivery of emer2 gency bottled water and personal and home 

3 sanitization products; 

4 ‘‘(iv) reconnection of water utility 

5 service, regardless of when such service 

6 was discontinued or for what reason; and 

7 ‘‘(v) moratorium on water utility shut8 offs. 

9 ‘‘(2) STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CON10 TRACTS OR REIMBURSEMENT.—The Administrator 

11 shall also provide reimbursement to a State, local 

12 government, or Indian tribal government that pro13 vided services described in paragraph (1) during the 

14 emergency period.’’; and 

15 (2) in section 502 by adding at the end the fol16 lowing: 

17 ‘‘(d) ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION IN A PUB18 LIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para20 graph (2), during an emergency period (as defined 

21 in section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 

22 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1))), the President, acting 

23 through the Administrator of the Federal Emer24 gency Management Agency may— 


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1 ‘‘(A) through the use of Federal depart2 ments, agencies, and instrumentalities provide 

3 every individual access to potable water and 

4 basic sanitation; and 

5 ‘‘(B) make grants to States, local govern6 ments, Indian tribal governments, and owners 

7 or operators of private nonprofit facilities to as8 sist in carrying out subparagraph (A), which 

9 may include— 

10 ‘‘(i) installation of mobile water sta11 tions; 

12 ‘‘(ii) installation of handwashing fa13 cilities; 

14 ‘‘(iii) distribution or delivery of emer15 gency bottled water and personal and home 

16 sanitization products; 

17 ‘‘(iv) reconnection of water utility 

18 service, regardless of when such service 

19 was discontinued or for what reason; and 

20 ‘‘(v) moratorium on water utility shut21 offs. 

22 ‘‘(2) STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CON23 TRACTS OR REIMBURSEMENT.—The Administrator 

24 shall also provide reimbursement to a State, local 

25 government, or Indian tribal government that proVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:03 Jul 09, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7258.IH H7258

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1 vided services described in paragraph (1) during the 

2 emergency period.’’. 

Æ 


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