I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7985 

To provide for assistance to rural water and waste disposal systems affected 

by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 7, 2020 

Mr. ROUZER (for himself and Mr. VELA) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To provide for assistance to rural water and waste disposal 

systems affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for 

other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Emergency Assistance 

5 for Rural Water Systems Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYS7 TEMS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (in 

9 this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may— 


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•HR 7985 IH

1 (1) provide a grant, a zero interest loan, or a 

2 1 percent loan to, forgive principal or interest or 

3 modify any term or condition of an outstanding loan 

4 made to, or refinance part or all of any other loan 

5 (if the purpose of the loan is an eligible purpose 

6 under section 306(a)(1) or 306C of the Consolidated 

7 Farm and Rural Development Act) made to, a rural 

8 water or waste disposal facility with respect to which 

9 assistance may be provided under a water, waste10 water, or waste disposal program under section 

11 306(a), 306A, 306C, or 306D of such Act; or 

12 (2) reduce or eliminate any fee that is or would 

13 otherwise be required to be paid under such section 

14 306(a)(1) with respect to a loan guarantee provided 

15 to any rural water, waste water, or waste disposal 

16 facility, on the condition that the borrower receives 

17 the benefit resulting from the reduction or elimi18 nation of the fee. 

19 (b) LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may pro20 vide assistance to an entity under this section as the Sec21 retary determines is necessary to— 

22 (1) ensure that the entity has the necessary re23 sources to maintain public health, safety, or order; 

24 (2) address financial hardships of the entity 

25 due to the COVID–19 public health emergency; and 


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1 (3) promote the financial stability of the entity. 

2 (c) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity to which assistance 

3 is provided under this section may use the assistance— 

4 (1) for any purpose for which the entity is eligi5 ble for assistance under the relevant provision of law 

6 referred to in subsection (a); or 

7 (2) for any direct operational expenses of a 

8 water, wastewater, or waste disposal facility incurred 

9 by the entity, as determined by the Secretary. 

10 (d) APPROPRIATION.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Out of any money in the 

12 Treasury of the United States not otherwise appro13 priated, there are appropriated $1,000,000,000 to 

14 carry out this section. 

15 (2) RESERVATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EX16 PENSES.—The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of 

17 the amount appropriated by paragraph (1) for ad18 ministrative expenses incurred in carrying out this 

19 section. 

20 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The amounts appropriated 

21 in paragraph (1) shall remain available through De22 cember 31, 2021. 

Æ 


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