Water for Public Health Act

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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water for Public Health Act 2. Access to water The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5141 (1) in section 403 by adding at the end the following: (e) Access to water and sanitation in a public health emergency (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), during an emergency period (as defined in section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1) (A) through the use of Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities provide every individual access to potable water and basic sanitation; and (B) make grants to States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, and owners or operators of private nonprofit facilities to assist in carrying out subparagraph (A), which may include— (i) installation of mobile water stations; (ii) installation of handwashing facilities; (iii) distribution or delivery of emergency bottled water and personal and home sanitization products; (iv) reconnection of water utility service, regardless of when such service was discontinued or for what reason; and (v) moratorium on water utility shutoffs. (2) State and local government contracts or reimbursement The Administrator shall also provide reimbursement to a State, local government, or Indian tribal government that provided services described in paragraph (1) during the emergency period. ; and (2) in section 502 by adding at the end the following: (d) Access to water and sanitation in a public health emergency (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), during an emergency period (as defined in section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1) (A) through the use of Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities provide every individual access to potable water and basic sanitation; and (B) make grants to States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, and owners or operators of private nonprofit facilities to assist in carrying out subparagraph (A), which may include— (i) installation of mobile water stations; (ii) installation of handwashing facilities; (iii) distribution or delivery of emergency bottled water and personal and home sanitization products; (iv) reconnection of water utility service, regardless of when such service was discontinued or for what reason; and (v) moratorium on water utility shutoffs. (2) State and local government contracts or reimbursement The Administrator shall also provide reimbursement to a State, local government, or Indian tribal government that provided services described in paragraph (1) during the emergency period. .

Summary: Water for Public Health Act This bill authorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance during a public health emergency to include efforts to provide individuals with access to potable water and basic sanitation. Specifically, FEMA may, during an emergency period, provide every individual access to potable water and basic sanitation through the use of federal agencies. It may also make grants to carry out such efforts, including installation of mobile water stations and hand washing facilities, distribution or delivery of emergency bottled water and personal and home sanitization products, reconnection of water utility service, and moratorium on water utility shutoffs. FEMA may reimburse state, local, or tribal governments that provided such services.