I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10440 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide assistance for States, 
territories, areas affected by natural disasters, and water systems and 
schools affected by PFAS or lead, and to require the Environmental 
Protection Agency to promulgate national primary drinking water regula-
tions for PFAS, microcystin toxin, and 1,4-dioxane, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 16, 2024 
Mr. TONKO (for himself and Mr. PALLONE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Transportation and 
Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide assistance 
for States, territories, areas affected by natural disasters, 
and water systems and schools affected by PFAS or 
lead, and to require the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy to promulgate national primary drinking water regula-
tions for PFAS, microcystin toxin, and 1,4-dioxane, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2024’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—INFRASTRUCTURE 
Sec. 101. Drinking water system resilience funding. 
Sec. 102. Grants for State programs. 
Sec. 103. Assistance for disadvantaged communities. 
Sec. 104. Allotments for territories. 
Sec. 105. Drinking water SRF funding. 
Sec. 106. Lead service line replacement. 
Sec. 107. Drinking water assistance to colonias. 
Sec. 108. PFAS treatment grants. 
Sec. 109. Grant program for installation of filtration stations at schools and 
child care programs. 
Sec. 110. Indian reservation drinking water program. 
Sec. 111. Assistance for areas affected by natural disasters. 
TITLE II—SAFETY 
Sec. 201. Enabling EPA to set health protective standards for new drinking 
water contaminants. 
Sec. 202. Citizens’ petitions for new or revised national primary drinking water 
regulations. 
Sec. 203. National primary drinking water regulations for PFAS. 
Sec. 204. National primary drinking water regulations for microcystin toxin. 
Sec. 205. National primary drinking water regulations for 1,4-dioxane. 
Sec. 206. National primary drinking water regulations for chromium-6. 
Sec. 207. Elimination of small system variances. 
TITLE III—AFFORDABILITY 
Sec. 301. Water affordability program. 
TITLE I—INFRASTRUCTURE 
SEC. 101. DRINKING WATER SYSTEM RESILIENCE FUNDING. 
Section 1433(g) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300i–2(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and 2021’’ 
and inserting ‘‘through 2034’’; and 
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(2) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘25,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘50,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2020 and 2021’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2025 through 2034’’. 
SEC. 102. GRANTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS. 
Section 1443(a)(7) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300j–2(a)(7)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘125,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘200,000,000’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2020 and 2021’’ and inserting 
‘‘2025 through 2034’’. 
SEC. 103. ASSISTANCE FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMU-
NITIES. 
Section 1452(d)(2)(A) of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘35 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘40 percent’’. 
SEC. 104. ALLOTMENTS FOR TERRITORIES. 
Section 1452(j) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j–12(j)) is amended by striking ‘‘0.33 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘1.5 percent’’. 
SEC. 105. DRINKING WATER SRF FUNDING. 
Section 1452(m)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300j–12(m)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraphs (A) through (E); 
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(2) by striking subparagraph (G); 
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as sub-
paragraph (A); 
(4) in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semicolon; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) $3,250,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
‘‘(C) $3,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(D) $4,140,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
‘‘(E) $4,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; 
and 
‘‘(F) $5,500,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2029 through 2034.’’. 
SEC. 106. LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1452 of the Safe Drink-
ing Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(u) LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the capital-
ization grants to eligible States under subsection 
(a)(1), the Administrator shall offer to enter into 
agreements with States, Indian Tribes, and the ter-
ritories described in subsection (j) to make grants, 
including letters of credit, to such States, Indian 
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Tribes, and territories under this subsection to fund 
the replacement of lead service lines. 
‘‘(2) ALLOTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) STATES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Funds made avail-
able to carry out this subsection shall be— 
‘‘(I) subject to clause (ii), allotted 
and reallotted to the extent prac-
ticable to States as if allotted or real-
lotted under subsection (a)(1) as a 
capitalization grant under such sub-
section; and 
‘‘(II) deposited into the State 
loan fund of a State receiving such 
funds pursuant to an agreement en-
tered into pursuant to this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) STATE LEAD SERVICE LINE RE-
PLACEMENT NEEDS.—For purposes of ap-
plying the formula described in subsection 
(a)(1)(D) under clause (i) of this subpara-
graph, the State needs identified in the 
most recent survey conducted pursuant to 
subsection (h) shall only include the State 
needs identified for lead service line re-
placement in such survey. 
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‘‘(B) INDIAN TRIBES.—The Administrator 
shall set aside 11⁄2 percent of the amounts 
made available each fiscal year to carry out this 
subsection to make grants to Indian Tribes. 
‘‘(C) OTHER AREAS.—Funds made avail-
able to carry out this subsection shall be allot-
ted to territories described in subsection (j) in 
accordance with such subsection. 
‘‘(3) GRANTS.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of this section, funds made available under 
this subsection shall be used only for providing 
grants for the full replacement of lead service lines. 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY.—Each State, Indian Tribe, and 
territory that has entered into an agreement pursu-
ant to this subsection shall annually prepare a plan 
that identifies the intended uses of the amounts 
made available to such State, Indian Tribe, or terri-
tory under this subsection, and any such plan 
shall— 
‘‘(A) not be required to comply with sub-
section (b)(3); and 
‘‘(B) provide, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, that priority for the use of funds be 
given to projects that replace lead service lines 
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serving disadvantaged communities and envi-
ronmental justice communities. 
‘‘(5) PLAN FOR REPLACEMENT.—Each State, 
Indian Tribe, and territory that has entered into an 
agreement pursuant to this subsection shall require 
each recipient of funds made available pursuant to 
this subsection to submit to the State, Indian Tribe, 
or territory a plan to fully replace all lead service 
lines in the applicable public water system within 10 
years of receiving such funds, or sooner if required 
by law. 
‘‘(6) AMERICAN MADE IRON AND STEEL AND 
PREVAILING
WAGES.—The requirements of para-
graphs (4) and (5) of subsection (a) shall apply to 
any project carried out in whole or in part with 
funds made available under or pursuant to this sub-
section. 
‘‘(7) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION ON PARTIAL LINE RE-
PLACEMENT.—No funds made available pursu-
ant to this subsection may be used for partial 
lead service line replacement if, at the conclu-
sion of the service line replacement, drinking 
water is delivered through a publicly or pri-
vately owned portion of a lead service line. 
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‘‘(B) NO
PRIVATE
OWNER
CONTRIBU-
TION.—In carrying out lead service line replace-
ment using a grant under this subsection, a re-
cipient of funds made available pursuant to this 
subsection shall offer to replace any privately 
owned portion of any lead service line at no cost 
to the private owner. 
‘‘(8) 
DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITY
ASSIST-
ANCE.—All funds made available pursuant to this 
subsection to fund the replacement of lead service 
lines may be used to replace lead service lines serv-
ing disadvantaged communities. 
‘‘(9) STATE CONTRIBUTION NOT REQUIRED.— 
No agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph 
(1) shall require that a State deposit, at any time, 
in the applicable State loan fund from State moneys 
any contribution in order to receive funds under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(10) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
$3,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 
through 2036. Such sums shall remain available 
until expended. 
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‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.—To the ex-
tent amounts authorized to be appropriated 
under this subsection in any fiscal year are not 
appropriated in that fiscal year, such amounts 
are authorized to be appropriated in a subse-
quent fiscal year. Such sums shall remain avail-
able until expended. 
‘‘(11) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section: 
‘‘(A) DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITY.—The 
term ‘disadvantaged community’ has the mean-
ing given such term in subsection (d)(3). 
‘‘(B) ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
COMMU-
NITY.—The term ‘environmental justice com-
munity’ means any population of color, commu-
nity of color, indigenous community, or low-in-
come community that experiences a dispropor-
tionate burden of the negative human health 
and environmental impacts of pollution or other 
environmental hazards. 
‘‘(C) LEAD
SERVICE
LINE.—The term 
‘lead service line’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 1459B(a)(4).’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1452(m)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
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300j–12(m)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘(a)(2)(G) and 
(t)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a)(2)(G), (t), and (u)’’. 
SEC. 107. DRINKING WATER ASSISTANCE TO COLONIAS. 
Section 1456 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j–16) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘covered en-
tity’ means each of the following: 
‘‘(A) A border State. 
‘‘(B) A local government with jurisdiction 
over an eligible community.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘border 
State’’ and inserting ‘‘covered entity’’; 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘shall not ex-
ceed 50 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘may not be less 
than 80 percent’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$25,000,000’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$100,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘1997 through 1999’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2025 through 2034’’. 
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SEC. 108. PFAS TREATMENT GRANTS. 
Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300j et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1459H. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY WATER SYS-
TEMS AFFECTED BY PFAS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Adminis-
trator shall establish a program to award grants to af-
fected community water systems to pay for capital costs 
associated with the implementation of eligible treatment 
technologies. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 12 months 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Ad-
ministrator shall publish guidance describing the 
form and timing for community water systems to 
apply for grants under this section. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—The Adminis-
trator shall require a community water system ap-
plying for a grant under this section to submit— 
‘‘(A) information showing the presence of a 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance in 
water of the community water system; and 
‘‘(B) a certification that the treatment 
technology in use by the community water sys-
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tem at the time of application is not sufficient 
to meet all applicable standards, and all appli-
cable health advisories published pursuant to 
section 1412(b)(1)(F), for perfluoroalkyl and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
‘‘(c) 
LIST
OF
ELIGIBLE
TREATMENT
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—Not later than 150 days after the date of en-
actment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
Administrator shall publish a list of treatment tech-
nologies that the Administrator determines are the most 
effective at removing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
substances from drinking water. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY FOR FUNDING.—In awarding grants 
under this section, the Administrator shall prioritize an 
affected community water system that— 
‘‘(1) serves a disadvantaged community; 
‘‘(2) has an exceedance of an applicable max-
imum contaminant level for individual or mixture of 
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; 
‘‘(3) will provide at least a 10-percent cost 
share for the cost of implementing an eligible treat-
ment technology; 
‘‘(4) demonstrates the capacity to maintain the 
eligible treatment technology to be implemented 
using the grant; or 
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‘‘(5) is located within an area with respect to 
which the Administrator has published a determina-
tion under the first sentence of section 1424(e) re-
lating to an aquifer that is the sole or principal 
drinking water source for the area; and 
‘‘(6) has not received monies from a settlement 
agreement or consent decree related to contamina-
tion by a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance 
in water in the community water system. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 
2034. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) AFFECTED COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘affected community water system’ means 
a community water system that is affected by the 
presence of a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stance in water in the community water system. 
‘‘(2) DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.—The term 
‘disadvantaged community’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 1452. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
TREATMENT
TECHNOLOGY.— 
The term ‘eligible treatment technology’ means a 
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treatment technology included on the list published 
under subsection (c). 
‘‘(4) PERFLUOROALKYL OR POLYFLUOROALKYL 
SUBSTANCE.—The 
term 
‘perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl substance’ means any man-made 
chemical with at least one fully fluorinated carbon 
atom.’’. 
SEC. 109. GRANT PROGRAM FOR INSTALLATION OF FILTRA-
TION STATIONS AT SCHOOLS AND CHILD 
CARE PROGRAMS. 
Section 1464 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j–24) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) GRANT PROGRAM
FOR INSTALLATION
AND 
MAINTENANCE OF FILTRATION STATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PROGRAM.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a program to make grants to States to assist 
local educational agencies in installation and mainte-
nance of filtration stations at schools and facilities 
used by child care programs under the jurisdiction 
of the local educational agencies or other State agen-
cies. 
‘‘(2) DIRECT GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL 
AGENCIES.—The Administrator may make a grant 
described in paragraph (1) directly available to— 
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‘‘(A) any local educational agency de-
scribed in clause (i) or (iii) of subsection 
(d)(1)(B) located in a State that does not par-
ticipate in the program established under para-
graph (1); or 
‘‘(B) any local educational agency de-
scribed in clause (ii) of subsection (d)(1)(B). 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants made under the 
program established under this subsection may be 
used to pay the costs of— 
‘‘(A) installation and maintenance of filtra-
tion stations at schools and facilities used by 
child care programs; and 
‘‘(B) annual testing of drinking water at 
such schools and facilities used by child care 
programs following the installation of filtration 
stations. 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY.—In making grants under the 
program established under this subsection, the Ad-
ministrator shall give priority to States and local 
educational agencies that will assist in installation 
and maintenance of filtration stations at schools and 
facilities used by child care programs that are in 
low-income areas. 
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‘‘(5) REQUIREMENT.—Filtration stations in-
stalled pursuant to the program established under 
this section shall include remote performance moni-
toring and automatic shut-off of the filtration sta-
tion in the event the filtration station is not oper-
ating properly. 
‘‘(6) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Administrator shall establish guidance to carry out 
the program established under this subsection. 
‘‘(7) NO PRIOR TESTING REQUIRED.—The pro-
gram established under this subsection shall not re-
quire testing for lead contamination in drinking 
water at schools and facilities used by child care pro-
grams prior to participation in such program. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) CHILD CARE PROGRAM AND LOCAL 
EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The terms ‘child care 
program’ and ‘local educational agency’ have 
the meaning given such terms in subsection (d). 
‘‘(B) FILTRATION
STATION.—The term 
‘filtration station’ means an apparatus that— 
‘‘(i) is connected to building plumb-
ing; 
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‘‘(ii) is certified to the latest version 
of NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction and 
NSF/ANSI 42 for particulate reduction 
(Class I) by a certification body accredited 
by the American National Standards Insti-
tute National Accreditation Board; 
‘‘(iii) has an indicator to show filter 
performance; 
‘‘(iv) can fill bottles or containers for 
water consumption; and 
‘‘(v) allows users to drink directly 
from a stream of flowing water. 
‘‘(9) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2025 through 2034.’’. 
SEC. 110. INDIAN RESERVATION DRINKING WATER PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 2001(g) of America’s Water Infrastructure 
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–270) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program 
under subsection (a) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2025 through 2034.’’. 
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SEC. 111. ASSISTANCE FOR AREAS AFFECTED BY NATURAL 
DISASTERS. 
Section 2020 of America’s Water Infrastructure Act 
of 2018 (Public Law 115–270) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(e)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (f)(1)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) 
as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE FOR TERRITORIES.—The Adminis-
trator may use funds made available under subsection 
(f)(1) to make grants to Guam, the Virgin Islands, Amer-
ican Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands for the 
purposes of providing assistance to eligible systems to re-
store or increase compliance with national primary drink-
ing water regulations.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f), as so redesignated— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘STATE 
REVOLVING FUND CAPITALIZATION’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘and to make 
grants under subsection (c) of this sec-
tion,’’ before ‘‘to be available’’; and 
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(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘or subsection (c), as applicable’’ after 
‘‘subsection (b)(1)’’. 
TITLE II—SAFETY 
SEC. 201. ENABLING EPA TO SET HEALTH PROTECTIVE 
STANDARDS FOR NEW DRINKING WATER 
CONTAMINANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1412(b)(6) of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(6)) is repealed. 
(b) THRESHOLD.—Section 1412(b)(1)(A) of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(1)(A)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking clause (iii); 
(2) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as sub-
clauses (I) and (II), respectively; 
(3) by striking ‘‘The Administrator shall’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall’’; 
(4) in subclause (I), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘persons;’’ and inserting ‘‘persons; and’’; 
(5) by amending subclause (II), as so redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(II) the contaminant is known 
to occur or there is a substantial like-
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lihood that the contaminant will occur 
at levels of public health concern in 
public water systems serving in total 
at least an estimated 1,000,000 per-
sons or more across at least 3 
States.’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) LEVEL OF PUBLIC HEALTH CON-
CERN.—For purposes of this subpara-
graph, a contaminant shall be considered 
to occur at a level of public health concern 
if it exceeds a health advisory published 
under subparagraph (F) or a toxicity value 
established by the Administrator or the 
Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
Substances Disease Registry.’’. 
(c) HEALTH ADVISORY.—Section 1412(b)(1)(F) of 
the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g– 
1(b)(1)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘A determination under this subsection to publish or es-
tablish a health advisory or toxicity value shall not be con-
sidered a final agency action that is subject to judicial re-
view.’’. 
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(d) PROTECTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.—Sec-
tion 1412(b)(4) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(4)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through 
(E) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively; 
and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) 
HEALTH
PROTECTION.—Notwith-
standing any other provision in this Act, each 
maximum contaminant level goal and national 
primary drinking water regulation established 
under this subsection shall be protective of the 
health of subpopulations at greater risk, as 
identified in section 1458.’’. 
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 1412(b) 
of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(C)(i)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘paragraph (5) or (6)(A)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraph (5)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘paragraphs (4), (5), and 
(6)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (4) and (5)’’; 
and 
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(2) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (5) and (6)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (5)’’. 
SEC. 202. CITIZENS’ PETITIONS FOR NEW OR REVISED NA-
TIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS. 
Section 1412 of Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300g–1) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) CITIZENS’ PETITIONS FOR NEW OR REVISED 
NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person may petition 
the Administrator to promulgate a new or revised 
national primary drinking water regulation and max-
imum contaminant level goal for a contaminant in 
accordance with this section. 
‘‘(2) PROCEDURES.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENTS FOR PETITIONS.—A 
petition under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(i) be filed in the principal office of 
the Administrator; and 
‘‘(ii) include such evidence (which 
shall be based upon government or public 
water system data, independent monitoring 
conducted using certified laboratories, or 
published, peer-reviewed literature) that 
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supports an applicable determination under 
subparagraph (D). 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC
HEARING, INVESTIGATION, 
OR OTHER PROCEEDING.—The Administrator— 
‘‘(i) shall issue a public notice of the 
receipt of a petition under paragraph (1) 
not later than 5 business days after such 
receipt; and 
‘‘(ii) may conduct such investigation 
or proceeding as the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate, including holding a 
public hearing, in order to determine 
whether to grant or deny a petition filed 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(C) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days 
after a person files a petition in accordance 
with subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall 
either grant or deny the petition based on— 
‘‘(i) the evidence included in the peti-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) any other evidence described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii) that the Adminis-
trator may possesses or that was submitted 
to the Administrator not later than 30 
days after the Administrator issued a pub-
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lic notice of the receipt of the petition 
under subparagraph (B)(i). 
‘‘(D) DETERMINATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) NEW
REGULATIONS.—The Ad-
ministrator shall grant a petition under 
paragraph (1) to promulgate a new na-
tional primary drinking water regulation 
and maximum contaminant level goal for a 
contaminant if the Administrator deter-
mines that the criteria of clauses (i), (ii), 
and (iii) of subsection (b)(1)(A) are satis-
fied. 
‘‘(ii) REVISED
REGULATIONS.—The 
Administrator shall grant a petition under 
paragraph (1) to promulgate a revised na-
tional primary drinking water regulation 
and maximum contaminant level goal for a 
contaminant if the Administrator deter-
mines a revised national primary drinking 
water regulation and maximum contami-
nant level goal for the contaminant will 
provide for greater protection of the health 
of persons. 
‘‘(E) DETERMINATION TO REGULATE; REA-
SONS
FOR
DENIAL.—If the Administrator 
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grants a petition under subparagraph (D), such 
decision shall be considered a determination to 
regulate 
a 
contaminant 
under 
subsection 
(b)(1)(B) for purposes of subsection (b)(1)(E). 
If the Administrator denies a petition under 
subparagraph (D), the Administrator shall pub-
lish in the Federal Register the Administrator’s 
reasons for such denial. 
‘‘(F) CIVIL ACTIONS.— 
‘‘(i) DENIED PETITIONS.—The denial 
of a petition filed under this subsection 
shall be considered an action pertaining to 
the establishment of national primary 
drinking water regulations under section 
1448(a)(1). 
‘‘(ii) FAILURE
TO
ACT.—If the Ad-
ministrator fails to grant or deny a peti-
tion filed under this subsection by the 180- 
day deadline described in subparagraph 
(C), the petitioner may commence a civil 
action under section 1449(a)(2) to order 
the Administrator to grant or deny the pe-
tition.’’. 
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SEC. 203. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS FOR PFAS. 
Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300g–1(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(16) 
PERFLUOROALKYL
AND 
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.— 
‘‘(A) DETERMINATION.—Notwithstanding 
any other deadline established in this sub-
section, the Administrator shall make a deter-
mination under paragraph (1)(A), using the cri-
teria described in clauses (i) through (iii) of 
that paragraph, whether to publish a maximum 
contaminant level goal and promulgate a na-
tional primary drinking water regulation for a 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
class of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances not later than 18 months after the later 
of— 
‘‘(i) 
the 
date 
on 
which 
the 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance 
or class of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
substances is listed on the list of contami-
nants for consideration of regulation under 
paragraph (1)(B)(i); and 
‘‘(ii) the date on which— 
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‘‘(I) the Administrator has re-
ceived the results of monitoring under 
section 
1445(a)(2)(B) 
for 
the 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances; or 
‘‘(II) the Administrator has re-
ceived reliable water data or water 
monitoring 
surveys 
for 
the 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances from a 
Federal or State agency that the Ad-
ministrator determines to be of a 
quality sufficient to make a deter-
mination under paragraph (1)(A). 
‘‘(B) PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
any other deadline established in this sub-
section, 
for 
each 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl 
substance 
or 
class 
of 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances 
that the Administrator determines to regu-
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late under subparagraph (A), the Adminis-
trator— 
‘‘(I) not later than 18 months 
after the date on which the Adminis-
trator makes the determination, shall 
propose a national primary drinking 
water regulation for the perfluoroalkyl 
or polyfluoroalkyl substance or class 
of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
substances; and 
‘‘(II) may publish the proposed 
national primary drinking water regu-
lation described in subclause (I) con-
currently with the publication of the 
determination 
to 
regulate 
the 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
‘‘(ii) DEADLINE.— 
‘‘(I) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwith-
standing any other deadline estab-
lished in this subsection, not later 
than 1 year after the date on which 
the Administrator publishes a pro-
posed national primary drinking water 
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regulation under clause (i)(I) and sub-
ject to subclause (II) of this clause, 
the Administrator shall take final ac-
tion on the proposed national primary 
drinking water regulation. 
‘‘(II) EXTENSION.—The Admin-
istrator, on publication of notice in 
the Federal Register, may extend the 
deadline under subclause (I) by not 
more than 6 months. 
‘‘(C) ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 
year after the validation by the Adminis-
trator of an equally effective quality con-
trol and testing procedure to ensure com-
pliance with a national primary drinking 
water regulation promulgated under this 
paragraph to measure the levels described 
in clause (ii) or other methods to detect 
and 
monitor 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl 
substances 
in 
drinking 
water, the Administrator shall add the pro-
cedure or method as an alternative to the 
quality control and testing procedure de-
scribed in such national primary drinking 
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water regulation by publishing the proce-
dure or method in the Federal Register in 
accordance with section 1401(1)(D). 
‘‘(ii) LEVELS DESCRIBED.—The levels 
referred to in clause (i) are— 
‘‘(I) the level of a perfluoroalkyl 
or polyfluoroalkyl substance; 
‘‘(II) 
the 
total 
levels 
of 
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances; and 
‘‘(III) the total levels of organic 
fluorine. 
‘‘(D) 
MONITORING.—When 
establishing 
monitoring requirements for public water sys-
tems as part of a national primary drinking 
water regulation under this paragraph, the Ad-
ministrator shall tailor the monitoring require-
ments for public water systems that do not de-
tect or are reliably and consistently below the 
maximum contaminant level (as defined in sec-
tion 1418(b)(2)(B)) for the perfluoroalkyl or 
polyfluoroalkyl 
substance 
or 
class 
of 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances sub-
ject to the national primary drinking water reg-
ulation. 
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‘‘(E) HEALTH RISK REDUCTION AND COST 
ANALYSIS.—In meeting the requirements of 
paragraph (3)(C), the Administrator may rely 
on information available to the Administrator 
with 
respect 
to 
one 
or 
more 
specific 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances to 
extrapolate reasoned conclusions regarding the 
health risks and effects of a class of 
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances of 
which 
the 
specific 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances are a part. 
‘‘(F) HEALTH ADVISORY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), the Administrator shall publish a 
health advisory under paragraph (1)(F) for 
a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stance 
or 
class 
of 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances not subject to a 
national primary drinking water regulation 
not later than 1 year after the later of— 
‘‘(I) the date on which the Ad-
ministrator finalizes a toxicity value 
for 
the 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl substance or class of 
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perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances; and 
‘‘(II) the date on which the Ad-
ministrator validates an effective qual-
ity control and testing procedure for 
the perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
substance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances. 
‘‘(ii) 
WAIVER.—The 
Administrator 
may waive the requirements of clause (i) 
with 
respect 
to 
a 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl 
substance 
or 
class 
of 
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stances if the Administrator determines 
that there is a substantial likelihood that 
the perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl sub-
stance 
or 
class 
of 
perfluoroalkyl 
or 
polyfluoroalkyl substances will not occur in 
drinking water with sufficient frequency to 
justify the publication of a health advisory, 
and publishes such determination, includ-
ing the information and analysis used, and 
basis for, such determination, in the Fed-
eral Register. 
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‘‘(G) 
PERFLUOROALKYL
OR 
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCE DEFINED.—In 
this paragraph, the term ‘perfluoroalkyl or 
polyfluoroalkyl substance’ means any man-made 
chemical with at least one fully fluorinated car-
bon atom.’’. 
SEC. 204. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS FOR MICROCYSTIN TOXIN. 
Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300g–1(b)) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(17) MICROCYSTIN
TOXIN.—Notwithstanding 
any other deadline established in this subsection, not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2024, 
the Administrator shall publish a maximum contami-
nant level goal and promulgate a national primary 
drinking water regulation for microcystin toxin.’’. 
SEC. 205. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS FOR 1,4-DIOXANE. 
Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300g–1(b)) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(18) 
1,4-DIOXANE.—Notwithstanding 
any 
other deadline established in this subsection, not 
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later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2024, 
the Administrator shall publish a maximum contami-
nant level goal and promulgate a national primary 
drinking water regulation for 1,4-dioxane.’’. 
SEC. 206. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULA-
TIONS FOR CHROMIUM-6. 
Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300g–1(b)) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(19) 
CHROMIUM-6.—Notwithstanding 
any 
other deadline established in this subsection, not 
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2024, 
the Administrator shall publish a maximum contami-
nant level goal and promulgate a national primary 
drinking water regulation for chromium-6.’’. 
SEC. 207. ELIMINATION OF SMALL SYSTEM VARIANCES. 
(a) SMALL SYSTEM VARIANCES.—Section 1415 (42 
U.S.C. 300g–4) of the Safe Drinking Water Act is amend-
ed by striking subsection (e). 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1412(b)(15) of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(15)) is amended by 
striking subparagraph (D). 
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(2) Section 1414(c)(1)(B) of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–3(c)(1)(B)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘, (a)(2), or (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘or 
(a)(2)’’. 
(3) Section 1416(b)(2) of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g–5(b)(2)) is amended by 
striking subparagraph (D). 
(4) Section 1445(h) of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–4(h)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘sections 1412(b)(4)(E) 
and 1415(e) (relating to small system variance 
program)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘section 
1412(b)(4)(E)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘guidance under sections 
1412(b)(4)(E) and 1415(e)’’ and inserting 
‘‘guidance under section 1412(b)(4)(E)’’. 
TITLE III—AFFORDABILITY 
SEC. 301. WATER AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part E of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j et seq.) is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1459I. WATER AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a program to annually provide to States and Indian 
Tribes grants to develop and carry out drinking water ac-
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cess programs to assist eligible households in improving 
or maintaining access to affordable drinking water. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS TO STATES AND INDIAN TRIBES.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.—Each fiscal year a State 
or Indian Tribe may apply for a grant provided 
under the program established under subsection (a) 
by submitting to the Administrator an application, 
which shall be in such form as the Administrator 
shall require and shall contain assurances that the 
State or Indian Tribe will establish a program that 
meets the requirements of subsection (c)(1). 
‘‘(2) FORMULA.—The Administrator shall de-
termine the amount of a grant provided under the 
program established under subsection (a) based 
on— 
‘‘(A) the number of eligible households in 
the State or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 
Tribe; 
‘‘(B) the number of households in the 
State, or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 
Tribe, with an income equal to or less than 150 
percent of the poverty level; and 
‘‘(C) the number of households in the 
State, or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 
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Tribe, that spend more than 30 percent of the 
monthly income of the household on housing. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) WATER
CONSERVATION.—Not more 
than 15 percent of any grant provided under 
the program established under subsection (a) 
may be used to support efforts to improve 
water conservation and reduce water usage. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Not 
more than 15 percent of any grant provided 
under the program established under subsection 
(a) may be used to pay for the administrative 
expenses of carrying out a drinking water ac-
cess program under subsection (c)(1). 
‘‘(4) NONCOMPLIANCE AND POTENTIAL REDIS-
TRIBUTION.— 
‘‘(A) NONCOMPLIANCE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—If the Adminis-
trator determines that a State or Indian 
Tribe is not using a grant in accordance 
with this section, the Administrator shall 
provide to the State or Indian Tribe writ-
ten notice that describes the noncompli-
ance. Not later than 60 days of receiving 
such written notice, the State or Indian 
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Tribe shall provide to the Administrator a 
plan to remedy the noncompliance de-
scribed in the written notice. 
‘‘(ii) NONCOMPLIANCE OF COMMUNITY 
WATER
SYSTEM.—If a State or Indian 
Tribe determines that a community water 
system with which the State or Indian 
Tribe entered into a contract or other 
agreement under subsection (c)(2) is not 
using a grant in accordance with this sec-
tion, the State or Indian Tribe shall pro-
vide to the community water system writ-
ten notice that describes the noncompli-
ance. If such community water system fails 
to remedy the noncompliance by not later 
than 90 days after receiving such written 
notice, the State or Indian Tribe shall ter-
minate the contract or other agreement en-
tered into under subsection (c)(2) and im-
plement the drinking water access program 
on behalf of the community water system. 
‘‘(B) POTENTIAL
REDISTRIBUTION.—The 
Administrator may withhold a grant to be pro-
vided to a State or Indian Tribe that has failed 
to remedy any noncompliance described in writ-
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ten notice provided under subparagraph (A) 
and distribute such grant among the remaining 
Indian Tribes in accordance with the formula 
described under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(c) DRINKING WATER ACCESS PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian Tribe 
that receives a grant under the program established 
under subsection (a) shall use such grant to carry 
out a program to assist eligible households in im-
proving or maintaining access to affordable drinking 
water. Each such drinking water access program 
shall— 
‘‘(A) provide covered assistance to eligible 
households to be used to improve or maintain 
access by such households to affordable drink-
ing water services; 
‘‘(B) provide for timely and meaningful 
public participation in the development and im-
plementation of the program, including an op-
portunity for public comment; 
‘‘(C) subject to the requirement of sub-
paragraph (H), ensure that such covered assist-
ance is distributed in a manner that ensures ge-
ographic distribution of such assistance in pro-
portion to the geographic distribution of eligible 
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households within the State or under the juris-
diction of the Indian Tribe; 
‘‘(D) utilize efficient methods for deter-
mining eligibility of households, including— 
‘‘(i) to the maximum extent feasible, 
sharing of data from other income-quali-
fied assistance programs carried out by the 
State (including any local government of 
the State), the Indian Tribe, or the Fed-
eral Government to facilitate automatic en-
rollment; and 
‘‘(ii) allowance for self-attestation of 
income qualification; 
‘‘(E) carry out outreach and provide edu-
cation to eligible households to ensure that eli-
gible households are made aware of the covered 
assistance provided under the drinking water 
access program; 
‘‘(F) support efforts to improve water con-
servation and reduce water usage in residences 
occupied 
by 
eligible 
households, 
including 
through installation of water efficient fixtures 
and leak repairs; 
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‘‘(G) use effective methods to promote ac-
cess to covered assistance provided under the 
drinking water access program— 
‘‘(i) including by allowing utilities to 
receive funds for debt reduction and di-
rectly apply them to customer accounts, 
and by allowing for electronic signature; 
and 
‘‘(ii) which may not include requiring 
in-person enrollment appointments or asset 
tests; 
‘‘(H) coordinate activities carried out 
under the drinking water access program with 
activities carried out under similar programs 
administered by the Federal Government, 
States, and Indian Tribes, including programs 
related to low-income energy assistance; and 
‘‘(I) if such program is carried out by a 
State, each fiscal year, provide as covered as-
sistance not less than 20 percent of such grant 
to eligible households that are served by small 
systems within such State. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACTS
WITH
COMMUNITY
WATER 
SYSTEMS.—A State or Indian Tribe may enter into 
a contract or other agreement with a community 
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water system under which the community water sys-
tem, in accordance with the applicable requirements 
of paragraph (1), carries out the drinking water ac-
cess program of the State or Indian Tribe with re-
spect to the customers of the community water sys-
tem. A contract or other agreement entered into 
under this paragraph shall include terms or condi-
tions that the community water system— 
‘‘(A) shall maintain a— 
‘‘(i) a long-term financial plan; 
‘‘(ii) an asset management plan; 
‘‘(iii) a capital improvement plan; and 
‘‘(iv) a fiscal management plan; and 
‘‘(B) shall demonstrate capacity to create 
and implement an effective community outreach 
plan to inform eligible households of the avail-
ability of covered assistance under the drinking 
water access program. 
‘‘(3) INCOME
VERIFICATION.—In determining 
the income of a household for purposes of deter-
mining whether the household is an eligible house-
hold, a State, Indian Tribe, or community water sys-
tem may use procedures and policies consistent with 
procedures and policies used by other low-income as-
sistance programs. 
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‘‘(4) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—As a condi-
tion of receiving a grant under the program estab-
lished under subsection (a), a State or Indian Tribe 
shall submit to the Administrator, in a manner de-
termined by the Administrator, information regard-
ing the drinking water access program the State or 
Indian Tribe carries out under paragraph (1) (in-
cluding any part of such program carried out pursu-
ant to a contract or other agreement entered into 
under paragraph (2)), including— 
‘‘(A) the design and implementation of the 
drinking water access program, including— 
‘‘(i) the type of covered assistance 
provided; 
‘‘(ii) sources of funding other than 
such grant; 
‘‘(iii) the number of eligible house-
holds that received covered assistance 
under the drinking water access program, 
disaggregated by type of covered assistance 
received; and 
‘‘(iv) drinking water access program 
costs; 
‘‘(B) the impacts of the drinking water ac-
cess program on community water systems and 
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eligible households that received covered assist-
ance under the drinking water access program, 
including— 
‘‘(i) the average amount of covered as-
sistance provided to such eligible house-
holds, disaggregated by type of covered as-
sistance; 
‘‘(ii) the percentage of eligible house-
holds that received covered assistance 
under the drinking water access program; 
‘‘(iii) the average amount of bill debt 
carried by such households before and 
after enrollment in the drinking water ac-
cess program; 
‘‘(iv) the number of annual service 
disconnections for nonpayment; 
‘‘(v) the resources from community 
water systems used to resolve delinquent 
bills; and 
‘‘(vi) the percent of on-time bill pay-
ments; 
‘‘(C) barriers to eligible households receiv-
ing covered assistance under the drinking water 
access program; and 
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‘‘(D) any other relevant information the 
Administrator may require. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITION.—A community water sys-
tem that receives funding from a drinking water ac-
cess program (directly as covered assistance or indi-
rectly from an eligible household that received cov-
ered assistance and is a customer of such system) 
may not disconnect or interrupt the service of any 
eligible household as a result of nonpayment or ar-
rearages during any period of one year that begins 
on the date on which the eligible household receives 
covered assistance under the drinking water access 
program. 
‘‘(6) NON-DISCRIMINATION.—No person shall 
on the ground of race, color, national origin, or sex 
be excluded from participation in, be denied the ben-
efits of, or be subjected to discrimination under, any 
drinking water access program funded in whole or in 
part with funds made available under this section. 
Any prohibition against discrimination on the basis 
of age under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 or 
with respect to an otherwise qualified handicapped 
individual as provided in section 504 of the Rehabili-
tation Act of 1973 also shall apply to any such 
drinking water access program. 
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‘‘(7) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER EXISTING LAW 
AND PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(A) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Cov-
ered assistance provided under a drinking water 
access program carried out under paragraph 
(1)— 
‘‘(i) may not be used to replace funds 
for any existing, similar local program to 
assist households in maintaining access to 
affordable drinking water; and 
‘‘(ii) may be used to supplement or 
enhance such a local program. 
‘‘(B) EXEMPTION
FROM
INCOME
TAX.— 
For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, in the case of any individual who is a 
member of an eligible household, gross income 
shall not include assistance provided to such in-
dividual pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(C) NO EFFECT ON OTHER BENEFITS OR 
ASSISTANCE.—Assistance provided to an eligible 
household pursuant to this section shall not be 
taken into account as income, and shall not be 
taken into account as resources for the month 
of receipt and the following 12 months, for pur-
poses of determining the eligibility of such 
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household for benefits or assistance, or the 
amount or extent of benefits or assistance, 
under any Federal program or under any State 
or local program financed in whole or in part 
with Federal funds. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, 
subject to the availability of appropriations, provide 
technical assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and 
community water systems that entered into a con-
tract or other agreement with a State or Indian 
Tribe under this section to support the implementa-
tion of this section. Not more than 1 percent of the 
amount made available to carry out this section for 
a fiscal year may be used to provide technical assist-
ance under this paragraph. 
‘‘(2) GRANTS.—The Administrator may award 
grants to nonprofit organizations to provide tech-
nical assistance under paragraph (1). Each non-
profit organization receiving a grant under this 
paragraph shall consult with the State, Indian Tribe, 
or community water system to which the technical 
assistance is to be provided before using the grant. 
The Administrator shall prioritize awarding grants 
under this paragraph to nonprofit organizations 
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that, as determined by the Administrator, are the 
most qualified and experienced in providing technical 
assistance to community water systems. 
‘‘(e) GUIDANCE.—The Administrator shall provide 
guidance to States, Indian Tribes, and community water 
systems to carry out an effective drinking water access 
program in accordance with subsection (c), including ef-
fective methods to inform eligible households of the avail-
ability of covered assistance under such a program. 
‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which grants are first provided to a State or Indian 
Tribe under the program established under subsection (a), 
and each year thereafter, the Administrator shall submit 
to Congress a report on the results of such program. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED
ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘cov-
ered assistance’ means each of the following: 
‘‘(A) Direct financial assistance. 
‘‘(B) A lifeline rate. 
‘‘(C) Bill discounting. 
‘‘(D) Special hardship provisions. 
‘‘(E) 
A 
percentage-of-income 
payment 
plan. 
‘‘(F) A payment made directly to a cus-
tomer account of arrearages or fees from non-
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payment for services provided by a community 
water system. 
‘‘(G) Any other form of assistance identi-
fied by the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) 
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘household’ 
means any individual or group of individuals who 
are living together as 1 economic unit. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD.—The term ‘eligi-
ble household’ means a household— 
‘‘(A) that includes an individual who is— 
‘‘(i) the holder of an account for 
drinking water service that is provided to 
that household by a community water sys-
tem; or 
‘‘(ii) separately billed by a landlord 
that holds an account with a community 
water system for the cost of drinking water 
service provided to that household; and 
‘‘(B)(i) that has an income that, as deter-
mined by the State in which the household is lo-
cated, does not exceed the greater of— 
‘‘(I) an amount equal to 150 percent 
of the poverty level; and 
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‘‘(II) an amount equal to 60 percent 
of the State median income for that State; 
or 
‘‘(ii) in which 1 or more individuals are re-
ceiving— 
‘‘(I) assistance under a State program 
funded under part A of title IV of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); 
‘‘(II) supplemental security income 
payments under title XVI of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); 
‘‘(III) assistance under the Low-In-
come Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.); 
‘‘(IV) supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program benefits under the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.); or 
‘‘(V) payments under— 
‘‘(aa) section 1315, 1521, 1541, 
or 1542 of title 38, United States 
Code; or 
‘‘(bb) section 306 of the Vet-
erans’ and Survivors’ Pension Im-
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provement Act of 1978 (38 U.S.C. 
1521 note; Public Law 95–588). 
‘‘(4) 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. 
‘‘(5) SMALL SYSTEM.—The term ‘small system’ 
means a community water system that serves fewer 
than 10,000 people. 
‘‘(6) STATE MEDIAN INCOME.—The term ‘State 
median income’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 2603 of the Low-Income Home Energy As-
sistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8622). 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2025 through 2034 to carry out this section. 
‘‘(2) SET-ASIDE FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—The Ad-
ministrator shall ensure that not less than 3 percent 
of the amounts made available to carry out this sec-
tion are provided as grants to Indian Tribes.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) RURAL AND LOW-INCOME WATER ASSIST-
ANCE PILOT PROGRAM.—The Infrastructure Invest-
ment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) is amended 
by striking section 50109. 
(2) DEFINITION
OF
INDIAN
TRIBE.—Section 
1401(14) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300f(14)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 
1459B’’ and inserting ‘‘1459B, and 1459I’’. 
Æ 
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