I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3254 
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
establish a discretionary grant program for drinking water and waste-
water infrastructure projects, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2019 
Mr. DELGADO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency to establish a discretionary grant program 
for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure 
projects, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Infrastruc-
ture and Promoting the Economy Act’’ or the ‘‘PIPE 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUC-
TURE DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure 
discretionary grant program established under sub-
section (b). 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Admin-
istrator shall establish a drinking water and wastewater 
discretionary grant program to provide grants on a com-
petitive basis to eligible entities for investments in drink-
ing water and wastewater infrastructure projects. 
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re-
ceive a grant under the program is— 
(1) a State; 
(2) a unit of local government; 
(3) a federally recognized Indian Tribe; or 
(4) a public or nonprofit water utility. 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A project eligible to be 
carried out with funds under the program includes— 
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(1) one or more activities that are eligible for 
assistance under section 603(c) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(c)); 
(2) one or more activities described in section 
1452(a)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j–12(a)(2)); and 
(3) any other drinking water infrastructure 
project or wastewater infrastructure project that the 
Administrator determines to appropriate. 
(e) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under the program, an eligible entity shall 
submit to the Administrator an application in such 
manner and containing such information as the Ad-
ministrator may require. 
(2) BUNDLING OF PROJECTS.—An eligible enti-
ty may include more than 1 project in a single appli-
cation. 
(3) DEADLINE.—An application shall be sub-
mitted to the Administrator not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the notice of funding oppor-
tunity and the selection criteria are issued under 
subsection (f)(1)(B). 
(f) SELECTION.— 
(1) CRITERIA.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall establish criteria in accordance with this 
subsection to use in selecting projects to receive 
a grant under the program. 
(B) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 60 
days after the date on which funds are made 
available to carry out the program for each fis-
cal year, the Administrator shall— 
(i) issue a notice of funding oppor-
tunity for the program; and 
(ii) include in the notice the selection 
criteria established under subparagraph 
(A). 
(2) PRIORITY.—In selecting projects to receive 
a grant under the program, the Administrator shall 
give priority to projects— 
(A) for which a Federal grant would assist 
in completing an overall financing package for 
the project; and 
(B) that would help bring— 
(i) public water systems (as defined in 
section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300f)) into compliance with 
the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300f et seq.); or 
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(ii) publicly owned treatment works 
(as defined in section 212 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1292)) into compliance with the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1251 et seq.). 
(3) GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—For each 
fiscal year, in providing grants under the program, 
the Administrator shall ensure that the funds are 
distributed— 
(A) on an equitable geographical basis; and 
(B) in a manner that balances the needs of 
urban, suburban, and rural communities. 
(4) DEADLINE.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which funds are made available to carry 
out the program for each fiscal year, the Adminis-
trator shall select projects to receive grants under 
the program. 
(g) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) TOTAL STATE LIMIT.—For each fiscal year, 
the total amount provided under the program for 
projects in a single State shall not exceed 20 percent 
of the total amount made available to carry out the 
program. 
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(2) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the cost of a project carried out with a grant under 
the program shall not exceed 100 percent. 
(h) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator may promul-
gate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
this section. 
(i) DAVIS-BACON.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, all laborers and mechanics em-
ployed by contractors or subcontractors on projects 
carried out in whole or in part using a grant under 
the program shall be paid wages at rates not less 
than those prevailing on projects of a similar char-
acter in the locality as determined by the Secretary 
of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chap-
ter 31 of title 40, United States Code (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Davis-Bacon Act.’’). 
(2) AUTHORITY.—With respect to the labor 
standards specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
of Labor shall have the authority and functions set 
forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 
(64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of 
title 40, United States Code. 
(j) BUY AMERICA.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, the Administrator may not provide a grant 
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under the program for a project unless the project meets 
the requirements described in section 1452(a)(4) of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(a)(4)). 
(k) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to Congress and make publicly available a report on the 
implementation of the program. 
(l) FUNDING.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020 through 2029. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Funds made available to 
carry out this section shall be available until ex-
pended. 
Æ 
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