I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7530 
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide 
additional assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal sys-
tems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2026 
Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ag-
riculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act to provide additional assistance to rural water, 
wastewater, and waste disposal systems, 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 ‘‘Assistance for Rural 
Water Systems Act of 2026’’. 
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SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYS-
TEMS. 
Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural De-
velopment Act is amended by inserting after section 306A 
(7 U.S.C. 1926a) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 306B. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER 
SYSTEMS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible entity’ means a rural water, waste-
water, or waste disposal facility with respect to which as-
sistance may be provided under a water, wastewater, or 
waste disposal program under section 306(a), 306A, 
306C, or 306D. 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS AND LOANS.—The Secretary may 
provide a grant, a zero percent interest loan, or a 1 
percent interest loan to an eligible entity. 
‘‘(2) EXISTING LOANS.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) forgive principal or interest or modify 
any term or condition of an outstanding loan 
made to an eligible entity; or 
‘‘(B) refinance part or all of any other loan 
(if the purpose of the loan is an eligible purpose 
under section 306(a)(1) or 306C) made to an 
eligible entity. 
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‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not pro-
vide assistance under paragraph (2) with respect to 
a loan made under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE PURPOSES.—The Secretary may pro-
vide assistance to an eligible entity under subsection (b) 
as the Secretary determines is necessary— 
‘‘(1) to ensure that the eligible entity has the 
necessary resources to maintain public health, safe-
ty, or order; or 
‘‘(2) to address financial hardships of the eligi-
ble entity, if the eligible entity is located in a dis-
advantaged or economically distressed area, as deter-
mined under subsection (d). 
‘‘(d) DETERMINATION.—To determine whether an el-
igible entity may receive assistance pursuant to subsection 
(c)(2), the Secretary shall establish— 
‘‘(1) a residential indicator of affordable water 
services in each State or local or geographic area, 
calculated using the cost per household as a percent-
age of median household income; and 
‘‘(2) factors relating to disadvantaged or eco-
nomically distressed areas.’’. 
Æ 
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