I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10150 
To establish a low-income water assistance program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 15, 2024 
Ms. TLAIB (for herself, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. BROWNLEY, Ms. BUSH, Mr. CAR-
SON, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. HUFFMAN, 
Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. NORTON, Ms. 
OCASIO-CORTEZ, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. THANEDAR, Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. 
VELA´ZQUEZ, and Mrs. DINGELL) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in 
addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, 
and Oversight and Accountability, 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 establish a low-income water assistance program, 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 ‘‘Half-Century Update 
for Water Access and Affordability Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Safe, accessible, and affordable drinking 
water is essential to the protection of public health. 
(2) After 50 years, the Safe Drinking Water 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) has demonstrably im-
proved drinking water quality across the nation. 
However, millions of Americans are unable to afford 
their water bills and many water utilities have been 
unable to fund and maintain infrastructure critical 
to providing high quality, reliable, and affordable 
drinking water. Therefore, the Federal Government 
needs to increase water assistance to households and 
communities. 
(3) The Federal Government provides low-in-
come household assistance for basic necessities, in-
cluding food, housing, and energy. Water is also a 
basic necessity and requires assistance from the 
Federal Government. 
(4) Every low-income household should be able 
to access water assistance. 
(5) Other programs that provide financial and 
technical assistance for safe drinking water should 
incorporate water affordability as a goal. 
(6) More effective protection of public health re-
quires— 
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(A) a Federal commitment to ensuring the 
collection and transparency of data on water 
safety, access, and affordability at a national 
level; 
(B) a Federal commitment to water access 
for all Native American Tribes; and 
(C) a Federal commitment to having water 
utilities capable of serving safe and affordable 
drinking water to all households, including sup-
port for and oversight of State drinking water 
programs in the areas of financial and technical 
assistance, 
equitable 
utility 
consolidations, 
workforce development and training, community 
engagement, and enforcement. 
(7) Consumers served by public water systems 
should be provided with easy-to-understand informa-
tion on the cost of their water, opportunities to re-
duce their bill, and bill payment assistance pro-
grams. 
SEC. 3. LOW-INCOME WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
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(2) AREA MEDIAN INCOME.—The term ‘‘area 
median income’’ means the unadjusted median in-
come for an area determined by the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development under section 
16(a) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437n(a)). 
(3) COMMUNITY
WATER
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘community water system’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 1401 of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f). 
(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means an eligible water system, a State, or an 
Indian Tribe. 
(5) ELIGIBLE WATER SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘eli-
gible water system’’ means— 
(A) a community water system that serves 
a population of 100,000 or more; or 
(B) a treatment works that serves a popu-
lation of 100,000 or more. 
(6) 
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘‘household’’ 
means any individual or group of individuals who 
are living together as 1 economic unit. 
(7) 
LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘‘low-income household’’ means a household— 
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(A) 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 pay-
ments under title XVI of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); 
(iii) supplemental nutrition assistance 
program benefits under the Food and Nu-
trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.); 
(iv) payments under— 
(I) section 1315, 1521, 1541, or 
1542 of title 38, United States Code; 
or 
(II) section 306 of the Veterans’ 
and Survivors’ Pension Improvement 
Act of 1978 (38 U.S.C. 1521 note; 
Public Law 95–588); 
(v) assistance under the Low-Income 
Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 
U.S.C. 8621 et seq.); or 
(vi) assistance under the special sup-
plemental nutrition program for women, 
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infants, and children under section 17 of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1786); or 
(B) that has an income that, as deter-
mined by the entity that is implementing a 
water service access program in the area in 
which the household is located, does not exceed 
the greater of— 
(i) an amount equal to 200 percent of 
the poverty level; and 
(ii) an amount equal to 80 percent of 
the area median income. 
(8) 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. 
(9) SMALL AND MID-SIZE WATER SYSTEMS.— 
The term ‘‘small and mid-size water systems’’ 
means— 
(A) community water systems that serve a 
population of less than 100,000; and 
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(B) treatment works that serve a popu-
lation of less than 100,000. 
(10) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means a State, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands. 
(11) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER.—The 
term ‘‘technical assistance provider’’ means a com-
munity-based organization, environmental justice or-
ganization, university, rural assistance corporation, 
energy utility, business, or other organization identi-
fied by the Administrator as having relevant exper-
tise in community outreach, assistance program en-
rollment processes and administration, utility data 
and billing systems, developing applications for fund-
ing, or other areas determined appropriate by the 
Administrator. 
(12) TREATMENT
WORKS.—The term ‘‘treat-
ment works’’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1292). 
(13) WATER CRISIS.—The term ‘‘water crisis’’ 
means a weather-related or supply shortage emer-
gency or other household water-related emergency, 
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including disconnection of water service for non-
payment, imminent disconnection of water service 
for nonpayment, or other emergency threatening a 
household’s access to safe water services. 
(14) WATER SERVICE.—The term ‘‘water serv-
ice’’ means— 
(A) drinking water service provided by a 
community water system; or 
(B) sanitary sewer service provided by a 
treatment works. 
(15) WATER SERVICE ACCESS PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘water service access program’’ means a pro-
gram to provide low-income households the ability to 
maintain access to water services through the receipt 
of Federal financial assistance. 
(b) FEDERAL LOW-INCOME WATER ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of this section, 
the Administrator shall establish a Federal low-in-
come water assistance program to assist low-income 
households in maintaining access to affordable water 
services, which program shall include— 
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(A) development and implementation of 
water service access programs that include 
funding to assist low-income households; 
(B) technical assistance for the implemen-
tation of such water service access programs; 
and 
(C) data collection and reporting. 
(2) COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— 
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator 
shall establish a community advisory committee 
for each region of the Environmental Protection 
Agency to provide advice and recommendations 
to each entity implementing a water service ac-
cess program under subsection (c) within the 
region. 
(B) 
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
Administrator 
shall include in each community advisory com-
mittee established under this paragraph mem-
bers from low-income communities, non-govern-
mental organizations, and other stakeholders 
determined relevant by the Administrator. 
(c) WATER SERVICE ACCESS PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
(A) develop a water service access pro-
gram; and 
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(B) implement such water service access 
program in each State. 
(2) DELEGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(A) AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE.— 
(i) DELEGATION OF AREAS.—Except 
as provided in clause (ii), upon application 
by an eligible entity under subparagraph 
(B), the Administrator may delegate to the 
eligible entity the implementation of a 
water service access program for— 
(I) with respect to an eligible en-
tity that is an eligible water system, 
the service area of such eligible water 
system; 
(II) with respect to an eligible 
entity that is an Indian Tribe, the ge-
ographic area under the jurisdiction of 
the Indian Tribe; and 
(III) with respect to an eligible 
entity that is a State, the area within 
the geographic boundaries of the 
State. 
(ii) NON-OVERLAPPING PROGRAMS.— 
If the Administrator delegates the imple-
mentation of a water service access pro-
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gram for an area to an eligible entity that 
is an eligible water system or an Indian 
Tribe, the Administrator shall withhold or 
withdraw, as applicable, delegation for 
such area from the State in which such 
area is located. 
(B) APPLICATION.—To implement a water 
service access program under this subsection, 
an eligible entity shall submit to the Adminis-
trator an application that demonstrates that— 
(i) the water service access program 
proposed to be implemented by the eligible 
entity— 
(I) meets the requirements estab-
lished under paragraph (3); and 
(II) was developed in accordance 
with paragraph (4); and 
(ii) the eligible entity has the capacity 
to— 
(I) make assistance under the 
water service access program available 
to all low-income households in its ju-
risdiction or service area, without re-
gard to where that household resides 
within the jurisdiction or service area; 
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(II) fulfill the data collection and 
management requirements set forth in 
subsection (e); and 
(III) develop and implement, in 
coordination with technical assistance 
providers, an effective community out-
reach plan to inform low-income 
households of the water service access 
program and assist with enrollment. 
(C) GRANTS.— 
(i) AWARD.—If the Administrator del-
egates implementation of a water service 
access program to an eligible entity under 
this paragraph, the Administrator shall 
award a grant to the eligible entity to im-
plement such program. 
(ii) LIMITATIONS.—A grant awarded 
under this paragraph— 
(I) shall not be used to replace 
funds for any existing similar pro-
gram of a State, community water 
system, or treatment works to assist 
low-income households in maintaining 
access to affordable water services in 
the area for which the water service 
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(iii) EFFECT.—If the Administrator 
revokes delegation under this subsection to 
an eligible entity, implementation of a 
water service access program under this 
subsection for the previously delegated 
area shall revert to the Administrator, who 
may delegate such implementation to the 
State in which such area is located if such 
State is implementing a water service ac-
cess program pursuant to subparagraph 
(A). 
(3) MINIMUM
WATER
SERVICE
ACCESS
PRO-
GRAM REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Administrator shall establish minimum 
requirements for water service access programs 
developed and implemented under this sub-
section. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out sub-
paragraph (A), the Administrator shall— 
(i) consult with relevant stakeholders, 
including 
frontline 
community 
groups, 
Tribal communities, and technical assist-
ance providers; and 
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(ii) provide an opportunity for public 
comment on the proposed requirements. 
(C) INCLUSIONS.—The minimum require-
ments established under subparagraph (A) for a 
water service access program shall include— 
(i) provisions to promote universal ac-
cess for low-income households to assist-
ance under the water service access pro-
gram (including low-income households in 
which none of the individual members is a 
named account holder of the applicable 
community water system or treatment 
works), including provisions for— 
(I) sharing of data from other 
administrators of Federal, State, or 
local income-qualified assistance pro-
grams to facilitate automatic enroll-
ment in the water service access pro-
gram of all households participating 
in those other programs that are eligi-
ble to receive assistance under the 
water service access program, without 
the need for those households to apply 
separately for the water service access 
program; 
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(II) allowance for community 
water systems and treatment works to 
receive program funds for low-income 
household debt reduction and directly 
apply such funds to customer ac-
counts; 
(III) allowance for self-attesta-
tion by households served by commu-
nity water systems or treatment works 
of eligibility, including self-attestation 
of income qualification or enrollment 
in an existing Federal, State, or local 
assistance program on the basis of in-
come; 
(IV) with respect to any portion 
of the process for enrollment in the 
water service access program for 
which a signature of a member of a 
low-income household is required, al-
lowance for the use of an electronic 
signature; and 
(V) prohibitions on— 
(aa) asset tests and in-per-
son enrollment appointments as 
requirements to receive assist-
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ance under the water service ac-
cess program; and 
(bb) citizenship or legal resi-
dency requirements for members 
of a low-income household in 
order for the household to receive 
assistance under the water serv-
ice access program; and 
(ii) assistance to low-income house-
holds served by community water systems 
or treatment works (including low-income 
households in which none of the individual 
members is a named account holder of the 
applicable community water system or 
treatment works), with greater assistance 
amounts provided to households with high-
er water service costs and lower incomes, 
taking into account household size, in the 
form of— 
(I) direct financial assistance, in-
cluding bill discounting, percentage-of- 
income payment plan, a lifeline rate, 
or any other form of direct assistance 
identified by the Administrator; 
(II) debt relief; 
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(III) water crisis assistance; and 
(IV) water efficiency assistance, 
including providing or subsidizing the 
cost of installation of water-efficient 
appliances and fixtures or leak detec-
tion and plumbing repair work; 
(iii) provisions prohibiting the inclu-
sion of eligibility restrictions or enrollment 
requirements not specifically required by 
this section; 
(iv) provisions, including penalties on 
community water systems and treatment 
works for violations, as established by the 
Administrator, to ensure that no household 
receiving assistance under the program— 
(I) is disconnected from water 
service, loses access to or ownership of 
its current housing, or is otherwise 
denied access to an amount and flow 
of water sufficient to meet its essen-
tial needs because of the household’s 
inability to pay bills owed to a com-
munity water system or treatment 
works, or, where the water service ac-
count-holder for the household’s dwell-
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ing is not a member of the household, 
due to the failure of the account-hold-
er to pay bills owed to the community 
water system or treatment works; or 
(II) is required to pay any fees, 
charges, or deposits associated with 
late payments, unpaid bills, service 
initiation, or service reconnection; 
(v) procedures that minimize burdens 
on low-income households of filing a com-
plete application for assistance under the 
program, including allowing for alternative 
forms of identification; 
(vi) provisions that require equal ac-
cess to assistance to households that pay 
bills for water services directly and house-
holds the water services of which are in-
cluded in rent or other payments, including 
by providing for households that cannot re-
ceive assistance through a bill for water 
services other types of assistance, such as 
cash assistance, credits on a different util-
ity bill, and receipt of water quality and ef-
ficiency upgrades and devices; and 
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(vii) coordination of development and 
implementation of the water service access 
program with other existing water assist-
ance programs, energy assistance pro-
grams, and other relevant Federal, State, 
and local programs that provide financial 
or other assistance to low-income house-
holds. 
(4) PUBLIC PROCESS.—Each entity developing 
or implementing a water service access program 
under this subsection shall, each fiscal year— 
(A) consult with the applicable community 
advisory committee established under subsection 
(b)(2), Tribal communities, and other commu-
nity representatives, as applicable; and 
(B) provide an opportunity for a public 
hearing and public comment on the water serv-
ice access program. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall pro-
vide funding to technical assistance providers to— 
(A) facilitate enrollment by low-income 
households in water service access programs im-
plemented under this section; and 
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(B) assist small and mid-size water sys-
tems in participating in water service access 
programs implemented under this section. 
(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—The Adminis-
trator shall establish minimum requirements for 
technical assistance provided under paragraph (1), 
which shall include requirements for— 
(A) outreach to low-income households in 
communities with high incidence of disconnec-
tions of water service or that may face difficulty 
enrolling in or accessing assistance through a 
water service access program, including house-
holds in geographically remote locations, house-
holds lacking access to telecommunications net-
works (including home broadband internet serv-
ice), households with limited English pro-
ficiency, and households in which an individual 
with a disability (as defined in section 3 of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 
U.S.C. 12102)) resides; and 
(B) developing the capacity of small and 
mid-size water systems to— 
(i) carry out any applicable activities 
necessary for assistance to be provided 
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pursuant to a water service access program 
implemented under this section; and 
(ii) provide complete and accurate in-
formation to the entity implementing an 
applicable water service access program as 
necessary for such entity to comply with 
the reporting requirements of this section. 
(3) SET-ASIDES.— 
(A) DATA
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS.—Of 
the funds made available to carry out this sub-
section, the Administrator shall ensure that a 
minimum of 20 percent is used for— 
(i) the improvement of data manage-
ment systems, including billing systems, 
websites, and electronic customer commu-
nications, for small and mid-size water sys-
tems; and 
(ii) implementation of easily accessible 
enrollment and data transmission tech-
nologies, such as smartphone applications. 
(B) UNDER-RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES.— 
Of the funds made available to carry out this 
subsection, the Administrator shall ensure that 
a minimum of 20 percent is provided to tech-
nical service providers that are environmental 
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justice organizations and community-based or-
ganizations to build capacity and provide assist-
ance for under-resourced communities to fully 
access a water service access program. 
(4) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.—The Adminis-
trator shall engage with environmental justice orga-
nizations and community-based organizations— 
(A) in establishing the minimum require-
ments under paragraph (2); and 
(B) to encourage their participation in the 
provision of technical assistance under this sub-
section, including by making them aware of the 
funds set aside under paragraph (3)(B). 
(e) DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.— 
(1) REPORTING TO THE ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible entity im-
plementing a water service access program 
under this section shall annually submit to the 
Administrator, in a manner determined by the 
Administrator, information regarding the appli-
cable water service access program, including— 
(i) the demonstrable impacts of the 
program on bill debt and timely bill pay-
ments for low-income households that re-
ceive assistance under the program, based 
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on data from before and after the imple-
mentation of the program, including, for 
each county and ZIP code within the geo-
graphic area served by the program— 
(I) the number of households 
that experienced a disconnection of 
water service for nonpayment and the 
number of households for which dis-
connection was avoided directly due to 
the provision of assistance under the 
program; 
(II) the number of households 
and amount of debt subject to sale or 
enforcement of property liens and the 
number of households for which sale 
or enforcement of property liens was 
avoided directly due to the provision 
of assistance under the program; 
(III) the number of households 
enrolled in the program; 
(IV) the benefit levels, amount of 
debt reduction, and total amount of 
assistance provided to enrolled house-
holds; and 
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(V) the number of enrolled 
households reconnected to water serv-
ice and a summary of the fees and 
charges waived for enrolled house-
holds, including disconnection and re-
connection charges, late payment fees, 
and interest charges; 
(ii) revenue collection information 
from each community water system and 
treatment works within the geographic 
area served by the program, including— 
(I) rate design for residential 
customers; 
(II) billing frequency; 
(III) 
fees, 
taxes, 
and 
other 
charges that are included on every 
residential bill or that are billed to a 
residential customer under specific 
circumstances but are not included on 
every residential bill; and 
(IV) projected rate increases dur-
ing the 5-year period following sub-
mission of the information under this 
subsection; 
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(iii) information regarding any other 
water service customer assistance pro-
grams within the geographic area served 
by the program, including information 
about such other programs relating to rate 
structures, rebates, discounts, billing meth-
ods that average rates over the course of 
a year (known as ‘‘budget billing’’), and 
procedures that ensure that households re-
ceive notice and an opportunity to dispute 
charges before service is disconnected or 
interrupted due to non-payment; and 
(iv) other relevant information re-
quired by the Administrator. 
(B) ADDITIONAL TIME FOR COMPLETION 
OF CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Administrator may postpone a requirement to 
include in an annual submission data required 
under subparagraph (A), taking into consider-
ation the availability of technical assistance 
pursuant to subsection (d) related to data re-
porting. 
(C) 
PUBLICATION.—The 
Administrator 
shall annually— 
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(i) make information on water service 
access programs implemented under this 
section available in an easily accessible for-
mat on the website of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, including— 
(I) a list of all such water service 
access programs and contact informa-
tion for the entities implementing 
such programs; and 
(II) the information submitted 
under subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) publish a report that compiles and 
summarizes the information submitted 
under this paragraph. 
(2) REPORTING TO STATES.—An eligible water 
system that is implementing a water service access 
program pursuant to this section shall report to each 
agency or office of the State in which the water serv-
ice access program is implemented that funds or 
regulates water systems— 
(A) the amount of all grants it receives 
under this section; and 
(B) all information it submits to the Ad-
ministrator under paragraph (1) and subsection 
(c)(2)(B). 
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(f) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.— 
(1) ASSISTANCE EXEMPT FROM INCLUSION AS 
INCOME.— 
(A) INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.—In the case 
of any individual who is a member of a low-in-
come household receiving assistance under a 
water service access program implemented 
under this section— 
(i) for purposes of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986, gross income shall not 
include any such assistance provided to 
such individual; and 
(ii) notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, any such assistance provided 
to such individual shall not be considered 
income or resources of such household (or 
any member thereof) for any purpose 
under any other Federal or State law, in-
cluding any law relating to taxation or gov-
ernmental assistance programs. 
(B) ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE WATER SYS-
TEMS.—A grant received under this section by 
an eligible water system that is subject to Fed-
eral or State income tax shall not be considered 
income for purposes of any Federal or State in-
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come tax law if the Administrator determines 
that the eligible water system complied with the 
requirements 
established 
under 
subsection 
(c)(3)(C)(iv) during the year in which the grant 
was received. 
(2) ASSISTANCE NOT A FEDERAL PUBLIC BEN-
EFIT.—Notwithstanding section 401(c) of the Per-
sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec-
onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611(c)), assist-
ance provided to a low-income household under a 
water service access program implemented under 
this section shall not be considered a Federal public 
benefit for purposes of title IV of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
1601 et seq.). 
(3) FINANCIAL
TERMS
FOR
PRIVATE
UTILI-
TIES.—A community water system or treatment 
works that is not wholly-owned by a governmental 
entity may not use any funds received under or pur-
suant to this section to provide any financial benefits 
to the owners of the community water system or 
treatment works, including increased rates of return 
on capital investments, dividends, and interest. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 5 years after the date 
on which grant funds are first disbursed to an eligible enti-
ty under this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
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Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
results of the Federal low-income water assistance pro-
gram established under this section, which report shall in-
clude— 
(1) an assessment of the remaining need and 
obstacles to achieving universal water service access 
and affordability; and 
(2) relevant findings and information from 
other programs and assessments, including— 
(A) State revolving fund programs under 
the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act; 
(B) State drinking water program plans, 
as applicable; 
(C) the national drinking water infrastruc-
ture needs survey and assessment conducted 
under section 1452(h) of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(h)); and 
(D) the National Climate Assessment car-
ried out pursuant to the Global Change Re-
search Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C. 2921 et seq.). 
(h) USE OF NATIONAL SURVEYS.— 
(1) QUESTIONS.—The Director of the United 
States Census Bureau shall, in coordination with the 
Administrator, add one or more questions into the 
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American Community Survey to ascertain whether 
households have faced difficulty paying for water 
services. 
(2) USE.—The Administrator shall use infor-
mation from the American Community Survey to in-
form the reports submitted under subsection (g). 
(i) FUNDING.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $20,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2025 through 2035. 
(2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall establish a formula to annually allocate 
funds made available to carry out this section 
among entities implementing water service ac-
cess programs, based on— 
(i) number of low-income persons and 
households served by each such program; 
(ii) technical assistance needs of eligi-
ble entities implementing such programs, 
including needs for enrollment support, 
community outreach, and data collection 
and reporting; 
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(iii) administrative costs of imple-
menting such programs; 
(iv) water service costs in the area 
served by each such program; 
(v) 
exceptional 
community 
needs 
owing to water quality and water scarcity; 
and 
(vi) any other criteria determined rel-
evant by the Administrator. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing the 
allocation formula under subparagraph (A), the 
Administrator shall— 
(i) ensure that equal amounts of 
funds are made available with respect to 
drinking water services and sanitary sewer 
services; and 
(ii) determine appropriate allotments 
for the provision of technical assistance 
through each water service access program. 
(C) RESERVATION
OF
FUNDS.—The Ad-
ministrator may reserve up to 10 percent of 
funds made available to carry out this section 
for each fiscal year to provide supplementary 
funds for water service access programs that 
serve— 
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(i) territories, or areas under the ju-
risdiction of an Indian Tribe, that have 
historically lacked equitable access to Fed-
eral and State financial assistance for 
drinking water and wastewater infrastruc-
ture; and 
(ii) communities experiencing lack of 
access to safe public drinking water serv-
ices to meet essential household needs. 
SEC. 4. STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS. 
(a) SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT.— 
(1) INTENDED USE PLANS.—Section 1452(b) of 
the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j– 
12(b)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘in ac-
cordance with paragraph (4)’’ after ‘‘public re-
view and comment’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT.—In pre-
paring an intended use plan under paragraph (1), a 
State shall— 
‘‘(A) before adopting a final plan— 
‘‘(i) make a draft of the plan, and in-
structions for how to provide comments on 
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the draft, available on a publicly accessible 
website; 
‘‘(ii) provide a minimum of 30 days 
for public comment on the draft; 
‘‘(iii) provide written responses to 
timely submitted written public comments 
on the draft; and 
‘‘(iv) after providing such written re-
sponses, hold at least one public hearing 
on the draft; 
‘‘(B) make the final plan available on a 
publicly accessible website; and 
‘‘(C) allow for submission of applications 
for financial and technical assistance at any 
time. 
‘‘(5) TRANSPARENCY AND EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(A) REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) PROMULGATION.—Not later than 
one year after the date of enactment of 
this paragraph, the Administrator shall 
promulgate regulations to increase trans-
parency and promote evaluation of— 
‘‘(I) the distribution by States of 
the amounts available to the State 
loan fund among the intended uses 
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identified in a plan under this sub-
section; and 
‘‘(II) the criteria and methods es-
tablished by States under paragraph 
(2)(B) for the distribution of funds. 
‘‘(ii) 
INCLUSIONS.—The 
Adminis-
trator shall include in the regulations pro-
mulgated under clause (i)— 
‘‘(I) a requirement that States 
provide to the Administrator data 
about— 
‘‘(aa) funded and unfunded 
projects that are eligible for as-
sistance from the State loan 
fund; and 
‘‘(bb) the geographic and so-
cioeconomic distribution of such 
funded projects, including the 
amount and percentage of assist-
ance allocated to projects that 
serve disadvantaged communities; 
‘‘(II) creation of a central online 
repository for intended use plans and 
data provided pursuant to subclause 
(I); and 
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‘‘(III) creation of an advisory 
group within each State to provide ad-
vice and recommendations on intended 
use plans, State loan fund policies, 
and implementation of such plans and 
policies. 
‘‘(B) ANNUAL
REPORT.—The Adminis-
trator shall make available on a publicly acces-
sible website an annual report, prepared based 
on the data provided pursuant to subparagraph 
(A)(ii)(I) and feedback from State advisory 
groups created under subparagraph (A)(ii)(III), 
which shall include— 
‘‘(i) information on and analysis of 
the use by each State of the amounts avail-
able to the State loan fund of the State, 
including, for each State, the amount of 
assistance provided under this section, and 
the number of public water systems receiv-
ing such assistance; 
‘‘(ii) data and metrics on disadvan-
taged communities served and technical as-
sistance and outreach efforts; and 
‘‘(iii) ongoing challenges at the na-
tional and State level.’’. 
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(2) ASSISTANCE FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMU-
NITIES.—Section 1452(d) of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(d)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘Each State shall, during cal-
endar year 2026 and every three years there-
after, conduct a review of, and if appropriate 
revise, the affordability criteria established by 
the State under this subsection.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—Not later 
than one year after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Administrator shall promulgate regu-
lations to expedite the provision of assistance to, and 
provide flexible repayment options for, disadvan-
taged communities receiving assistance under this 
section.’’. 
(3) 
ADMINISTRATION
OF
STATE
LOAN 
FUNDS.—Section 1452(g)(2)(A)(i) of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(g)(2)(A)(i)) 
is amended— 
(A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; and 
(B) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, except that a State may not 
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use more than 30 percent of such amount to 
cover costs under this subclause; and’’. 
(b) FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT.— 
(1) WATER
POLLUTION
CONTROL
REVOLVING 
LOAN FUNDS.— 
(A) ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIZATION.—Section 
603(i)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(i)(2)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) REVIEW AND REVISION.—Each State 
shall, during calendar year 2026 and every 
three years thereafter, conduct a review of, and 
if appropriate revise, the affordability criteria 
established by the State under this paragraph. 
‘‘(E) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—Not 
later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this subparagraph, the Administrator shall 
promulgate regulations to expedite the provision 
by a State of assistance to, and flexible repay-
ment options for, municipalities that meet the 
affordability criteria established by the State 
under this paragraph.’’. 
(B) ADDITIONAL USE OF FUNDS.—Section 
603(k) of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
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Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(k)) is amended by striking 
‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
(2) AUDITS, REPORTS, AND FISCAL CONTROLS; 
INTENDED USE PLAN.—Section 606 of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1386) is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (c), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘in accord-
ance with subsection (g)’’ after ‘‘public com-
ment and review’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW.—In preparing 
an intended use plan under subsection (c), a State shall— 
‘‘(1) before adopting a final plan— 
‘‘(A) make a draft of the plan, and instruc-
tions for how to provide comments on the draft, 
available on a publicly accessible website; 
‘‘(B) provide a minimum of 30 days for 
public comment on the draft; 
‘‘(C) provide written responses to timely 
submitted written public comments on the 
draft; and 
‘‘(D) after providing such written re-
sponses, hold at least one public hearing on the 
draft; 
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‘‘(2) make the final plan available on a publicly 
accessible website; and 
‘‘(3) allow for submission of applications for fi-
nancial and technical assistance at any time. 
‘‘(h) TRANSPARENCY AND EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) PROMULGATION.—Not later than one 
year after the date of enactment of this sub-
section, the Administrator shall promulgate reg-
ulations to increase transparency and promote 
evaluation of— 
‘‘(i) the distribution by States of the 
amounts available to the State water pollu-
tion control revolving fund among the in-
tended uses identified in a plan under sub-
section (c); and 
‘‘(ii) the criteria and methods estab-
lished by States under subsection (c)(5) for 
the distribution of funds. 
‘‘(B) 
INCLUSIONS.—The 
Administrator 
shall include in the regulations promulgated 
under subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) a requirement that States provide 
to the Administrator, in each annual re-
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port provided under subsection (d), data 
about— 
‘‘(I) 
funded 
and 
unfunded 
projects that are eligible for assistance 
from the State water pollution control 
revolving fund; and 
‘‘(II) the geographic and socio-
economic distribution of such funded 
projects, including the amount and 
percentage of assistance allocated to 
projects that serve municipalities that 
meet the affordability criteria estab-
lished by the State under section 
603(i)(2); 
‘‘(ii) creation of a central online re-
pository for intended use plans and data 
provided pursuant to clause (i); and 
‘‘(iii) creation of an advisory group 
within each State to provide advice and 
recommendations on intended use plans, 
State water pollution control revolving 
fund policies, and implementation of such 
plans and policies. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL
REPORT.—The Administrator 
shall make available on a publicly accessible website 
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an annual report, prepared based on the data pro-
vided pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(i) and feedback 
from State advisory groups created under paragraph 
(1)(B(iii), which shall include— 
‘‘(A) information on and analysis of the 
use by each State of the amounts available to 
the State water pollution control revolving fund 
of the State, including, for each State, the 
amount of assistance provided under this title, 
and the number of treatment works with re-
spect to which such assistance was provided; 
‘‘(B) data and metrics on disadvantaged 
communities served and technical assistance 
and outreach efforts; and 
‘‘(C) ongoing challenges at the national 
and State level.’’. 
Æ 
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