I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7985 
To provide for assistance to rural water and waste disposal systems affected 
by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 7, 2020 
Mr. ROUZER (for himself and Mr. VELA) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To provide for assistance to rural water and waste disposal 
systems affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, 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 ‘‘Emergency Assistance 
for Rural Water Systems Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYS-
TEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may— 
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(1) provide a grant, a zero interest loan, or a 
1 percent loan to, forgive principal or interest or 
modify any term or condition of an outstanding loan 
made to, or 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 of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act) made to, a rural 
water or waste disposal facility with respect to which 
assistance may be provided under a water, waste-
water, or waste disposal program under section 
306(a), 306A, 306C, or 306D of such Act; or 
(2) reduce or eliminate any fee that is or would 
otherwise be required to be paid under such section 
306(a)(1) with respect to a loan guarantee provided 
to any rural water, waste water, or waste disposal 
facility, on the condition that the borrower receives 
the benefit resulting from the reduction or elimi-
nation of the fee. 
(b) LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may pro-
vide assistance to an entity under this section as the Sec-
retary determines is necessary to— 
(1) ensure that the entity has the necessary re-
sources to maintain public health, safety, or order; 
(2) address financial hardships of the entity 
due to the COVID–19 public health emergency; and 
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(3) promote the financial stability of the entity. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity to which assistance 
is provided under this section may use the assistance— 
(1) for any purpose for which the entity is eligi-
ble for assistance under the relevant provision of law 
referred to in subsection (a); or 
(2) for any direct operational expenses of a 
water, wastewater, or waste disposal facility incurred 
by the entity, as determined by the Secretary. 
(d) APPROPRIATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Out of any money in the 
Treasury of the United States not otherwise appro-
priated, there are appropriated $1,000,000,000 to 
carry out this section. 
(2) RESERVATION
FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE
EX-
PENSES.—The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of 
the amount appropriated by paragraph (1) for ad-
ministrative expenses incurred in carrying out this 
section. 
(3) AVAILABILITY.—The amounts appropriated 
in paragraph (1) shall remain available through De-
cember 31, 2021. 
Æ 
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