I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4832 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act to establish pilot programs to assist low-income households 
in maintaining access to sanitation services and drinking water, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 23, 2019 
Ms. FUDGE (for herself and Mr. KATKO) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and 
in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and 
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act to establish pilot programs 
to assist low-income households in maintaining access 
to sanitation services and drinking water, 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 ‘‘Low-Income Water 
Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2019’’. 
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SEC. 2. LOW-INCOME DRINKING WATER ASSISTANCE PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
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: 
‘‘SEC. 1459E. LOW-INCOME DRINKING WATER ASSISTANCE 
PILOT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means a municipality or public entity that owns 
or operates a community water system. 
‘‘(2) 
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘household’ 
means any individual or group of individuals who 
are living together as 1 economic unit. 
‘‘(3) LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLD.—The term 
‘low-income household’ means a household— 
‘‘(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 
payments under title XVI of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program benefits under the Food and 
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Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.); or 
‘‘(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); or 
‘‘(B) 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 
‘‘(ii) an amount equal to 60 percent of 
the State median income for that State. 
‘‘(4) POVERTY
LEVEL.—The term ‘poverty 
level’ means, with respect to a household in a State, 
the income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm popu-
lation of the United States, as prescribed by the Of-
fice of Management and Budget, as applicable to the 
State. 
‘‘(5) SMALL
COMMUNITY-SERVING
ELIGIBLE 
ENTITY.—The term ‘small community-serving eligi-
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ble entity’ means an eligible entity that provides 
drinking water services to a city, county, or munici-
pality with a population of fewer than 10,000 resi-
dents, at least 20 percent of whom are at or below 
the Federal poverty level. 
‘‘(6) STATE MEDIAN INCOME.—The term ‘State 
median income’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 2603 of Public Law 97–35 (42 U.S.C. 
8622). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a pilot program to award grants to not fewer 
than 32 eligible entities in accordance with para-
graph (2) to develop and implement programs to as-
sist low-income households in maintaining access to 
affordable drinking water. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall award grants under the pilot program de-
scribed in paragraph (1) to— 
‘‘(i) not fewer than 8 eligible entities 
that provide drinking water services to a 
population of 1,000,000 or more residents; 
‘‘(ii) not fewer than 8 eligible entities 
that provide drinking water services to a 
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population of 100,000 or more, but fewer 
than 1,000,000, residents; 
‘‘(iii) not fewer than 8 eligible entities 
that provide drinking water services to a 
population of 10,000 or more, but fewer 
than 100,000, residents; 
‘‘(iv) subject, as applicable, to sub-
paragraph (B), not fewer than 8 eligible 
entities that provide drinking water serv-
ices to a population of fewer than 10,000 
residents; and 
‘‘(v) not more than 2 eligible entities 
in each State. 
‘‘(B) SMALL COMMUNITY-SERVING ELIGI-
BLE
ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under the pilot program under this sub-
section, a small community-serving eligible enti-
ty shall enter into a memorandum of under-
standing with the State in which the small com-
munity-serving eligible entity is located, under 
which the State shall— 
‘‘(i) submit to the Administrator an 
application under paragraph (6) on behalf 
of the small community-serving eligible en-
tity; and 
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‘‘(ii) on receipt of a grant under the 
pilot program, administer the low-income 
household assistance program developed by 
the small community-serving eligible entity. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) USE.—A grant awarded under the 
pilot program— 
‘‘(i) shall not be used to replace funds 
for any existing similar program; but 
‘‘(ii) may be used to supplement or 
enhance an existing program. 
‘‘(B) GRANTS
UNDER
MULTIPLE
PRO-
GRAMS.—An eligible entity— 
‘‘(i) may apply for a grant under the 
pilot program and under the low-income 
wastewater assistance pilot program estab-
lished under section 124(b)(1) of the Fed-
eral Water Pollution Control Act; but 
‘‘(ii) may be awarded a grant under 
only 1 of the programs described in clause 
(i). 
‘‘(4) TERM.—The term of a grant awarded 
under the pilot program shall be 5 years. 
‘‘(5) MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Administrator shall develop, in consultation 
with all relevant stakeholders, the minimum re-
quirements for a program carried out by an eli-
gible entity (or a State, on behalf of a small 
community-serving eligible entity) using a grant 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The program require-
ments developed under subparagraph (A) may 
include— 
‘‘(i) direct financial assistance; 
‘‘(ii) a lifeline rate; 
‘‘(iii) bill discounting; 
‘‘(iv) special hardship provisions; 
‘‘(v) a percentage-of-income payment 
plan; or 
‘‘(vi) water efficiency assistance, in-
cluding direct installation of water efficient 
fixtures and leak repair, which may be 
completed through a contracted third 
party. 
‘‘(C) ASSISTANCE
EXEMPT
FROM
TAX-
ATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, assistance provided to a low-income house-
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hold under a program carried out by an eligible 
entity (or a State, on behalf of a small commu-
nity-serving eligible entity) using a grant under 
this subsection shall be exempt from income tax 
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(6) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under 
this subsection, an eligible entity (or a State, on be-
half of a small community-serving eligible entity) 
shall submit to the Administrator an application 
that demonstrates that— 
‘‘(A) the proposed program of the eligible 
entity or small community-serving eligible enti-
ty, as applicable, meets the requirements devel-
oped under paragraph (5)(A); 
‘‘(B) the proposed program of the eligible 
entity or small community-serving eligible enti-
ty, as applicable, will treat owners and renters 
equitably; 
‘‘(C) the eligible entity or small commu-
nity-serving eligible entity, as applicable, has, to 
fund the activities necessary to achieve or main-
tain compliance with this Act— 
‘‘(i) a long-term financial plan based 
on a rate analysis; 
‘‘(ii) an asset management plan; 
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‘‘(iii) a capital improvement plan with 
a period of not less than 20 years; 
‘‘(iv) a fiscal management plan; or 
‘‘(v) another plan similar to the plans 
described in clauses (i) through (iv); 
‘‘(D) a grant awarded under this sub-
section would support the efforts of the eligible 
entity or the small community-serving entity, as 
applicable, to generate the necessary funds to 
achieve or maintain compliance with this title 
while mitigating the cost to low-income house-
holds; and 
‘‘(E) the eligible entity or the small com-
munity-serving entity, as applicable, has the ca-
pacity to create and implement an effective 
community outreach plan to inform eligible cus-
tomers of the program and assist with enroll-
ment. 
‘‘(7) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to 
eligible entities or small community-serving eligible 
entities, as applicable— 
‘‘(A) that— 
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‘‘(i) in addition to owning or oper-
ating community water systems, own or 
operate 1 or more— 
‘‘(I) publicly owned treatment 
works (as defined in section 212 of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1292)); 
‘‘(II) municipal wastewater treat-
ment systems; or 
‘‘(III) 
municipal 
separate 
stormwater sewer systems; and 
‘‘(ii) are subject to consent decrees re-
lating to compliance with the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1251 et seq.) for a facility described in 
clause (i); 
‘‘(B) the residential customers of which 
have experienced rate or fee increases for 
wastewater, stormwater, or drinking water serv-
ices that is greater than or equal to 30 percent 
during the 3-year period ending on the date of 
enactment of this section; or 
‘‘(C) that— 
‘‘(i) develop an equivalent program, as 
determined by the Administrator, that is 
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administered separately by the eligible en-
tity or small community-serving eligible en-
tity, as applicable; or 
‘‘(ii) provide matching funds equal to 
or greater than the amount of the grant 
from— 
‘‘(I) the applicable State or unit 
of local government; or 
‘‘(II) a State-sponsored nonprofit 
organization or private entity. 
‘‘(8) LOWER INCOME LIMIT.—For purposes of 
this section, an eligible entity (or a State, on behalf 
of a small community-serving eligible entity) may 
adopt an income limit that is lower than the limit 
described in subsection (a)(3)(B), except that the el-
igible entity or State, respectively, may not exclude 
a household from eligibility in a fiscal year based 
solely on household income if that income is less 
than 110 percent of the poverty level. 
‘‘(9) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to any 
other applicable Federal or agency-specific 
grant reporting requirements, as a condition of 
receiving a grant under this subsection, an eli-
gible entity (or a State, on behalf of a small 
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community-serving eligible entity) shall submit 
to the Administrator an annual report that 
summarizes, in a manner determined by the 
Administrator, the low-income household assist-
ance program developed by the eligible entity or 
small community-serving eligible entity, as ap-
plicable, using the grant, including— 
‘‘(i) key features, including rate struc-
tures, rebates, discounts, and related ini-
tiatives that assist households, including— 
‘‘(I) budget billing; 
‘‘(II) bill timing; and 
‘‘(III) pretermination protections; 
‘‘(ii) sources of funding; 
‘‘(iii) eligibility criteria; 
‘‘(iv) participation rates by eligible 
households; 
‘‘(v) the monetary benefit per partici-
pant; 
‘‘(vi) program costs; 
‘‘(vii) the demonstrable impacts of the 
program on arrearage and service dis-
connection for residential customers, based 
on data from before and after the imple-
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mentation of the pilot program, to the 
maximum extent practicable; 
‘‘(viii) the outreach and stakeholder 
process used by the eligible entity or small 
community-serving eligible entity, as appli-
cable, to design the program, including— 
‘‘(I) the selection process for any 
stakeholder committee members; and 
‘‘(II) the number and location of 
community outreach events; 
‘‘(ix) the methods used to enroll cus-
tomers, including the outreach plan and 
the status of implementation of that out-
reach plan; and 
‘‘(x) other relevant information re-
quired by the Administrator. 
‘‘(B) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator 
shall publish each report submitted under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator 
shall provide technical assistance to each eligible entity, 
and each State, on behalf of a small community-serving 
eligible entity, that receives a grant under this section to 
ensure— 
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‘‘(1) full implementation of the pilot program; 
and 
‘‘(2) maximum enrollment of low-income house-
holds, including through— 
‘‘(A) community outreach campaigns; 
‘‘(B) coordination with local health depart-
ments to determine the eligibility of households 
for assistance; or 
‘‘(C) a combination of the campaigns and 
coordination described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B). 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which grant funds are first disbursed to an eligible enti-
ty (or a State, on behalf of a small community-serving eli-
gible entity) under this section, and every year thereafter 
for the duration of the terms of the grants, the Adminis-
trator shall submit to Congress a report on the results 
of the pilot program established under this section.’’. 
SEC. 3. LOW-INCOME WASTEWATER ASSISTANCE PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 124. LOW-INCOME WASTEWATER ASSISTANCE PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a municipality or public entity that 
owns or operates— 
‘‘(i) 
a 
publicly 
owned 
treatment 
works; 
‘‘(ii) a municipal wastewater treat-
ment system; or 
‘‘(iii) a municipal separate stormwater 
sewer system; and 
‘‘(B) 2 or more municipalities or public en-
tities described in subparagraph (A) that have 
entered into a partnership agreement or a coop-
erative agreement. 
‘‘(2) 
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘household’ 
means any individual or group of individuals who 
are living together as 1 economic unit. 
‘‘(3) LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLD.—The term 
‘low-income household’ means a household— 
‘‘(A) in which 1 or more individuals are re-
ceiving— 
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‘‘(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) supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program benefits under the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.); or 
‘‘(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); or 
‘‘(B) 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 
‘‘(ii) an amount equal to 60 percent of 
the State median income for that State. 
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‘‘(4) POVERTY
LEVEL.—The term ‘poverty 
level’ means, with respect to a household in a State, 
the income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm popu-
lation of the United States, as prescribed by the Of-
fice of Management and Budget, as applicable to the 
State. 
‘‘(5) SMALL
COMMUNITY-SERVING
ELIGIBLE 
ENTITY.—The term ‘small community-serving eligi-
ble entity’ means an eligible entity that provides 
wastewater or municipal stormwater services to a 
city, county, or municipality with a population of 
fewer than 10,000 residents, at least 20 percent of 
whom are at or below the Federal poverty level. 
‘‘(6) STATE MEDIAN INCOME.—The term ‘State 
median income’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 2603 of Public Law 97–35 (42 U.S.C. 
8622). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a pilot program to award grants to not fewer 
than 32 eligible entities in accordance with para-
graph (2) to develop and implement programs to as-
sist low-income households in maintaining access to 
affordable wastewater or municipal stormwater serv-
ices. 
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‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall award grants under the pilot program de-
scribed in paragraph (1) to— 
‘‘(i) not fewer than 8 eligible entities 
that 
provide 
wastewater 
services, 
stormwater services, or both to a popu-
lation of 1,000,000 or more residents; 
‘‘(ii) not fewer than 8 eligible entities 
that 
provide 
wastewater 
services, 
stormwater services, or both to a popu-
lation of 100,000 or more, but fewer than 
1,000,000, residents; 
‘‘(iii) not fewer than 8 eligible entities 
that 
provide 
wastewater 
services, 
stormwater services, or both to a popu-
lation of 10,000 or more, but fewer than 
100,000, residents; 
‘‘(iv) subject, as applicable, to sub-
paragraph (B), not fewer than 8 eligible 
entities that provide wastewater services, 
stormwater services, or both to a popu-
lation of fewer than 10,000 residents; and 
‘‘(v) not more than 2 eligible entities 
in each State. 
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‘‘(B) SMALL COMMUNITY-SERVING ELIGI-
BLE
ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under the pilot program under this sub-
section, a small community-serving eligible enti-
ty shall enter into a memorandum of under-
standing with the State in which the small com-
munity-serving eligible entity is located, under 
which the State shall— 
‘‘(i) submit to the Administrator an 
application under paragraph (6) on behalf 
of the small community-serving eligible en-
tity; and 
‘‘(ii) on receipt of a grant under the 
pilot program, administer the low-income 
household assistance program developed by 
the small community-serving eligible entity. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) USE.—A grant awarded under the 
pilot program— 
‘‘(i) shall not be used to replace funds 
for any existing similar program; but 
‘‘(ii) may be used to supplement or 
enhance an existing program. 
‘‘(B) GRANTS
UNDER
MULTIPLE
PRO-
GRAMS.—An eligible entity— 
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‘‘(i) may apply for a grant under the 
pilot program and under the low-income 
drinking water assistance pilot program es-
tablished under section 1459E(b)(1) of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act; but 
‘‘(ii) may be awarded a grant under 
only 1 of the programs described in clause 
(i). 
‘‘(4) TERM.—The term of a grant awarded 
under the pilot program shall be 5 years. 
‘‘(5) MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Administrator shall develop, in consultation 
with all relevant stakeholders, the minimum re-
quirements for a program to be carried out by 
an eligible entity (or a State, on behalf of a 
small community-serving eligible entity) using a 
grant under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The program require-
ments developed under subparagraph (A) may 
include— 
‘‘(i) direct financial assistance; 
‘‘(ii) a lifeline rate; 
‘‘(iii) bill discounting; 
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‘‘(iv) special hardship provisions; 
‘‘(v) a percentage-of-income payment 
plan; or 
‘‘(vi) water efficiency assistance, in-
cluding direct installation of water efficient 
fixtures and leak repair, which may be 
completed through a contracted third 
party. 
‘‘(C) ASSISTANCE
EXEMPT
FROM
TAX-
ATION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, assistance provided to a low-income house-
hold under a program carried out by an eligible 
entity (or a State, on behalf of a small commu-
nity-serving eligible entity) using a grant under 
this subsection shall be exempt from income tax 
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(6) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under 
this subsection, an eligible entity (or a State, on be-
half of a small community-serving eligible entity) 
shall submit to the Administrator an application 
that demonstrates that— 
‘‘(A) the proposed program of the eligible 
entity or small community-serving eligible enti-
ty, as applicable, meets the requirements devel-
oped under paragraph (5)(A); 
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‘‘(B) the proposed program of the eligible 
entity or small community-serving eligible enti-
ty, as applicable, will treat owners and renters 
equitably; 
‘‘(C) the eligible entity or small commu-
nity-serving eligible entity, as applicable, has, to 
fund the activities necessary to achieve or main-
tain compliance with this Act— 
‘‘(i) a long-term financial plan based 
on a rate analysis; 
‘‘(ii) an asset management plan; 
‘‘(iii) a capital improvement plan with 
a period of not less than 20 years; 
‘‘(iv) a fiscal management plan; or 
‘‘(v) another plan similar to the plans 
described in clauses (i) through (iv); 
‘‘(D) a grant awarded under this sub-
section would support the efforts of the eligible 
entity or the small community-serving entity, as 
applicable, to generate the necessary funds to 
achieve or maintain compliance with this title 
while mitigating the cost to low-income house-
holds; and 
‘‘(E) the eligible entity or the small com-
munity-serving entity, as applicable, has the ca-
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pacity to create and implement an effective 
community outreach plan to inform eligible cus-
tomers of the program and assist with enroll-
ment. 
‘‘(7) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to 
eligible entities or small community-serving eligible 
entities, as applicable— 
‘‘(A) that are affected by consent decrees 
relating to compliance with this Act; 
‘‘(B) the residential customers of the eligi-
ble entity or small community-serving eligible 
entity, as applicable, have experienced a rate or 
fee increase for wastewater, stormwater, or 
drinking water services that is greater than or 
equal to 30 percent during the 3-year period 
ending on the date of enactment of this section; 
‘‘(C) that— 
‘‘(i) develop an equivalent program, as 
determined by the Administrator, that is 
administered separately by the eligible en-
tity or small community-serving eligible en-
tity, as applicable; or 
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‘‘(ii) provide matching funds equal to 
or greater than the amount of the grant 
from— 
‘‘(I) the applicable State or unit 
of local government; or 
‘‘(II) a State-sponsored nonprofit 
organization or private entity; or 
‘‘(D) that are described in subsection 
(a)(1)(B). 
‘‘(8) LOWER INCOME LIMIT.—For purposes of 
this section, an eligible entity (or a State, on behalf 
of a small community-serving eligible entity) may 
adopt an income limit that is lower than the limit 
described in subsection (a)(3)(B), except that the el-
igible entity or State, respectively, may not exclude 
a household from eligibility in a fiscal year based 
solely on household income if that income is less 
than 110 percent of the poverty level. 
‘‘(9) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to any 
other applicable Federal or agency-specific 
grant reporting requirements, as a condition of 
receiving a grant under this subsection, an eli-
gible entity (or a State, on behalf of a small 
community-serving eligible entity) shall submit 
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to the Administrator an annual report that 
summarizes, in a manner determined by the 
Administrator, the low-income household assist-
ance program developed by the eligible entity or 
small community-serving eligible entity, as ap-
plicable, using the grant amount, including— 
‘‘(i) key features, including rate struc-
tures, rebates, discounts, and related ini-
tiatives that assist households, including— 
‘‘(I) budget billing; 
‘‘(II) bill timing; and 
‘‘(III) pretermination protections; 
‘‘(ii) sources of funding; 
‘‘(iii) eligibility criteria; 
‘‘(iv) participation rates by eligible 
households; 
‘‘(v) the monetary benefit per partici-
pant; 
‘‘(vi) program costs; 
‘‘(vii) the demonstrable impacts of the 
program on arrearage and service dis-
connection for residential customers, based 
on data from before and after the imple-
mentation of the pilot program, to the 
maximum extent practicable; 
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‘‘(viii) the outreach and stakeholder 
process used by the eligible entity or small 
community-serving eligible entity, as appli-
cable, to design the program, including— 
‘‘(I) the selection process for any 
stakeholder committee members; and 
‘‘(II) the number and location of 
community outreach events; 
‘‘(ix) the methods used to enroll cus-
tomers, including the outreach plan and 
the status of implementation of that out-
reach plan; and 
‘‘(x) other relevant information re-
quired by the Administrator. 
‘‘(B) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator 
shall publish each report submitted under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator 
shall provide technical assistance to each eligible entity, 
and each State, on behalf of a small community-serving 
eligible entity, that receives a grant under this section to 
ensure— 
‘‘(1) full implementation of the pilot program; 
and 
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‘‘(2) maximum enrollment of low-income house-
holds, including through— 
‘‘(A) community outreach campaigns; 
‘‘(B) coordination with local health depart-
ments to determine the eligibility of households 
for assistance; or 
‘‘(C) a combination of the campaigns and 
coordination described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B). 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which grant funds are first disbursed to an eligible enti-
ty (or a State, on behalf of a small community-serving eli-
gible entity) under this section, and every year thereafter 
for the duration of the terms of the grants, the Adminis-
trator shall submit to Congress a report on the results 
of the pilot program established under this section.’’. 
SEC. 4. NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR NATIONWIDE RURAL AND 
URBAN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY WATER AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) 
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.); or 
(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); or 
(B) 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. 
(3) POVERTY
LEVEL.—The term ‘‘poverty 
level’’ means, with respect to a household in a State, 
the income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm popu-
lation of the United States, as prescribed by the Of-
fice of Management and Budget, as applicable to the 
State. 
(4) STATE MEDIAN INCOME.—The term ‘‘State 
median income’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 2603 of Public Law 97–35 (42 U.S.C. 
8622). 
(b) STUDY; REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall conduct, and submit to Congress a report de-
scribing the results of, a study regarding the preva-
lence throughout the United States of low-income 
households that do not have access to— 
(A) affordable and functional centralized 
or onsite wastewater services that protect the 
health of individuals in the households; 
(B) affordable municipal stormwater serv-
ices; or 
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