Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021
Bill: S.209 | Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne (D-NH)
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021
This bill allows, and provides funds for, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants and loans, as well as loan forgiveness, modification, and refinancing, to rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal facilities. Specifically, USDA may provide such assistance for purposes of ensuring public health, safety, and order and to address financial hardships, in particular those due to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.

To provide for assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste 
   disposal systems affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 of 2021''.

SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal facility with 
        respect to which assistance may be provided under a water, 
        wastewater, or waste disposal program under section 306(a), 
        306A, 306C, or 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
        Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a), 1926a, 1926c, 1926d).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
    (b) Emergency Assistance.--The Secretary may--
            (1) provide a grant, a zero percent interest loan, or a 1 
        percent interest 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 (7 U.S.C. 
        1926(a)(1), 1926c)) made to, an eligible entity; or
            (2) reduce or eliminate any fee that is or would otherwise 
        be required to be paid under section 306(a)(1) of that Act (7 
        U.S.C. 1926(a)(1)) with respect to a loan guarantee provided to 
        an eligible entity, on the condition that the eligible entity 
        receives the benefit resulting from the reduction or 
        elimination of the fee.
    (c) Level of Assistance.--The Secretary may provide 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, safety, or order;
            (2) to address financial hardships of the eligible entity 
        due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; or
            (3) to promote the financial stability of the eligible 
        entity.
    (d) Use of Assistance.--An eligible entity to which assistance is 
provided under subsection (b) may use the assistance--
            (1) for any purpose for which the eligible entity is 
        eligible for assistance under the relevant provision of law 
        referred to in subsection (a)(1); or
            (2) for any direct operational expenses incurred by the 
        eligible entity, as determined by the Secretary.
    (e) Appropriation.--
            (1) In general.--Out of any amounts in the Treasury not 
        otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary 
        $1,000,000,000 to carry out this section.
            (2) Reservation for administrative expenses.--The Secretary 
        shall reserve 3 percent of the amount appropriated by paragraph 
        (1) for administrative expenses incurred by the Secretary in 
        carrying out this section.
            (3) Availability.--The amount appropriated by paragraph (1) 
        shall remain available through December 31, 2022.
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