Water Debt Relief Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3292 | Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie (D-MI)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Water Debt Relief Act of 2021
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a residential emergency relief program. Under the program, the EPA must reimburse public water systems for providing forgiveness of the debts and fees of customers who incurred new debts on or after March 1, 2020.

To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
  carry out a residential emergency relief program to provide payment 
   assistance for households to retain water service, 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 ``Water Debt Relief Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM.

    Part F of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-21 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 1466. EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Emergency Relief Program.--The Administrator shall establish 
and carry out a residential emergency relief program to provide 
payments to public water systems to reimburse such public water systems 
for providing forgiveness of arrearages and fees incurred by eligible 
residential customers before the date of enactment of this section to 
help such eligible residential customers retain water service.
    ``(b) Conditions.--To receive funds under this section, a public 
water system shall agree to--
            ``(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), use such funds 
        to forgive all arrearages and fees relating to nonpayment or 
        arrearages incurred by eligible residential customers before 
        the date of enactment of this section;
            ``(2) if forgiveness of all arrearages and fees described 
        in paragraph (1) is not possible given the amount of funds 
        received, use such funds to reduce such arrearages and fees for 
        each eligible residential customer by, to the extent 
        practicable, a consistent percentage;
            ``(3) take no action that negatively affects the credit 
        score of an eligible residential customer, or pursue any type 
        of collection action against such eligible residential 
        customer, during the 5-year period that begins on the date on 
        which the public water system receives such funds; and
            ``(4) not disconnect or interrupt the service of any 
        eligible residential customer as a result of nonpayment or 
        arrearages during such 5-year period.
    ``(c) Eligible Customers.--To be eligible for forgiveness or 
reduction of arrearages and fees pursuant to the program established 
under subsection (a), a residential customer of a public water system 
shall have accrued new arrearages on or after March 1, 2020.
    ``(d) Administrative Expenses.--The Administrator may authorize--
            ``(1) States to implement the program established under 
        subsection (a); and
            ``(2) a State implementing such program to use up to 4 
        percent of funds made available to carry out such program in 
        such State for administrative expenses.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $4,000,000,000, to remain 
available until expended.''.
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