Title: Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021
This bill provides support for drinking water infrastructure and requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the safety and affordability of drinking water.
The bill reauthorizes and establishes several programs for drinking water infrastructure. For example, it reauthorizes through FY2031 the drinking water state revolving fund.
In addition, the bill revises requirements concerning the safety of drinking water, including by requiring the EPA to promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly known as PFAS), microcystin toxin, and 1,4–dioxane. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. Microcystin is a toxin that is produced by certain algae. The solvent known as 1,4–dioxane may also have adverse human health effects. It is used in variety of products, such as adhesives, sealants, and printing inks.
The EPA must also implement a residential emergency relief program that assists customers of public water systems with paying drinking water bills. Under the program, the EPA must provide payments to public water systems to reimburse them for forgiving their customers' debts or fees for services provided since March 1, 2020. Public water systems that receive payments may not disconnect or interrupt their customer's service because of such debt or fees.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3291 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3291

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide assistance for States, 
territories, areas affected by natural disasters, and water systems and 
  schools affected by PFAS or lead, and to require the Environmental 
    Protection Agency to promulgate national primary drinking water 
regulations for PFAS, microcystin toxin, and 1,4-dioxane, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2021

Mr. Tonko (for himself and Mr. Pallone) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide assistance for States, 
territories, areas affected by natural disasters, and water systems and 
  schools affected by PFAS or lead, and to require the Environmental 
    Protection Agency to promulgate national primary drinking water 
regulations for PFAS, microcystin toxin, and 1,4-dioxane, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Assistance, 
Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                        TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE

Sec. 101. Drinking water system resilience funding.
Sec. 102. Grants for State programs.
Sec. 103. American iron and steel products.
Sec. 104. Allotments for territories.
Sec. 105. Drinking water SRF funding.
Sec. 106. Lead service line replacement.
Sec. 107. PFAS treatment grants.
Sec. 108. Voluntary school and child care program lead testing grant 
                            program.
Sec. 109. Drinking water fountain replacement for schools.
Sec. 110. Indian reservation drinking water program.
Sec. 111. Assistance for areas affected by natural disasters.
                            TITLE II--SAFETY

Sec. 201. Enabling EPA to set standards for new drinking water 
                            contaminants.
Sec. 202. National primary drinking water regulations for PFAS.
Sec. 203. National primary drinking water regulations for microcystin 
                            toxin.
Sec. 204. National primary drinking water regulations for 1,4-dioxane.
Sec. 205. Elimination of small system variances.
                        TITLE III--AFFORDABILITY

Sec. 301. Emergency relief program.

                        TITLE I--INFRASTRUCTURE

SEC. 101. DRINKING WATER SYSTEM RESILIENCE FUNDING.

    Section 1433(g)(6) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300i-
2(g)(6)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``25,000,000'' and inserting 
        ``50,000,000''; and
            (2) by striking ``2020 and 2021'' and inserting ``2022 
        through 2031''.

SEC. 102. GRANTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

    Section 1443(a)(7) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
2(a)(7)) is amended by striking ``and 2021'' and inserting ``through 
2031''.

SEC. 103. AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTS.

    Section 1452(a)(4)(A) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300j-12(a)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ``During fiscal years 2019 
through 2023, funds'' and inserting ``Funds''.

SEC. 104. ALLOTMENTS FOR TERRITORIES.

    Section 1452(j) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
12(j)) is amended by striking ``0.33 percent'' and inserting ``1.5 
percent''.

SEC. 105. DRINKING WATER SRF FUNDING.

    Section 1452(m)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
12(m)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``2021.'' and 
        inserting ``2021;''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) $4,140,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                    ``(E) $4,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
                    ``(F) $5,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2031.''.

SEC. 106. LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300j-12) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(u) Lead Service Line Replacement.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to the capitalization grants 
        to eligible States under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator 
        shall offer to enter into agreements with eligible States, 
        Indian Tribes, and the territories described in subsection (j) 
        to make capitalization grants, including letters of credit, to 
        such States, Indian Tribes, and territories under this 
        subsection to fund the replacement of lead service lines.
            ``(2) Allotments.--
                    ``(A) States.--Funds made available under this 
                subsection shall be allotted and reallotted to the 
                extent practicable, to States as if allotted or 
                reallotted under subsection (a)(1) as a capitalization 
                grant under such subsection.
                    ``(B) Indian tribes.--The Administrator shall set 
                aside 1\1/2\ percent of the amounts made available each 
                fiscal year to carry out this subsection to make grants 
                to Indian Tribes.
                    ``(C) Other areas.--The funds made available under 
                this subsection shall be allotted to territories 
                described in subsection (j) in accordance with such 
                subsection.
            ``(3) Priority.--Each State that has entered into a 
        capitalization agreement pursuant to this section shall 
        annually prepare a plan that identifies the intended uses of 
        the amounts made available pursuant to this subsection, which 
        shall--
                    ``(A) comply with the requirements of subsection 
                (b)(2); and
                    ``(B) provide, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                that priority for the use of funds be given to projects 
                that replace lead service lines serving disadvantaged 
                communities and environmental justice communities.
            ``(4) American made iron and steel and prevailing wages.--
        The requirements of paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (a) 
        shall apply to any project carried out in whole or in part with 
        funds made available under this subsection.
            ``(5) Limitation.--
                    ``(A) Prohibition on partial line replacement.--
                None of the funds made available under this subsection 
                may be used for partial lead service line replacement 
                if, at the conclusion of the service line replacement, 
                drinking water is delivered through a publicly or 
                privately owned portion of a lead service line.
                    ``(B) No private owner contribution.--Any recipient 
                of funds made available under this subsection shall 
                offer to replace any privately owned portion of the 
                lead service line at no cost to the private owner.
            ``(6) State contribution.--Notwithstanding subsection (e), 
        agreements under paragraph (1) shall not require that the State 
        deposit in the State loan fund from State moneys any 
        contribution before receiving funds pursuant to this 
        subsection.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There are authorized to be 
                appropriated to carry out this subsection 
                $4,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
                2031. Such sums shall remain available until expended.
                    ``(B) Additional amounts.--To the extent amounts 
                authorized to be appropriated under this subsection in 
                any fiscal year are not appropriated in that fiscal 
                year, such amounts are authorized to be appropriated in 
                a subsequent fiscal year. Such sums shall remain 
                available until expended.
            ``(8) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection:
                    ``(A) Disadvantaged community.--The term 
                `disadvantaged community' has the meaning given such 
                term in subsection (d)(3).
                    ``(B) Environmental justice community.--The term 
                `environmental justice community' means any population 
                of color, community of color, indigenous community, or 
                low-income community that experiences a 
                disproportionate burden of the negative human health 
                and environmental impacts of pollution or other 
                environmental hazards.
                    ``(C) Lead service line.--The term `lead service 
                line' means a pipe and its fittings, which are not lead 
                free (as defined in section 1417(d)), that connect the 
                drinking water main to the building inlet.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1452(m)(1) of the Safe Drinking 
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(m)(1)) is amended by striking ``(a)(2)(G) 
and (t)'' and inserting ``(a)(2)(G), (t), and (u)''.

SEC. 107. PFAS TREATMENT GRANTS.

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

``SEC. 1459E. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEMS AFFECTED BY PFAS.

    ``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a program 
to award grants to affected community water systems to pay for capital 
costs associated with the implementation of eligible treatment 
technologies.
    ``(b) Applications.--
            ``(1) Guidance.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Administrator shall publish 
        guidance describing the form and timing for community water 
        systems to apply for grants under this section.
            ``(2) Required information.--The Administrator shall 
        require a community water system applying for a grant under 
        this section to submit--
                    ``(A) information showing the presence of a 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance in water of 
                the community water system; and
                    ``(B) a certification that the treatment technology 
                in use by the community water system at the time of 
                application is not sufficient to remove all detectable 
                amounts of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
                substances.
    ``(c) List of Eligible Treatment Technologies.--Not later than 150 
days after the date of enactment of this section, and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Administrator shall publish a list of treatment 
technologies that the Administrator determines are effective at 
removing all detectable amounts of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
substances from drinking water.
    ``(d) Priority for Funding.--In awarding grants under this section, 
the Administrator shall prioritize affected community water systems 
that--
            ``(1) serve a disadvantaged community;
            ``(2) will provide at least a 10-percent cost share for the 
        cost of implementing an eligible treatment technology; or
            ``(3) demonstrate the capacity to maintain the eligible 
        treatment technology to be implemented using the grant.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out this section not more than $500,000,000 for each 
        of the fiscal years 2022 through 2031.
            ``(2) Special rule.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated by paragraph (1), $25,000,000 are authorized to be 
        appropriated for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 for grants 
        under subsection (a) to pay for capital costs associated with 
        the implementation of eligible treatment technologies during 
        the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on the date 
        of enactment of this section.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Affected community water system.--The term `affected 
        community water system' means a community water system that is 
        affected by the presence of a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
        substance in the water in the community water system.
            ``(2) Disadvantaged community.--The term `disadvantaged 
        community' has the meaning given that term in section 1452.
            ``(3) Eligible treatment technology.--The term `eligible 
        treatment technology' means a treatment technology included on 
        the list published under subsection (c).''.

SEC. 108. VOLUNTARY SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE PROGRAM LEAD TESTING GRANT 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 1464(d)(8) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
24(d)(8)) is amended by striking ``and 2021'' and inserting ``through 
2031''.

SEC. 109. DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN REPLACEMENT FOR SCHOOLS.

    Section 1465(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
25(d)) is amended by striking ``2021'' and inserting ``2031''.

SEC. 110. INDIAN RESERVATION DRINKING WATER PROGRAM.

    Section 2001(d) of America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115-270) is amended by striking ``2022'' and inserting 
``2031''.

SEC. 111. ASSISTANCE FOR AREAS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

    Section 2020 of America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (Public 
Law 115-270) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``subsection (e)(1)'' 
        and inserting ``subsection (f)(1)'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Assistance for Territories.--The Administrator may use funds 
made available under subsection (f)(1) to make grants to Guam, the 
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands for 
the purposes of providing assistance to eligible systems to restore or 
increase compliance with national primary drinking water 
regulations.''; and
            (4) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``State Revolving 
                Fund Capitalization''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by inserting ``and to make grants under 
                        subsection (c) of this section,'' before ``to 
                        be available''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or 
                        subsection (c), as applicable'' after 
                        ``subsection (b)(1)''.

                            TITLE II--SAFETY

SEC. 201. ENABLING EPA TO SET STANDARDS FOR NEW DRINKING WATER 
              CONTAMINANTS.

    Section 1412(b)(6) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-
1(b)(6)) is repealed.

SEC. 202. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS FOR PFAS.

    Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-
1(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator 
                shall, after notice and opportunity for public comment, 
                promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation 
                for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, 
                which shall, at a minimum, include standards for--
                            ``(i) perfluorooctanoic acid (commonly 
                        referred to as `PFOA'); and
                            ``(ii) perfluorooctane sulfonic acid 
                        (commonly referred to as `PFOS').
                    ``(B) Alternative procedures.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the validation by the Administrator of an 
                        equally effective quality control and testing 
                        procedure to ensure compliance with the 
                        national primary drinking water regulation 
                        promulgated under subparagraph (A) to measure 
                        the levels described in clause (ii) or other 
                        methods to detect and monitor perfluoroalkyl 
                        and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking 
                        water, the Administrator shall add the 
                        procedure or method as an alternative to the 
                        quality control and testing procedure described 
                        in such national primary drinking water 
                        regulation by publishing the procedure or 
                        method in the Federal Register in accordance 
                        with section 1401(1)(D).
                            ``(ii) Levels described.--The levels 
                        referred to in clause (i) are--
                                    ``(I) the level of a perfluoroalkyl 
                                or polyfluoroalkyl substance;
                                    ``(II) the total levels of 
                                perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
                                substances; and
                                    ``(III) the total levels of organic 
                                fluorine.
                    ``(C) Inclusions.--The Administrator may include a 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or class of 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances on--
                            ``(i) the list of contaminants for 
                        consideration of regulation under paragraph 
                        (1)(B)(i), in accordance with such paragraph; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the list of unregulated contaminants 
                        to be monitored under section 1445(a)(2)(B)(i), 
                        in accordance with such section.
                    ``(D) Monitoring.--When establishing monitoring 
                requirements for public water systems as part of a 
                national primary drinking water regulation under 
                subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (G)(ii), the 
                Administrator shall tailor the monitoring requirements 
                for public water systems that do not detect or are 
                reliably and consistently below the maximum contaminant 
                level (as defined in section 1418(b)(2)(B)) for the 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or class of 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances subject to 
                the national primary drinking water regulation.
                    ``(E) Health protection.--The national primary 
                drinking water regulation promulgated under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be protective of the health of 
                subpopulations at greater risk, as described in section 
                1458.
                    ``(F) Health risk reduction and cost analysis.--In 
                meeting the requirements of paragraph (3)(C), the 
                Administrator may rely on information available to the 
                Administrator with respect to one or more specific 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances to 
                extrapolate reasoned conclusions regarding the health 
                risks and effects of a class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                polyfluoroalkyl substances of which the specific 
                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances are a 
                part.
                    ``(G) Regulation of additional substances.--
                            ``(i) Determination.--The Administrator 
                        shall make a determination under paragraph 
                        (1)(A), using the criteria described in clauses 
                        (i) through (iii) of that paragraph, whether to 
                        include a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                        substance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                        polyfluoroalkyl substances in the national 
                        primary drinking water regulation under 
                        subparagraph (A) not later than 18 months after 
                        the later of--
                                    ``(I) the date on which the 
                                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                                substance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                                polyfluoroalkyl substances is listed on 
                                the list of contaminants for 
                                consideration of regulation under 
                                paragraph (1)(B)(i); and
                                    ``(II) the date on which--
                                            ``(aa) the Administrator 
                                        has received the results of 
                                        monitoring under section 
                                        1445(a)(2)(B) for the 
                                        perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
                                        class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substances; or
                                            ``(bb) the Administrator 
                                        has received reliable water 
                                        data or water monitoring 
                                        surveys for the perfluoroalkyl 
                                        or polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
                                        class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substances from 
                                        a Federal or State agency that 
                                        the Administrator determines to 
                                        be of a quality sufficient to 
                                        make a determination under 
                                        paragraph (1)(A).
                            ``(ii) Primary drinking water 
                        regulations.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--For each 
                                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                                substance or class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                                polyfluoroalkyl substances that the 
                                Administrator determines to regulate 
                                under clause (i), the Administrator--
                                            ``(aa) not later than 18 
                                        months after the date on which 
                                        the Administrator makes the 
                                        determination, shall propose a 
                                        national primary drinking water 
                                        regulation for the 
                                        perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
                                        class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substances; and
                                            ``(bb) may publish the 
                                        proposed national primary 
                                        drinking water regulation 
                                        described in item (aa) 
                                        concurrently with the 
                                        publication of the 
                                        determination to regulate the 
                                        perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
                                        class of perfluoroalkyl or 
                                        polyfluoroalkyl substances.
                                    ``(II) Deadline.--
                                            ``(aa) In general.--Not 
                                        later than 1 year after the 
                                        date on which the Administrator 
                                        publishes a proposed national 
                                        primary drinking water 
                                        regulation under clause (i)(I) 
                                        and subject to item (bb), the 
                                        Administrator shall take final 
                                        action on the proposed national 
                                        primary drinking water 
                                        regulation.
                                            ``(bb) Extension.--The 
                                        Administrator, on publication 
                                        of notice in the Federal 
                                        Register, may extend the 
                                        deadline under item (aa) by not 
                                        more than 6 months.
                    ``(H) Health advisory.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Administrator shall publish a health 
                        advisory under paragraph (1)(F) for a 
                        perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
                        class of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                        substances not subject to a national primary 
                        drinking water regulation not later than 1 year 
                        after the later of--
                                    ``(I) the date on which the 
                                Administrator finalizes a toxicity 
                                value for the perfluoroalkyl or 
                                polyfluoroalkyl substance or class of 
                                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                                substances; and
                                    ``(II) the date on which the 
                                Administrator validates an effective 
                                quality control and testing procedure 
                                for the perfluoroalkyl or 
                                polyfluoroalkyl substance or class of 
                                perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                                substances.
                            ``(ii) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive 
                        the requirements of clause (i) with respect to 
                        a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance 
                        or class of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
                        substances if the Administrator determines that 
                        there is a substantial likelihood that the 
                        perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
                        class of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
                        substances will not occur in drinking water 
                        with sufficient frequency to justify the 
                        publication of a health advisory, and publishes 
                        such determination, including the information 
                        and analysis used, and basis for, such 
                        determination, in the Federal Register.''.

SEC. 203. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS FOR MICROCYSTIN 
              TOXIN.

    Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-
1(b)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(17) Microcystin toxin.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                deadline established in this subsection, not later than 
                2 years after the date of enactment of the Assistance, 
                Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021, the 
                Administrator shall publish a maximum contaminant level 
                goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water 
                regulation for microcystin toxin.
                    ``(B) Health protection.--The maximum contaminant 
                level goal and national primary drinking water 
                regulation promulgated under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                protective of the health of subpopulations at greater 
                risk, as described in section 1458.''.

SEC. 204. NATIONAL PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS FOR 1,4-DIOXANE.

    Section 1412(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-
1(b)) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(18) 1,4-dioxane.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                deadline established in this subsection, not later than 
                2 years after the date of enactment of the Assistance, 
                Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021, the 
                Administrator shall publish a maximum contaminant level 
                goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water 
                regulation for 1,4-dioxane.
                    ``(B) Health protection.--The maximum contaminant 
                level goal and national primary drinking water 
                regulation promulgated under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                protective of the health of subpopulations at greater 
                risk, as described in section 1458.''.

SEC. 205. ELIMINATION OF SMALL SYSTEM VARIANCES.

    (a) Small System Variances.--Section 1415 (42 U.S.C. 300g-4) of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act is amended by striking subsection (e).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 1414(c)(1)(B) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 300g-3(c)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``, (a)(2), 
        or (e)'' and inserting ``or (a)(2)''.
            (2) Section 1416(b)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
        U.S.C. 300g-5(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (D).
            (3) Section 1445(h) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
        U.S.C. 300j-4(h)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``sections 1412(b)(4)(E) and 
                1415(e) (relating to small system variance program)'' 
                and inserting ``section 1412(b)(4)(E)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``guidance under sections 
                1412(b)(4)(E) and 1415(e)'' and inserting ``guidance 
                under section 1412(b)(4)(E)''.

                        TITLE III--AFFORDABILITY

SEC. 301. 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.''.
                                 <all>