Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-3291
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2021-05-18 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
American Samoa
Buy American requirements
Child care and development
Child health
Consumer credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Guam
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Indian social and development programs
Materials
Metals
Natural disasters
Northern Mariana Islands
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public utilities and utility rates
Racial and ethnic relations
State and local finance
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: 

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&#8211;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&#8211;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.

action_date: 2021-06-29
text: 

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.
 
Specifically, 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&#8211;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&#8211;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 bill. 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, in order to help the customers retain, reconnect, or restore water services. Public water systems that receive payments may not disconnect or interrupt their customer's service because of such debt or fees.
 
Finally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on issues relating to the potential for consolidation of certain distressed and small public water systems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 52.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-76.
action_date: 2021-06-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-76.
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 24.
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-06-16
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 - 9 .
action_date: 2021-06-16
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
action_date: 2021-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2594)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Introduced in House