Water for Public Health Act

Bill: 116-hr-7258
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]
Introduced: 2020-06-18
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Disaster relief and insurance

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health technology, devices, supplies

Indian social and development programs

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Public contracts and procurement

Public utilities and utility rates

State and local finance

State and local government operations

Water resources funding

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Water for Public Health Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance during a public health emergency to include efforts to provide individuals with access to potable water and basic sanitation.</p> <p>Specifically, FEMA may, during an emergency period, provide every individual access to potable water and basic sanitation through the use of federal agencies. It may also make grants to carry out such efforts, including </p> <ul> <li>installation of mobile water stations and hand washing facilities,</li> <li>distribution or delivery of emergency bottled water and personal and home sanitization products, </li> <li> reconnection of water utility service, and </li> <li> moratorium on water utility shutoffs.</li> </ul> <p>FEMA may reimburse state, local, or tribal governments that provided such services.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7258 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 18, 2020 Mr. Levin of Michigan (for himself, Ms. Tlaib , Ms. Stevens , Mr. Kildee , Ms. Slotkin , Mrs. Lawrence , and Mrs. Dingell ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides access to potable water for individuals during a public health emergency.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water for Public Health Act . 2. Access to water The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5141 et seq.) is amended: (1) in section 403 by adding at the end the following: (e) Access to water and sanitation in a public health emergency (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), during an emergency period (as defined in section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1) )), the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, may— (A) through the use of Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities provide every individual access to potable water and basic sanitation; and (B) make grants to States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, and owners or operators of private nonprofit facilities to assist in carrying out subparagraph (A), which may include— (i) installation of mobile water stations; (ii) installation of handwashing facilities; (iii) distribution or delivery of emergency bottled water and personal and home sanitization products; (iv) reconnection of water utility service, regardless of when such service was discontinued or for what reason; and (v) moratorium on water utility shutoffs. (2) State and local government contracts or reimbursement The Administrator shall also provide reimbursement to a State, local government, or Indian tribal government that provided services described in paragraph (1) during the emergency period. ; and (2) in section 502 by adding at the end the following: (d) Access to water and sanitation in a public health emergency (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), during an emergency period (as defined in section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1) )), the President, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may— (A) through the use of Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities provide every individual access to potable water and basic sanitation; and (B) make grants to States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, and owners or operators of private nonprofit facilities to assist in carrying out subparagraph (A), which may include— (i) installation of mobile water stations; (ii) installation of handwashing facilities; (iii) distribution or delivery of emergency bottled water and personal and home sanitization products; (iv) reconnection of water utility service, regardless of when such service was discontinued or for what reason; and (v) moratorium on water utility shutoffs. (2) State and local government contracts or reimbursement The Administrator shall also provide reimbursement to a State, local government, or Indian tribal government that provided services described in paragraph (1) during the emergency period. .