Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act

Bill: 116-hr-7985
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Introduced: 2020-08-07
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government lending and loan guarantees

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Rural conditions and development

Solid waste and recycling

User charges and fees

Water resources funding

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-08-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act</b></p> <p>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 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.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7985 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 7, 2020 Mr. Rouzer (for himself and Mr. Vela ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To provide for assistance to rural water and waste disposal systems affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act . 2. Emergency assistance for rural water systems (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) may— (1) provide a grant, a zero interest loan, or a 1 percent 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) made to, a rural water 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 such Act; or (2) reduce or eliminate any fee that is or would otherwise be required to be paid under such section 306(a)(1) with respect to a loan guarantee provided to any rural water, waste water, or waste disposal facility, on the condition that the borrower receives the benefit resulting from the reduction or elimination of the fee. (b) Level of assistance The Secretary may provide assistance to an entity under this section as the Secretary determines is necessary to— (1) ensure that the entity has the necessary resources to maintain public health, safety, or order; (2) address financial hardships of the entity due to the COVID–19 public health emergency; and (3) promote the financial stability of the entity. (c) Use of funds An entity to which assistance is provided under this section may use the assistance— (1) for any purpose for which the entity is eligible for assistance under the relevant provision of law referred to in subsection (a); or (2) for any direct operational expenses of a water, wastewater, or waste disposal facility incurred by the entity, as determined by the Secretary. (d) Appropriation (1) In general Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $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 in carrying out this section. (3) Availability The amounts appropriated in paragraph (1) shall remain available through December 31, 2021.