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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4733 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4733
To authorize the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 23, 2025
Mr. Sorensen (for himself, Mr. Bresnahan, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Lawler, Ms.
Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Davids of Kansas)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, 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 ``Low-Income Household Water
Assistance Program Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Household.--The term ``household'' means any individual
or group of individuals who are living together as 1 economic
unit.
(3) Low-income household.--The term ``low-income
household'' means a household--
(A) in which 1 or more individuals are receiving--
(i) assistance under the State program
funded under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
(ii) supplemental security income payments
under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
(iii) supplemental nutrition assistance
program benefits under the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
(iv) payments under--
(I) section 1315, 1521, 1541, or
1542 of title 38, United States Code;
or
(II) section 306 of the Veterans'
and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act
of 1978 (38 U.S.C. 1521 note; Public
Law 95-588); or
(v) assistance under the Low-Income Home
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621
et seq.); or
(B) that has a household income that, as determined
by the State or Indian tribe, does not exceed the
greater of--
(i) an amount equal to 150 percent of the
poverty level;
(ii) an amount equal to 60 percent of the
State median income for that State or the State
in which the Indian tribe is primarily located;
or
(iii) an amount equal to 60 percent of the
area median income for the area in which the
household is located.
(4) Poverty level.--The term ``poverty level'' means the
poverty line determined pursuant to section 673 of the
Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902).
(5) Public water system.--The term ``public water system''
has the meaning given the term in section 1401 of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
(6) Qualified nonprofit organization.--The term ``qualified
nonprofit organization'' includes a nonprofit organization
described in section 680(a)(3)(B) of the Community Services
Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9921(a)(3)(B)).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the 50 States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(9) Treatment works.--The term ``treatment works'' has the
meaning given the term in section 212 of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292).
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, shall establish the Low-Income Household Water
Assistance Program to award grants, in accordance with
paragraph (3), to eligible entities described in paragraph (2)
to provide funds to owners and operators of public water
systems or treatment works to assist low-income households in
paying arrearages and other rates charged to such households
for drinking water or wastewater services.
(2) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity described in
this paragraph is a State, or Indian tribe, that is eligible to
receive or previously received a grant under the Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.).
(3) Formula.--In awarding grants under this subsection to
eligible entities, the Secretary shall--
(A) allot amounts made available for grants under
this subsection to an eligible entity that is a State
or Indian tribe based on--
(i) the percentage of households in the
State, or under the jurisdiction of the Indian
tribe, with income equal to or less than 150
percent of the poverty level; or
(ii) the percentage of households in the
State, or under the jurisdiction of the Indian
tribe, that spend more than 30 percent of
monthly income on housing; and
(B) reserve up to 3 percent of amounts made
available for grants under this subsection to eligible
entities that are Indian tribes.
(c) Rural, Underserved, and Indian Tribe Access Grants.--The
Secretary shall provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations to
assist owners or operators of public water systems or treatment works,
in rural or underserved areas or in the jurisdiction of an Indian
tribe, in accessing funds through the Low-Income Household Water
Assistance Program.
(d) Applications.--Each eligible entity seeking a grant under
subsection (b), and qualified nonprofit organization seeking a grant
under subsection (c), shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary shall require.
(e) Limitations.--A recipient of a grant under subsection (b) or
(c)--
(1) shall not use the funds from the grant to supplant any
other funds for any program that assists low-income households
in maintaining access to affordable drinking water or
wastewater services; and
(2) may use the funds from the grant to supplement or
otherwise enhance any such program that satisfies the
requirements under this section.
(f) Technical Assistance for Eligibility Requirements.--The
Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the recipients of
grants under this section for such recipients to establish data sharing
agreements to streamline categorical eligibility requirements for low-
income households.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
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