H.R. 4733: Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act

This bill, known as the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act, aims to create a program to help low-income households manage their water and wastewater service costs. Below is a breakdown of the key components and provisions of the bill:

Program Establishment

The bill establishes the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. The program will be implemented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Its main function will be to provide grants to assist low-income households in paying for drinking water and wastewater service costs.

Definitions

Key definitions used in the bill include:

• Household: A group of individuals living together as one economic unit.
• Low-income household: A household where one or more members receive specified assistance such as Social Security benefits, supplemental nutrition assistance, or have a household income below certain thresholds.
• Public water system: Defined according to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Qualified nonprofit organization: A nonprofit that meets specific criteria under the Community Services Block Grant Act.

Funding and Grants

The Secretary will award grants to eligible entities, such as states or Indian tribes, to support public water systems and treatment facilities in assisting low-income households. The funding aims to cover past due fees and ongoing rates charged for water services.

Grant Distribution

Grants will be allocated based on:

• The percentage of low-income households in the state's or Indian tribe's jurisdiction.
• The percentage of households spending a significant portion of their income on housing.

Additionally, up to 3% of the funding may be reserved specifically for Indian tribes.

Support for Rural and Underserved Areas

The bill provides for additional grants to qualified nonprofit organizations aimed at assisting public water systems in rural or underserved areas or those within Indian tribes. These organizations will help facilitate access to funds for improving water services.

Application Process

Eligible entities and nonprofit organizations seeking these grants will need to submit applications to the Secretary, detailing their proposed usage of funds.

Limitations on Fund Usage

Grant recipients cannot use these funds to replace other financial resources dedicated to assisting low-income households with water services, but they can use them to enhance existing programs.

Technical Assistance

The Secretary will also provide technical assistance to help organizations streamline eligibility requirements and improve data sharing for low-income households.

Authorization of Appropriations

The bill authorizes the appropriation of $500 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to implement these initiatives.

Relevant Companies

None found