Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4733

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Last Updated

2026-06-30T08:06:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation establishes the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program to provide financial support to low-income households for paying overdue and ongoing charges for drinking water and wastewater services. It aims to prevent service shutoffs and ensure access to essential utilities, modeled after existing energy assistance programs.

Key Provisions

• Program Structure: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, will award grants to states and Indian tribes eligible under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). These grants fund public water systems (community water supplies) or treatment works (wastewater facilities) to cover costs for low-income households.
• Eligibility for Households: Low-income households include those receiving benefits from programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), certain veterans' payments, or LIHEAP. Alternatively, households qualify if their income is at or below the greater of 150% of the federal poverty level, 60% of state median income, or 60% of area median income.
• Funding Allocation: Grants are allotted based on the percentage of households in a state or Indian tribe area that are below 150% of poverty or spend over 30% of income on housing. Up to 3% of funds are reserved for Indian tribes.
• Additional Grants: Separate grants go to qualified nonprofit organizations to help public water systems or treatment works in rural, underserved areas, or Indian tribe jurisdictions access program funds.
• Application and Use of Funds: States, Indian tribes, and nonprofits must apply as specified by HHS. Funds cannot replace existing programs but can enhance them. HHS provides technical assistance for data-sharing to simplify eligibility checks.
• Funding Authorization: $500 million is authorized annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill creates a new federal program, introducing dedicated funding for water and wastewater assistance that does not currently exist at this scale. It builds on LIHEAP by extending similar grant mechanisms to water utilities, whereas prior law focused energy assistance on heating and cooling without a parallel for water services. No direct amendments to existing statutes are made, but it integrates with definitions from laws like the Safe Drinking Water Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Low-income households may gain better access to affordable water services, reducing risks of shutoffs that affect health and hygiene. It could benefit millions in poverty or high-cost housing areas by easing utility burdens.
• On Government Agencies: HHS and EPA will oversee grant distribution and technical support, increasing administrative workload. States and Indian tribes gain new funding streams but must comply with reporting and non-supplantation rules.
• On Public Water Systems and Utilities: Owners and operators receive direct funds to offset unpaid bills, potentially improving financial stability and service reliability without raising rates for all customers.
• No Apparent International Relations Impact: The program is domestic-focused, with no provisions affecting foreign policy or global water issues.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Low-Income Households: Primary beneficiaries, including recipients of federal assistance programs and those in poverty.
• States and Indian Tribes: Eligible grant recipients responsible for program implementation.
• Public Water Systems and Treatment Works: Utilities that receive funds to assist households.
• Qualified Nonprofit Organizations: Intermediaries aiding access in rural, underserved, or tribal areas.
• Federal Agencies: HHS (lead administrator) and EPA (consultant for water expertise).
• Veterans and Specific Benefit Recipients: Indirectly supported through eligibility tied to veterans' payments and other aid programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes categorical eligibility (automatic qualification based on other aid programs), streamlining access but requiring data-sharing agreements that must comply with privacy laws like HIPAA. Funds are restricted to prevent misuse, enforcing fiscal accountability.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote general welfare through social assistance. No challenges to federalism are evident, as it involves voluntary state participation via grants.
• Political: Expands the social safety net to include water affordability, potentially bridging bipartisan support (introduced by members from both parties) amid concerns over utility crises post-pandemic. It may influence future infrastructure debates by linking social equity to environmental regulations, without mandating state actions that could raise federalism issues.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

Cosponsors (38)

Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
• 2025-07-23: 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.
• 2025-07-23: 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.
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (7 pages)