Affordable Clean Water Infrastructure Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6464
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-03T09:05:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase financial assistance for wastewater infrastructure projects. It focuses on supporting rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works through expanded subsidization options in state revolving loan funds.
Key Provisions
- Renames the bill as the "Affordable Clean Water Infrastructure Act."
- Updates rules for additional subsidization under Section 603(i) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act:
- Expands eligibility criteria to include projects affecting ratepayers in the specific geographic area served.
- Adjusts language on assistance to ratepayers to emphasize affordability of wastewater and stormwater services.
- Revises subsidization limits:
- Allows states to use up to the greater of 50 percent of annual capitalization grants or the 10-year average of excess state deposits.
- Permits an extra 10 percent of the capitalization grant specifically for rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works.
- Requires a minimum of 20 percent of capitalization grants to be used for subsidization when sufficient qualifying applications exist.
- Clarifies that loans with interest rates at or above zero percent do not count as additional subsidization.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Raises the maximum subsidization cap from prior levels by introducing a new formula based on state deposits.
- Adds targeted extra funding availability for rural, small, and tribal communities.
- Establishes a mandatory minimum subsidization threshold tied to application demand.
- Refines eligibility and purpose language for subsidization to better address local affordability needs.
Potential Impacts
- May increase access to low-cost loans or grants for wastewater treatment upgrades in underserved areas, potentially reducing service costs for local ratepayers.
- Could affect how states allocate federal capitalization grants, leading to greater emphasis on small-scale and tribal projects.
- Might influence infrastructure development timelines and environmental compliance in rural and tribal regions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works seeking funding.
- State agencies managing water pollution control revolving funds.
- Local ratepayers in communities served by these treatment works.
- Federal agencies involved in administering the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Operates as a straightforward amendment to existing environmental funding statutes without altering core regulatory authorities.
- Raises no apparent constitutional concerns, as it builds on established federal grant and loan programs.
- Focuses on equity in infrastructure support for specific community types, which may shape future congressional priorities on water affordability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Affordable Clean Water Infrastructure Act — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (4 pages)