Water Access and Affordability Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8254

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-13: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, 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.

Last Updated

2026-05-21T08:07:58Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Water Access and Affordability Act (H.R. 8254) aims to create a new federal program to help low-income households afford drinking water and sewer services, similar to existing aid for food, housing, and energy. It addresses rising water costs, infrastructure challenges, and access issues, while improving transparency and affordability goals in state revolving loan funds for water infrastructure.

Key Provisions

• Federal Low-Income Water Assistance Program (administered by the EPA Administrator):
• Establishes water service access programs in every state to provide bill assistance, debt relief, crisis aid (e.g., preventing shutoffs), and efficiency upgrades (e.g., leak repairs) to low-income households (defined by income up to 200% of poverty level or 80% of area median income, or enrollment in programs like SNAP, SSI, or LIHEAP).
• Delegation to eligible entities (states, tribes, or large water systems serving 100,000+ people) via grants; EPA can revoke for noncompliance.
• Minimum program requirements: Universal access (e.g., automatic enrollment via data-sharing, self-attestation, no asset/citizenship tests), no shutoffs for inability to pay, equal aid for renters/direct payers, penalties for violations.
• Technical assistance for enrollment and small/mid-size systems (20% of funds for data systems, 20% for under-resourced communities).
• Data collection/reporting: Annual reports on shutoffs avoided, debt reduced, enrollment; public website dashboard.
• Funding: $20 billion authorized annually (FY 2027–2037), allocated by formula considering low-income population, costs, needs.
• Community advisory committees per EPA region with low-income and NGO input.
• Amendments to State Revolving Funds (SDWA and CWA):
• Enhanced public input on intended use plans (30-day comments, hearings, online access).
• Required reviews of affordability criteria every 3 years starting 2027.
• More transparency via regulations, online repositories, state advisory groups, annual EPA reports on fund use for disadvantaged areas.
• Other: Assistance exempt from income taxes/public benefits rules; Census surveys on water affordability; 5-year EPA reports to Congress.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• New Program: Creates first federal low-income water aid program, modeled on LIHEAP but for water/sewer (no prior equivalent).
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and Clean Water Act (CWA) updates:
• Mandates public review/hearings for loan fund plans (previously optional).
• Requires states to report project data by geography/socioeconomics; caps admin costs at 30% in some cases.
• Adds expedited aid/flexible repayments for disadvantaged communities; regular affordability criteria reviews.
• Assistance not counted as income or a "public benefit" under welfare laws; prohibits private utilities from using funds for owner profits.

Potential Impacts

• Citizens: Millions of low-income households gain bill relief, reduced shutoffs/debt, efficiency upgrades; renters and non-account holders included; better crisis response (e.g., weather shortages).
• Government Agencies: EPA gains major new role (program setup in 12 months, oversight, $200B+ funding); states/utilities must implement/report data, with tech aid for smaller systems.
• Water Utilities: Large systems eligible for grants; small/mid-size get support but face new reporting/outreach; revenue stabilization via debt relief.
• Broader: Improved national data on water affordability/shutoffs; potential infrastructure investments via transparent loan funds; aid for tribes/territories.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Low-income households (primary beneficiaries, esp. in high-cost, crisis-prone, or disadvantaged areas).
• Water/sewer utilities (large eligible for grants; small/mid-size for tech aid).
• States, tribes, territories (program implementers, loan fund managers).
• EPA (program lead, data publisher).
• Community groups, NGOs, environmental justice orgs (advisory roles, technical providers).
• Federal agencies (HUD for income data, Census Bureau for surveys).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Equity Focus: No citizenship/residency tests expands access, potentially challenging some state practices but aligned with federal aid precedents.
• Federalism: Delegates implementation to states/tribes/utilities with revocation power, balancing local control and federal oversight.
• Funding Scale: Massive authorization ($200B over 11 years) requires appropriations; tax exemptions avoid disincentives.
• Transparency Mandates: Enhances public accountability for loan funds, promoting evaluation without new enforcement powers.
• No Major Constitutional Issues: Builds on existing EPA authority under SDWA/CWA; public input strengthens due process. Politically, positions water as a "basic necessity" like energy/food aid.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-13: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, 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.
• 2026-04-13: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, 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.
• 2026-04-13: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, 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.
• 2026-04-13: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, 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.
• 2026-04-13: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-13: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Water Access and Affordability Act — issued 2026-04-13 — PDF (42 pages)