Safe Water in Schools Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8614
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T14:39:11Z
AI-Generated Summary
Safe Water in Schools Act of 2026 (H.R. 8614)
Purpose
This bill aims to reduce lead contamination risks in drinking water at schools and child care programs by authorizing federal grants for installing certified point-of-use filtration systems (filters attached directly to drinking water outlets like faucets). It amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to support both prevention and remediation efforts.
Key Provisions
- Grants for Filtration Systems: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator must provide grants to local educational agencies (school districts) to install certified point-of-use filters at schools and child care programs.
- Filters can be used preventively before lead testing (as deemed appropriate by the EPA).
- Filters can also remediate (fix) confirmed lead contamination.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates specific annual funding for fiscal years 2026–2030:
| Fiscal Year | Amount | |-------------|-------------| | 2026 | $60 million | | 2027 | $63 million | | 2028 | $66 million | | 2029 | $69 million | | 2030 | $72 million |
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the existing grant program under Section 1464(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (which previously focused on lead testing in schools and child care) to include funding for point-of-use filtration systems.
- Replaces prior appropriation amounts (subparagraphs A–E) with the new, escalating funding levels for 2026–2030.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases EPA responsibilities and funding for grant administration, potentially improving oversight of school water safety.
- Citizens: Provides safer drinking water for children in public schools and child care, reducing health risks from lead exposure (which can harm brain development and other functions).
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders
- Local educational agencies (school districts): Eligible for grants to install filters.
- Schools and child care programs: Benefit from safer water infrastructure.
- Students and children: Primary beneficiaries through reduced lead exposure.
- Parents and communities: Gain reassurance on child health safety.
- EPA: Administers the expanded grant program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing Safe Drinking Water Act framework without creating new mandates; relies on voluntary grants rather than requirements.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; uses Congress's spending power for public health.
- Political: Addresses ongoing concerns about lead in school water (e.g., post-incidents like Flint), with focused funding to encourage proactive measures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Safe Water in Schools Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (3 pages)