Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1019
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-31T11:03:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act (S. 1019) aims to enhance the ability of rural water and wastewater systems to prepare for and recover from natural or man-made disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, or cyberattacks. It does this by creating a federal grant program for technical assistance, focusing on nonprofit organizations that support these essential services in rural areas.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary must create an "emergency preparedness and response technical assistance program" under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
- Grants to Eligible Entities: Grants go to nonprofit organizations with proven experience in providing nationwide emergency technical assistance to water and wastewater utilities. These groups must have staff who hold active operator licenses or possess relevant expertise.
- Eligible Activities: Funded activities include:
- On-site support with personnel and equipment during disasters.
- Coordination with state emergency networks, local governments, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and state agencies to develop disaster action plans.
- Building system resiliency through mitigation planning, geographic mapping, vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, and communication protocols.
- Conducting initial damage assessments and providing emergency repairs (e.g., pump repairs, water disinfection, leak detection, power generation, and safety measures).
- Addressing operational, financial, and regulatory issues in water systems, especially in disadvantaged communities lacking resources.
- Helping with applications for federal aid, insurance claims, and reporting.
- Funding Rules: Grants can cover salaries, supplies, and expenses for these activities, but no more than 25% may be used for purchasing or renting emergency equipment. Grantees cannot use funds for activities already covered by other federal money.
- Authorization: Up to $20 million is authorized annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to fund the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (a 1972 law that provides loans and grants for rural infrastructure, including water systems) by adding a new subsection (27). Previously, the law focused on general financial assistance for water projects but did not include a dedicated program for disaster-specific technical aid through nonprofits. This addition expands USDA's role in emergency support without altering core loan or grant mechanisms.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The USDA gains new responsibilities for administering grants and determining disaster eligibility, potentially increasing coordination with FEMA and state agencies. This could strain budgets if appropriations fall short but streamline federal disaster response for rural utilities.
- On Citizens: Rural residents, especially in underserved or disadvantaged communities, benefit from faster restoration of safe water and wastewater services post-disaster, reducing health risks like contamination. It promotes equity by targeting areas with limited financial or technical capacity.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic rural infrastructure; however, improved U.S. disaster resilience could indirectly support global food security by protecting agricultural water supplies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural Water and Wastewater Associations: Primary beneficiaries, receiving hands-on technical help for operations and recovery.
- Nonprofit Organizations: Eligible grantees that deliver the assistance, gaining funding to expand services.
- Federal and State Agencies: USDA oversees the program; FEMA and state emergency management agencies collaborate on planning and aid.
- Local Governments and Communities: Rural areas, particularly disadvantaged ones, see improved infrastructure resilience and access to federal support.
- Utility Operators: Gain training, tools, and expertise to handle disasters more effectively.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill builds on existing federal authority under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, ensuring compliance with grant restrictions to prevent overlap with programs like FEMA's disaster relief. It emphasizes "as determined by the Secretary," giving USDA flexibility in implementation without broad rulemaking.
- Constitutional: No major challenges; it aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to fund public welfare and infrastructure, focusing on interstate commerce in agriculture and health.
- Political: Supports bipartisan rural priorities (introduced by Senators from Nevada and Mississippi), potentially boosting infrastructure resilience amid rising disaster frequency due to climate change. It could face debates over funding levels or prioritization of disadvantaged communities but avoids controversial mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-03-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act — issued 2025-03-13 — PDF (6 pages)