A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to modify eligibility for the State response to contaminants program, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 1324
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-19T11:56:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, S. 1324, aims to update the Safe Drinking Water Act by making technical adjustments to the "State response to contaminants" program. The goal is to expand who can qualify for federal grants to help detect and address harmful substances (contaminants) in drinking water, particularly for underserved or vulnerable groups.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: The bill modifies Section 1459A(j) of the Safe Drinking Water Act to broaden access to grants.
- States can request grants on behalf of:
- Disadvantaged communities: Defined by state affordability criteria (under Section 1452(d)(3)) as areas unable to afford water improvements, or those at risk of becoming disadvantaged due to contaminant response activities.
- Small communities: Populations under 10,000 people that lack the financial ability (debt capacity) to fund contaminant detection or mitigation.
- Grants can also directly benefit owners of private drinking water wells that are not part of public water systems and are not connected to one.
- Technical Language Updates: The bill refines wording in existing rules to clarify that assistance applies to contaminants a state determines to be present or potentially present in community water systems or private wells. It removes outdated references and reorganizes sections for clarity.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broader Recipient Scope: Previously, eligibility was narrower, focused mainly on public water systems serving communities. The bill strikes restrictive language (e.g., references to specific subsections) and adds explicit inclusion for private well owners and small or disadvantaged communities.
- New Grant Criteria: Introduces a dedicated paragraph (3) for eligibility, allowing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to issue grants based on community size, financial need, and well ownership status. This replaces vague or limited prior definitions.
- Simplified Definitions: Redesignates and indents clauses for better readability, inserts clarifying words (e.g., "to be present"), and removes unnecessary phrases, making the law easier to apply.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The EPA will handle more grant applications from states, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving targeted funding distribution. States gain flexibility in identifying eligible areas.
- On Citizens: Residents in small, low-income, or rural areas, as well as private well owners, will have better access to funds for testing and fixing contaminated water sources. This could reduce health risks from contaminants like chemicals or bacteria in drinking water.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic water safety programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and Local Governments: Primary applicants for grants; they assess community needs and affordability.
- Disadvantaged and Small Communities: Benefit from easier access to funding for water infrastructure improvements.
- Private Well Owners: Individuals or households relying on non-public wells, especially in rural areas, who were previously ineligible.
- EPA: Oversees grant issuance and ensures compliance with updated criteria.
- Public Water Systems: Continue to qualify but now share resources with broader groups.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act by closing gaps in eligibility, potentially reducing litigation over unequal access to federal aid. No conflicts with existing environmental laws noted.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's role in promoting public health (under the Commerce Clause), without infringing on state rights—states retain key decision-making on affordability.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and Republicans) suggests broad support for addressing water contamination, a non-partisan issue. Could set precedent for future expansions of environmental grant programs to include private infrastructure.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to modify eligibility for the State response to contaminants program, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (4 pages)