,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #faa ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bh1 #bjai,mr4 ,sanders 7for himself and ,mr4 ,merkley7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to provide adequate funding for water and sewer infrastructure1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,water ,affordability1 ,transparency1 ,equity1 and ,reliability ,act of #bjai4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,water affordability1 transparency1 equity1 and reliability4,sec4 #c4 ,report on affordability1 discrimination and civil rights violations1 public participation in regionalization1 and data collection4,sec4 #d4 ,technical assistance to rural and small municipalities and ,tribal governments4,sec4 #e4 ,residential onsite sewage disposal system improvement4,sec4 #f4 ,household water well systems4,sec4 #g4 ,state water pollution control revolving funds4,sec4 #h4 ,use of ,state revolving loan funds under the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act4,sec4 #i4 ,drinking water grant programs4,sec4 #aj4 ,requirement for the use of ,american materials in drinking water infrastructure4,sec4 #aa4 ,labor provisions4 #b4 ,water affordability1 transparency1 equity1 and reliability 7a7 ,clean water programs 7#a7 ,in general ,at the beginning of each fiscal year1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7referred to in this section as the ,administrator7 shall obligate1 for the fiscal year-- 7,a7 not more than #agd1bej1jjj for making grants under section #ajd7;b77#h7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abed7;b77#h772 7,b7 not more than #ebb1gej1jjj for making grants under section #ajf of that ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abef72 7,c7 not more than #hga1bej1jjj for making grants under section #bbb of that ,act 7as added by section #e72 7,d7 not more than #hga1bej1jjj for making grants under section #cai of that ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acbi72 and 7,e7 not more than #ae1fhb1ejj1jjj for making capitalization grants under section #fja of that ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acha74 7#b7 ,funding ,on ,october #a of each fiscal year1 out of any funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall transfer to the ,administrator to carry out this subsection #ah1abb1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4 7#c7 ,availability of funds ,amounts transferred to the ,administrator under paragraph 7#b7 and obligated by the ,administrator under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available to the ,administrator1 without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation1 for the purposes for which the amounts were obligated4 7b7 ,safe drinking water funding 7#a7 ,in general ,at the beginning of each fiscal year1 the ,administrator shall obligate1 for the fiscal year-- 7,a7 not more than #agd1bej1jjj for providing technical assistance under section #addb7;e7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#a7;e772 7,b7 not more than #ae1aei1gej1jjj for making capitalization grants under section #adeb of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab72 and 7,c7 not more than #a1jde1ejj1jjj for making grants under section #adfe of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#be74 7#b7 ,funding ,on ,october #a of each fiscal year1 out of any funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall transfer to the ,administrator to carry out this subsection #af1cgi1ejj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4 7#c7 ,availability of funds ,amounts transferred to the ,administrator under paragraph 7#b7 and obligated by the ,administrator under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available to the ,administrator1 without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation1 for the purposes for which the amounts were obligated4 7c7 ,household water well systems 7#a7 ,in general ,at the beginning of each fiscal year1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7referred to in this subsection as the ,secretary7 shall obligate1 for the fiscal year1 not more than #cdh1ejj1jjj for making grants under section #cjf;,e of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibf;e74 7#b7 ,funding ,on ,october #a of each fiscal year1 out of any funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall transfer to the ,secretary to carry out this subsection #cdh1ejj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4 7#c7 ,availability of funds ,amounts transferred to the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b7 and obligated by the ,secretary under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available to the ,secretary1 without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation1 for the purposes for which the amounts were obligated4 #c4 ,report on affordability1 discrimination and civil rights violations1 public participation in regionalization1 and data collection 7a7 ,study 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7referred to in this section as the ,administrator7 shall conduct a study on water and sewer services4 7#b7 ,affordability ,in conducting the study under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall study water affordability nationwide1 including-- 7,a7 rates for water and sewer services1 increases in those rates during the #aj-year period ending on the date on which the ,administrator begins to carry out the study under paragraph 7#a71 and water service disconnections due to unpaid water service charges2 and 7,b7 for promoting affordable1 equitable1 transparent1 and reliable water and sewer service1 the effectiveness of funding under-- 7i7 section #adeb of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab72 and 7ii7 section #fja of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acha74 7#c7 ,discrimination and civil rights ,in conducting the study under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator1 in collaboration with the ,civil ,rights ,division of the ,department of ,justice1 shall study-- 7,a7 discriminatory practices of water and sewer service providers2 and 7,b7 violations by water and sewer service providers that receive ,federal assistance of civil rights under title ,,vi of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d et seq47 with respect to equal access to water and sewer services4 7#d7 ,public participation in regionalization ,in conducting the study under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall evaluate efforts to regionalize public water systems1 as defined in section #adja of the ,safe ,water ,drinking ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;f71 and sewer services with respect to public participation in-- 7,a7 the decision to undergo the regionalization2 and 7,b7 decision making by the board of directors 7or other governing body7 of the entity that provides1 or oversees or coordinates the provision of1 water by the public water systems subject to the regionalization4 7#e7 ,data collection ,in conducting the study under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall collect information1 assess the availability of information1 and evaluate the methodologies used to collect information1 related to-- 7,a7 people living without water or sewer services2 7,b7 water service disconnections due to unpaid water service charges1 including disconnections experienced by households containing children1 elderly persons1 disabled persons1 chronically ill persons1 or other vulnerable populations2 and 7,c7 disparate effects1 on the basis of race1 gender1 or socioeconomic status1 of water service disconnections and the lack of public water service4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report that contains-- 7#a7 the results of the study under subsection 7a77#a72 and 7#b7 recommendations for utility companies1 ,federal agencies1 and ,states with respect to the results of the study4 #d4 ,technical assistance to rural and small municipalities and ,tribal governments ,section #ajd7u77#g7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abed7u77#g77 is amended by striking not to exceed #be1jjj1jjj and inserting #age1jjj1jjj4 #e4 ,residential onsite sewage disposal system improvement ,title ,,ii of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #bbb4 ,residential onsite sewage disposal systems ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,administrator shall establish a grant program to make grants to users of a septic tank and drainage field for costs associated with repairing1 replacing1 or upgrading the septic tank and drainage field4 4 #f4 ,household water well systems ,section #cjf;,e7d7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibf;e7d77 is amended by striking #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjai through #bjbc and inserting #cdh1ejj1jjj for each fiscal year4 #g4 ,state water pollution control revolving funds 7a7 ,specific requirements ,section #fjb7;b7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #achb7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking will be made to the ,state with funds to be made available and inserting were made to the ,state with funds made available for fiscal year #bjai2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#ac77;,b77iii71 by striking and at the end2 7#c7 in paragraph 7#ad71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ae7 the ,state will not provide financial assistance using amounts from the fund for any project that will provide substantial direct benefits to new communities1 lots1 or subdivisions1 other than a project to construct an advanced decentralized wastewater system2 and 4 7b7 ,projects and activities eligible for assistance ,section #fjc7;c7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #achc7;c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#aa77;,b71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#ab77;,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ac7 to any municipality or intermunicipal1 interstate1 or ,state agency for-- 7,a7 purchasing from a willing seller a privately owned treatment works for the purpose of bringing the treatment works into public ownership2 and 7,b7 expenses related to canceling a contract for the operation or management of a publicly owned treatment works4 4 7c7 ,increasing the amount of additional subsidization by the ,state ,section #fjc7;i77#c7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #achc7;i77#c77 is amended by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting the following3 7,b7 ,additional limitation ,a ,state may use not less than #ej percent of the total amount received by the ,state in capitalization grants under this title for a fiscal year for providing additional subsidization under this subsection4 4 #h4 ,use of ,state revolving loan funds under the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act ,section #adeb of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting publicly owned1 operated1 and managed before community water systems2 and 7ii7 by striking subparagraph 7,e7 and inserting the following3 7,e7 ,acquisition of real property ,the funds under this section may be used for-- 7i7 purchasing from a willing seller a privately owned community water system for the purpose of bringing the community water system into public ownership2 or 7ii7 for the expenses related to canceling a contract for the operation or management of a community water system4 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 ,exception to public ownership1 operation1 and management requirement ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b77;,a71 a public water system that regularly serves fewer than #aj1jjj persons1 and that is not owned1 operated1 or managed by any person who owns1 operates1 or manages any other public water system1 may receive assistance under this section4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7d71 by striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,total amount of subsidies ,to the extent that there are sufficient applications for loans to the communities described in paragraph 7#a71 of the amount of the capitalization grant received by a ,state for a fiscal year1 the total amount of loan subsidies made by the ,state for the fiscal year pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 may not be less than #ej percent4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7e71 by striking to be made to the ,state and inserting that was made to the ,state in fiscal year #bjai2 7#d7 in subsection 7g77#c7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,c7 the following3 7,d7 guidance-- 7i7 to ensure affordable1 equitable1 transparent and reliable water service provision2 7ii7 to provide protections for households facing service disconnection due to unpaid water service charges2 and 7iii7 to promote universal equal access to water services4 2 and 7#e7 in subsection 7k77#a71 by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 ,provide assistance in the form of a grant to owners of private property on which a lead service line 7as defined in section #adei;,b7a77 is or may be located1 for the purpose of replacing the lead service line with a service line that is lead free 7as defined in section #adag7;d774 7,f7 ,provide assistance to a publicly owned1 operated1 and managed community water system for the purpose of updating a treatment plant or switching water sources due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7commonly referred to as ,,pfas7 7as defined by the ,state in which the community water system is located74 7,g7 ,provide assistance in the form of a grant to an owner of a household water well that has been contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7commonly referred to as ,,pfas7 7as defined by the ,state in which the household well is located7 for the purpose of purchasing and installing a household filtration system4 4 #i4 ,drinking water grant programs 7a7 ,school drinking water improvement ,section #adfe of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#be7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by striking fountain and inserting infrastructure2 7#b7 in subsection 7a71 by striking fountains manufactured prior to #aihh and inserting infrastructure2 7#c7 by striking subsection 7b7 and inserting the following3 7b7 ,use of funds ,funds awarded under the grant program may be used to pay costs associated with-- 7#a7 installing1 repairing1 or replacing the infrastructure necessary to ensure that drinking water fountains1 drinking water coolers1 and bottle filling stations at schools are lead free 7as defined in section #adag7;d772 and 7#b7 monitoring and reporting of lead levels in the drinking water of schools1 as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 by striking #e1jjj1jjj and inserting #a1jej1jjj1jjj2 and 7,b7 by striking #bjba and inserting #bjbb4 7b7 ,tribal drinking water ,section #adeb7;i77#a7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7;i77#a77 is amended1 in the first sentence-- 7#a7 by striking #a #a_/b and inserting #c2 and 7#b7 by striking may and inserting shall4 #aj4 ,requirement for the use of ,american materials in drinking water infrastructure ,section #adeb7;a77#d77;,a7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7;a77#d77;,a77 is amended by striking ,during fiscal years #bjai through #bjbc1 funds and inserting ,funds4 #aa4 ,labor provisions 7a7 ,prevailing rate of wage ,nothing in this ,act or an amendment made by this ,act affects the applicability of the requirements relating to labor standards of sections #eac and #fjb7;b77#f7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #acgb1 #achb7;b77#f77 and section #adej7;e7 of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#i7;e77 to projects carried out under those ,acts4 7b7 ,project labor agreements 7#a7 ,clean water revolving funds ,section #fjb7;b7 of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #achb7;b77 7as amended by section #g7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#af7 the ,state will-- 7,a7 permit recipients of assistance under this title to enter into agreements authorized under section #h7;f7 of the ,national ,labor ,relations ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aeh7;f77 7commonly known as project labor agreements7 with respect to projects for building or construction carried out with that assistance2 and 7,b7 ensure that1 to the maximum extent practicable1 recipients of assistance under this title carry out the projects through the use of the agreements described in subparagraph 7,a74 4 7#b7 ,drinking water revolving funds ,section #adeb of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a7 7as amended by section #h7a771 by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,project labor agreements ,each agreement under this subsection shall require that the ,state permit recipients of assistance under this section to enter into an agreement authorized under section #h7;f7 of the ,national ,labor ,relations ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aeh7;f77 7commonly known as a project labor agreement7 with respect to projects for building or construction carried out with that assistance4 2 and 7,b7 in subsection 7b77#c77;,a7-- 7i7 in clause 7ii71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7ii7 in clause 7iii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7iv7 with respect to projects for building or construction1 will be carried out through the use of agreements authorized under section #h7;f7 of the ,national ,labor ,relations ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aeh7;f774 4