H.R. 4721

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4721 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4721

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a 
grant program to assist with the purchase, installation, and 
maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality 
improvement products, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mr. Rouzer (for himself and Ms. Pingree) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a 
grant program to assist with the purchase, installation, and 
maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality 
improvement products, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Drinking Water Affordability 
Act'' or the ``Healthy H2O Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) clean and safe drinking water is necessary to ensure 
public health and a vibrant economy;
(2) communities that are dependent on private groundwater 
supplies to meet domestic drinking water needs, as well as 
those that continue to experience drinking water infrastructure 
challenges from public water supplies, including with 
infrastructure into and within households and living 
facilities, are disproportionately impacted by drinking water 
quality issues;
(3) in many instances, those communities and their 
households have been adversely impacted by the presence of 1 or 
more naturally occurring and human-caused contaminants found in 
drinking water, such as lead, arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, and 
volatile organic compounds, as well as federally unregulated 
contaminants, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
substances and hexavalent chromium (chrome-6), in local 
groundwater or other drinking water supplies;
(4) public health organizations and institutions, such as 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have cited 
giardia, enterovirus, radon, rotovirus, norovirus, shigella, 
campylobacter, salmonella, hepatitis A, cryptosporidium, and E. 
coli as among the major diseases and contaminants that can be 
present in drinking water sources;
(5) investments in projects to improve and support drinking 
water infrastructure are critically important to addressing 
water quality in the United States, but because those projects 
can typically take many years to complete, the current, and in 
some cases the ongoing, needs of communities impacted with 
immediate drinking water quality challenges cannot be or are 
not addressed in a timely manner;
(6) as an interim measure (and in some cases in rural 
areas, for longer term or permanently), point-of-entry and 
point-of-use water quality improvement products are viable 
solutions to address drinking water contamination challenges 
for the people of the United States; and
(7) grants provided under this Act are intended to provide 
financial assistance for eligible grant recipients (as defined 
in section 306F(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (as added by section 3)) that voluntarily seek 
to improve the quality of the drinking water of eligible end 
users (as defined in that section), and not to demonstrate that 
an eligible end user is in compliance with a Federal, State, or 
local primary drinking water standard or regulation.

SEC. 3. HEALTHY DRINKING WATER AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is 
amended by inserting after section 306E (7 U.S.C. 1926e) the following:

``SEC. 306F. HEALTHY DRINKING WATER AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Approved installation.--The term `approved 
installation' means the installation of an eligible drinking 
water quality improvement product or a certified filter 
component by a qualified third-party installer that--
``(A) complies with all local and State 
regulations; and
``(B) follows the installation instructions of the 
manufacturer.
``(2) Approved maintenance.--The term `approved 
maintenance' means required maintenance--
``(A) performed on an eligible drinking water 
quality improvement product that includes maintenance 
and replacement of the certified filter component;
``(B) performed by a service technician who--
``(i) is--
``(I) professionally qualified, 
certified, or licensed as a water 
treatment product maintenance 
professional, including a professional 
credentialed through a manufacturer or 
third party;
``(II) operating under the 
supervision of a service technician 
described in subclause (I);
``(III) a licensed plumber or a 
plumber operating under the supervision 
of a licensed plumbing contractor; or
``(IV) an individual who holds a 
license or certification related to 
water treatment technologies issued by 
a State or local government; and
``(ii) regularly completes continuing 
education on water treatment technology and 
other subjects that enhance the services 
provided under this section;
``(C) that complies with all local and State 
regulations; and
``(D) that follows the maintenance instructions of 
the manufacturer.
``(3) Certified filter component.--The term `certified 
filter component' means a replaceable or replacement filter 
component--
``(A) for which approved maintenance can be 
performed; and
``(B) that is certified by a third-party certifier 
as compliant with--
``(i) NSF P231;
``(ii) NSF/ANSI Standard 42, 44, 53, 55, 
58, or 401; or
``(iii) another successor or relevant 
consensus-based standard for drinking water 
treatment units or systems that addresses 
health contaminant reduction, as determined by 
the Secretary.
``(4) Eligible drinking water quality improvement 
product.--The term `eligible drinking water quality improvement 
product' means a point-of-use or point-of-entry system--
``(A) incorporating a certified filter component; 
and
``(B) that is certified by a third-party certifier 
to meet standards described in paragraph (3)(B)--
``(i) for material safety and performance; 
and
``(ii) to improve drinking water quality.
``(5) Eligible end user.--The term `eligible end user' 
means a person or entity located in a rural area (as defined in 
section 343(a)(13)(B)) that is--
``(A)(i) a homeowner;
``(ii) an individual lessee or renter of a home, 
apartment, or other dwelling;
``(iii) a property owner of a multi-unit 
residential building with 25 or fewer owned, leased, or 
rented dwelling units;
``(iv) a licensed child-care facility; or
``(v) an owned, leased, or rented facility; and
``(B) supported by a finding of need through--
``(i) a qualified water quality test 
demonstrating the presence of 1 or more health 
contaminants; or
``(ii) other documentation determined to be 
satisfactory by the Secretary demonstrating the 
presence of 1 or more health contaminants.
``(6) Eligible grant recipient.--The term `eligible grant 
recipient' means--
``(A) an eligible end user; and
``(B) a nonprofit organization that uses a grant 
provided under this section for the purposes described 
in subsection (c)(2).
``(7) Health contaminant.--The term `health contaminant' 
means--
``(A) a health contaminant found in drinking water, 
including lead, arsenic, nitrate, nitrite, 
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, 
hexavalent chromium (chrome-6), and volatile organic 
compounds; and
``(B) any other contaminant--
``(i) that can be reduced by an eligible 
drinking water quality improvement product or a 
certified filter component in accordance with 
the standards described in paragraph (3)(B); 
and
``(ii)(I) with respect to which the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency has established--
``(aa) a primary drinking water 
regulation (as defined in section 1401 
of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 
U.S.C. 300f));
``(bb) a maximum contaminant level 
goal established in accordance with 
section 1412(b) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
300g-1(b)); or
``(cc) a health advisory issued 
pursuant to section 1412(b)(1)(F) of 
that Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-1(b)(1)(F)); 
or
``(II) that is regulated by a State agency.
``(8) Improve drinking water quality.--The term `improve 
drinking water quality' means to improve the quality of the 
water supplied between its source and human consumption by 
reducing or removing 1 or more health contaminants.
``(9) Qualified third-party installer.--The term `qualified 
third-party installer' means a person who--
``(A) is--
``(i) a professionally qualified, 
certified, or licensed water treatment product 
installation professional, including such a 
professional credentialed through a 
manufacturer or third party;
``(ii) a licensed plumber or individual who 
holds a license or certification related to 
water treatment technologies issued by a State 
or local government; or
``(iii) a company or plumbing contractor 
employing individuals described in clause (i) 
or (ii); and
``(B) regularly completes, or requires applicable 
employees to complete, continuing education on water 
treatment technology and other subjects that enhance 
the services provided under this section.
``(10) Qualified water quality test.--The term `qualified 
water quality test' means a baseline analysis of the bacterial 
and chemical characteristics of concern from a drinking water 
sample collected at the point of consumption and tested by a 
laboratory certified to conduct water quality testing--
``(A) that is provided to--
``(i) the Secretary; and
``(ii) as applicable--
``(I) a person seeking a grant 
under this section;
``(II) an eligible end user 
receiving a grant under this section; 
or
``(III) an eligible grant recipient 
receiving a grant under this section 
and any eligible end users served by 
the eligible grant recipient; and
``(B) that includes information that provides--
``(i) guidance on test interpretation, 
including whether the bacteria or chemical 
characteristic of concern meets or exceeds a 
prescribed health-based contaminant level; and
``(ii) sources and citations that eligible 
grant recipients, independent third-party 
organizations and institutions, and government 
agencies may review and consult--
``(I) to determine available 
eligible drinking water quality 
improvement products for addressing 
detected contaminants; and
``(II) to evaluate efficacy across 
eligible drinking water quality 
improvement products.
``(11) Third-party certifier.--The term `third-party 
certifier' means an independent certification body accredited 
to ISO Standard 17065, `Conformity assessment--Requirements for 
bodies certifying products, processes and services', by an 
entity domiciled in the United States that is a signatory to 
the International Accreditation Forum Multilateral Recognition 
Arrangement, such as the Water Quality Association, NSF 
International, the International Association of Plumbing and 
Mechanical Officials, and the International Code Council 
Evaluation Service.
``(b) Establishment of Program.--Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate 
regulations to establish, and shall carry out, a clean drinking water 
program, to be known as the `Healthy Drinking Water Affordability 
Assistance Program' or the `Healthy H2O Program', to provide grants to 
eligible grant recipients to improve drinking water quality of eligible 
end users.
``(c) Eligible Uses of Grants.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall be 
used, as directed by the Secretary, for--
``(A) the purchase of an eligible drinking water 
quality improvement product or a replacement certified 
filter component;
``(B) the approved installation by a qualified 
third-party installer of an eligible drinking water 
quality improvement product;
``(C) the purchase and approved installation by a 
qualified third-party installer of a replacement 
certified filter component;
``(D) the approved maintenance of an eligible 
drinking water quality improvement product; or
``(E) qualified water quality tests to support 
products and services described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (D).
``(2) Nonprofit organizations.--A nonprofit organization 
that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant, 
in a manner consistent with the uses described in paragraph (1) 
and as directed by the Secretary--
``(A) to offer qualified water quality tests for 
eligible end users on a voluntary basis;
``(B) to facilitate the analysis of qualified water 
quality test results for eligible end users;
``(C) to assist an eligible end user in determining 
the response options available and supporting the 
selection by the eligible end user of a response that 
best fits the needs of the eligible end user, informed 
by--
``(i) a qualified water quality test; and
``(ii) an understanding of the relevant 
plumbing systems and environmental factors that 
will impact point-of-use or point-of-entry 
water safety; and
``(D) to coordinate or facilitate the approved 
installation by a qualified third-party installer of 
the eligible drinking water quality improvement product 
selected by an eligible end user.
``(d) Grant Limitations.--
``(1) Amount.--The amount of a grant under this section 
shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by the 
Secretary, of the purposes described in subsection (c) for 
which the grant is provided.
``(2) Income.--No grant provided under this section shall 
be used to assist an eligible end user who is a member of a 
household the members of which have a combined income, or an 
eligible end user with business income, for the most recent 12-
month period for which the information is available, that is 
more than 150 percent of the median nonmetropolitan household 
income for the State or territory in which the eligible end 
user resides, according to the most recent decennial census of 
the United States.
``(e) Grant Administrator.--The Secretary shall appoint an officer 
or employee of the Department of Agriculture to administer and manage 
grants provided under this section.
``(f) Grant Allocation.--In providing grants under this section to 
eligible grant recipients, the Secretary shall allocate funds and make 
grants available in a manner that--
``(1) responds to a range of water quality challenges;
``(2) prioritizes funding to eligible end-users the sources 
of drinking water of which are private wells;
``(3) improves local and regional capacity to respond to 
contamination; and
``(4) ensures reasonable access to funds for--
``(A) eligible end users seeking a grant under this 
section; and
``(B) nonprofit organizations seeking a grant under 
this section.
``(g) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this section, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a 
report--
``(1) identifying ongoing barriers to universal safe 
drinking water prior to and after filtration or other 
treatment;
``(2) analyzing conditions impacting eligible grant 
recipients, including--
``(A) sources of contamination or degradation of 
water resources, especially groundwater resources or 
upstream resources that recharge stores of drinking 
water;
``(B) trends in bioaccumulation and attenuation of 
contaminants and nutrients; and
``(C) impacts of infrastructure materials, crop and 
land management practices, waste management, and other 
factors that impact drinking water quantity and 
quality;
``(3) providing a comprehensive analysis of--
``(A) technologies available to and purchased by 
eligible grant recipients; and
``(B) the emerging safe drinking water needs of 
rural and other homeowners, renters, residential multi-
unit property owners, licensed child-care facilities, 
and other groups, as determined by the Secretary;
``(4) that includes information describing--
``(A) the types of treatment systems and filter 
components used under the program established under 
this section;
``(B) the number of qualified water quality tests 
conducted under the program established under this 
section;
``(C) emerging and changing trends relating to 
steps taken to ensure safe drinking water in 
communities and households; and
``(D) trends relating to the availability and use 
of eligible drinking water quality improvement 
products, including--
``(i) affordability at purchase and through 
the lifecycle of the products;
``(ii) consistency of operation as intended 
by the manufacturer and installer, including 
effectiveness across systems and technologies 
at achieving stated health protections; and
``(iii) lifecycle product performance, 
energy use, and environmental impact;
``(5) providing recommendations regarding the best methods 
to increase access to--
``(A) grants under this section; and
``(B) the products and services described in 
subsection (c);
``(6) that incorporates input from relevant--
``(A) nongovernmental organizations; and
``(B) certification institutions that oversee the 
criteria for products and training of installation and 
maintenance professionals; and
``(7) the purposes of which are--
``(A) to improve data on health contaminants in 
drinking water;
``(B) to provide educational resources on water 
testing and water quality improvement products and 
services to eligible grant recipients with drinking 
water contamination issues;
``(C) to collect information that improves 
understanding of water testing and water quality 
improvement products and services, including their 
associated health and economic benefits; and
``(D) to increase public awareness of water quality 
issues and treatment options.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
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