H.R. 4733

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4733 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4733

To authorize the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mr. Sorensen (for himself, Mr. Bresnahan, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Lawler, Ms. 
Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Davids of Kansas) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, 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 ``Low-Income Household Water 
Assistance Program Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Household.--The term ``household'' means any individual 
or group of individuals who are living together as 1 economic 
unit.
(3) Low-income household.--The term ``low-income 
household'' means a household--
(A) in which 1 or more individuals are receiving--
(i) assistance under the State program 
funded under part A of title IV of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
(ii) supplemental security income payments 
under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
(iii) supplemental nutrition assistance 
program benefits under the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
(iv) payments under--
(I) section 1315, 1521, 1541, or 
1542 of title 38, United States Code; 
or
(II) section 306 of the Veterans' 
and Survivors' Pension Improvement Act 
of 1978 (38 U.S.C. 1521 note; Public 
Law 95-588); or
(v) assistance under the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 
et seq.); or
(B) that has a household income that, as determined 
by the State or Indian tribe, does not exceed the 
greater of--
(i) an amount equal to 150 percent of the 
poverty level;
(ii) an amount equal to 60 percent of the 
State median income for that State or the State 
in which the Indian tribe is primarily located; 
or
(iii) an amount equal to 60 percent of the 
area median income for the area in which the 
household is located.
(4) Poverty level.--The term ``poverty level'' means the 
poverty line determined pursuant to section 673 of the 
Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902).
(5) Public water system.--The term ``public water system'' 
has the meaning given the term in section 1401 of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
(6) Qualified nonprofit organization.--The term ``qualified 
nonprofit organization'' includes a nonprofit organization 
described in section 680(a)(3)(B) of the Community Services 
Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9921(a)(3)(B)).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services.
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the 50 States, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(9) Treatment works.--The term ``treatment works'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 212 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292).
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Administrator, shall establish the Low-Income Household Water 
Assistance Program to award grants, in accordance with 
paragraph (3), to eligible entities described in paragraph (2) 
to provide funds to owners and operators of public water 
systems or treatment works to assist low-income households in 
paying arrearages and other rates charged to such households 
for drinking water or wastewater services.
(2) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity described in 
this paragraph is a State, or Indian tribe, that is eligible to 
receive or previously received a grant under the Low-Income 
Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.).
(3) Formula.--In awarding grants under this subsection to 
eligible entities, the Secretary shall--
(A) allot amounts made available for grants under 
this subsection to an eligible entity that is a State 
or Indian tribe based on--
(i) the percentage of households in the 
State, or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 
tribe, with income equal to or less than 150 
percent of the poverty level; or
(ii) the percentage of households in the 
State, or under the jurisdiction of the Indian 
tribe, that spend more than 30 percent of 
monthly income on housing; and
(B) reserve up to 3 percent of amounts made 
available for grants under this subsection to eligible 
entities that are Indian tribes.
(c) Rural, Underserved, and Indian Tribe Access Grants.--The 
Secretary shall provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations to 
assist owners or operators of public water systems or treatment works, 
in rural or underserved areas or in the jurisdiction of an Indian 
tribe, in accessing funds through the Low-Income Household Water 
Assistance Program.
(d) Applications.--Each eligible entity seeking a grant under 
subsection (b), and qualified nonprofit organization seeking a grant 
under subsection (c), shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary shall require.
(e) Limitations.--A recipient of a grant under subsection (b) or 
(c)--
(1) shall not use the funds from the grant to supplant any 
other funds for any program that assists low-income households 
in maintaining access to affordable drinking water or 
wastewater services; and
(2) may use the funds from the grant to supplement or 
otherwise enhance any such program that satisfies the 
requirements under this section.
(f) Technical Assistance for Eligibility Requirements.--The 
Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the recipients of 
grants under this section for such recipients to establish data sharing 
agreements to streamline categorical eligibility requirements for low-
income households.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.
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