H.R. 8254

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8254 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8254

To establish a low-income water assistance program, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 13, 2026

Ms. Tlaib (for herself, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. 
Gomez, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jacobs, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Mullin, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Thanedar, and Ms. Velazquez) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on 
Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and 
Means, 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 establish a low-income 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 ``Water Access and Affordability 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Safe, accessible, and affordable drinking water is 
essential to the protection of public health.
(2) After 50 years, the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300f et seq.) has demonstrably improved drinking water quality 
across the nation. However, millions of Americans are unable to 
afford their water bills and many water utilities have been 
unable to fund and maintain infrastructure critical to 
providing high quality, reliable, and affordable drinking 
water. Therefore, the Federal Government needs to increase 
water assistance to households and communities.
(3) The Federal Government provides low-income household 
assistance for basic necessities, including food, housing, and 
energy. Water is also a basic necessity and requires assistance 
from the Federal Government.
(4) Every low-income household should be able to access 
water assistance.
(5) Other programs that provide financial and technical 
assistance for safe drinking water should incorporate water 
affordability as a goal.
(6) More effective protection of public health requires--
(A) a Federal commitment to ensuring the collection 
and transparency of data on water safety, access, and 
affordability at a national level;
(B) a Federal commitment to water access for all 
Native American Tribes; and
(C) a Federal commitment to having water utilities 
capable of serving safe and affordable drinking water 
to all households, including support for and oversight 
of State drinking water programs in the areas of 
financial and technical assistance, equitable utility 
consolidations, workforce development and training, 
community engagement, and enforcement.
(7) Consumers served by public water systems should be 
provided with easy-to-understand information on the cost of 
their water, opportunities to reduce their bill, and bill 
payment assistance programs.

SEC. 3. LOW-INCOME WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Area median income.--The term ``area median income'' 
means the unadjusted median income for an area determined by 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under section 
16(a) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437n(a)).
(3) Community water system.--The term ``community water 
system'' has the meaning given that term in section 1401 of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
eligible water system, a State, or an Indian Tribe.
(5) Eligible water system.--The term ``eligible water 
system'' means--
(A) a community water system that serves a 
population of 100,000 or more; or
(B) a treatment works that serves a population of 
100,000 or more.
(6) Household.--The term ``household'' means any individual 
or group of individuals who are living together as 1 economic 
unit.
(7) Low-income household.--The term ``low-income 
household'' means a household--
(A) in which 1 or more individuals are receiving--
(i) assistance under a 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);
(v) assistance under the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 
et seq.); or
(vi) assistance under the special 
supplemental nutrition program for women, 
infants, and children under section 17 of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); 
or
(B) that has an income that, as determined by the 
entity that is implementing a water service access 
program in the area in which the household is located, 
does not exceed the greater of--
(i) an amount equal to 200 percent of the 
poverty level; and
(ii) an amount equal to 80 percent of the 
area median income.
(8) Poverty level.--The term ``poverty level'' means, with 
respect to a household in a State, the income described in the 
poverty guidelines issued by the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services pursuant to section 673 of the Community Services 
Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902), as applicable to the 
household.
(9) Small and mid-size water systems.--The term ``small and 
mid-size water systems'' means--
(A) community water systems that serve a population 
of less than 100,000; and
(B) treatment works that serve a population of less 
than 100,000.
(10) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, the District 
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands.
(11) Technical assistance provider.--The term ``technical 
assistance provider'' means a community-based organization, 
environmental justice organization, university, rural 
assistance corporation, energy utility, business, or other 
organization identified by the Administrator as having relevant 
expertise in community outreach, assistance program enrollment 
processes and administration, utility data and billing systems, 
developing applications for funding, or other areas determined 
appropriate by the Administrator.
(12) Treatment works.--The term ``treatment works'' has the 
meaning given that term in section 212 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292).
(13) Water crisis.--The term ``water crisis'' means a 
weather-related or supply shortage emergency or other household 
water-related emergency, including disconnection of water 
service for nonpayment, imminent disconnection of water service 
for nonpayment, or other emergency threatening a household's 
access to safe water services.
(14) Water service.--The term ``water service'' means--
(A) drinking water service provided by a community 
water system; or
(B) sanitary sewer service provided by a treatment 
works.
(15) Water service access program.--The term ``water 
service access program'' means a program to provide low-income 
households the ability to maintain access to water services 
through the receipt of Federal financial assistance.
(b) Federal Low-Income Water Assistance Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish 
a Federal low-income water assistance program to assist low-
income households in maintaining access to affordable water 
services, which program shall include--
(A) development and implementation of water service 
access programs that include funding to assist low-
income households;
(B) technical assistance for the implementation of 
such water service access programs; and
(C) data collection and reporting.
(2) Community advisory committees.--
(A) Establishment.--The Administrator shall 
establish a community advisory committee for each 
region of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
provide advice and recommendations to each entity 
implementing a water service access program under 
subsection (c) within the region.
(B) Membership.--The Administrator shall include in 
each community advisory committee established under 
this paragraph members from low-income communities, 
non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders 
determined relevant by the Administrator.
(c) Water Service Access Programs.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
(A) develop a water service access program; and
(B) implement such water service access program in 
each State.
(2) Delegation of implementation.--
(A) Authority to delegate.--
(i) Delegation of areas.--Except as 
provided in clause (ii), upon application by an 
eligible entity under subparagraph (B), the 
Administrator may delegate to the eligible 
entity the implementation of a water service 
access program for--
(I) with respect to an eligible 
entity that is an eligible water 
system, the service area of such 
eligible water system;
(II) with respect to an eligible 
entity that is an Indian Tribe, the 
geographic area under the jurisdiction 
of the Indian Tribe; and
(III) with respect to an eligible 
entity that is a State, the area within 
the geographic boundaries of the State.
(ii) Non-overlapping programs.--If the 
Administrator delegates the implementation of a 
water service access program for an area to an 
eligible entity that is an eligible water 
system or an Indian Tribe, the Administrator 
shall withhold or withdraw, as applicable, 
delegation for such area from the State in 
which such area is located.
(B) Application.--To implement a water service 
access program under this subsection, an eligible 
entity shall submit to the Administrator an application 
that demonstrates that--
(i) the water service access program 
proposed to be implemented by the eligible 
entity--
(I) meets the requirements 
established under paragraph (3); and
(II) was developed in accordance 
with paragraph (4); and
(ii) the eligible entity has the capacity 
to--
(I) make assistance under the water 
service access program available to all 
low-income households in its 
jurisdiction or service area, without 
regard to where that household resides 
within the jurisdiction or service 
area;
(II) fulfill the data collection 
and management requirements set forth 
in subsection (e); and
(III) develop and implement, in 
coordination with technical assistance 
providers, an effective community 
outreach plan to inform low-income 
households of the water service access 
program and assist with enrollment.
(C) Grants.--
(i) Award.--If the Administrator delegates 
implementation of a water service access 
program to an eligible entity under this 
paragraph, the Administrator shall award a 
grant to the eligible entity to implement such 
program.
(ii) Limitations.--A grant awarded under 
this paragraph--
(I) shall not be used to replace 
funds for any existing similar program 
of a State, community water system, or 
treatment works to assist low-income 
households in maintaining access to 
affordable water services in the area 
for which the water service access 
program will be implemented; but
(II) may be used to supplement or 
enhance such a program.
(D) Revocation.--
(i) Notification and opportunity to 
remedy.--If the Administrator determines, based 
on information required to be submitted to the 
Administrator under this section by an eligible 
entity implementing a water service access 
program under this subsection, that the water 
service access program is not being implemented 
in compliance with all requirements of this 
section, the Administrator shall promptly 
notify the eligible entity of such 
noncompliance, the necessary remedial actions, 
and a deadline for promptly implementing such 
remedial actions.
(ii) Failure to remedy.--The Administrator 
shall revoke delegation under this subsection 
to an eligible entity if the eligible entity 
fails to take the necessary remedial actions by 
the deadline set by the Administrator under 
clause (i).
(iii) Effect.--If the Administrator revokes 
delegation under this subsection to an eligible 
entity, implementation of a water service 
access program under this subsection for the 
previously delegated area shall revert to the 
Administrator, who may delegate such 
implementation to the State in which such area 
is located if such State is implementing a 
water service access program pursuant to 
subparagraph (A).
(3) Minimum water service access program requirements.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator 
shall establish minimum requirements for water service 
access programs developed and implemented under this 
subsection.
(B) Consultation.--In carrying out subparagraph 
(A), the Administrator shall--
(i) consult with relevant stakeholders, 
including frontline community groups, Tribal 
communities, and technical assistance 
providers; and
(ii) provide an opportunity for public 
comment on the proposed requirements.
(C) Inclusions.--The minimum requirements 
established under subparagraph (A) for a water service 
access program shall include--
(i) provisions to promote universal access 
for low-income households to assistance under 
the water service access program (including 
low-income households in which none of the 
individual members is a named account holder of 
the applicable community water system or 
treatment works), including provisions for--
(I) sharing of data from other 
administrators of Federal, State, or 
local income-qualified assistance 
programs to facilitate automatic 
enrollment in the water service access 
program of all households participating 
in those other programs that are 
eligible to receive assistance under 
the water service access program, 
without the need for those households 
to apply separately for the water 
service access program;
(II) allowance for community water 
systems and treatment works to receive 
program funds for low-income household 
debt reduction and directly apply such 
funds to customer accounts;
(III) allowance for self-
attestation by households served by 
community water systems or treatment 
works of eligibility, including self-
attestation of income qualification or 
enrollment in an existing Federal, 
State, or local assistance program on 
the basis of income;
(IV) with respect to any portion of 
the process for enrollment in the water 
service access program for which a 
signature of a member of a low-income 
household is required, allowance for 
the use of an electronic signature; and
(V) prohibitions on--
(aa) asset tests and in-
person enrollment appointments 
as requirements to receive 
assistance under the water 
service access program; and
(bb) citizenship or legal 
residency requirements for 
members of a low-income 
household in order for the 
household to receive assistance 
under the water service access 
program;
(ii) assistance to low-income households 
served by community water systems or treatment 
works (including low-income households in which 
none of the individual members is a named 
account holder of the applicable community 
water system or treatment works), with greater 
assistance amounts provided to households with 
higher water service costs and lower incomes, 
taking into account household size, in the form 
of--
(I) direct financial assistance, 
including bill discounting, percentage-
of-income payment plan, a lifeline 
rate, or any other form of direct 
assistance identified by the 
Administrator;
(II) debt relief;
(III) water crisis assistance; and
(IV) water efficiency assistance, 
including providing or subsidizing the 
cost of installation of water-efficient 
appliances and fixtures or leak 
detection and plumbing repair work;
(iii) provisions prohibiting the inclusion 
of eligibility restrictions or enrollment 
requirements not specifically required by this 
section;
(iv) provisions, including penalties on 
community water systems and treatment works for 
violations, as established by the 
Administrator, to ensure that no household 
receiving assistance under the program--
(I) is disconnected from water 
service, loses access to or ownership 
of its current housing, or is otherwise 
denied access to an amount and flow of 
water sufficient to meet its essential 
needs because of the household's 
inability to pay bills owed to a 
community water system or treatment 
works, or, where the water service 
account-holder for the household's 
dwelling is not a member of the 
household, due to the failure of the 
account-holder to pay bills owed to the 
community water system or treatment 
works; or
(II) is required to pay any fees, 
charges, or deposits associated with 
late payments, unpaid bills, service 
initiation, or service reconnection;
(v) procedures that minimize burdens on 
low-income households of filing a complete 
application for assistance under the program, 
including allowing for alternative forms of 
identification;
(vi) provisions that require equal access 
to assistance to households that pay bills for 
water services directly and households the 
water services of which are included in rent or 
other payments, including by providing for 
households that cannot receive assistance 
through a bill for water services other types 
of assistance, such as cash assistance, credits 
on a different utility bill, and receipt of 
water quality and efficiency upgrades and 
devices; and
(vii) coordination of development and 
implementation of the water service access 
program with other existing water assistance 
programs, energy assistance programs, and other 
relevant Federal, State, and local programs 
that provide financial or other assistance to 
low-income households.
(4) Public process.--Each entity developing or implementing 
a water service access program under this subsection shall, 
each fiscal year--
(A) consult with the applicable community advisory 
committee established under subsection (b)(2), Tribal 
communities, and other community representatives, as 
applicable; and
(B) provide an opportunity for a public hearing and 
public comment on the water service access program.
(d) Technical Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall provide funding to 
technical assistance providers to--
(A) facilitate enrollment by low-income households 
in water service access programs implemented under this 
section; and
(B) assist small and mid-size water systems in 
participating in water service access programs 
implemented under this section.
(2) Minimum requirements.--The Administrator shall 
establish minimum requirements for technical assistance 
provided under paragraph (1), which shall include requirements 
for--
(A) outreach to low-income households in 
communities with high incidence of disconnections of 
water service or that may face difficulty enrolling in 
or accessing assistance through a water service access 
program, including households in geographically remote 
locations, households lacking access to 
telecommunications networks (including home broadband 
internet service), households with limited English 
proficiency, and households in which an individual with 
a disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)) 
resides; and
(B) developing the capacity of small and mid-size 
water systems to--
(i) carry out any applicable activities 
necessary for assistance to be provided 
pursuant to a water service access program 
implemented under this section; and
(ii) provide complete and accurate 
information to the entity implementing an 
applicable water service access program as 
necessary for such entity to comply with the 
reporting requirements of this section.
(3) Set-asides.--
(A) Data management systems.--Of the funds made 
available to carry out this subsection, the 
Administrator shall ensure that a minimum of 20 percent 
is used for--
(i) the improvement of data management 
systems, including billing systems, websites, 
and electronic customer communications, for 
small and mid-size water systems; and
(ii) implementation of easily accessible 
enrollment and data transmission technologies, 
such as smartphone applications.
(B) Under-resourced communities.--Of the funds made 
available to carry out this subsection, the 
Administrator shall ensure that a minimum of 20 percent 
is provided to technical service providers that are 
environmental justice organizations and community-based 
organizations to build capacity and provide assistance 
for under-resourced communities to fully access a water 
service access program.
(4) Community engagement.--The Administrator shall engage 
with environmental justice organizations and community-based 
organizations--
(A) in establishing the minimum requirements under 
paragraph (2); and
(B) to encourage their participation in the 
provision of technical assistance under this 
subsection, including by making them aware of the funds 
set aside under paragraph (3)(B).
(e) Data Collection and Reporting.--
(1) Reporting to the administrator.--
(A) In general.--Each eligible entity implementing 
a water service access program under this section shall 
annually submit to the Administrator, in a manner 
determined by the Administrator, information regarding 
the applicable water service access program, 
including--
(i) the demonstrable impacts of the program 
on bill debt and timely bill payments for low-
income households that receive assistance under 
the program, based on data from before and 
after the implementation of the program, 
including, for each county and ZIP code within 
the geographic area served by the program--
(I) the number of households that 
experienced a disconnection of water 
service for nonpayment and the number 
of households for which disconnection 
was avoided directly due to the 
provision of assistance under the 
program;
(II) the number of households and 
amount of debt subject to sale or 
enforcement of property liens and the 
number of households for which sale or 
enforcement of property liens was 
avoided directly due to the provision 
of assistance under the program;
(III) the number of households 
enrolled in the program;
(IV) the benefit levels, amount of 
debt reduction, and total amount of 
assistance provided to enrolled 
households; and
(V) the number of enrolled 
households reconnected to water service 
and a summary of the fees and charges 
waived for enrolled households, 
including disconnection and 
reconnection charges, late payment 
fees, and interest charges;
(ii) revenue collection information from 
each community water system and treatment works 
within the geographic area served by the 
program, including--
(I) rate design for residential 
customers;
(II) billing frequency;
(III) fees, taxes, and other 
charges that are included on every 
residential bill or that are billed to 
a residential customer under specific 
circumstances but are not included on 
every residential bill; and
(IV) projected rate increases 
during the 5-year period following 
submission of the information under 
this subsection;
(iii) information regarding any other water 
service customer assistance programs within the 
geographic area served by the program, 
including information about such other programs 
relating to rate structures, rebates, 
discounts, billing methods that average rates 
over the course of a year (known as ``budget 
billing''), and procedures that ensure that 
households receive notice and an opportunity to 
dispute charges before service is disconnected 
or interrupted due to non-payment; and
(iv) other relevant information required by 
the Administrator.
(B) Additional time for completion of certain 
reporting requirements.--The Administrator may postpone 
a requirement to include in an annual submission data 
required under subparagraph (A), taking into 
consideration the availability of technical assistance 
pursuant to subsection (d) related to data reporting.
(C) Publication.--The Administrator shall 
annually--
(i) make information on water service 
access programs implemented under this section 
available in an easily accessible format on the 
website of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
including--
(I) a list of all such water 
service access programs and contact 
information for the entities 
implementing such programs; and
(II) the information submitted 
under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) publish a report that compiles and 
summarizes the information submitted under this 
paragraph.
(2) Reporting to states.--An eligible water system that is 
implementing a water service access program pursuant to this 
section shall report to each agency or office of the State in 
which the water service access program is implemented that 
funds or regulates water systems--
(A) the amount of all grants it receives under this 
section; and
(B) all information it submits to the Administrator 
under paragraph (1) and subsection (c)(2)(B).
(f) Administrative Provisions.--
(1) Assistance exempt from inclusion as income.--
(A) Individual assistance.--In the case of any 
individual who is a member of a low-income household 
receiving assistance under a water service access 
program implemented under this section--
(i) for purposes of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, gross income shall not include 
any such assistance provided to such 
individual; and
(ii) notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, any such assistance provided to such 
individual shall not be considered income or 
resources of such household (or any member 
thereof) for any purpose under any other 
Federal or State law, including any law 
relating to taxation or governmental assistance 
programs.
(B) Assistance to eligible water systems.--A grant 
received under this section by an eligible water system 
that is subject to Federal or State income tax shall 
not be considered income for purposes of any Federal or 
State income tax law if the Administrator determines 
that the eligible water system complied with the 
requirements established under subsection (c)(3)(C)(iv) 
during the year in which the grant was received.
(2) Assistance not a federal public benefit.--
Notwithstanding section 401(c) of the Personal Responsibility 
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 
1611(c)), assistance provided to a low-income household under a 
water service access program implemented under this section 
shall not be considered a Federal public benefit for purposes 
of title IV of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(3) Financial terms for private utilities.--A community 
water system or treatment works that is not wholly owned by a 
governmental entity may not use any funds received under or 
pursuant to this section to provide any financial benefits to 
the owners of the community water system or treatment works, 
including increased rates of return on capital investments, 
dividends, and interest.
(g) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date on which grant 
funds are first disbursed to an eligible entity under this section, and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on the results of the Federal low-income water assistance 
program established under this section, which report shall include--
(1) an assessment of the remaining need and obstacles to 
achieving universal water service access and affordability; and
(2) relevant findings and information from other programs 
and assessments, including--
(A) State revolving fund programs under the Safe 
Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act;
(B) State drinking water program plans, as 
applicable;
(C) the national drinking water infrastructure 
needs survey and assessment conducted under section 
1452(h) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-
12(h)); and
(D) the National Climate Assessment carried out 
pursuant to the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 
U.S.C. 2921 et seq.).
(h) Use of National Surveys.--
(1) Questions.--The Director of the United States Census 
Bureau shall, in coordination with the Administrator, add one 
or more questions into the American Community Survey to 
ascertain whether households have faced difficulty paying for 
water services.
(2) Use.--The Administrator shall use information from the 
American Community Survey to inform the reports submitted under 
subsection (g).
(i) Funding.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2037.
(2) Allocation of funds.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
a formula to annually allocate funds made available to 
carry out this section among entities implementing 
water service access programs, based on--
(i) number of low-income persons and 
households served by each such program;
(ii) technical assistance needs of eligible 
entities implementing such programs, including 
needs for enrollment support, community 
outreach, and data collection and reporting;
(iii) administrative costs of implementing 
such programs;
(iv) water service costs in the area served 
by each such program;
(v) exceptional community needs owing to 
water quality and water scarcity; and
(vi) any other criteria determined relevant 
by the Administrator.
(B) Requirements.--In establishing the allocation 
formula under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
shall--
(i) ensure that equal amounts of funds are 
made available with respect to drinking water 
services and sanitary sewer services; and
(ii) determine appropriate allotments for 
the provision of technical assistance through 
each water service access program.
(C) Reservation of funds.--The Administrator may 
reserve up to 10 percent of funds made available to 
carry out this section for each fiscal year to provide 
supplementary funds for water service access programs 
that serve--
(i) territories, or areas under the 
jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe, that have 
historically lacked equitable access to Federal 
and State financial assistance for drinking 
water and wastewater infrastructure; and
(ii) communities experiencing lack of 
access to safe public drinking water services 
to meet essential household needs.

SEC. 4. STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.

(a) Safe Drinking Water Act.--
(1) Intended use plans.--Section 1452(b) of the Safe 
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``in accordance 
with paragraph (4)'' after ``public review and 
comment''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Public review and comment.--In preparing an intended 
use plan under paragraph (1), a State shall--
``(A) before adopting a final plan--
``(i) make a draft of the plan, and 
instructions for how to provide comments on the 
draft, available on a publicly accessible 
website;
``(ii) provide a minimum of 30 days for 
public comment on the draft;
``(iii) provide written responses to timely 
submitted written public comments on the draft; 
and
``(iv) after providing such written 
responses, hold at least one public hearing on 
the draft;
``(B) make the final plan available on a publicly 
accessible website; and
``(C) allow for submission of applications for 
financial and technical assistance at any time.
``(5) Transparency and evaluation.--
``(A) Regulations.--
``(i) Promulgation.--Not later than one 
year after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Administrator shall promulgate 
regulations to increase transparency and 
promote evaluation of--
``(I) the distribution by States of 
the amounts available to the State loan 
fund among the intended uses identified 
in a plan under this subsection; and
``(II) the criteria and methods 
established by States under paragraph 
(2)(B) for the distribution of funds.
``(ii) Inclusions.--The Administrator shall 
include in the regulations promulgated under 
clause (i)--
``(I) a requirement that States 
provide to the Administrator data 
about--
``(aa) funded and unfunded 
projects that are eligible for 
assistance from the State loan 
fund; and
``(bb) the geographic and 
socioeconomic distribution of 
such funded projects, including 
the amount and percentage of 
assistance allocated to 
projects that serve 
disadvantaged communities;
``(II) creation of a central online 
repository for intended use plans and 
data provided pursuant to subclause 
(I); and
``(III) creation of an advisory 
group within each State to provide 
advice and recommendations on intended 
use plans, State loan fund policies, 
and implementation of such plans and 
policies.
``(B) Annual report.--The Administrator shall make 
available on a publicly accessible website an annual 
report, prepared based on the data provided pursuant to 
subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) and feedback from State 
advisory groups created under subparagraph 
(A)(ii)(III), which shall include--
``(i) information on and analysis of the 
use by each State of the amounts available to 
the State loan fund of the State, including, 
for each State, the amount of assistance 
provided under this section, and the number of 
public water systems receiving such assistance;
``(ii) data and metrics on disadvantaged 
communities served and technical assistance and 
outreach efforts; and
``(iii) ongoing challenges at the national 
and State level.''.
(2) Assistance for disadvantaged communities.--Section 
1452(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(d)) 
is amended--
(A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the 
following: ``Each State shall, during calendar year 
2027 and every three years thereafter, conduct a review 
of, and if appropriate revise, the affordability 
criteria established by the State under this 
subsection.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Additional requirements.--Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
Administrator shall promulgate regulations to expedite the 
provision of assistance to, and provide flexible repayment 
options for, disadvantaged communities receiving assistance 
under this section.''.
(3) Administration of state loan funds.--Section 
1452(g)(2)(A)(i) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300j-12(g)(2)(A)(i)) is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by 
striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; and
(B) in subclause (I), by striking ``; and'' and 
inserting ``, except that a State may not use more than 
30 percent of such amount to cover costs under this 
subclause; and''.
(b) Federal Water Pollution Control Act.--
(1) Water pollution control revolving loan funds.--
(A) Additional subsidization.--Section 603(i)(2) of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1383(i)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``(D) Review and revision.--Each State shall, 
during calendar year 2027 and every three years 
thereafter, conduct a review of, and if appropriate 
revise, the affordability criteria established by the 
State under this paragraph.
``(E) Additional requirements.--Not later than one 
year after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, 
the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to 
expedite the provision by a State of assistance to, and 
flexible repayment options for, municipalities that 
meet the affordability criteria established by the 
State under this paragraph.''.
(B) Additional use of funds.--Section 603(k) of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(k)) 
is amended by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''.
(2) Audits, reports, and fiscal controls; intended use 
plan.--Section 606 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1386) is amended--
(A) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by inserting ``in accordance with 
subsection (g)'' after ``public comment and review''; 
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Public Comment and Review.--In preparing an intended use plan 
under subsection (c), a State shall--
``(1) before adopting a final plan--
``(A) make a draft of the plan, and instructions 
for how to provide comments on the draft, available on 
a publicly accessible website;
``(B) provide a minimum of 30 days for public 
comment on the draft;
``(C) provide written responses to timely submitted 
written public comments on the draft; and
``(D) after providing such written responses, hold 
at least one public hearing on the draft;
``(2) make the final plan available on a publicly 
accessible website; and
``(3) allow for submission of applications for financial 
and technical assistance at any time.
``(h) Transparency and Evaluation.--
``(1) Regulations.--
``(A) Promulgation.--Not later than one year after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Administrator shall promulgate regulations to increase 
transparency and promote evaluation of--
``(i) the distribution by States of the 
amounts available to the State water pollution 
control revolving fund among the intended uses 
identified in a plan under subsection (c); and
``(ii) the criteria and methods established 
by States under subsection (c)(5) for the 
distribution of funds.
``(B) Inclusions.--The Administrator shall include 
in the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (A)--
``(i) a requirement that States provide to 
the Administrator, in each annual report 
provided under subsection (d), data about--
``(I) funded and unfunded projects 
that are eligible for assistance from 
the State water pollution control 
revolving fund; and
``(II) the geographic and 
socioeconomic distribution of such 
funded projects, including the amount 
and percentage of assistance allocated 
to projects that serve municipalities 
that meet the affordability criteria 
established by the State under section 
603(i)(2);
``(ii) creation of a central online 
repository for intended use plans and data 
provided pursuant to clause (i); and
``(iii) creation of an advisory group 
within each State to provide advice and 
recommendations on intended use plans, State 
water pollution control revolving fund 
policies, and implementation of such plans and 
policies.
``(2) Annual report.--The Administrator shall make 
available on a publicly accessible website an annual report, 
prepared based on the data provided pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(B)(i) and feedback from State advisory groups created under 
paragraph (1)(B)(iii), which shall include--
``(A) information on and analysis of the use by 
each State of the amounts available to the State water 
pollution control revolving fund of the State, 
including, for each State, the amount of assistance 
provided under this title, and the number of treatment 
works with respect to which such assistance was 
provided;
``(B) data and metrics on disadvantaged communities 
served and technical assistance and outreach efforts; 
and
``(C) ongoing challenges at the national and State 
level.''.
<all>