Sponsors (6)
The bill directs targeted federal funding and project requirements to reduce nitrate and arsenic in drinking water for vulnerable communities and institutions, but the funding is modest and administratively constrained, so many needs may remain unmet while federal costs increase.
Households in disadvantaged and low-income communities (especially rural areas) can receive funding to install treatment systems that reduce nitrate and arsenic in drinking water, directly improving water safety for residents.
Schools, daycares, and other facilities serving children or vulnerable populations are given priority for projects addressing contaminated water, reducing exposure risk for children and other sensitive groups.
State and local water systems gain a steady federal funding stream ($15 million per year) to reduce harmful contaminants, supporting broader public-health protections and enabling planning for mitigation projects.
The program's funding level is limited and may not cover remediation needs for all affected communities, leaving some rural and low-income areas or small systems without assistance.
An administrative cap of 4% on the program could constrain EPA's management, oversight, and provision of technical assistance, potentially slowing implementation and reducing effectiveness.
Taxpayers will fund a new recurring $15 million program, increasing federal spending without identified offsets.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates an EPA competitive grant program authorizing $15M/year from FY2026 to fund projects that reduce nitrate and arsenic in drinking water, prioritizing disadvantaged and child-serving communities.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Norma Judith Torres · Last progress April 3, 2025
Creates a new EPA competitive grant program to help community water systems, municipalities, nonprofits, and states pay for projects that reduce nitrate and arsenic in drinking water. The program gives priority to disadvantaged communities and projects serving children or other vulnerable populations, caps administrative costs at 4%, and is authorized at $15 million per year starting in fiscal year 2026.