Safe drinking water bill proposed by McMorris Rodgers

Over five years, a total of more than $11.58 billion would be authorized to invest in and modernize America’s drinking water infrastructure under legislation introduced on Monday by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

“To win the future, this must be a priority in any real bipartisan infrastructure plan,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers, ranking member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The congresswoman on May 17 signed on as the original cosponsor of the Drinking Water Funding for the Future Act of 2021, H.R. 3282, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) to reauthorize funding for drinking water programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act and America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, according to the text of the bill.

“This infrastructure bill will make sure state and local partners have the tools they need to keep people safe and healthy in their communities,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said. “It will strengthen access to safe drinking water and support America’s ability to modernize our drinking water infrastructure.”

If enacted, funding authorized under H.R. 3282 would be used to protect public water systems from cyberattacks, assist underserved and disadvantaged areas with improved water quality, and reduce lead in drinking water, according to bill summaries provided by Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ office.

For instance, H.R. 3282 would authorize $1.9 billion annually for federal capitalization payments to State Drinking Water Revolving Funds; $125 million annually to fund state efforts to implement and enforce federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards; and $60 million annually in grants to small and economically disadvantaged communities, tribes, or states toward providing household water quality testing and general compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, according to the summaries.

Additionally, the bill would authorize another $60 million annually for a program to help communities finance programs and activities to reduce lead in their treated drinking water, including the replacement of lead service lines, as well as $25 million annually for a voluntary testing program for lead in drinking water in schools and child care centers.

The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program also would be authorized at $50 million annually under the measure, which is now under consideration in two House committees.