119-hr2656

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2656 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2656

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide grants for nitrate and 
 arsenic reduction projects, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 3, 2025

Mrs. Torres of California (for herself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
 Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide grants for nitrate and 
 arsenic reduction projects, 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 ``Removing Nitrate and Arsenic in 
Drinking Water Act''.

SEC. 2. NITRATE AND ARSENIC REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300j et seq.) is amended by inserting after 

section 1459G the 
following:

``

SEC. 1459H. NITRATE AND ARSENIC REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Arsenic reduction project.--The term `arsenic 
 reduction project' means a project or activity the primary 
 purpose of which is to reduce the concentration of arsenic in 
 water for human consumption.
 ``

    (2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
 ``
        (A) a community water system;
 ``
        (B) a nontransient noncommunity water system;
 ``
            (C) a qualified nonprofit organization with 
 experience in nitrate or arsenic reduction, as 
 determined by the Administrator; and
 ``
            (D) a municipality or State, interstate, or 
 intermunicipal agency, including a special-purpose unit 
 of local government.
 ``

    (3) Nitrate reduction project.--The term `nitrate 
 reduction project' means a project or activity the primary 
 purpose of which is to reduce the concentration of nitrate in 
 water for human consumption.
 ``

    (4) Low-income.--The term `low-income', with respect to 
 assistance under subsection

    (b)

    (4) , has such meaning as may be 
 given the term by the Governor of the State in which the 
 eligible entity is located, based upon the affordability 
 criteria established by the State under 

section 1452
            (d) (3) .
 ``

    (5) Nontransient noncommunity water system.--The term 
 `nontransient noncommunity water system' means a noncommunity 
 water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same 
 persons over a 6 month period, or more, per year.
 ``

    (b) Grant Program.--
 ``

    (1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
 appropriations, the Administrator shall establish a grant 
 program to provide assistance to eligible entities for nitrate 
 or arsenic reduction projects in the United States.
 ``

    (2) Precondition.--As a condition of receipt of 
 assistance under this subsection, an eligible entity shall take 
 steps to identify--
 ``
        (A) the source of nitrate or arsenic, as 
 applicable, in the public water system that is subject 
 to human consumption; and
 ``
        (B) the means by which the proposed nitrate or 
 arsenic reduction project would meaningfully reduce the 
 concentration of nitrate or arsenic in water provided 
 for human consumption by the applicable public water 
 system.
 ``

    (3) Priority application.--In providing grants under this 
 subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to an 
 eligible entity that the Administrator determines, based on 
 affordability criteria established by the State under 

section 1452
            (d) (3) , to be a disadvantaged community and--
 ``
        (A) has not been in compliance with the maximum 
 contaminant level of nitrate or arsenic, as applicable, 
 at any time during the 3-year period preceding the date 
 of submission of the application of such eligible 
 entity; or
 ``
        (B) proposes to address nitrate or arsenic 
 levels, as applicable, in water for human consumption 
 at a school, daycare, or other facility that primarily 
 serves children or other vulnerable human subpopulation 
 described in 

section 1458

    (a)

    (1) .
 ``

    (4) Low-income assistance.--An eligible entity may use a 
 grant provided under this subsection to purchase and install 
 treatment technology that reduces the amount of nitrate or 
 arsenic, as applicable, in drinking water, with first priority 
 given to assisting disadvantaged communities based on the 
 affordability criteria established by the applicable State 
 under 

section 1452
            (d) (3) , low-income homeowners, and landlords 
 or property owners providing housing to low-income renters.
 ``
            (c) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Not more than 4 percent of funds 
made available for grants under this section may be used to pay the 
administrative costs of the Administrator.
 ``
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
 ``

    (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
 ``

    (2) $15,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter.''.

    (b) Review.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency shall conduct a review on the extent the nitrate and arsenic 
reduction grant program under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
300j et seq.), as added by subsection

    (a) , takes into consideration 
equity to improve equity outcomes, including taking into consideration 
the diverse needs of economically disadvantaged and underserved 
populations.
 <all>