119-hr3427

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3427 Referred in Senate

    (RFS) ]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3427

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 September 16, 2025

 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 
 Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

 AN ACT

 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to review all 
 clean water-related technical assistance authorities of the 
 Environmental Protection Agency, 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 Resources Technical Assistance 
Review Act''.

SEC. 2. GAO REPORT ON CLEAN WATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
initiate a comprehensive review of all covered technical assistance.

    (b) Requirements.--The Comptroller General shall include in the 
review required under subsection

    (a) the following:

    (1) A description of all covered technical assistance 
 available to States, Tribes, local governments, and non-
 governmental organizations, including--
        (A) the regions and populations that are served 
 through the provision of technical assistance; and
        (B) a summary of the activities and actions carried 
 out through covered technical assistance during the 5-
 year period preceding this Act.

    (2) A comprehensive review of how the Administrator of the 
 Environmental Protection Agency, through the Water Technical 
 Assistance initiative (known as ``WaterTA initiative''), 
 identifies, selects, and partners with technical assistance 
 providers to support communities, including--
        (A) a description of the criteria, evaluation 
 process, and contracting mechanisms used for selecting 
 such providers;
        (B) a description of the extent of coordination 
 with State, Tribal, and regional partners in the 
 selection and deployment of such providers;
            (C) a description of how such providers are matched 
 to meet the needs of local communities, including any 
 pre-engagement scoping activities or community 
 consultations;
            (D) a description of how such providers identify 
 communities in need of technical assistance, including 
 economically distressed communities, and conduct 
 outreach to such communities;
        (E) a description of the scope and types of 
 assistance delivered through such initiative; and
        (F) a list of communities that received technical 
 assistance support through such initiative, including 
 the type and cost of assistance received by each such 
 community and a summary of the outcomes associated with 
 the provision of such assistance.

    (3) An analysis of any duplication of covered technical 
 assistance available through multiple programs of the 
 Environmental Protection Agency.

    (4) An evaluation of how the provision of covered technical 
 assistance builds capacity in communities to access other water 
 infrastructure programs carried out by the Administrator.

    (5) An assessment of the needs of economically distressed 
 communities eligible to receive assistance under a clean water 
 infrastructure program carried out by the Administrator that 
 are not addressed through covered technical assistance.

    (6) An evaluation of how the Administrator carries out 
 covered technical assistance in coordination with other Federal 
 agencies providing technical assistance related to water 
 infrastructure.

    (7) An evaluation of how covered technical assistance 
 supports communities in understanding, identifying, and 
 implementing alternative and cost-effective technologies and 
 features of treatment works that achieve long-term savings and 
 improved outcomes in addressing water quality challenges.
            (c) Report.--Upon the completion of the review conducted under 
subsection

    (a) , the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a 
report containing--

    (1) the findings of such review; and

    (2) any recommendations to improve covered technical 
 assistance.
            (d) Plan for Compliance.--Not later than 90 days after the 
Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection
            (c) , 
and annually thereafter for a period of 5 years, the Administrator 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing any actions the 
Administrator has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in 
such a report.

    (e) Covered Technical Assistance Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``covered technical assistance'' means a technical assistance 
authority, initiative, or program of the Environmental Protection 
Agency that is related to clean water infrastructure.

 Passed the House of Representatives September 15, 2025.

 Attest:

 KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

 Clerk.