Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026

119 S4980 IS: Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026
U.S. Senate
2026-07-14
text/xml
EN
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II119th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 4980IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 14, 2026Mr. Markey (for himself and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public WorksA BILLTo amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize emergency technical assistance, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize emergency technical assistance and grants, and for other purposes.1.Short title; table of contents(a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026.(b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Drinking WaterSec. 101. Emergency situations.TITLE II—Clean WaterSec. 201. Emergency technical assistance and grants for treatment works.IDrinking Water101.Emergency situationsSection 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–1) is amended—(1)in subsection (b), in the second sentence, in clause (ii), by inserting or be economically feasible for ratepayers after be taken; and(2)in subsection (d), by striking $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 and inserting $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.IIClean Water201.Emergency technical assistance and grants for treatment worksTitle II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:228.Emergency technical assistance and grants(a)In generalThe Administrator may provide technical assistance and grants to States or publicly owned treatment works to assist in responding to and alleviating an emergency situation affecting treatment works (including an emergency situation resulting from a cybersecurity event) that, as determined by the Administrator, present substantial danger to the public health, such as heightened exposure to contaminants from sewer overflows.(b)Use of fundsA grant under this section shall only be used to support an activity that—(1)is necessary for preventing, limiting, or mitigating danger to the public health in the applicable emergency situation; and(2)would not, in the judgment of the Administrator, be taken or be economically feasible for ratepayers without the grant.(c)Coordination with other programs(1)In generalThe Administrator may, subject to paragraph (2), carry out this section as part of, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, any other program of assistance for environmental emergencies that the Administrator is authorized to carry out under any other provision of law.(2)Applicability of limitationsNo limitation on appropriations for any program described in paragraph (1) shall apply to amounts made available under this section.(d)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031..